Restaurant Choices for Vegetarian with Young Kids

[Vector7]

Hello -

My wife and kids will be visiting WDW in Feb 2017 for 5 nights and staying at the Polynesian. We've been numerous times but this will be the first time with our youngest who will be 18 months old. So far, I'm finding it challenging to get reservations at restaurants that could do well with vegetarian options and are convenient to the monorail or at the park we plan to visit that day. My wife is firmly veg but I do enjoy a nice steak every once in a while. We will have a double stroller so the more convenient the better. Any recommendations that meet this criteria?

We have our favorites at Epcot and have reserved San Migel for now. We'll be at MK for 2 nights and need a couple of options there for dinner. I've been successful in getting last minute lunch reservations at Be Our Guest and plan to try that again but have no idea for dinner. At AK we liked Yak and Yeti and will try for reservations. No idea about Hollywood Studios.

A couple more details...we will be on the dining plan but do not plan to do any park hopping.

Any advice would be appreciated!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Nice thread here. http://disboards.com/threads/vegan-vegetarian-restaurant-dining-help-thread.2473465/ It's a bit old, so read from the end.

February trip...you're definitely behind with making reservations, FYI.

As far as I know, just about every table service can do something vegetarian that's nice. I love the tofu noodle bowl at Hollywood's Brown Derby. The Wave's breakfast is very nice, and they'll make their Tillamook cheese (almost all of their cheeses are safe for ovo lacto vegetarians and the one they use IS) grits withOUT the bacon. and so on.

Have you checked out the menus here on the Dis or on allears.net?

 

[Vector7]

Nice thread here. http://disboards.com/threads/vegan-vegetarian-restaurant-dining-help-thread.2473465/ It's a bit old, so read from the end.

February trip...you're definitely behind with making reservations, FYI.

As far as I know, just about every table service can do something vegetarian that's nice. I love the tofu noodle bowl at Hollywood's Brown Derby. The Wave's breakfast is very nice, and they'll make their Tillamook cheese (almost all of their cheeses are safe for ovo lacto vegetarians and the one they use IS) grits withOUT the bacon. and so on.

Have you checked out the menus here on the Dis or on allears.net?

Thank you! I was able to get an ADR for the Wave. It seems promising and I'll check on Brown Derby as well. We rarely book vacations more than 2 -3 months out and it's frustrating to see so many restaurants locked up already.

 

[Hopefully]

Thank you! I was able to get an ADR for the Wave. It seems promising and I'll check on Brown Derby as well. We rarely book vacations more than 2 -3 months out and it's frustrating to see so many restaurants locked up already.

I am sorry you are feeling frustrated. But planners, and the DIS board folks, know that ADR's open 180 days in advance. Popular in Park restaurants book to capacity quickly. It is the way WDW is, and has been for years. Since the advent of a No Show fee, lots of ADR's open nearer to the date as folks cancel to avoid the fee. So keep trying, there is hope.
Just a question. There is no San Miguel restaurant at WDW. Did you book the San Angel Inn in Epcot?
Good Luck.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Sanaa is also known for great veg options

any buffet can be made to work, can ask which are veg options

have fun!

 

[Vector7]

We are fortunate to vacation 2 to 3 times a year but planning 6 months in advance is not in the cards for us. We enjoy Disney every couple of years but it's definitely a different pace. I'd like to get BOG for lunch (because we loved it last time) and Ohana for a dinner (convenient as we're staying at the Poly). I'll keep trying for those and will check last minute as well. Other than that, we're set for dinners.

Also, yes I meant San Angel Inn at Epcot. I've loved the ambiance and backdrop since I was a kid and we'll be going back.

Any counter service recommendations particularly at MK?

 

[Hopefully]

We are fortunate to vacation 2 to 3 times a year but planning 6 months in advance is not in the cards for us. We enjoy Disney every couple of years but it's definitely a different pace. I'd like to get BOG for lunch (because we loved it last time) and Ohana for a dinner (convenient as we're staying at the Poly). I'll keep trying for those and will check last minute as well. Other than that, we're set for dinners.

Also, yes I meant San Angel Inn at Epcot. I've loved the ambiance and backdrop since I was a kid and we'll be going back.

Any counter service recommendations particularly at MK?

'OHana and BOG are currently the 2 hardest ADR's to secure. BOG lunch may well open with cancellations, 'OHana less likely.

We like Columbia Harbour House in the MK for QS

 

[Habbott]

If you don't mind being flexible, February does allow for reservations at a moments notice. You might not end up with optimal times, but you can get some decent reservations. Our last trip I was able to get quite a few the night before like breakfast at Ohana. Sure, it wasn't for the opening slot, and we had to wait a fair amount. But there were really lots of options the day before and the day of.

 

[OldSchoolReasons]

If you're on Facebook try the Veg Disney group, this thread is covered often and you can see up to date menus. I'm vegan and my mum is vegetarian and neither of us struggled. I'd recommend Sci-Fi Diner in HS, Tusker House in AK (a buffet with killer veg options) and Be our Guest in MK. Sanaa at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is definitely worth the travel time. Have fun!

 

[Lisa F]

Honestly I'd start with ethnic cuisines that tend to have vegetarian options already in their repertoire.

Any of the african/indian/asian restaurants seem to have truly vegetarian options rather than just something thrown together to appease vegetarians... many named already - Sanaa, Y&Y, also I'd look at Skipper Canteen... most of the appetizers are vegetarian (i'm not sure if the soup uses veggie stock or not), and the veggie curry looks delicious. AK has some amazing snack credit vegetarian options as well.

If you want "junk food" I love Sci Fi at HS.... the theming is so much fun. They have fried pickles, onion rings, and a spinach artichoke dip on their app menu and a vegetarian shepherd's pie and a better than "gardenburger" sounding southwest veggie burger.

At Epcot you have Mexican already but there is also Via Napoli, Teppan Edo has some nice vegetarian choices both for appetizers and their main course sounds pretty good (I assume you could sub something for the beef rice).

At MK as I said skipper canteen but also there are some good choices for veggie at columbia harbor house.

 

[kastoney]

So far, I'm finding it challenging to get reservations at restaurants that could do well with vegetarian options and are convenient to the monorail or at the park we plan to visit that day.

We are not vegetarians, but enjoy vegetarian options and have stayed at the Poly with our daughter. All that considered some thoughts...
Sanna/Jiko - Amazing vegetarian options, but could be difficult to get to for you all. Best bet is monorail to MK then bus from there or go after a day in AK
Yak n Yeti - Tons of dining options and right in AK
Via Napoli - Fav Epcot restaurant. Amazing pizza (I love the artichoke and truffle one)
The Wave - Not sure on the vegetarian options, but easily accessible for you
Kona - Since you are there try the best breakfast on property

Thank you! I was able to get an ADR for the Wave. It seems promising and I'll check on Brown Derby as well. We rarely book vacations more than 2 -3 months out and it's frustrating to see so many restaurants locked up already.

Don't sweat this at all. We are also going in February 2017 and I haven't even thought about food. We usually book day of or day before and have eaten just about everywhere. Be flexible, have fun, and no need to do things 6 months in advance.

Any counter service recommendations particularly at MK?

Columbia Harbor House would be great for you all. They have a great vegetarian hummus and broccoli slaw sandwich that we love

 

[Belle's Librarian]

We are in the same boat-- vegetarian parents with little ones. We loved Tusker House! Great veg options and the kids had a blast with the characters, even my 16 month old. Cancellations seem to pop up fairly often.

 

[Vector7]

Excellent recommendations! I'm adding them to our planning spreadsheet. I appreciate the info from all!