I'm shocked that there is no vegetarian resturants

[TiffanyA]

honestly I know why a lot of people think that!! meat eaters eat avlot of nice vege food and don't know it beacuse it's paired with meat e.g sweet potato fries or gnocchi

Just have to say: I don't consider myself a meat eater just because I eat meat. I don't only eat meat after all. I'm an omnivore.

I live in CA. Like you said, there is somewhat of a health angle, but it's definitely not all vegetarian or vegan. I mean honestly, I try to eat paleo for my health.

 

[Miffy]

I'd just be happy if there were a couple of QS places in MK that had vegan options--a vegan veggie burger would be fine! Contrary to what several others have posted here, there actually aren't vegan options at every restaurant at WDW. TS restaurants will make you something, although not necessarily anything particularly pleasing, but QS is another story altogether. And, weirdly, several QS places that used to have vegan choices no longer do--for example Cosmic Ray's, which used to have a vegan veggie burger, which you had to ask for. Now there's nothing vegan at Cosmic Ray's unless you'd like to have falafel with no bread or sauce. And the only vegan choice at CHH is the chile (I despise chile) or the steamed broccoli, which is hardly a meal.

I've written to WDW several times about this. Ten years ago it was actually easier to find vegan foods at WDW. Now I often have to eat TS even when I'd rather just grab something at a QS place. Epcot is the QS exception to this--there are a lot of vegan options throughout Epcot, both QS and TS.

 

[melbelle75]

That's really disappointing. I'm going in January and got the WDW Lines app which has a menu item search to help me find some vegan options. You can also browse all of the menus in one place. It looks like AK is the place to go for vegan eats but sounds like I'll have to get creative in MK. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[maxiesmom]

I've eaten at every type of restaurant there is, and consider it a blessing to try new cuisines...there's always something new to taste in the world. But you don't even have to stretch to accommodate this type of request...I mean how many Italian places are at Disney? How hard would it be to change one of them to vegetarian? Easy...for apps, serve a Minestrone Soup (Vegan), a Tossed Salad with Balsamic Vinagrette (vegan), a Caprese Salad, an Eggplant Caponata with Veg Dippers (vegan)...for entrees serve a Spring Vegetable Risotto, a Top-You-Own-Pasta option with either regular or zucchini noodles, sauces of Alfredo, Pomodoro (vegan), Pesto (vegan or vegetarian), or Arribiata (vegan) with add-in options of sauteed veg (vegan), fresh mozza, fresh parm, and/or chickpea and/or lentil meatballs (vegan), a Pizza or flatbread option, Gnocchi with Butter/Sage/Shaved Parm, a Cheese Lasagna, a Vegan Lasagna (vegan), and maybe a ravioli dish...and for dessert, serve Macedonia (vegan), Granita (vegan), Cannolis, and Gelato...

Kids would get app options of fruit salad (macedonia fruits just fresh) (vegan), mozza sticks, or tossed salad (vegan)...main options of the adult make-your-own pasta (vegan option), a plain cheese pizza, and the lasagnas (vegan option)...and desserts of the granita (vegan) and gelato...

Bring vegan bread to the table with olive oil sprinkled with salt and pepper for dipping and call it a day...

There's not a person in the world who wouldn't find something they liked here...the problem is that it would cost less, and Dining Plan maxers would never find "value" here...

I mean how many folks eat at Olive Garden for the unlimited pasta bowl (which now comes meatless in almost all versions) and spend their whole meal eating the meatless salad (or the meatless soup option), breadsticks, and pasta...and never complain a second b/c they like paying $9.99 + tax...

I wouldn't like anything you have listed. I like veggies, but only a few of them cooked. Most I like raw. There are very few fruits I like, all kinds of melon are out. Salad with no meat is to me a side, not a meal. Same for pasta without meat.

What you have listed is a stretch for most people. Maybe not for you, but I can think of one person I know who eats vegetarian.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Vegan bread...

Eh, a baguette is flour, water,salt and yeast. So it is not a big deal.

Bigger issue is that Italian is a nightmare for the GF.

 

[CinderDuffy]

Eh, a baguette is flour, water,salt and yeast. So it is not a big deal.

Bigger issue is that Italian is a nightmare for the GF.

I was mistaken as to why some vegans don't eat white flour. Education on the DIS!

 

[Dug720]

Eh, a baguette is flour, water,salt and yeast. So it is not a big deal.

Bigger issue is that Italian is a nightmare for the GF.

Actually, I ate gluten-free quite well in Italy. They are far more advanced than the US in dealing with people who are gluten-free. I encountered more than one restaurant that had not just a section of gluten-free offerings but the entire menu duplicated gluten-free. MUCH better than any place I've encountered here (including Disney - who is generally better than most. I'd been looking forward to maybe trying Ale & Compass in Feb for lunch, but given the abysmal offerings for gluten-free people on the dinner allergy menu, I'm dropping it as I have no hope the lunch would be more accommodating.)

