Exciting news for vegans, vegetarians, and anyone who’s reducing meat consumption: Walt Disney World now features hundreds of plant-based dining options, with Disneyland following suit next year. If that number seems hyperbolic, consider the fact that there are 602 eateries across the two theme park resorts, and Disney’s goal is to include plant-based options at all of its table-service and fast-casual restaurants in the United States.
Disney defines “plant-based” as excluding animal meat, dairy, eggs, and honey. The culinary team at Disney began working on snacks, meals, and even beverages without these ingredients long before the expansion announcement on October 24. Some of this work can be seen on menus at the recently opened Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where the Blue Milk is actually a dairy-free concoction of almond and rice milks, and the Ithorian Garden Loaf is an entirely plant-based version of meat loaf. This year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival also gave a special spotlight to meat-free bites by exclusively serving Impossible products and other plant-based goodies at the Earth Eats booth.
The green icon in the lower righthand corner of this photo indicates that this Cashew Cheesecake at the coveted California Grill in Disney’s Contemporary Resort is entirely plant-based.
As of October 3, Walt Disney World in Florida now calls out plant-based items with a friendly little green leaf icon on menus at Disney-run theme parks and hotels. Visitors and trip planners can preview dining options for the entire resort—Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Disney resort hotels, Disney Springs, Disney’s Boardwalk, Blizzard Beach Water park, and Typhoon Lagoon Water Park—on the new online guide to plant-based food. Some of the vegan nibbles include Steamed Asian Dumplings at Le Cellier in Epcot, Plant-Based Cashew Cheesecake at California Grill in Disney’s Contemporary Resort, and the Chili-Spiced Crispy Fried Tofu Bowl at the Animal Kingdom’s Satu’li Canteen.
Disneyland Resort in California will roll out the menu additions and plant-based icon in spring 2020. You can already find a dairy-free Dole Whip in Adventureland; an Enchanted Cauliflower Sandwich in Fantasyland (even the spicy lime aioli is vegan!); and the Felucian Garden Spread in Galaxy’s Edge, made with meat-free Impossible kefta in place of the traditional minced meat.
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