DDP for vegetarians.

[queenarmadillo]

We are considering purchasing the dining plan for a future visit, but 3 of our family of 4 are vegetarian (No meat OR fish at all). Generally at WDW we find the choice limited, as we stay for 14 days, but add some variety by ordering kids meals and getting an extra salad or bakery item or something (counter service). I expect our main meal would be fine, as most of the table service places have a couple of vegi options, but am worried we would end up eating a personal cheese pizza for lunch every day.
So, opinions please, on whether it would be worth us getting the dining plan given (a) vegetarian meals are generally cheaper, (b) we wont be able to take advantage of most of the best deals like chicken/rib combo platters etc., and (c) we would not be able to pick and mix to the same extent if we are restricted to an entre/ desert format.
Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[budbeerlady]

I wondered the same thing? If you do a seach on the Rest. Thread there are some great ones on veggie options for Cs and Ts. Here are some I bookmarked for myself:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1104650

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1092624

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1079979

Have a good trip! And please post a dining review when you get back.

 

[Calway]

While reading up on all about Disney, I came across a book all about vegetarian meals for all of Orlando or Disney, (can't remember) but is was fairly new at the library. It was written either by Frommers or Fodors tour books. I'm sure you could order it or browse it at a book store.

 

[kittythepoohbear]

I am a fellow veg who has used (and will continue to use) the DDP. As for how much money it actually saves a vegetarian vs. a meat eater, it probably isn't much. However I personally like the convenience of all meals paid for and the opportunity to eat in TS restaurants that are usually excluded due to budget. Having a vegetarian meal at a TS restaurant can still add up so I feel it makes up for the cheaper CS options. Having dinner at CG during Wishes will be much more affordable with the DDP, even for veggies.
As for lack of CS options, I find that Disney has really improved. I don't think I have eaten a pizza at a CS for my last two trips. There were a couple of veggie burgers in MK, some ok veggie chili at the Electric Umbrella, the fabulous grilled vegetable and hummus sandwhich at Tusker House in AK and the grilled veggie flatbread and the fruit and cheese plate at the POP foodcourt. Then of course there are all the WS eateries. My favorite is the vegetarian platter at the Tangierine Cafe in Morocco.
I find that a lot of CMs are accommodating and will be more than happy to suggest an item or allow a reasonable substitution. You might end up purchasing an extra item, but I don't think you would have to at every meal.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

We are all vegetarians and we are doing the dining plan. It's obviously not as good a deal for veggies as it is for meat eaters, but we'll still come out with more than we'd have gotten paying OOP.
We don't go nearly as long as you do, but we have LOTS of counter service favorites---not sure how we'll get them all in! Plus, I figured out with our TS choices, even if we don't take full advantage of the CS, we'll still come out with what we paid for the plan...so the CS is almost like a freebie. We're trying to let go of the "value" planning and just think about what we'd like to order.
Check out the menus at allearsnet. Lots of good stuff!
Also, think about some of the resort CS near the parks---a variety of different kinds of veggie wraps and veggie sandwiches. Don't know if that's your kind of food, but it sure is for us!

 

[taylorl25]

My DH is vegetarian and we used the plan last september. Although his meals were cheaper than mine we still got value for money. There was a veggie entree at every restaurant we went to and I studied the menus before we made our adrs so he could have as much variety as possible, not just pasta every night. We both enjoyed the plan and have booked the dining plan again for our January trip.

 

[amarberry]

I'm a vegetarian and have done the meal plan twice. Even with the lower cost vegetarian meals, I still think that the DDP is a good value. Several of our TS meals for DH (carnivore, but far from a meat fanatic) and I were over $100.

CS meals do get a bit redundant, but Tangerine Cafe and Columbia Harbour House are two standouts. Sunshine Seasons has been getting some good reviews from vegetarians as well.

 

[tkd lisa]

I also noticed a veggie sandwich at the Backlot Express over in MGM this weekend. It looked pretty good, and I'm not even a vegetarian!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

Check out the thread links posted above and also buy "The Vegetarian Guide to Dining in WDW and the Greater Orlando Area" -- GREAT book! allearsnet.com also has a section on their website based on this book.

I'm a vegetarian and one of the reasons I love Disney so much is because there is SO MUCH VARIETY for vegetarians.

Try these threads, too:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1079979
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=964315
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1021996