What to Eat as a Vegetarian at Disney

Caitlin White
8.31.21

I have a secret to share - I can be a bit of a junk food vegetarian when I’m traveling. At home, I’m very aware of making sure to eat lots of fruit, veggies, and vegetarian proteins. But on vacation? If I don’t reel myself in, it’s Mickey pretzels and Dole Whips all the way!

Luckily, Walt Disney World has made vegetarian dining easier than ever. Easy enough that I really don’t have any excuse not to order some actual, nutritious meals (at least most of the time).

Whether you are vegan, vegetarian, or just trying to add more plant-based options to your diet, Disney can accommodate just about any dining need!

Look for “Plant-Based” Options on Disney Menus

At Walt Disney World, plant-based items are marked with a green leaf symbol making them easy to spot on menus. This means they do not contain animal meat, dairy, eggs, or honey. There is usually at least one plant-based option on every menu. If you eat dairy and eggs, there are often additional options to pick from that do not have meat included.

Epcot Festivals are a Gold Mine of Vegetarian Food

Epcot’s impressive calendar of festivals offers fantastic meat-free choices! Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival, Flower and Garden Festival, Festival of the Arts, and International Festival of Holidays incorporate special festival-themed food options. With a variety of different kiosks, each featuring a different style or culture of food, festivals are the perfect place to test out new food options in smaller portions. This year’s Flower and Garden festival offered an entirely plant-based kiosk - Trowel & Trellis Hosted by Impossible Foods - with amazing vegan options and a “Garden Graze” passport rewarding visitors for trying specific plant-based food with a Dole Whip in a collectable glass.

Ask for Substitutions

Disney Cast Members are well-trained and very helpful with dietary accommodations. If you see something on the menu that could be easily changed to fit your needs, ask your server if it is possible. Many times, it will be! While having a fun character dining experience at Minnie’s Springtime Dine in Hollywood Studios, the listed plant-based option was very mushroom focused. Since I don’t love mushrooms, I asked if the meat could be left off the macaroni and cheese entree instead. It is always worth politely asking what options are available that you may know about.

Go for the Snacks

I know I should be eating my vegetables, but sometimes only a churro will do. There are countless vegetarian snack options at Walt Disney World. I’ll admit, they lean heavily to sweets like Gaston’s Cinnamon Roll or the I Lava You float. There are some spots that offer more nutritious options like fresh fruit or even grilled corn-on-the-cob at Harumbe Fruit Market in Animal Kingdom.

Ready to plan your Walt Disney World adventure? I’d love to help! Reach out to me by email at caitlin@wishesfamilytravel.com or phone at 443.299.9197. I share lots of tips and photos about Walt Disney World (and other destinations) on Instagram or Facebook.

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