Eating vegetarian in Hollywood Studios

Today's blog entry comes courtesy of a good friend of mine, Darcie Vance, who is a long time researcher for the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World as well as a vegetarian.  Darcie is here today to share her experience with eating vegetarian in Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Many thanks to Darcie for sharing her experiences with all of us!

Today's blog entry comes courtesy of a good friend of mine, Darcie Vance, who is a long time researcher for the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World as well as a vegetarian.  Darcie is here today to share her experience with eating vegetarian in Disney's Hollywood Studios.  Many thanks to Darcie for sharing her experiences with all of us!

Upon entering Hollywood Studios the smell of popcorn and other goodies welcomes you. It is almost instantly your mind starts to become excited about what you will be eating while in the park. For vegetarians it is not as complicated as it used to be. Through the years, Disney has done a great job of adding vegetarian options to nearly every menu both counter service and sit down. I enjoy going to Hollywood Studios because I know I will have a great time and a great meal. Personally I am a lacto vegetarian so I eat cheese and eggs but no meat at all, however even vegans or other forms of vegetarians will not leave the park hungry.

Snack wise one of my favorite places to visit is the Anaheim Produce counter service shop. They have a selection of whole and cut fresh fruit. Fresh carrots, grapes, celery, apples and pineapples are all available for a quick snack. Trail mix, pickles, and vitamin water are also available.

For lunch or dinner each restaurant at Hollywood Studios has at least one vegetarian option. Personally I am a huge pizza and cheese fan so I gravitate towards either Mama Melrose's Ristorange Italiano or Toy Story Pizza Planet. Mama Melrose has pizza, spaghetti, and an eggplant dish for lacto vegetarians to choose from. However if you are in the need of a fast meal and want to pay a little less then Pizza Planet features a cheese pizza. Both restaurants have enough food to keep a cheese loving vegetarian full.

Some quick counter service suggestions would be Rosie’s All American Café and the Backlot Express. Rosie’s All American Café has a veggie burger that I enjoy. At Backlot Express try the grilled veggie sandwich it is filled with mushrooms, peppers, zucchini, tomato, watercress and cheese. The sandwich is a colorful substantial meal.

The Hollywood Brown Derby is one of the most visited restaurants in the park. It has the old Hollywood feel that complements a visit to Hollywood Studios. The Brown Derby features a noodle bowl for both lunch and dinner that will delight vegetarians. The bowl is filled with Wok-fried Coconut Tofu, Soy Beans, Sugar Snap Peas, Bok Choy, and Shiitake Mushrooms in a Red Curry Broth. Vegetarians can experience the elegance of old Hollywood and a great meal all at the same time.

Through the years I have also learned that sit down restaurants can be more accommodating then counter service. Because all of the food at counter service locations is made ahead of time there is no way to order the grilled veggie sandwich at Backlot Express without peppers. However if you are at a sit down restaurant and want to order spaghetti from Mama Melrose without the meat sauce they will make it for you. Sit down restaurants will also try to tailor a meal to your liking more then quick service places can. I have had chefs come out to my table to speak about my favorite items and been pleasantly surprised with the tailored dish I received that was not on the menu. At any of the sit down restaurants within Hollywood Studios I suggest speaking with your server and asking if there are any vegetarian options not on the menu. Disney is always accommodating and wants to make sure your food is just the way you like it. And always save room for dessert!