Spice Up Your Disneyland Visit at the Paradise Garden Grill

Last month, our friends over at The Adult Side of Disney asked if I'd like to share some on my Disneyland insider eating suggestions for visiting Disneyland. The first place that came to mind was The Paradise Garden Grill. Nestled in the back corner of Disney California Adventure Park lies a little slice of the exotic and spicy styling of the Middle East. The Paradise Garden Grill is perfect for when you’re in search of a little something out of the ordinary. Guaranteed to wake up your taste buds, the Garden Grill is the ideal choice whether you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, or you’re a vegetarian or vegan in search of a satisfying meal.

Hakuna Matata Monday-Ariel's Grotto Birthday

A Birthday Fit for a Princess

Ariel’s Grotto

For my granddaughter’s 5^th birthday, the whole family gathered at the Plaza Inn in Disneyland for an afternoon of fun and excitement with Pat E Cake and the main mouse himself, Mickey. This year however, for Moya’s 6^th birthday it was decided that she needed something fitting of any true Disney Princess so it was off to Ariel’s Grotto located in Disney California Adventure Park. Ariel’s Grotto is a Character Dining experience at its best-especially if you happen to have a 6 year old princess. It combines fabulous food befitting of any royalty along with laughter, music and all the excitement that accompanies meeting all of your favorite Disney Princesses. 

Vegan Side of Disney California Adventure Park-Hakuna Matata Monday

Vegan Eating at Disney California Adventure Park

The Quest for a Family Meal 

Last week we explored the Vegan side of Disneyland. Now let’s take a stroll across the Disneyland Esplanade and discover how it is possible to be Vegan and still eat your way around Disney California Adventure Park.

Buena Vista Street:

       Fiddler, Fifer, & Practical Café- As you enter the newly revamped Buena Vista Street, on the right hand side is this great quick service eatery with, cue the harps and the angels singing-Starbucks! For Vegans, this is the place to find all of your must have soy specialty drinks. We found a great roasted vegetable sandwich (actually it was a Paneer and roasted vegetable sandwich but without the Paneer) and several soup options including the Portobello Barley that would be great on those cold days. 

Vegan Eating in Disneyland-Hakuna Matata Monday

Vegan Eating In Disneyland

The Quest for a Family Meal

     So what do you do when you’ve lived your life as a confirmed and card-carrying member of the Junk Food Nation and you suddenly find yourself faced with living your life as a Vegan?  At home, although the transition wasn’t easy, it was eventually obtainable. But what happens to your new found life style when you find yourself in the Happiest Place on Earth with churros staring you in the face at every turn-how will you ever survive? Just as Lori talked about last week with her  article  dealing with food allergies, Disney once again has you covered no matter what your needs happen to be. 

            Most people know what vegetarians are but not Vegans.  I know we didn’t until a year ago when two heart attacks brought on a complete life style overhaul for one of our family members.  Simply put, Vegans, like Vegetarians do not eat meat, fish or poultry.  In addition, Vegans do not consume any animal products or by-products so that means no dairy, eggs or honey of any kind.  I think the heart attack wasn’t nearly as scary as being faced with the terror of not knowing if we would be able to eat as a family ever again at Disney.  I am here to report that even at Disneyland there are many places for a not so healthiest of eaters ( I am convinced that whatever the preservatives are that keeps a Twinkie around for hundreds of years is working on me too), a teenage boy and a Vegan to sit down and eat as one big happy family. Below is a list of eateries we have personally tried just for you!