Vegetarian/Vegan Table Service Dining at the Resorts

The Vegetarian Pages are now maintained by Kitty Smith, a vegan.
Feel free to send her updates or ask questions!

Some of my best WDW meals have been at the table service restaurants found at the resorts. Taking a peek in the gift shops, wandering the grounds, and having a nice, relaxing meal is a wonderful way to experience some of the resorts you may not have had the opportunity to stay in.

As I mentioned with the table service restaurants in the parks, most of my best meals at these restaurants were items not found on the menu, but offered up when I mentioned my situation. With that thought in mind, this list is probably best used as simply a guideline, to find the places with the most potential.

As with all Walt Disney World table service restaurants, it's always a good idea to mention your dietary needs when you make priority seating. A call to the restaurant 72 hours in advance may also provide more options than you see on the menu.

Restaurant Name Links Take You to the Menu!

Resort	Restaurant	Description	Comments
Animal Kingdom Lodge	Jiko	Don't be intimidated by the unique offerings at this African-themed restaurant. It has been a pleasant surprise to a number of skeptical diners.	The menu is pretty promising, with a number of vegetarian appetizers, soups and salads. One entree appears to be vegan, and I've heard that this chef is very veg-friendly.
	Boma	An African-inspired buffet -- heavy on vegetarian options. Kitty's personal favorite restaurant anywhere -- outstanding variety and exceptional service. Tell Chef TJ I said "hi"!	Hands-down best vegan option on-site. Except for the obvious meat table, almost everything here is vegetarian, and most of it vegan! Be sure to mention your dietary needs to your server, though -- you may be rewarded with even more!
Beach Club Resort & Villas	Beaches and Cream	An old-fashioned soda shop, with some amazing ice cream creations.	In addition to the usual burgers and fries, they do have a standard Boca burger. (Not much for vegans, though I have heard with plenty of notice, they "might" be able to provide some Toffuti.)
	Cape May Cafe	Mornings offer a character breakfast buffet with about what you'd expect. For dinner, this becomes a seafood lover's dream, with a "Clam Bake" buffet.	Not the best choice for vegetarians or vegans - not much beyond salads, kids mac 'n' cheese, and desserts.
Boardwalk Inn & Villas	Big River Grille & Brewing Works	The focus here is on their specialty beers and ales. Menu is rather "meat-heavy."	Vegetarians may be able to modify a salad or pasta dish, but I don't recommend this one -- as a vegan, it's the only time I ever left a WDW restaurant hungry.
	ESPN Club	The theme here is sports. TVs abound - even in the men's room!	Nachos, a portobello sandwich and a veggie burger make this place do-able for a vegetarian.
	Flying Fish	A seafood restaurant with an old seaside amusement park atmosphere. While offering an upscale dining experience for the adults, the kids aren't forgotten, with some whimsical touches just for them.	Mostly seafood, but I do see a cheese ravioli entree and some nice looking salads on the menu.
	Spoodles	A Mediterranean restaurant with an open kitchen and a relaxed, family-type atmosphere. Can be a bit noisy, though.	Oak-fired flatbreads and some veggie pasta dishes for vegetarians. I was treated to a vegan plate of various mediterranean dishes on request.
Caribbean Beach Resort	Shutters at Old Port Royale	Casual, cozy place with Caribbean-inspired American cuisine.	Some soups & salads, plus two entrees - Teriyaki Marinated Tofu with veggies, and a Shutters Fettucine look vegetarian. The first might be vegan -- ask before trying.
Contemporary Resort	California Grill	While this restaurant provides a very nice, rather upscale menu, it's the view that makes this place really special. It's amazing if you can plan your meal to coincide with the Magic Kingdom fireworks.	The head chef has changed since my last meal here, but I had an absolutely amazing "Vegetarian Unplugged" (sampler of different dishes), made vegan with a small modification.
	Chef Mickey's	Character breakfast and dinner buffet. Noisy but lots of family fun.	Looks like you'll have to make do with side-dishes, but the Parmesan Mashed Potatoes get rave reviews. (Not much for vegans.)
	Concourse Steakhouse	Located near the monorail, this place can get noisy. Reviews are mixed, seems to be a bit inconsistent in service and value.	Some side dishes, salads & one entree -- penne pasta with veggies (might be vegan without the cheese -- ask first).
Coronado Springs	Maya Grill	A rather fancy Southwestern steakhouse. The menu seems to have gone more mainstream since its opening.	Really nothing on the menu, but they can make you "something" by request. Calling ahead may increase your options.
Dolphin Resort	Fresh	This buffet-style Mediterranean market is open for breakfast & lunch. It sounds like a wonderful choice for both vegetarians and vegans.	Breakfast features a juice bar and lots of fresh fruit. Lunch includes Mediterranean dishes made to order. The chef is reportedly very accomodating to various diets.
	Shula's Steak House	The name says it all --definitely a "steakhouse".	Vegetarian options seem to be limited to salads and a few side dishes.
	Todd English's bluezoo	Aquatic-themed decor, with a very fish-centric menu.	Possibly a salad and a couple of appetizers or side dishes. Probably just a salad for vegan.
Fort Wilderness	Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue	A very popular dinner show, with singing, dancing, and lots of laughs, suitable for the whole family.	The regular meal isn't very veg-friendly, but they will prepare something suitable with prior notice. A reservation is a must here, this shouldn't be a problem to arrange.
	Trail's End Buffeteria	Breakfast, lunch & dinner buffet, with typical home-style favorites.	A vegetarian could probably manage with the side-dishes. For vegans, I'd ask first, to see what they can do for you.
