Just back and not impressed with food options

[EspositoScoresOTR]

I can sympathize with both sides of this discussion. There are some great counter service meals in Disney, but also some places where the options are limited. I've never actually had a burger in Disney(the CS options look terrible), but there are places I don't know what to get too. In Epcot, I've only had two good CS lunch or dinners(tangerine cafe & sunshine seasons), the China, Japan, Mexico, Norway CSs were all underwhelming. At AKL the Mara is fantastic.

I do love Captains Cooks, Boardwalk Bakery, Hurricane Hannah's, Sunshine Seasons, Tangerine Cafe, the Mara, Artists Palate, Wolfgang Puck Cafe, and Earl of Sandwich though.

 

[Polydweller]

What we had for cs meals was fish, chicken, salads, wraps, ribs, pizza, tuna salad, pulled pork, sweet and sour pork, egg rolls, turkey sandwich, steak sandwich, etc... If that isn't variety I don't know what is!

As you point out there are lots of options. I haven't had a burger or fried item at WDW in at least a decade if not longer. Great options at Tangerine Cafe, Katsura Grill, Cosmic Rays, Sunshine Seasons, Backlot Express, and even Pecos Bills. There are many other options as well. Lots of opitions if you look for them.

 

[roselark]

There really are a ton of CS options, however, when it is hot out and everyone is tired, the last thing you might want to do is walk very far to find something decent. It is far easier to go to whatever is closest. I have done this as well, but understanding that you can make substitutions to your order can really help. I am a picky eater as well, and I can always find healthier options.

I love burgers...it is actually one of my favorite foods and I eat at least one every trip. Instead of fries, however, I get carrots. If I am at a CS place that has a toppings bar, I will often order the kidsmeal burger with carrots and grapes.

I make an effort to eat fruit and veggies for snacks whenever I can and save the sweets for the occasional dessert. (Cannot resist the dole whip!) When you get a salad, ask for dressing on the side.

At Pecos Bills, I order the taco salad with 1/2 meat and load up on the veggies at the topping station. I love World Showcase for CS. Tons of options there.

Really, there are too many locations to list. Never hesitate to ask what substitution options are available.

 

[Dislover1991]

As you point out there are lots of options. I haven't had a burger or fried item at WDW in at least a decade if not longer. Great options at Tangerine Cafe, Katsura Grill, Cosmic Rays, Sunshine Seasons, Backlot Express, and even Pecos Bills. There are many other options as well. Lots of opitions if you look for them.

I'm seeing alot of fans of Tangerine Cafe on here - while we didn't see anything that interested us at the Moroccan TS restaurant, I might have to check out Tangerine Cafe's menu.

 

[Pinkerella]

Aw I hate you had such a bad experience! When we went I don't think we even ate a burger. But the food did make my feet swell , I'm guessing from the salt (???) we don't use a lot a home and we pigged out at Disney! Our dinner at O'hana was really good maybe you went on an off night. Maybe next time you could eat at places like Yak and Yeki so you can skip the burgers.

 

[bluejasmine]

There are so many other options at WDw QS than burgers, pizza, nuggets!

Between grilled fish, tacos, salads, soups, Mediterranean foods, BBQ ribs, chicken, gourmet Sammy's, sushi, meatloafs, steaks( yea two QS have steak) there is always other things than burgers! Lol!

 

[missycj96]

I had the salmon with cous cous and broccoli at Columbia harbor house yesterday. Also I got a great baked sweet potato at the cart in liberty square.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Reading the follow up posts correctly, you ended up ordering burgers and fries most of the time because your family is picky and that's what they wanted, so you had to frequent places that sold such items.

There are lots of healthier options, but it is hard to drag the rest of the family around looking for them.

 

[Happyjen27]

Bummer.

I am encouraged by all of these positive experiences with CS though.

This next trip we're only doing one TS a day, and I was dreading all of the CS, but I'm going to check out these places and hope for a good, healthy variety.

Thanks everyone for sharing your good CS experiences!!

 

[lin7]

We haven't had the basic dining plans for many years now, as we love table service more. But when we did the basic ddp, we found that counter service options to have a variety if stuff other than burgers. There are many many options beside burgers.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I think there was also a issue of "failure to really read the menu" I am trying hard to think of a place that ONLY has burgers. And... failing.

If you just order the pretty picture 99% of the time it's the burger

OP seems to want to "blame Disney" but it sounds like some of the choices were her's.

And I am sorry, this "picky eater" thing just cracks me up. My family has a rule. "this is dinner, eat it or go hungry" Amazingly we have no picky eaters (and I have cured a few kids on Girl Scout trips simply by saying "this was the menu your group chose, sorry" LOL!)

 

[MIGrandma]

We generally do counter service and food court meals when we are at Disney, as most of the time we just don't want to take the time for a sit-down table service dinner, nor do we want to pay the prices for them. The only table service restaurants I remember eating at were Akershush and the 50's Prime Time Cafe.

