? for vegetarian dis'ers

[MagicLovinMama]

We are taking a last-minute, super-cheap weekend trip to the world in 28 days. Yay! My partner does not eat any sort of dead animal, but our son (4 1/2) and I do. I've read the bit on Deb Wills' site (allearsnet) about it, but I'm curious about what accomodations have been made at Disney restaurants in the past for vegetarians who've asked for meatless options. Specifically, I'd love for us to have a meal at Whispering Canyon, but the family-style skillet is really heavy on the meat. Anyone ever call ahead and ask for meatless substitutions for family-style meals? Also, any tips on what are the best buffets for vegetarians?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Tigger113]

There is actually a fairly simple set of principles to observe when seeking out decent veggie fare at the Mouse's house:

The least expensive restaurants' menus are pretty much set in stone. Some, like Cosmic Ray's, are pretty veg-friendly. Others, like Liberty Tree Tavern (at the Magic Kingdom), are almost veg-hostile; baked-potato territory. The discrepancy is actually part of a master plan called "itinerary planning." The idea is that every restaurant at WDW offers a slightly different, but complimentary, menu. "Don't feel like Mexican? The Dole Whip stand's coming right up!" And so on. The attitude extends to vegetarian offerings as well. That's one of the reasons we feel Vegetarian Walt Disney World and Greater Orlando is a really useful book: We've already found the veg-friendly places for you, and their menus, with a few exceptions, have not changed very much since we wrote the book.
Second-tier restaurants--by which we mean in-park dining rooms like Tony's Town Square restaurant (on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom) or Chefs de France--can be quite good, but again you have to know where to go. Our book, as well as the rec.arts.disney.parks Usenet newsgroup and sites like yours and Deb Wills' WDW Information Guide can be lifesavers in finding these spots. As a general rule of thumb, the inherent veg-friendliness of the restaurant's featured cuisine is a good indicator of your meal's quality as a vegetarian or vegan. Middle Eastern? Yup. Mexican? Go for it. German? Um...
By and large, the greatest kudos go to restaurants in the more expensive resorts. The Contemporary's California Grill, Jiko and Boma in the year-old Animal Kingdom Lodge, and of course the very pricey Victoria and Albert's, in the Grand Floridian, are all veggie standouts. Artist Point (at the Wilderness Lodge) was a haven for anyone with a special diet a couple of years ago when Anette Grecchi was behind the stove, but recent meals have been a little uninspired from our perspective--pretty much since Anette left! The good news is she's now cooking at Jiko.

 

[Tigger113]

Ask and ye shall receive - If you're a vegetarian or on a strict low-fat diet, call the Walt Disney World main switchboard at (407) 824-2222 and ask to be transferred to the restaurant of your choosing. Once connected, ask to speak directly with a chef and explain your dietary needs. Have fun brainstorming with the chefs about your special meal. If you give them enough advance notice (usually a week will do), Disney chefs are more than happy to purchase special items like rice milk, kamut, or seitan to make your meal memorable. Remember to get your chef's full name and to let him or her know the date and time of your dining arrangements.

 

[MagicLovinMama]

Thanks, Tigger113! Your info. is much appreciated!!!

 

[Tigger113]

No problem!

 

[alicenwonder99]

My dd17 is a veg and she had no problems at the restaurants. She's not too picky (ahem) and the waiters offered suggestions for her. She was very content to eat at a counter-service restaurant and order ala-carte. Teppyanki (sp?) was easy...she just ordered the veggie dish. Even at Sci-Fi restaurant, the waiter suggested a pasta dish minus the chicken and they added something else to it (can't remember now). It was all pretty easy, but then she's only 17 and doesn't expect a gourmet meal, either.

HTH.

Mary

 

[floridagirrl2]

Nearly every counter service and sit-down restaurant has something veggie. Magic Kingdom is the least veggie-friendly (IMO), but I've had a great veggie sandwich at the Main Street Bakery a couple of times.

My personal favorites are the veggie burger at Rainforest Cafe (out of this world! Definitely not a generic Boca burger like the rest of the veggie burgers at WDW), the veggie plate in Mexico (the restaurant, not the cantina--and you have to ask for the vegetarian menu, which has all of 2 items on it ), and the macaroni and cheese at Chefs de France. I also like the foodcourts at the Value resorts for breakfast--plenty for me to eat.

I've never called ahead and I don't do buffets, so I'm sorry I can't help you with those questions! The menus on allearsnet.com are extremely helpful, BTW.

 

[missycj96]

My mom is a vegetarian and my sister does not eat red meat. Most sit down restaurants have a veggie option and they will bring you anything you want if you ask. For example, they will make you entree size salads and leave off chicken substituting other veggies. My mom only eats very low fat, health food type meals - which is more of a challenge than veggie. If your husband just won't eat meat, but will eat everything else, you will be absolutely fine and don't even worry about it.

I have done two trips with them in the past year. Here are some of our most successful:

1. Plaza Restaurant on Main Street: They have good salads and my mom had a grilled veggie wrap with hummos. This is an inexpensive sit down option for the MK.

2. Japan Pavilian in Epcot - we had sushi at the teppanyaki restaurant. Don't get a teppanyaki table and sit in the front room with the big window looking out at world showcase. You can order sushi or tempura type meals there. Again not too expensive with great veggie and non-veggie options.

3. Narcoosees - not cheap but in addition to their regular menu, they have a separate printed vegetarian menu that they will give you if you ask. There is a sampler platter with basically every side dish they have, including Mushroom Risotto - that is huge and delicious.

4. If you are looking to go cheap at MK, the columbia harbor house is the best of the fast food choices - they have a hummos sandwich. My sister had it and it was pretty good.

When we stayed at WL last year, my mom did not want to eat anything other than breakfast at the whispering canyon. Some menus lend themselves to better veg options and this just was not one of them. We didn't ask for anything special, but I am sure they would make you whatever you want and it will be more than fine.