Talk to me about vegetarians/vegans calling ahead!

[lilpnutmama]

Hi all, I am taking my first trip as a vegetarian after many omnivore trips. I am not vegan per se but I really try to avoid cheese because it's not my friend

I am trying to decide if I should just go with the flow and order off menu or call ahead. Our trip is only a week away but there are a couple of ADR I am concerned about
1) chefs de france -- I don't think I can handle a big plate of mac and cheese after mostly avoiding cheese for months
2) 1900 PF - not even sure what they have in the way of vegetarian dinner options.

Anyway can someone walk me through making the call? Who do you speak to? What exactly do you say? I am not really used to this sort of thing at all.
Also I hate mushrooms, is it okay to say that during "the call" -- or is that just being over the top by this point.

Thanks

 

[SGMCO]

I try also to avoid dairy and I would add that to your Information--
I would call it a food allergy and the chef will be able to create
a dish that you can eat. Just tell him that you also trying to
not eat meat.

At Chef de France there is another Veggie option (I haven't tried it but
it does not list that there is any cheese in the Lasagna --it says it is made
up of veggies so you might try to find out if someone has ate this dish
and if it has cheese).

 

[HunnyJar]

For the most part I just "go with the flow" when I'm down there. I always check out the menus before hand and if I like the vegetarian entree they are offering, I don't call. That being said.. I do have the CM take note for each restaurant that we are making ADR's for that we have one vegetarian in the party. Quite often the server will ask if I would like to speak with a chef once we are seated. If I'm at a buffet, I'll take them up on it. I have never had any issues finding tasty things to eat at the buffets. That goes for Biergarten as well! 1900 Park Fare was awesome for me in the past and we actually have that on our list for breakfast next week. If you do dairy, try the strawberry soup! YUM!

Now! If I don't like the option they have for vegetarians or if I don't see something listed on one of the menus I will call the Special Dietary Request Hotline (407) 560-1355 or call the restaurant directly. Make sure you call about two to thee days ahead of time. That way it gives them enough of a heads up. I will be calling one restaurant this week to see what they can do for me actually. Last time I checked Whispering Canyon was offering a Quinoa Cake meal for vegetarians and while that might appeal to some, it just doesn't do it for me.

Have a great trip!

 

[bicker]

We didn't call ahead for any of our meals in October, and the only really big disappointment was Tutto Italia. Either the vegetarian ravioli was made with a really horrible tasting filling, or they put meat in it.

 

[Canyon girl]

You are supposed to have the CM put it as a comment on your ADR when you make it, but we found that this was a problem. Most of the time, we found that it didn't show up on the restaurant side. I will say that we had good luck at Tutto Italia. They made the bow tie pasta for DD without the ham. I got the pumpkin ravioli. I'm not sure if they have it all the time, but it was good. It seems that the side where the ADRs are made are not link perfectly with the restaurants. While it is easy for the restaurants to deal with us veggies on a moments notice, I really feel for those that have true allergies because if the info didn't get through, they can't pick up certain replacements (like gluten free) on a moments notice. They really need to get their system fixed! I think you will be fine flying by the seat of your pants, though!

 

[lilpnutmama]

Thanks guys. I did my ressies online so there was no place to mark vegetarian. I didn't want to put allergy down (the only option)... because I am superstitious about things like that (ie call in to work sick for pretend... you will end up sick for real a few days later )

 

[HunnyJar]

Thanks guys. I did my ressies online so there was no place to mark vegetarian. I didn't want to put allergy down (the only option)... because I am superstitious about things like that (ie call in to work sick for pretend... you will end up sick for real a few days later )

You could always call the Dining line and have them add the vegetarian note to your ADR's.

 

[DVCRon]

I had made my ressies online as well. I was going to call to add that 2 of our party of 4 were vegetarians but I had read something that said they wouldn't add it at the time so i didn't call. More recently I had read that they were now noting on people's ADR that they were vegetarian or vegan. Someone even posted a copy of the table slip they give to the server which had it noted.

As in most things Disney, there are inconsistencies. I had emailed the dietary email address and they basically replied with a form letter that said there are many options and that if you have a concern to speak to the server.

We are in Disney this week and so far I have found things to eat with no problem, and none of them had cheese. We didn't visit the places you mentioned however.

I would call, and tell them you are vegetarian or vegan and you have a cheese allergy/sensitivity and to please note in on your ADRs.
I'd remind the hostess/host when you check in at the restaurant and again with the server and ask if you could speak to the chef.

Good luck and enjoy.


Ron

 

[laughinplace199]

My best friend is a vegetarian and she travels to WDW with us every year. My DD has food allergies, so we always speak to the chef before we order DD's food. My friend can usually find something on the menu that she likes, but if she can't, she talks to the chef (since he/she comes to our table anyway). Some chefs have made her some pretty amazing meals that weren't on the menu.

 

[ehartman4]

I would retype everything here, but there is a lot of information. My boyfriend and I give VERY specific instructions on what to do when calling/contacting Disney about food allergies and dietary needs. Check out our dining review (the purple link underneath this). It's the very first post. It works out great for us.