When we created our Instagram, and this blog, it was to introduce Orlando to everyday people. And as much as we try to appeal to everyone, there are people who live, and eat, differently than us. A good example is those who live a vegan lifestyle. Lucky for us, a good friend of ours is vegan and volunteered to spend a day eating vegan at Universal Orlando. And head’s up – he enjoyed a day full of delicious and vegan-friendly food. A big thank you to Kyle Fairhurst for this guest post.

Great news — you were just invited to a full day of thrills and entertainment at Universal Orlando Resort! One small problem — you now have to figure out how you’re going to stay fed the entire day as a vegan in a theme park. 

If you’re vegan, you already know the challenge of finding restaurants that serve plant-based options (other than salad). But what you may not know is that many theme parks have significantly stepped up their vegan game at their on-site eateries.

In my recent visit to Universal Orlando, I was able to eat every meal of the day without consuming a single animal product! (Spoiler alert: It’s not as hard as you think.)

Breakfast

The first stop of my journey to eat vegan at Universal Orlando was Voodoo Doughnut at Universal CityWalk. One look at the colorful doughnut throne by the entrance and my mouth was already watering, but there’s no way they have options without dairy in them, right?

Wrong. Voodoo Doughnut has a substantial menu of vegan alternatives to many of their fan-favorites. I decided on the Vegan ODB, which combines chocolate, peanut butter, and Oreo cookie crumbles for a salty-sweet morning treat. It was the perfect way to begin the day (with the help of a hot coconut milk latte from the CityWalk Starbucks of course.)

Lunch

My group started our theme park expedition at Universal Studios Florida, where after a couple of hours of exploring, our appetites had returned in full force. We decided to stop at Finnegan’s Bar & Grill for a hearty Irish-American meal — yet another location I was sure would not have vegan options.

To my delight, this full-service gastropub offered a Beyond Burger Vegan Shephard’s Pie — something I certainly had not tried before. The pie had a warm, creamy interior with a blend of vegetables and plant-based protein, and a light, crispy exterior. While this may not be for everyone, it was exciting to see Beyond Meat used for more than just a burger.

Snack

Before we took the Hogwarts Express over to Universal’s Islands of Adventure, I needed a little boost to keep me going. Located right next to Lombard’s Seafood Grille, San Francisco Pastry Company is a quaint little bakery with (you guessed it) vegan options! I got the Vegan Elderberry Croissant, which complimented the slightly salty multigrain pastry with the sweet, tart jam inside.

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Dinner

After a few hours traversing Islands of Adventure, our dinner reservation at Mythos Restaurant was upon us (look for the giant stone carving of a man’s head with an actual waterfall cascading from his open mouth — you can’t miss it.) This award-winning restaurant had a couple of vegan menu items to choose from, but I was immediately drawn to the Vegetable Pad Thai. 

This was hands-down one of the best meals I have ever eaten at a theme park. This symphony of noodles, vegetables, crispy tofu, and peanut sauce offers a salty, sweet, and sour explosion of flavor in each bite. Even your carnivore friends will be envious of this delectable dish.

Dessert

On our way out of the parks, my group concluded the night with a trip to the milkshake bar at Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen in CityWalk. It was here that I encountered the most unexpected vegan option of all — the Right Side Up Shake. It was a play on a Pineapple Upside Down Cake, complete with brown sugar, caramel, pineapples, an oat milk whipped topping, and a literal slice of cake on top. This sweet and tangy concoction provides a uniquely delicious way to treat yourself at the end of a long and adventurous day.

Conclusion

All in all, I was shocked at how easy it was to eat vegan at Universal Orlando. Every restaurant I went to had at least a few things for me to choose from, but the most surprising part was the diversity of these options! I was fully prepared to have to eat a salad or veggie burger for every meal of the day, but I was thrilled to be proven wrong. Theme parks are innovating when it comes to creating menus that keep in mind their vegan guests, and I’m excited to see plant-based food options evolve in the years to come.