 

[marcyleecorgan]

I've eaten at every type of restaurant there is, and consider it a blessing to try new cuisines...there's always something new to taste in the world. But you don't even have to stretch to accommodate this type of request...I mean how many Italian places are at Disney? How hard would it be to change one of them to vegetarian? Easy...for apps, serve a Minestrone Soup (Vegan), a Tossed Salad with Balsamic Vinagrette (vegan), a Caprese Salad, an Eggplant Caponata with Veg Dippers (vegan)...for entrees serve a Spring Vegetable Risotto, a Top-You-Own-Pasta option with either regular or zucchini noodles, sauces of Alfredo, Pomodoro (vegan), Pesto (vegan or vegetarian), or Arribiata (vegan) with add-in options of sauteed veg (vegan), fresh mozza, fresh parm, and/or chickpea and/or lentil meatballs (vegan), a Pizza or flatbread option, Gnocchi with Butter/Sage/Shaved Parm, a Cheese Lasagna, a Vegan Lasagna (vegan), and maybe a ravioli dish...and for dessert, serve Macedonia (vegan), Granita (vegan), Cannolis, and Gelato...

Kids would get app options of fruit salad (macedonia fruits just fresh) (vegan), mozza sticks, or tossed salad (vegan)...main options of the adult make-your-own pasta (vegan option), a plain cheese pizza, and the lasagnas (vegan option)...and desserts of the granita (vegan) and gelato...

Bring vegan bread to the table with olive oil sprinkled with salt and pepper for dipping and call it a day...

There's not a person in the world who wouldn't find something they liked here...the problem is that it would cost less, and Dining Plan maxers would never find "value" here...

I mean how many folks eat at Olive Garden for the unlimited pasta bowl (which now comes meatless in almost all versions) and spend their whole meal eating the meatless salad (or the meatless soup option), breadsticks, and pasta...and never complain a second b/c they like paying $9.99 + tax...

Sorry, none of that sounds appetizing in the least to my family!!!

You actually had me gagging at "Eggplant" and "lentil" and "chickpea". Now... add some bacon and we're talking! I agree, you call the menu "vegetarian" and we aren't even going to give the restaurant a try!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Actually, I ate gluten-free quite well in Italy. They are far more advanced than the US in dealing with people who are gluten-free. I encountered more than one restaurant that had not just a section of gluten-free offerings but the entire menu duplicated gluten-free. MUCH better than any place I've encountered here (including Disney - who is generally better than most. I'd been looking forward to maybe trying Ale & Compass in Feb for lunch, but given the abysmal offerings for gluten-free people on the dinner allergy menu, I'm dropping it as I have no hope the lunch would be more accommodating.)

Italian can be done GF nicely, I agree. I think my point was more that "everyone would love this menu even if not vegetarian!" leaves out a number of special needs.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I wouldn't like anything you have listed. I like veggies, but only a few of them cooked. Most I like raw. There are very few fruits I like, all kinds of melon are out. Salad with no meat is to me a side, not a meal. Same for pasta without meat.

What you have listed is a stretch for most people. Maybe not for you, but I can think of one person I know who eats vegetarian.

Exactly. I'm willing to try pretty much anything. When I had no choice but to eat gluten free, I was willing to attempt to add something back to my diet.

But there are things I don't like. Egg plant, lentils and chick peas, top the list.

Salad with no meat, egg or cheese? Sorry, that isn't going to fill me up, nor is it going to stay with me very long. Hey, maybe that is the way to sell it to Disney? The meals fill you up, but only stay with you for 30 minutes. Then they will be hungry again. At least that is how it would work for me.

 

[Dug720]

Italian can be done GF nicely, I agree. I think my point was more that "everyone would love this menu even if not vegetarian!" leaves out a number of special needs.

Gotcha.

Regarding the whole veggie thing, yes, I eat meatless meals sometimes (I'm eating veggie chilli right now actually...but it's got real cheese on it), but I know for myself I cannot do it all the time. I tried, but since I am allergic to peanuts and have to limit my soy (ergo too much tofu is out) because of hormonal issues, I was unable to get enough protein to maintain my activity level needed for my Taekwondo training. So while I might opt for a veggie meal when eating out (probably TBH would only happen if I was with people who insisted on going to a fish place with no chicken or beef alternatives), combining my nutritional needs and my food allergies (I'm gluten-free due to a wheat allergy also) I would never choose an all-veggie restaurant because it's too limiting for my omnivore palate and nutritional needs.

