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.	Be sure to ask for the separate vegetarian menu! Chefs are reported to be very veggie-friendly here. Always gets rave reviews - one of the best bets.
	Boma	An African-inspired buffet -- heavy on vegetarian options. Outstanding variety and many tasty options for both vegetarians & vegans.	Be sure to ask for a chef - they will walk you through the buffet & explain options. While service is not quite what it used to be, this is still a very veg-friendly buffet.
	Sanaa	African cuisine with Indian flavors, in a setting that offers some amazing views of the savannah. The animals here can get quite close to the windows.	Too new for me to have any reviews or personal experience, but I've heard that they have both a vegetarian and vegan menu! With the Lodge's other wonderful choices, I have no doubt that this will be a good one, too.
Beach Club Resort & Villas	Beaches and Cream	An old-fashioned soda shop, with some amazing ice cream creations.	They do have a veggie burger and veggie wrap on the menu - ask, but I'd guess that they are vegan, or "veganizable". I have heard that with advance notice, they might provide Toffuti or Rice Dream.
	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!	There is a vegetable sandwich on the menu - looks "veganizable", but ask first. While not the best choice, it's probably an option, if the sports-bar theme appeals to you.
	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 a vegetarian pasta dish is available. Vegans should call ahead, to see if they will work with you.
	Spoodles	A Mediterranean restaurant with an open kitchen and a relaxed, family-type atmosphere. Can be a bit noisy, though. *Note: closing soon, to be replaced by Cat Cora's Kouzzina	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.	A veggie pasta dish and a couple of sides are available. Vegans should call ahead.
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.	Vegetarians might be able to make do with side dishes - not much for vegans. A call ahead might produce better results.
	The Wave	A casual restaurant that blends American cuisine with world flavors.	A vegetable stew with rice seems to be the best veggie offering on the menu, but the restaurant says they will work with special diets - vegans should call ahead.
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.	Based on the menu, not much more than a salad or a side dish. You might want to call ahead.
Fort Wilderness	Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue	A very popular dinner show, with singing, dancing, and lots of laughs, suitable for the whole family.	Don't follow my example - call ahead & make sure you speak with a chef at least 72 hours before your meal. I ended up with a simple plate of grilled veggies & rice - no seasoning, very little flavor. Okay for a quick meal, but not worth the high price for this dinner show.
	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.Vegans should call ahead.
	Citricos	A rather pricey, upscale Mediterranean restaurant. Reviews are mixed on this one.	An interesting tofu and pasta dish is now offered on the menu - could be vegan, but ask a chef to confirm.
	Grand Floridian Cafe	A cheerful, family restaurant, offering breakfast, lunch & dinner. Prices do tend to reflect the upscale neighborhood.	Not much at all on the menu. Definitely call ahead to see what they can do for you.
	Narcoossee's	Casual-yet-upscale, contemporary decor, with a view of Seven Seas Lagoon. Reviews are quite mixed on this one.	Entrée with summer vegetables and marinated tofu currently offered. Ask to see if it's vegan.
	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.	While the menu has changed, the service remains top-notch. While calling ahead is helpful, I have never had a problem getting the chef to prepare something vegan for me "on the fly" - they always seem eager to please.
	'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 or vegan, but a call in advance should get you tasty meal. If you're lucky enough to catch Chef TJ, you'll be in for quite a treat!
	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. Note: now open for dinner only.	The menu currently offers a veggie pasta dish, and a few sides. Vegans should call ahead - not sure what is available.
Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa	Turf Club Bar and Grill	A nice, casual restaurant that tends to be overlooked, due to its location. Usually gets good reviews.	A veggie pasta dish and a few sides are available. Vegans should call ahead.

Shades of Green Resort	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.	Eggplant Parmesan and cheese pizza are currently available. Vegans should probably call ahead.
Swan Resort	Garden Grove	Weekends offer a character buffet breakfast. Weekdays offer a more standard breakfast, no characters. Lunch is a la cart, while dinner offers a different buffet, depending on the day.	Breakfast is about what you would expect. Lunch seems to have some promising vegetarian offerings. Dinner could be more of a challenge. Vegans should definitely call ahead.
	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.
	Il Mulino New York Trattoria	Rich Italian meals in an elegant setting.	Based on the menu, I'd guess that a vegetarian would have no problem finding a very rich meat-free pasta dish, but vegans should call ahead - pasta may have eggs, and most dishes include dairy.
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	Captain's Grille	A casual eatery that seems to under a lot of changes.	The breakfast menu has some interesting vegetarian choices. Lunch offers "Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella on Ciabbatta Roll." Dinner menu doesn't offer much. You may want to call ahead for more options.
	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 mushroom ravioli dish, as well as a couple of side dishes, currently show on the menu. (I would definitely call ahead on this one, though.)