Searching for vegan food can feel more or less like a scavenger hunt, but it doesn’t have to be! I’ve written a comprehensive guide to eating vegan at Disney World! Finding vegan options at Disney World just got a whole lot easier!
A guide on what to eat at disney world, vegan magic kingdom options, and being/eating vegan at disney world in general!
You’re sitting under Cinderella’s castle admiring the sparkly hues of the Disney firework show thinking, “Dang. I wish I had a dessert.” Or maybe you’re waiting in line for Space Mountain dying inside while watching a tourist devour a whole plate of cheeseburger springrolls…..
Anybody? Just me? OK.
I get it. One of the most frustrating things to deal with while being on vacation is searching for foods that fit dietary needs (seriously, why is it so hard?!). Particularly, traveling as a vegan. Now while I don’t consider myself fully vegan, I do try to eat this way as much as possible.
Wouldn’t traveling just be about a bazillion times easier if all foods were CLEARLY marked as vegan? Sadly, the world doesn’t work like that. 🙁 However, the Happiest Place on Earth does offer vegans a chance to enjoy their vacation without sacrificing restrictions!
Wondering what to eat at Disney World as a vegan? I did some research and found that eating vegan at Disney isn’t as mind-boggling as I thought! Here is my guide to being a vegan at Walt Disney World!
Is it possible to eat vegan at Disney World?
Absolutely! There are countless options that will satisfy the dietary needs of a vegan. You just need to plan properly. And since you’re here, you’re well on your way. 🙂
The vegan diet is becoming increasingly popular as time goes on. This is good news for vegans, as the plant-based diet is quickly spreading outside the home and into grocery stores, restaurants, and you guessed it: theme parks! Disney is no stranger to fulfilling this accommodation. Recently, they’ve unveiled SO many different vegan options inside Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot!
Fortunately for the vegan community, vegan food at Disney World is becoming more common. Disney parks have taken into consideration not only the dietary criteria that needs to be met, but also the taste and aesthetics. This means you can Instagram your (*vegan*) cake and eat it too– a win-win in my book!
So yes. Sticking to the vegan diet is definitely possible at Walt Disney World.
Where can I find vegan options at Disney World?
There are several ways in which you can find vegan food at Disney World. Unfortunately, Walt Disney World does not have their own online list of vegan-friendly menus for every park because their menu items are constantly changing.
However, for people visiting Magic Kingdom, Disney released a handy dandy vegan pamphlet that lists all the main vegan menu items. Here is my fav resource for delicious vegan Magic Kingdom options that won’t keep you hunched over your wilted salad the whole vacay. 🙂
(Psst! Pin this Magic Kingdom vegan menu for easy reference during your visit!)
If you’re going to a Disney Park other than Magic Kingdom, you can check out “Vegan Disney World” for an updated list of vegan-friendly snacks, meals, and desserts in all four Disney Parks! I found this to be super helpful when hopping to different parks..
Here are a few other helpful Disney World vegan resources:
- PETA’s Disney Vegan Guide
- Disney World Food Accommodation
- Every restaurants’ menu in all four Dinsey Parks
In addition to the places listed above, each restaurant’s menu item will indicate whether they are vegan-friendly or not with a “V” symbol. And, if all else fails, always ask your server!
How can I eat vegan at Disney World?
Ok, now let’s jump into the meat *tofu* and potatoes of eating vegan at Disney World!
Informing your waiter of special food concerns and dietary accommodations
First things first, you NEED to let your server know of any food allergies, dietary needs, or special accommodations that you require. Usually your server will ask this when everyone is seated. This will ensure everyone is taken care of immediately. (It’s really easy to forget about informing people about these kinds of things. Especially when you’re enjoying yourself and on vacation time.)
Any concerns you have (and I mean ANY) you should address. Servers will be super attentive to all of them. Even if you don’t think your certain type of food accommodation will be relevant to your meal, tell them.
They are very cautious about things such as separating other people’s food from yours, using different utensils to handle the food, and even placing your food into a separate fryer if needed. With so many different types of people and cultures visiting the parks, it’s imperative for Disney to maintain these types of standards.
One time we were eating at the Japanese restaurant in Epcot and the chef asked our table if anyone had any food concerns that he should be aware of. I thought it was silly to mention a seafood allergy since I only planned on eating rice and veggies. However, I did let him know, and let me tell ya. I dodged a bullet. A fish powdered one.
Turns out, the rice is actually made with some form of fish powder! Once the staff knew about my food allergy, they graciously made a custom white rice pilaf for me to enjoy, AND the chef made sure to cook my vegetables on the opposite side of the stove away from the meat and fish. If that’s not paying attention to detail, I don’t know what is.
