The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival kicked off last month, and the Disney fan community has had gardening and images of flora on the brain ever since. This month’s interest-based Disney vacations post is dedicated to those who love to garden!

Magic Kingdom:

Jungle Cruise- This attraction is a tour of some of the prettiest plants that line the rivers of the world.

Enchanted Tiki Room- “the birds sing words and the flowers croon..”

Swiss Family Treehouse- The view from atop this treehouse is the best of Adventureland, which is known for its lush plant life.

Gardens around the castle- Here you can find inspiration for specific flowers and various color combinations for your own flower beds.

Crystal Palace- Dining here is like eating in a greenhouse- pure bliss for a gardener.

Epcot:

Living with the Land- If I ranked these attractions in terms of relevancy to the interest, this would be at the top of my list. If you enjoy gardening, you must do this attraction. You will feel right at home and completely inspired, especially if fruits and vegetables are your expertise.

Japan- This pavilion features a beautiful tea garden, complete with a Koi pond.

Canada- The gardens in this pavilion located toward the entrance to Le Cellier are gorgeous. Unfortunately because of its “off to the side” location, many people miss it. Don’t be one of those people!

Garden Grill- This restaurant is perched up above Living with the Land. It offers healthy and fresh food and slowly rotates, giving you a peak of the attraction below it.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

Star Tours- Although the destinations featured in this attraction are fictional, the visual design and lush imagery is sure to invigorate your senses and gardening mindset.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom:

Pangani Forest Exploration Trail- The plants and wildlife here are abundant, just as they are in the rest of the park.

Discovery Island trails- As you enter the theme park, don’t head straight to an attraction. Take time to soak in the immense amount of green nature that surrounds you.

Resorts:

Polynesian- The plants at the entrance and lobby of this resort are breathtaking.

Art of Animation- This resort utilizes various plants to aid in the storytelling. It will give you great ideas on how to make your garden look like a coral reef or an African savanna.

Other:

Epcot Flower and Garden Festival- Attending this event in the Spring is a “no-brainer” for a gardener. There are amazing topiaries and delicious food, plus plenty of opportunities to learn about how to improve your garden at home.

Behind the Seeds Tour- This tour, which is offered year-round, is an affordable and simple way to learn the behind the scenes tricks used to create the healthy crop seen in Living with the Land.

Do you enjoy attending the Flower and Garden Festival? Has WDW’s landscaping ever inspired your garden at home? Comment below or tweet me @MickeyWaffle71 to share your responses or recommend ideas for future interest-based vacations.

Lindsay is a passionate writer and hopes to one day become a Show Writer for Walt Disney Imagineering or write scripts for Disney Animation Studios / Pixar.  In addition to being a WDW Radio Running Team member, she has launched with her best friends Enchanted Rose Entertainment, which provides authentic character entertainment in her community for birthday parties, public events, and charity organizations.

The post Interest-based Disney Vacations: WDW for Gardeners appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

The term “Meatless Monday” was part of an international campaign designed to encourage people to start their week off in a way that was healthy for their bodies and the planet. It has a lot of history behind it, but the basic idea is that you don’t eat meat for one day out of the week!

This concept inspired me with an idea for an interesting recurring segment for “Fish are Friends, Not Food.” So, in upcoming posts I will be developing 1-day meatless-itineraries for those who either already don’t eat meat, but don’t know what to get in the parks, or for those who DO eat meat, but are interested in challenging themselves to one meatless day in the parks! I will give multiple options for each meal, in case your preferences are different. I’m keeping each section limited to 3 options, so that I can make a printable “pocket” itinerary for all of you vegan diners in the parks!

Each restaurant will be labeled CS (counter service) or TS (table service) appropriately. At counter service locations, the ordering process involves waiting in line at a podium, ordering your food with a cast member, waiting for your order at a counter, and bringing the meal to an available table to sit down to eat. A table service location is more similar to a restaurant and involves being seated, and served at your table. You may need to make an advance dining reservation to dine at TS locations and tip your server’s!

