Live 14 Night- 1 Vegan and 3 Omni's Take Over WDW

[MelanieC]

Hi everyone,

We are a tad over 2 hours from arriving at Pop Century. We drove from Pennsylvania and left around 1:00PM yesterday. By the time we got ice, snacks and gas it was 1:22PM by the time we got on the highway.

We did really well on last years trip leaving around 3:00PM. This year we hit major traffic the entire way. Finally the tragic got better around 7pm. We drove till about 12:20AM and got about 30 miles from South Carolina. Traffic has Been decent today. We have 67 miles till we arrive at the I4 turn. That always feels like the final stretch.


The Cast:

Me: New vegan and first time I'm going as a vegan or a vegetarian, so this had been a totally fun adventure planning this trip.

Bill: My DH and the greatest Dad in the whole world.

Taryn: DD18. She just graduated from High School and will be going to College 16 hours away two weeks after we get back home.

Ryan: DS12. Is going into the 7th grade.

I'm going to attempt to do a live report from my IPhone. I'll try to take food pics with both my IPhone and regular camera. I'm hoping I can upload pics via my phone. And them I can update better pics when I get home.

 

[MelanieC]

When we stopped to get snacks while getting gas, we all got snacks and drinks. I got a bottle of water and some Munchos.

For dinner we stopped in Virginia at a Taco Bell. I had hoped to find a Panera, Moe's or a Chipotle, but you never seem to find what you want when you want it when your on a road trip!!

Ryan got this big box meal and I'm still shocked he had it all.

I got one fresco bean burrito and two hard shell fresco tacos subbing retried beans instead of beef.

 

[Evan&Kimberly]

I love the live Trip updates, it is like Twitter,cant wait to hear all the updates! Be Safe and enjoy your trip!

 

[MamaPotts]

Hi, Melanie! Thanks for posting live and from the road! I didn't realize that you were driving down.

Have a MAGICAL time!

 

[N.eve]

As a new vegan myself, I'm tuning in! I cannot wait to see how things go for you. Wishing you the best!

 

[MelanieC]

I have to figure out a way to upload these pictures tonight. So far a few things didn't work. The one that did uploaded the picture too large.

We have checked into Pop Century and the fax worked perfectly for the second year in a row. I got EXACTLY what I requested. We got a refurbished room, 4th floor, 60's facing the lake. It's the best lakeview we have had. The girl who checked us in confirmed we have it for all 14 nights, on both reservations.

We went to SOG and got our Disney Tickets. We are on the way to Kohls right now, Bill brought his old sneakers so he is getting a new pair of shoes. Then we are going to Target to get snacks and breakfast stuff.

Then we are going back to Pop to eat.

 

[crazyfordisney2000]

Love these live reports, keep them coming!!

 

[MelanieC]

For breakfast Bill, Ryan and Taryn ate the continental breakfast at the blah Day's Inn we stayed at. We had trouble finding a hotel last night, so it was a last resort. I had a brownie Cliff bar.

For lunch, we stopped at a KFC/ Taco Bell. It never fails that I can't find the restaurants I want. I was hungry, so we ate.

I had another fresco bean burrito and a fresco hard shell taco subbing refried beans for beef.

By the time we checked into Pop Century, we were already hungry. We had so
much to do though, so we checked in and dropped the bags in our room. We got our Disney tickets from SOG. Got sneakers for Bill, and got breakfast and snacks from Super Wal-Mart.

For snacks I got a bag of kettle chips, corn nuts, and
Sun Chips. The Sun Chips, were opened in the parking lot to help ease my blood sugar issues (I get low blood sugar when I go too long without eating. I'm not too nice when I'm like that, lol).

I got 4 boxes of 3 different kinds of Nature Valley granola bars. I was going to get some organic or Kashi bars, but the all had milk or honey in it.

I got an extra box to keep a bar with me for low blood sugar emergencies, or if I can't find something vegan.

Finally we got back to the hotel, and went down to Everything Pop for dinner.

I had French fries (I was told by two different

people that the French fries fryer where the hamburgers are is dedicated for fries. The chicken is fried on the opposite side, but the fryer in the back fries both French fries amd chicken).

And the Vegetable Lo-Mein. The French fries were so good and I was starving. I basically inhaled them. The lo-mein was good, the only complaint I have is that the noodles were a little mushy and it was slightly peppery. Other than that it was super good and there were tons of veggies that had plenty of crunch still left. There were snap peas, water chestnuts, carrots, onions, celery, and Chinese cabbage. There might have been other veggies, but those were the ones I remember. I washed it down with 3 mugs full of Gold Peak unsweetened ice tea. We were all so thirsty after running around. It was super hot out.

By the time I got to the table, the had already started eating. I apologize these pictures were taken after they were already eating.

Taryn got the Chicken Penne Alfredo with breadstick. She said it was awesome as usual. She had already cut the chicken up.

Bill and Ryan got the Greek salad. Ahh, I love that they both ate vegetarian.