To sum it up, don’t be shy when it comes to voicing your meal concerns. It’s very easy for servers to work around.
Choosing vegan-friendly options around Disney World parks / on the go
If you decide to skip the restaurants, it might be a bit trickier to find a vegan dish. (It’s not impossible though!)
Sometimes there simply isn’t enough time to plan a sit-down style meal while trying to catch rides, parades, or shows. In these cases, there are several vegan-friendly food carts sprinkled around the park. They serve quick-bites and snacks that are ideal for on the go.
Popular Vegan-Friendly Food Carts:
- Gaston’s Tavern, Magic Kingdom
- The Land Cart, Epcot
- Harambe Fruit Market, Animal Kingdom
- Hollywood Scoops, Hollywood Studios
Quick-service stations are available to guests throughout the park as well. These are basically a combination between food carts and restaurants– basically, it’s counter-service where you order and take your food to an available table.
Popular Vegan-Friendly Quick Service Stations
- Columbia Harbor House, Magic Kingdom
- Liberty Inn, Epcot
- Pizzafari, Animal Kingdom
- Woody’s Lunch Box, Hollywood Studios
Always check to see if these things have been changed though. Disney switches out menu items pretty frequently.
Bring your own food inside the park
You can certainly bring food inside Walt Disney World.
The safest (and cheapest) option is to simply bring your own snacks and meals inside the park. This way you ensure that any food intolerances you have will be catered to. I actually recommend you do this regardless if you have food allergies.
As long as I can remember, we’ve been carrying our PB&Js and carrot sticks into the parks. It’s a fantastic idea for people who:
- Have food intolerances
- Want to save money
- Like eating on the go
And to many people’s surprise, you can actually bring water. We usually freeze five or six bottles the night before, that way they’re nice and cool throughout the day.
If you’re not too keen on lugging around loads of bottled water in your backpack, you can also purchase a travel water bottle to refill with the water fountains inside the park. A huge money and space saver for tourists!
There are also plenty of vegan places near Disney as well. If you’re not a local, you can always stop by Publix to grab a case of water and stock up on some snacks to keep in your hotel room.
If you’re not hyped about grocery shopping while on vacation, (who is?) then Postmates is an AWESOME option. Postmates is a delivery service that allows you to order groceries or take-out straight from the app and have them delivered to your hotel or Airbnb. It takes the stress off of guests who aren’t renting a car or just want to go and enjoy the parks instead of grocery shopping. Click here for $76 for your first order!
*Bonus Tip! When packing your food and beverages, make sure to store them in a soft-sided lunchbox or backpack. Rolling coolers are NOT allowed in the park, and the bag checkers will make you return it to your car.
Related: Things to Buy Before your Walt Disney World Vacay
Vegan options for every meal at Disney World:
My top vegan breakfasts at Disney World:
- Mickey waffles (found at most breakfast places throughout all four Disney Parks– make sure to ask for the vegan ones)
- Tofu scramble (Akershus Royal Banquet Hall “Norway”, Epcot)
- Tonga Toast (Captain Cook’s, Polynesian Resort)
My top vegan quick-service lunches/dinners at Disney World
- Pizza with vegan cheese (Pizza Planet in Hollywood Studios)
- Vegetable Chili (Columbia House in Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom)
- Falafel Burger (Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, Tomorrowland, Magic Kingdom)
- Hummus Wrap (Sunshine Seasons, Epcot)
My top vegan sit-down/restaurant meals at Disney World
- Vegan Chicken Sandwich (Gasparilla Island Grill, Grand Floridian Resort)
- Ratatouille with Quinoa (Be Our Guest, Magic Kingdom)
- Vegetable Enchiladas, with no cheese (La Hacienda de San Angel “Mexico” Epcot)
- Raspeballer Scandinavian Potatoe Dumplings (Akershus Royal Banquet Hall “Norway”, Epcot)
My top vegan desserts/snacks at Disney World
- Dole Whip (Aloha Isle in Magic Kingdom)
- Popcorn -the ”butter” is just a combo of oils (Found at most food carts throughout all four Disney parks)
- Tofutti (Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, Magic Kingdom)
- Mickey Pretzel (Found at most food carts throughout all four Disney parks)
- Milkshakes (must request at 50s Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood Studios)
Conclusion
Finding vegan food at Disney World is actually quite simple! Whether you’re looking for snacks, meals, or desserts, eating a la “vegan Disney” doesn’t have to be hard. A little extra ounce of planning can help ensure you won’t go hungry (which you certainly won’t) at this uber vegan-friendly theme park!
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