Maintaining a plant-based diet has never been easier – even when you’re on vacation! But not all restaurants and snacking options are equal (even at a theme park). Enjoy our guide to vegan eating at Animal Kingdom to discover the best and worst in-park dining options for plant-based eaters!
Carts & Kiosks
Sometimes you only have time for a quick nosh between attractions. Here are some of my favorite plant-based snacks at the park!
Most Vegan-Friendly: Harambe Fruit Market
In addition to classic Mickey Pretzels (accidentally vegan!) and fresh fruit (both served in cups and whole), the Harambe Fruit Market offers Grilled Corn on the Cob. Served with or without African spices, this is a unique alternative to the traditional theme park turkey leg.
Another Vegan-Friendly Option: Tamu Tamu Refreshments
Serving famous Dole Whip, many of this stand’s options are actually vegan. Stick to the Pineapple Dole Whip flavor, and you can almost have anything on the menu: a cup of ice cream, a float (with or without alcohol), or even a Simba’s Sunset! A Simba’s Sunset is Pineapple Dole Whip with strawberry, coconut, and watermelon flavored syrups.
Least Vegan-Friendly Option: Pongu Pongu
Planning some time in Pandora: The World of Avatar during your visit? Avoid Pongu Pongu. While their unique, handcrafted beverages might be refreshing, the problem lies in their signature snack. The Pongu Limpia is a Pineapple Cream Cheese Spring Roll. Delicious? Probably. Vegan? Definitely not.
Quick Service
When you need a heftier bite but timing is still important, quick service restaurants are the perfect choice! Animal Kingdom has a wide variety of cuisines to choose from – including barbecue, pizza, and more!
Most Vegan-Friendly: Satu’li Canteen
Featuring the greatest variety of vegan food, Satu’li Canteen offers a variety of bowls with different bases, sauces, and proteins. Appropriate vegan options include rice and black beans or potato hash for the base. The charred onion sauce and fried tofu, of course, are always plant-based. Having tried these dishes before (I prefer the potato hash), I can confidently vouch for their vibrant flavors and filling portions.
Another Vegan-Friendly Option: Harambe Market
Open seasonally, the Harambe Market is an open air establishment with dining options like ribs, chicken, salads, and the plant-based Hot Link Bowl! I tried this dish on a recent trip the park, and I am in love! The sausage itself is super tasty with a nice texture. I wouldn’t say that it tastes much like its meat counterpart, but it’s a satisfying protein nonetheless! The cilantro rice and mixed greens on the side paired perfectly with the meal.
Least Vegan-Friendly: Pizzafari
You would think that the pizza joint would have lots of vegan options, but that’s not the case at Animal Kingdom’s Pizzafari. In fact, there are no plant-based pizza or pizza-ish options at all. The only vegan dish is the Greens and Grains Salad – including Garbanzo beans, red onions, quinoa, and pepperoncini. It’s certainly healthier than many of the entree items throughout park, but perhaps not quite as satisfying.
Table Service Dining
If you can fit it in, a table service adds a layer of elegance and luxury to your theme park day. Animal Kingdom has several sit down restaurants to choose from, let’s take a look!
Most Vegan-Friendly: Tusker House Restaurant
Serving both all-you-can-eat breakfast and lunch/dinner menus, Tusker House features the most variety of vegan food at any of the Animal Kingdom restaurants. For the breakfast platter, they’ll give you a feast of JUST egg, Impossible curry, vegan Mickey Waffles, and plenty of fruit! During the lunch and dinner hours, you can enjoy almost all of the traditional sides (except the macaroni and cheese of course), with Impossible curry and a vegan chocolate mousse dessert.
Another Vegan-Friendly Option: Tiffins Restaurant
While the options are more limited, there are still some pretty great plant-based dishes at Tiffins – located near the Pandora section of the park. Start your meal with a plant-based Tinga taco, then move to North African-spiced tofu for the entree and end with Passion Fruit Tapioca Créme for dessert.
Least Vegan-Friendly Option: Rainforest Cafe
Located just outside the park gates, the Rainforest Cafe has a few options suitable for plant-based eaters. The only problem? Almost all of them require substitutions – even their Beyond Burger comes with Swiss cheese unless you specifically ask for it removed. Order with caution.
As you can see it is possible (and tasty!) to maintain your plant-based diet on your Disney vacation! We hope our guide to vegan eating at Animal Kingdom has been helpful. Have you tried any of the vegan entrees on this list? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!