 

[skyblue17]

I am not a vegetarian but the point seems to be missed here. It doesn’t really matter if YOUR family wouldn’t eat any of the large range of vegetarian dishes that could be offered at a vegetarian restaurant. If your family doesn’t like Chinese food, do you go to an Asian restaurant? The point is that vegetarians and vegans have to get by with the default options or asking that something special be prepared for them. Then they are told “oh, this QS has vegetables, you can eat here!” That is not what vegetarian cuisine is, yes, it’s edible but it’s not the same as having a wide variety of dishes. No one is suggesting anyone be forced to eat veggie dishes. If your husband can’t bear the thought of a meal without beef or falls over at the thought of roasted vegetables, it’s not for you. Having an option where vegetarians and vegans don’t have to scavenge or feel like a nuisance seems like a nice idea to me.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I don't think anyone is saying it's not a 'nice idea.'

I think the point is more that Disney's not doing it, which suggests an economic reason.

 

[skyblue17]

It just seems odd to me that a place that works to be so inclusive is so stingy in this area, and then when it gets brought up, the fact that it doesn’t appeal to everyone is a reason not to consider it. I know no one goes to Disney for cuisine, but there’s still a pretty large variety, so there should at least be more options in more places, if the main issue is that it shouldn’t be exclusively veg.

 

[CinderDuffy]

It just seems odd to me that a place that works to be so inclusive is so stingy in this area, and then when it gets brought up, the fact that it doesn’t appeal to everyone is a reason not to consider it. I know no one goes to Disney for cuisine, but there’s still a pretty large variety, so there should at least be more options in more places, if the main issue is that it shouldn’t be exclusively veg.

It would not be cost-effective to keep restaurant kitchens stocked for more than 1-2 vegetarian entrees. They are not ordered frequently enough. Disney is all about being cost-effective to the point of absurdity. They will never do this.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

For a company as data-driven as Disney, that such an eatery does not exist suggests that the cost-benefit-margin does not beat out other options.

 

[skyblue17]

Yeah, Disney knows they gotta make sure the picky eaters who only eat chicken fingers and pizza
don’t have walk too far to get them!

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

An all vegetarian restaurant would be a niche market. In order for that to succeed you would need to ensure that you had enough profit margin to make it worth-while. I'm fairly confident Disney has thought of different ways they can do things and at the present moment has found not enough people would eat there to make it worth-while. They know what items are being ordered the most, they also know what items have enough profit margin in them. I've seen menu items tweaked here and there and sometimes they swap ingredients and you get the impression it was likely due to cost.

There are some really niche market places around me..sad thing is they almost never last long. You would need to have enough steady stream of guests at an all vegetarian restaurant, even a QS location, for it to be successful enough. You also have to consider the cost of operation vs profit aspect.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yeah, Disney knows they gotta make sure the picky eaters who only eat chicken fingers and pizza
don’t have walk too far to get them!

There is a whole world of between only liking pizza and chicken fingers and wanting a vegetarian meal. Disney is not stupid when it comes to making money. If they would make a profit that would make them happy, they would open a vegetarian restaurant. The fact that there isn't one suggests not enough people would eat at one. and many of us are explaining that either we our our family would not.

 

[kiford]

That is indeed true but at least where I come from meat eaters are happy to try out vegetarian resturants and are often suprized by how good they are

I may order a non-meat meal at a restaurant, or cook a vegetarian meal at home occasionally, but I don't think I'd go to a specifically vegetarian restaurant. I know that taking DH or other family/friends would not likely fly. If there are options on a menu that's one thing but being limited to that - no. If I'm going to a restaurant, I want options; the more people who are going out dining together, the more options are required. And a strictly vegan restaurant would never be visited by me or anyone else in my family. Far too restrictive about the foods I like.

I'm a little confused by the idea that if the whole family isn't vegetarian, no family would be interested in eating at a vegetarian restaurant. Vegetarian dishes can differ immensely, with something for everyone.

It doesn't offer meat for someone who wants meat. That's not something for everyone. DH hates it when I do cook vegetarian so he'd be very unhappy if I took him to a wholly vegetarian place. He might find something he could eat but he'd grumble about it. Just because you can eat it, doesn't mean you want to eat it. It's why I do agree that restaurants should be offering vegetarians more interesting meals than just some veggies or salad but I can't see a strictly vegetarian place attracting as many groups of mixed vegetarian/non-vegetarians than of just totally vegetarians.

As long as there are a large number of people (not even a majority - just a number large enough to impact potential sales) who wouldn't visit, it won't fly financially. And if it doesn't fly financially, Disney or anyone else won't do it. I live in a city of about 350,000 and as far as I know there is one strictly vegetarian/vegan restaurant in the entire region and it's quick service. I have friends and co-workers who are vegetarian and I'm sure I'd hear about other ones if they existed. We may see more in the future if the number of vegetarians rises substantially, but until that happens, I don't see it changing.