Eating Vegan at Disney Springs
Whether you’re a veteran vegan, a new convert, or part-time plant eater, the popularization of vegan eating and meat substitutes (like Impossible and Beyond meat) have made it easier than ever before to maintain an animal-free diet. We still live in a meat-focused culture, however, making it sometimes difficult to enjoy carefree meals with your family. Thankfully, Walt Disney World understands this concern and has specifically strived to expand their plant-based offerings throughout the resort for maximum vacation convenience! Even Disney Springs includes a variety of dining options in every category of restaurant. Let’s take a look at some of the most and least vegan-friendly eateries throughout Disney Springs!
Carts & Kiosks
When you’re hungry and in a hurry, food carts and kiosks throughout Disney Springs offer a variety of delicious, quality snacks. However, not all of them offer satisfying vegan options.
Most Vegan-Friendly: B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co.
This is a walk-up restaurant featuring various hot dogs and sausages.
The Plant-Based Bratwurst Sausage, served with chips, is a satisfying meal that requires no modifications or special instructions. There are a variety of other choices as well, including a lamb sausage and traditional hot dog, to satisfy all taste buds.
Another Vegan-Friendly Option: 4 Rivers Cantina Barbacoa Food Truck
Owned by a locally famous restaurant chain, this food truck offers Mexican-inspired dishes for all.
Orlando residents know 4 Rivers as the place to get great barbecue, so it’s counterintuitive to list this food truck among the “Most Friendly” options. With a focus on Mexican flavors, however, it’s easy to modify almost everything on the menu – including their famous, deep fried “taco cone.” The food truck doesn’t offer a tofu filling, but you can substitute any meat with black beans and rice. Ask for your dish without cheese or sour cream, and you have a delicious, plant-based meal!
Least Vegan-Friendly: The Daily Poutine
A Canadian tradition, this kiosk offers varieties of French fries or yucca fries smothered in sauces, meats, and cheeses.
While you can achieve vegan eating here, it requires a significant amount of modification. By the time you’re done removing the meats, cheeses, and potentially the sauce; you might as well go to McDonald’s and enjoy a much cheaper order of French Fries.
Quick Service
If you’re looking for a restaurant experience without the table-service price tag, there are several quick service options around Disney Springs.
Most Vegan-Friendly: Blaze Pizza
This is an innovative pizza bar that allows guests to order fresh, pre-designed pies or “Build Your Own” creations, including several crust, cheese, and topping choices.
Blaze not only offers vegan cheese but you can also order an absolutely delicious, plant-based chorizo topping! I recommend building your own pizza with red sauce, the vegan cheese and chorizo, and of course, as many vegetables as you can handle! The restaurant also offers several vegan “finishes” for your pizza such as arugula, BBQ drizzle, olive oil, or buffalo sauce.
Another Vegan-Friendly Option: D-Luxe Burger
Enjoy a gourmet burger joint offering a variety of patties including signature beef, fried chicken, plant-based, and a chorizo blend.
D-Luxe features a Plant-Based Pacific Island Burger that requires no modifications. It’s served with mushroom and cabbage ragout, mango salsa, lettuce, and dill pickles. Grab a side of fries, and you have yourself a plant-based, junk food feast!
Honorable Mention: Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC
Catering to multiple dietary needs, Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC offers gluten-free, vegan, and kosher goodies including cookies, donuts, cupcakes, and other delicious treats!
Since this is strictly a bakery, I can’t really count it as a vegan-friendly restaurant. However, this is an amazing option for a plant-based dessert as literally EVERYTHING is vegan! For a quick breakfast, they even have a bagel served with a side of vegan butter! Yum!
Least Vegan-Friendly: Chicken Guy
Featuring the cooking of Chef Guy Fieri, Chicken Guy is famous for delicious chicken tenders served with a wide selection of sauces.
With a menu focused on chicken tenders, sandwiches, and sauces; it’s incredibly difficult to find vegan-friendly food options. Your best bet is to order the BBQ Chopped Chicken salad without slaw, cheese, and chicken. You’ll also need to substitute the sauces/dressings for something vegan-friendly.
Another Not-So-Great Option: The Polite Pig
This is a barbecue joint with a Florida twist offering unique dishes and side items like citrus-marinated chicken and whiskey-carmel Brussels sprouts.
Not surprisingly for a barbecue place, this restaurant offers no vegan or vegetarian entrees (unless you count a heavily modified Cesar Salad). While there are several delicious, veggie-based side dishes, the problem is that very few are actually served free of animal products. In fact, the only side dish available without significant modification is the BBQ Waffle Fries.
Table Service
For a traditional restaurant experience, Disney Springs has a variety of table service dining options.
Most Vegan-Friendly: City Works Eatery and Pour House
A celebration of craft beer, this dining location offers 90 local and global varieties on draft.
While City Works’ focus may be its extensive beer collection, there are several vegan menu items available with little to no modification. In the starters section, you can find Kung Pao Cauliflower. This dish is served with a sweet peppers, green onions, fried peanuts, and garlic.
The Fried Pickles are also vegan. You only need to substitute the side of ranch dressing with a plant-based option.
For an entree, City Works offers the Impossible Burger. Their standard vegan burger is served with lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, and vegan roasted garlic horseradish aioli. If you don’t like those toppings, you can sub an Impossible patty into any of their other burger options.
Another Vegan-Friendly Option: Art Smith’s Homecomin’
Featuring the famous recipes of Art Smith, this restaurant specializes in Southern comfort food like buttermilk fried chicken, catfish, and carb-loaded sides. Art Smith’s Homecomin’ also boasts a wide variety of flavored moonshine.
While not specifically mentioned on the menu, Art Smith’s Homecomin’ offers deep fried Gardein tenders as a vegan substitute! You can swap almost any meat for this chicken replacement at no extra charge! The restaurant also offers delicious vegan sides, such as Braised Kale & Collards, French Green Beans, and Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
Least Vegan-Friendly: The Boathouse
Specializing in seafood and steaks, this upscale restaurant offers stunning views of the lagoon and Saratoga Springs Resort.
There are literally no vegan entrees on this menu – at least not without significant modification. Even their pasta is served with a cream sauce. Unless you are the type of vegan that occasionally splurges in a fish dinner, I would not recommend this restaurant.
While vegan eating takes a bit of extra planning, it is possible to maintain an enjoyable plant-based diet on your Disney vacation! We hope this guide helps you navigate the available options at Disney Springs!
Have you tried any of the above mentioned plant-based entrees? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!
