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Keeping Kosher at Walt Disney World: Walt Disney World Tips

by Gavriel Hoffman, PassPorter Guest Contributor
Last modified 07-07-2017

As a longtime Disney fanatic traveling to Walt Disney World (WDW) is always a fun time for our entire family, and as someone who keeps kosher we have seen the ever growing options for us at the park. Fortunately those who are strictly kosher can now partake of both quick and table service options, as well as some snacks, with a multitude of options.

Kosher Quick Service Dining


Each park at WDW has at least one quick service restaurant available. With the exception of the Kusafiri Coffee Shop, none of the quick service options that serve kosher food at the parks are open for breakfast. So, you should look to either book a meal at a table service restaurant or eat at your hotel. If you are an early riser; breakfast can be a great time to book a character meal (especially our favorites Tusker House and Cinderella’s Table). Generally the options are meat except for breakfast meals, pizza, and the rarely available macaroni and cheese.

Below are the locations of the quick service locations in each park that offer kosher options:

Magic Kingdom
Cosmic Ray’s

Epcot
Liberty Inn
Electric Umbrella

Hollywood Studios
ABC Commissary

Animal Kingdom
Kusafiri Coffee Shop and Bakery

Additionally, many of the Disney owned hotels also have kosher food available at the food courts including:
• All-Star Movies Resort - World Premiere
• All-Star Music Resort - Intermission
• All-Star Sports Resort - End Zone
• Caribbean Beach - Old Port Royale Food Court
• Pop Century – Everything Pop Dining
• Port Orleans French Quarter - Sassagoula Floatworks and Food Factory
• Port Orleans Riverside – Riverside Mill Food Court
• Saratoga Springs Resort - Artist’s Palette
• Grand Floridian - Gasparilla Grill
• Animal Kingdom Lodge - The Mara

Kosher Table Service Dining


Walt Disney World is by far the most accommodating of the Disney parks when it comes to Table Service Restaurants. You can get kosher brought into any sit down restaurant on the Disney property, including the Disney owned hotels, as long as you are able to get a reservation and give at least 48 hours’ notice of your desire for a kosher meal by calling 407-WDW-DINE. Want to experience the lovely views of the San Angel Inn Restaurante as part of the Mexico experience at Epcot? You got it! Always wanted to see what the fuss is with the California Grill? Done! Always dreamed of seeing your daughters in complete heaven while having breakfast with the princesses in the castle at Cinderella’s table? You bet! You can even participate in many of the dining packages, including the Fantasmic Dining package. As with all Disney reservations, you are required to give a credit card at the time of the reservation and it will be charged if you don’t give at least 24 hour notice before cancelling.

The table service meals are generally of higher quality than the quick service meals not only in portion size but also because they heat the food up using heat lamps rather than a microwave so the food doesn’t get as soggy. Meals are a la carte so you can order an appetizer, entrée and dessert, but you will pay for each individually. If you are ordering a meal at an all you can eat buffet or show you will pay the same price as anyone else but it will not be all you can eat, rather you will be given a list of kosher options to choose from when you call in 48 hours in advance. However, you are welcome to take from the buffet, if there is one, like anyone else where there may be kosher options (e.g. at breakfast there generally is cereal, bagels that may be kosher, as well as fruit).

Snacking

While you won’t be able to partake of the famous turkey leg or funnel cake while wandering around Epcot, there are a lot of other snacks that are kosher throughout the parks that can whet your appetite. Disney is really good about keeping reference material on the ingredients included in items, which includes the kosher symbol in many cases. (This is also great if a member of your party has food allergies or sensitivities.) There are many vendors throughout the parks that serve kosher items including ice cream (Edys® in the case of fresh scooped ice cream, and Good Humor for some of the bars) and Minute Maid© Frozen Ices. In fact, the famous Mickey Bar (vanilla ice cream bar covered in chocolate) is kosher as well! You must check carefully however, since not all flavors served in the carts are kosher. It is also worth noting that many carts throughout the part have fresh fruit available including: bananas, oranges, and apples.

So if you are planning on getting some kosher food at Walt Disney World, some planning is needed whether you are looking to go to a quick service meal or have a reservation at a full service meal. But if you do it right, you can have a magical and kosher time.

About the Author: Gavi is an obsessive fan of Disney who lives in NY with his wife and 3 children.  In his spare time has a full time job as a Business Analyst for a global consulting company.  He runs the only site that is dedicated to keeping kosher at all the Disney venues around the world, Kosher in the Kingdom (disneykosher.com).

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Updated 07-07-2017

Check for a more updated version at http://www.passporter.com/articles/keeping-kosher-walt-disney-world.html