So, let’s start with the park that most people start everything with; Magic Kingdom!

Breakfast

1. Crystal Palace - TS, (to the left off of Main St) & 2. Cinderella’s Royal Table- TS, (in Cinderella’s Castle!) Both restaurants are buffets and will have similar options for vegans. Buffets are good options for picky eaters. A chef will take you around the buffet to show you what options are good for you! You will find cereal, oatmeal, soy milk, rice milk, coffee, breakfast potatoes, fresh fruit, and make sure you talk to a chef who will most definitely prepare you your own vegan, allergy-friendly Mickey Waffles!

• Another option may be to eat in your resort cafeteria where you will find the same options listed above.

Lunch

1. Columbia Harbor House- CS, Liberty Square- CHILI!Please, please, please get a cup chili! It has mushrooms, (but they are big enough to pick out if you don’t like them),olives, beans, peppers, onions, and, well, so much more! Depending on how hungry you are, you can add a side of steamed broccoli and/or french fries (I always do!).
2. Be Our Guest- CS, New Fantasyland- Try the Quinoa, Shallot, and Chive Salad which has green beans, potatoes, olives, roasted bell peppers, and tomatoes!
3. Columbia Harbor House (again)! CS, Liberty Square- Try the Lighthouse sandwich, which comes with hummus with tomato and broccoli slaw. The Slaw has dairy, so ask them to substitute it with regular steamed broccoli and an allergy-friendly sandwich bun!

Snack

1. Just can’t wait until dinner to eat again? Stop by the Fantasyland Pretzel Wagon for a pretzel!
2. Or head over to The Plaza Ice Cream Parlor at the end of Main St near the castle and ask for a cup of Tofutti or Rice Dream Ice Cream!

Dinner

1. Tony’s Town Square -TS, Located at the beginning of Main St (on your right if you are facing the castle)  Let them know you’re vegan and the chef will cook you up a special pasta dish with vegetables and garlic sauce, or just marinara or tomato sauce! The pasta is served with a house salad on the side, so order Italian dressing, balsamic vinaigrette, or oil and vinegar with this. For dessert you can order tofutti ice cream, sorbet, or rice dream ice cream.
2. Be Our Guest Restaurant- TS, Located in the New Fantasyland Expansion! Try the vegan Ratatouille! It’s oven-baked Zucchini, Eggplant, Mushrooms, and Caramelized Onions sliced and layered on Quinoa served with Bell Pepper Salsa.
3. Liberty Tree Tavern- TS, Liberty Square- Apparently they have a delicious veggie burger here that can be made vegan upon request. Get it with the allergy-friendly bun and toppings!

Snack

• Stop by the popcorn cart at the end of Main St and stroll towards the castle while you munch away on hot, fresh popcorn!

<<(Here’s a pocket guide of the above information for you to print out and take along with you on your next WDW vacation!)

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave them in the comments below, please!

Angie has been a WDW addict since her first visit at age 8, and since then her life has never been the same! She lives in southeastern MA with her boyfriend, Kevin (fellow Disney lover), and their 3 dogs, Flip, Josie, and Hildy, where she is currently training to become a professional dog trainer.  Please join Angie every week in “Fish Are Friends, Not Food: Eating Vegan in WDW!” Angie believes that WDW is the most magical place for people with special diets, so, should you have any special diet questions (especially about vegan and gluten-free dining) she’d be happy to help! Angie is also an artist, and you can see her work at www.angiecarreiro.com! 

Disclaimer: This blog post, and all past and future Fish Are Friends, Not Food blog posts, are written with my most recent knowledge of the food in WDW parks. Please note that things are constantly changing, so this information might not always be up to date. Also note that I do not take into consideration refined sugar, cross contamination, or impure food items. With that said, always ask a chef before ordering if you are unsure about something, because the recipe may have changed or you may have a different way of defining your vegan lifestyle.

The post Fish Are Friends, Not Food: Magic Kingdom 1-Day Vegan Itinerary appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.