Sunday 12 September 2010

Disneyland Paris

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 Cafe
LOCATION: Adventureland, the Aladin themed area.
COST: 25 euros pp
VEGAN 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 Buffet
LOCATION: Dreamcastle hotel
COST: 15 euros pp/ Free as guest of hotel
VEGAN 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 Sandwiches
COST: 5.50 for sandwich, 7.50 for baguette, 11 for meal deal
LOCATION: Disney Village
VEGAN 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 Cafe
LOCATION: Disney Village
COST: 16-30 euros per person
VEGAN 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 Oro
LOCATION: Disneyland Park, opposite BTM
COST: 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 Hollywood
LOCATION: Disney Village
COST: 15-30 euros per person
VEGAN 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 Park
COST: 5-10 euros pp
VEGAN 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!!

10 comments:

  1. Hi !

    I'm french and vegan, (and my english is very bad.. )
    I want to go to disneyland paris, and I would like to thank you for your article, it will be very useful for me !

    Susy.

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  2. Salut!

    Non c'est pas vrai, ton anglais est beaucoup mieux que mon francais!!! Je suis trop contente que j'ai t'aide avec mon blog!!! Sorry I'm on my phone accents don't work. I lived in France for 9 months last year, in avignon, do you find it hard being vegan there? I found it ok but the uk is a bit easier!!

    Kirsti :)

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  3. hi !

    I go to Disney tomorrow !
    In France, it is very difficult to be vegan, because people do not understand. There is the tradition and habits .. but I live very well and I always manages to eat well!

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  4. Hope you're having/ had an amazing time at Disney! Let me know how you got on food-wise :)

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  5. Supposedly they do have a Loving Hut in Paris somewhere. May be just in the "main bit".

    If you ever go to main Paris again Vegan in Brighton mentioned places on her blog

    http://veganinbrighton.blogspot.com/2011/01/paris-part-i.html

    http://veganinbrighton.blogspot.com/2011/02/paris-part-ii.html

    http://veganinbrighton.blogspot.com/2011/03/paris-part-iii.html

    I never realised so many vegan options in Paris D: lol

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  6. Thanks! We did Paris 'properly' in October 2009 (Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe and all the other sight) and had one day at Disney then, and bf loved it, so we decided to go back and have another break that wasn't so much Paris as Disney! When I go back to Paris properly again I will try some of those restaurants though, thanks!

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  7. Really helpful article, thanks very much for it. My girlfriend is vegetarian and allergic to lactose so that pretty much makes her vegan. It's great to have the point of view of someone who's actually been there as a vegan and not just second guessing online menus. Cheers muchly!

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  8. Found this very handy and interesting, I can't have lactose so at least I know I can still enjoy a coffee when we go :) Will definitely be packing loads of snacks too. :) x

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  9. This is awesome info thanks :0) my wife and I were talking about what it would be like if we went to Disneyland Paris now we are all vegans :0) now we know!

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  10. I'm here in the Dream House hotel right now with my husband and we're so disappointed by the quality and service of the food here at the hotel and at the Disney village. Luckily we're only spending 1 day in the Disneyland Parks and have spent the last 3 days in the city itself where there are some amazing places to eat (highly recommend Cloud Cakes and Hank Pizza/Hank Burger for vegan restaurants if you find yourself in Paris again :) your blog post has helped us out so much whilst we've been here! Thankyou for sharing your experience :) x x

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