Grand Floridian Resort and Spa	1900 Park Fare	Character breakfast and dinner buffet. Mary Poppins in the morning, Cinderella in the evening. Some say the characters don't make the rounds quite as well here as other character meals.	You'd have to ask about ingredients, but there seem to be a few good vegetarian options here -- the strawberry soup gets raves. Quite a few side dishes, and a vegetable lo mein.
	Citricos	A rather pricey, upscale Mediterranean restaurant. Reviews are mixed on this one.	Not much promised on the menu. I would definitely call ahead and speak with a chef before considering this one.
	Grand Floridian Cafe	A cheerful, family restaurant, offering breakfast, lunch & dinner. Prices do tend to reflect the upscale neighborhood.	Lunch offers a veggie burger. Dinner includes a vegetarian platter with seared tofu and soba noodles. There might be a couple other options, with some modifications.
	Narcoossee's	Casual-yet-upscale, contemporary decor, with a view of Seven Seas Lagoon. Reviews are quite mixed on this one.	Seafood-heavy menu. Not sure about vegan options, but it's worth checking it out.
	Victoria and Albert's	A true AAA 5-star restaurant, this is Disney's premiere dining experience. Priority seating is required, as well as appropriate attire. Very expensive, but for many, it's worth it.	Dietary requests should be made with your reservation, and confirmed the day before. Every meal here is unique, so it's difficult to give an example. However, I have no doubt that the chef will work to make something quite special.
	Garden View Lounge	Afternoon tea from 2-4:30, daily.	While not exactly a meal, the "snacks" can be quite filling. Along with your tea, they have scones, pastries, and other treats. Most offerings appear vegetarian, but not vegan.
Old Key West Resort	Olivia's Cafe	Down-home dining in a relaxed atmosphere. A nice place if you're in the area. Breakfast, lunch & dinner are offered.	Lunch & dinner offer penne pasta with asiago cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and baby spinach. (Might be vegan without the cheese.)
Polynesian Resort	Kona Cafe	Located on the upper level of the Polynesian lobby, it shares the tropical atmosphere. The coffee alone is enough to bring some folks here. For others, it's the sinful desserts.	This place is known for working with vegetarians and vegans, so it's worth asking in advance. However, the Pan Asian Pasta is available as a vegan entree without prior notice, and it's quite good!
	'Ohana	Very lively, up-beat and noisy, with Polynesian decor and entertainment. All-you-can-eat grilled meat feast.	The regular menu doesn't offer much for a vegetarian. (Try calling ahead and they may be able to fix something for you.)
	Spirit of Aloha Polynesian Luau	A real luau, complete with fire dancers and lots of Polynesian music. Reviews range from "love it" to "hate it".	Vegetarians can probably make do with the salad, bread and a few side dishes. Vegans should call ahead -- not sure if they can accommodate or not.
Port Orleans Resort	Boatwright's	Located in the Riverside section, this place tends to be a bit rowdy, but the servers make things fun.	This menu has changed quite a bit since my last visit. They've added cheese ravioli and vegetable lasagna. I think a vegan would have trouble, though.
Shades of Green Resort	Evergreens	This sports bar has received some decent reviews for it's burgers, but probably not worth a trip for a vegetarian.	A black bean veggie burger and a salad are about the only options.
	Garden Gallery	Each night features a different "themed" buffet. Check ahead for that day's menu.	Not sure how vegans would fare, but it looks like each buffet has at least "something" vegetarian.
	Mangino's	An Italian dinner place.	It looks like they should be able to manage a vegetarain pasta dish. Vegans should probably call ahead.
Swan Resort	Garden Grove /Gulliver's	Called Garden Grove during the day and offers breakfast (buffet) & lunch. At night, it becomes Gulliver's for dinner.	For lunch, there's a grilled soy burger, cheese pizza, or a possible pasta dish (minus chicken). Dinner also offers the cheese pizza, or possible pasta dish.
	Kimonos Sushi Bar	As the name implies, the focus here is sushi.	A possible egg roll, a couple of side dishes and salads might be ok for vegetarians -- ask about possible hidden ingredients first, though.
	Palio	Fancy Italian menu in a casual, comfortable atmosphere. A bit pricey for this vegan.	Looks like quite a few fancy pasta options, as well as wood-fired pizza, for vegetarians. (Vegans should call ahead and check -- menu doesn't look too promising.)
Wilderness Lodge	Artist Point	A nice steakhouse with a beautiful view of the Wilderness Lodge pool area. (dinner only)	Potato-chive potstickers are completely vegan (and highly recommended). Salads are made to order and often a veggie plate can be prepared with available side dishes. Prior notice may offer even more options.
	Whispering Canyon Cafe	This place is anything but "whispering." Party atmosphere with lots of Cast Member antics. Focus is on meat-heavy family-style meals.	Cousin Al's vegetarian pasta is available in place of the usual skillet meal. Might be vegan minus the cheese.
Yacht Club Resort	Yacht Club Galley	Recently reopened after a long hiatus, this cafe offers breakfast and lunch.	The breakfast menu has some interesting vegetarian choices. Lunch offers "Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella on Ciabbatta Roll." A portobello mushroom salad is available for dinner. Vegans can probably manage "something" by request.
	Yachtsman Steakhouse	Definitely a steakhouse, but they keep a vegetarian entree on the menu, and they will work with you if you call 24-48 hrs earlier. (Beware that you may catch an unpleasant glimpse of the meat before it is prepared.)	A potato and leek ravioli dish, as well as a couple of starters, currently show on the menu. I would definitely call ahead on this one, though.)