 

[MelanieC]

After dinner, I stayed down at the food court and talked to a chef.

Chef Gary came out and talked to me, and he was super nice and knowledgeable.

He told me they have tofutti and rice dream, tofu, soy milk, vegan cheese, they have the tapioca buns in more than just hamburger too. I remember hot dog buns, but there were more. They have the tapioca pizza shells too, and the sauce is vegan.

He also brought out the flat bread package they use for the flatbread Mediterranean pizzas. The flatbread is definitely vegan. The picture didn't come out well.
I'll get another picture before I leave.

The olive tempanade isn't vegetarian or vegan. It has Anchovies. The hummus, and the artichoke spread is vegan. I think I'm going to get a flatbread with hummus, artichoke spread and see what else they have to throw on it. Then the cook it in the wood fired grill.

All the "Special Dietary Snacks are considered smacks on the dining plan and thatched a great sign showing it.

I looked around and there are TONS of snacks on the dining plan that are vegan.
Some were healthy and some were not. Obvously some of the packaged crackers have so much unhealthy junk in them, but it's vacation and there are options.

Some vegan things I saw.

Obviously ask for a chef for the vegan ice creams. He said the people in the front don't even know the have them. I was told at first no just Edy's ice cream and then she said I could talk to a chef because the might in the back.

Bananas, apples, oranges, and grapes. Celery and carrots. There might have been a non vegan dip but I didn't pay attention to that. Divvies chocolate chip cookies and caramel corn, wheat thins, nutter butters (I quickly looked and it looked vegan, who would have thought. I need to look again).
Ritz crackers (another one I want too look at again, but the initial look, seemed ok), ritz peanut butter sandwiches, strawberry Edy frozen popsicle, and one of those large itzadoozie (or something like that).

These were all in the food court area. In the gift shop the cotton candy is vegan and the kettle corn I'd vegan. We were able to use snack credits on the kettle corm last year. Unfortunately in the gift you have to ask, and sometimes ask more than once if the CM, doesn't know and doesn't bother to check. Sometimes they just say no, and others will try to price check it.

Chef Gary said, to ask for a chef no matter what time I go to the food court, even if it's busy. He said all of the chefs will work with me to make me something to eat. He also said the always have the vegan/ gluten free waffles ready to go and they have a dedicated waffle iron in the back.

It was a great experience and I'm super excited.

Night everyone. We are off to Sea World tomorrow.

 

[MelanieC]

Sorry duplicate post. Posting on a phone is not easy to navigate.

 

[UKVeggie]

Great reviews so far. Cant wait for more!

 

[binkytell]

wow what great service from the chef

looking froward to hearing more from your trip

 

[MelanieC]

Good morning everyone. I stayed up too late and had a hard time getting to sleep. I think it's because I slept through our drive through South Carolina yesterday and it was 11:30am when I woke up. Plus I had a lot of iced tea at lunch and dinner and I don't drink that much caffeine usually. The rest of the trip it usually helps me and doesn't affect me because I'm tired.


Sorry about all the type-o's. Being on the phone it sometimes auto corrects the wrong thing and I don't see it.

I probably will only reply to questions due to time and that it's too hard to multi quote on here.

 

[chocolateMinnie]

I'm in - a live report - have a fantastic trip..............but leave enough time each day to post your news lol.

 

[kimgof]

Loving your reviews...have a great vacation!

 

[Vegcentric]

Did a lot of catching up on your reviews! Thanks for the live reports you are doing, they are very helpful. Also thanks for the heads up about the olive tapenade...because that is something I would have assumed was vegan ...guess not! Subbing so I can keep up!

 

[MelanieC]

Yeah, I agree on the tempanade. They make it themselves too. Such a shame.

I just got done eating lunch at SW, and it went well. We ate at Mango Joes. The birds and squirells are on the attack for food.

Pictures tonight. We rode Manta, kraken twice and Atlantis.
We have also walked through shark encounter and are getting ready to go watch Shamu at 12:30

 

[MelanieC]

We have been able to keep ahead of the crowds by keeping just ahead of everyone. We got off Atlantis today and the line was out the door. We had maybe a 5 minute wait when we got there. There are two big groups, and the were just behind us. After lunch we did the arctic wild ride and walked right in, and finished just before Shamu Believe started. We then didn't have to wait for shamu to start and when we left arctic wild was jammed packed. We ate right at 11am when everything opened up too.

 

[MelanieC]

Major Chef TJ Ohana News. Chef TJ is no longer at Ohana. He is now at the Grand Floridian. I'm at Ohana and Chef Julie is in tonight. Not sure what to do.

Not sure I want to wait an hour, especially since I'm by myself. They may feel rushed for a 9:40 dinner. Might just ditch it.

 

[Eeyore's Pal]

I did a quick search for you and there are a couple of reviews of Chef Julie at Ohana -- both good. The special vegan meal prepared was not as elaborate as Chef TJ, but both reviewers said the food was good.

THanks for the live report and review!