Most travelers I know bring snacks and other food items with them when they travel. There are a few reasons to bring food with you to WDW: if you are traveling on a budget, missing your food from home, or consider stopping for snacks too time consuming. For this post to apply to land and air travelers, I will stick to foods which don’t require refrigeration during travel.

Cereal: Some examples of mainstream cereal brands that are vegan include Cheerios (honey is technically an animal-product, but not all vegans feel the need to avoid it, so you can make that decision on your own), most of the Chex cereals, Cap’n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch (my favorite), Kashi GOLEAN Crisp! Toasted Berry Crumble, and Kashi Strawberry Fields Original, Raisin Bran, just to name a few. Most oatmeal is fine, too.

Soymilk: your resort will have Silk soymilk in stock alongside the dairy-milk and juices, but I usually buy my own soymilk before I leave for vacation for a few reasons; it’s cheaper and I specifically buy the kind that comes in individual servings that don’t need to be refrigerated so I don’t need to rent a fridge! I buy ZenSoy On The Go from Amazon. This is also a great option to bring in your bag into the parks with you in case you want to get a coffee and not pay the extra money to buy a soymilk in the store! (They also offer a chocolate soymilk variety for this brand!)

Peanut Butter, Bread, and Jelly/Jam: We’ve always done this when traveling in the car. You can manage to do it for air travel if you can figure out a way for your bread to not get squished! Make sandwiches at your room and maybe even bring ziplock baggies so you can bring them into the parks with you!

Clif/Luna Bars: All of the bars of these brands are currently vegan, just make sure you aren’t assuming all products made by this brand are safe. Check the label if you aren’t sure! I always bring the chocolate dipped coconut variety of the Luna Bars and get a bulk case to bring with me before I go! Kevin likes the more natural-granola type Clif Bars.

Peanut Butter and Ritz Crackers: If you can find a packaged peanut butter cracker, that would make this even easier, but I’m not sure which brands don’t have milk in them. Otherwise, bring a container of peanut butter and a box of Ritz crackers or Saltines, which are both vegan, and make yourself some peanut butter crackers to take around in a ziplock with you in the parks! (Don’t buy Ritz Bits though, they have milk for some reason!)

Nuts: I personally like to snack on raw almonds, but any type of nut will do. Just grab a handful and put ‘em in a baggie each morning before you head out to the parks and you have the perfect little snack to munch on while you wait in line for an attraction!

So, there you go! It’s nice to be able to have a little something to rely on without spending that extra buck, or taking up too much time in WDW restaurants just for a quick snack!

What are your favorite snacks and food items to bring with you during your WDW vacations? Leave your answers in the comments below!

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 atwww.angiecarreiro.com!

The post Fish Are Friends, Not Food: Vegan Food to Bring to WDW 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.

So, have you tried snacking at places like BabyCakes NYC, Cookes of Dublin, Earl of Sandwich, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop, Marketplace Snacks, Wonderland Cafe, Forty Thirst Street, Haagen Dazs, or Wetzel’s Pretzels?

What is YOUR favorite snack item or location in Downtown Disney? Leave your comments below!

Thanks for watching!

- Lou Mongello

The post Video: Top 5 Snacks in Downtown Disney in Walt Disney World appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

From sweet to savory, refreshing and sharable, you may discover a few tasty treats which are also some of Walt Disney World’s best values.

What’s YOUR favorite snack in the Magic Kingdom? Leave yours in the Comments below!

The post Video: 5 Snacks Under $5 at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hello and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello, author of the Walt Disney World Trivia Books and Audio Tours of WDW, and this is show #285 for the week of July 29, 2012.

At Walt Disney World dining is equally as important, and just as much fun, as the attractions and shows. It’s also something that affords you and your family wonderful opportunities to sample, share, learn from and enjoy flavors from literally around the world. And not every dining opportunity has to be enjoyed during breakfast, lunch or dinner. So this week, we’re going to look at the some of the “Best of the Best” as we explore the Best Snacks in Epcot. AJ from the Disney Food Blog joins me as we discuss the options, strategies, pairings, values, flavors and more in a segment that will not only introduce you to some snack options you may not have considered before, but will almost surely leave you hungry as well.

I’ll then have the answer and winner for last week’s Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week, and pose a new question for your chance to win a Disney prize package!

Be sure and stay for the announcements, including information about upcoming WDW Radio events, as well as some of your voicemails at the end of the show. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.\

Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week!

Information and Links from This Week’s Show:

Question for YOU: What is your favorite snack in Epcot? Leave your answer in the comments section below

• Listen to this week’s episode for the Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week for a chance to win a Disney prize package!
• Private Tours of Walt Disney World with Lou Mongello
• Disney Meets and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World – Get dates and locations on our Events page
• Watch & chat during our LIVE WDW NewsCast Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET at WDWRadioLIVE.com
• For more videos, subscribe to our WDW Radio channel on YouTube or the show in iTunes
• Get Celebrations Magazine on your iPad/iPhone in iTunes App Store
  
• Check out the Disney Food Blog e-book: The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining – Use code WDWRADIO to save 20%! Money-back guarantee!
  

The post Show # 285 – July 29, 2012 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.