Boyfriend and I just spent an amazing long weekend at Disneyland Paris, I'd say I wish I was back there but it was a bit exhausting walking around all day and I've got a cold... but I will say that I hope to go back soon! Prior to the trip I was trying to find out about vegan eating possibilities. but only found very limited information- despite this, I discovered it was actually fairly easy to eat healthily and to have satisfying meals, although beware of the junk food culture that comes with the territory!
BEFORE GOING:
I packed some pot noodle things as I knew the hotel had a kettle just in case I got really stuck money or choicewise for food. Also brought fruit bars, raisins and nuts which were a godsend when you're wanting a quick energy boost on the go and don't want to queue up for an overpriced snack, plus the fruit bars added to the five-a-day. Score! Boyfriend brought some protein bars but also snaffled some of my snacks too- cheeky!
DAY 1
We stayed at the Dreamcastle hotel which is a free 5 minute bus journey from the parks. Got there and checked in about 4, and were back out at the Disneyland Park at about 5.30pm. Went straight for food at the recommended Agrabah Cafe. This was the most expensive meal of our trip (25 euros each not including drinks) but as it was a buffet it was almost value for money and we both had a great range to eat (he was trying to avoid junk food). Vegan wise this is definitely the best place to eat in the park- all the entrees except one were meat free (watch out as the French don't count fish as meat- I was told that all starters were vegetarian but saw one did contain tuna, it was very noticeable just by looking though) and I am fairly certain there was no egg or dairy- the only thing I forgot to ask about was stock, if any was used it is likely to be meat stock but none of the food tasted like there was stock in it. There was one vegan main and plentiful fruit salad for desert.
RESTAURANT NAME: Agrabah CafeLOCATION: Adventureland, the Aladin themed area.COST: 25 euros ppVEGAN VARIETY: ****FOOD QUALITY: ****FOOD QUANTITY: ****ATMOSPHERE: ****SERVICE: ****Food available: Pasta salad, plain couscous, roasted vegetables, tomato pasta, chickpeas, lentils, rolls, pitta bread, salad, taboule, fruit salad.
DAY 2:
Breakfast at the Dreamcastle is buffet style with both continental and cooked options. If you're not fussy, there were plenty of vegan options- there was even soya milk, which, idiot that I am, I only noticed on the last day!! If in doubt, ask. Also if you're sly you could easily make up salad rolls at the breakfast buffet and take them away for lunch.
RESTAURANT NAME: Dreamcastle Breakfast BuffetLOCATION: Dreamcastle hotelCOST: 15 euros pp/ Free as guest of hotelVEGAN VARIETY: ****FOOD QUALITY: ***FOOD QUANTITY: *****ATMOSPHERE: **SERVICE: ***Food available: Coco Pops, muesli, cornflakes, fruit salad, raisins, walnuts, 4 jams, various breads, rolls and baguettes, tea, coffee, soya milk, orange juice, apple juice, grapefruit juice, apple compote, salad bar (sweetcorn lettuce, carrot, tomato).
After going on a lot of the rides at Disney studios in the morning, we decided to head to the Disney Village, just next to the parks, for lunch, and went to the New York Deli there. There were two vegan options, but they were pretty much the same thing- salad on bread, or salad on a baguette. The salad was made quite yummy though through the addition of guacamole. Also there's a meal deal. Bonus is that the sandwiches are freshly made (so you can modify your order) but service is slooooowww.
RESTAURANT NAME: New York Deli SandwichesCOST: 5.50 for sandwich, 7.50 for baguette, 11 for meal dealLOCATION: Disney VillageVEGAN VARIETY: **FOOD QUALITY: ***FOOD QUANTITY: ***ATMOSPHERE: **SERVICE: *Food available: Salad and guacamole sandwiches, chunky chips, apples (all three available with a drink as a meal deal)
Then after tackling the three big coasters in the Disneyland Park plus a bunch of other rides, we headed back to the village to the Rainforest Cafe for dinner. The atmosphere there was amazing- it's like being in the jungle surrounded by trees, shrubbery and model animals, some of which move!! There are two possible dishes, the pasta was nice but the burger was suspect. Ate here on the last day too.
RESTAURANT NAME: Rainforest CafeLOCATION: Disney VillageCOST: 16-30 euros per personVEGAN VARIETY: **FOOD QUALITY: ***FOOD QUANTITY: ***ATMOSPHERE: *****SERVICE: ***Food available: Pasta with veggies but ask for no cheese, or soya burger with no cheese and no sauce, but the burger itself tasted kind of cheesy so may be worth asking what exactly is in it.
DAY 3
Same breakfast, but I'll mention lunch and dinner. Lunch was at the Fuerte Del Oro mexican fast food place opposite Big Thunder Mountain.
RESTAURANT NAME: Fuerte Del OroLOCATION: Disneyland Park, opposite BTMCOST: 5-15 euros (pp)VEGAN VARIETY: **FOOD QUALITY: **FOOD QUANTITY: ***ATMOSPHERE: **SERVICE: ***Food available: Veggie Taco Salad, but the 'taco' is questionable, they call it a 'wheat pancake' in the description and it's not like a corn taco or a fajita- ask what's in it. Mexican chips, Nachos with salsa and guacamole
Dinner was at Planet Hollywood. A bit of a disappointment, though we had fun trying to name all the actors on the wall.
RESTAURANT NAME: Planet HollywoodLOCATION: Disney VillageCOST: 15-30 euros per personVEGAN VARIETY: **FOOD QUALITY: **FOOD QUANTITY: ***ATMOSPHERE: **SERVICE: **Food available: Tomato Pasta, ask for no cheese (mine came with cheese even though I asked so had to be sent back and remade) veggie burger made with 'mixed vegetables' which I didn't try so you'd have to ask what's in it.
Day 4
Our last day was a bit of a slow one cause boyfriend was feeling ill (now I've caught it off him!) so we had quite a chilled out day with an early night. Lunch was from the cafe on Mainstreet which I've forgotten the name of, but we took it out and watched cartoons in the Videopolis.
RESTAURANT NAME: ?LOCATION: Mainstreet USA, Disneland ParkCOST: 5-10 euros ppVEGAN VARIETY: *FOOD QUALITY: **FOOD QUANITY: **ATMOSPHERE: ***SERVICE: ***Food available: A veggie bap which had parmesan on the ingredients list. I asked for it to be made without and she told me they couldn't make to order but there was no parmesan in it any more. Just to be sure, I told her I was allergic to milk so she checked with the chef, her manager, then the chef again before assuring me there was no parmesan, since I figured they were unlikely to risk a law suit I believed her. The veggies were courgettes and aubergines I think, it was quite nice. Also there are apples, bananas and ready salted crisps here.
Dinner was back to the rainforest cafe for the suspect veggie burger which came with fries.
OTHER OPTIONS:
I also noticed a couple other options which I didn't try, which were the spaghetti nepolitan from the Bella Notte restaurant in Fantasyland, and the baked potato with veggie bean chilli from Billy Bob's restaurant in the Disney Village.
SNACKS:
Widely available are popcorn, cherry tomatoes, carrot sticks, orange juice or fizzy drinks, chips and fruit salad pots. There's a Starbucks in the Disney Village which has soya milk if you fancy a coffee or hot chocolate when you're out!
OVERALL: I had a great holiday which, with a little forward planning, was not marred by my need to find vegan restaurants. I easily lasted the three days, although I'd have liked a bit more green leafy veggies/ broccoli for iron but I can catch up now I'm home!!