I also can't remember ever ordering a burger and fries at any CS meal. There are loads of other options. We love Sunshine Seasons and Flame Tree BBQ, plus the Food Court at POR.

We love the options at the food court: make-your-own pasta and salads with lots of options/toppings for them, and they have a carving station with meat and sides.

Sometimes we just grab quick snacks out of the coolers at the food court too.

 

[phdhycster]

Which counter service areas have steak?

 

[Fantaluminishes]

I just don't understand...

1. It's vacation. Big deal if you gain a few pounds. It's not the end of the world. Just go back to hitting the gym and eating veggies and lots of water- the weight will come off.

2. Disney has so many delicious food options. I would never order a burger.

3. Table service is part of the fun of vacation.

4. Of course the food is not going to be super healthy- you are at a resort not a health spa.

5. If you dislike it that much, don't go back and pick a vacation that suits your tastes better.

THANK YOU!!!!
You absolutely hit the nail on the head. Especially #5. It's amazing how many complaints I read on these boards from WDW regulars who REALLY need to take an extended break. I'm talking ten years!

However, I think #1 should not apply. I usually have 2 TS meals each day at WDW, and I still lose weight. All that walking around does wonders. Now if you are on a cruise, or just lounging around the pool and grazing at buffets all day, you're gonna pack on the pounds. Everybody is different.

 

[Dislover1991]

THANK YOU!!!!
You absolutely hit the nail on the head. Especially #5. It's amazing how many complaints I read on these boards from WDW regulars who REALLY need to take an extended break. I'm talking ten years!

However, I think #1 should not apply. I usually have 2 TS meals each day at WDW, and I still lose weight. All that walking around does wonders. Now if you are on a cruise, or just lounging around the pool and grazing at buffets all day, you're gonna pack on the pounds. Everybody is different.

When we arrived home from Disney, I weighed myself and had gained 3 pounds - I lost it within a week without really cutting back on calories (I just went back to eating healthy like I did before the trip). Most of the extra weight we put on during the trip is just water weight - especially when it's extremely hot at Disney. I know I felt bloated and gross the entire trip but after a few days back home, I was fine!

Plus on vacations, we always eat a big breakfast, a snack, & a big dinner so even though I may eat more calories at each meal, i'm not eating 3-4 meals like I do back home so it all evens out.

 

[Karbase8]

I have a mixed opinion on this one. For the most part, I find the meals at Disney mediocre, however in comparison to other Theme Parks they are top-notch. I just got back and my TS meals were much better than previous years at restaurants that get mixed to poor reviews. We ate at Sci-Fi and I will tell you it was probably the best steak I ever at Disney even better than Le Cellier. We also did 1900 Park Fare which many pan and that was awesome as well as Be Our Guest. The QS or CS I have more difficulty with but did eat at Columbia Harbor House and Cosmic Rays both always very good. I ate at Liberty Inn which was a huge mistake and still feel sick thinking about it. The first couple of trips to Disney I was very disappointed in the food as I had went in the 70's and 9
80's and even 90's and the food was just excellent. With the inception of the DDP quality has went down but also have to seek out better options.

 

[jahber]

Yes, it can be a pain to locate a place that makes everyone in your family happy. I've found that I need to plan our CS meals and tour according to where we need to be at lunchtime so we don't have to walk across the park. Now that I go into the park knowing where we will eat lunch, it's much easier to please everyone AND make healthy choices. I don't know why it took me so long to realize that we didn't have to eat at the first place we came to, just because I was surprised that (yet again!) my children got hungry at lunch time. Live and learn.

 

[OLIVIA'S DADDY]

There are literally like hndreds of restaurants on Disney property, I don't see any possible way that you could just eat burgers and pizza mostly if you did not want to. Epcot alone has more options than your average city does to eat. Part of it is the fact that you are limiting yourself to counter service meals for the most part and the part of it is not planning for different meals. Also, every counter service meal had salads, (Just order dressing on the side) and fruit of some sort.

Anything can become stale and redundant if you do it over and over again. If you are looking for gourmet meals at CS restaurants than you are the one at fault. It's like going to McDonalds and looking for a perfectly cooked steak and veggies, not going to happen. If you want a healthy meal you would have to eat TS and then you can request what you want and most likely they will make it for you.

Disney is the most accomodating place I have ever been to, they bend over backwards in most cases to make people happy.

To say there were not enough options is just crazy though. You just have to be a little more flexible than counter service if you want some variety and more healthy options.

And I have no idea how anyone would gain weight on a Disney vacation unless they were in a wheelchair. I lost 10 pounds in May in a week and I ate like an animal. I feel as though I have never eaten and scarf it all down after walking in the parks all day. It's actually one of the perks, lose weight and eat like an animal all week.

 

[starrysky]

Which counter service areas have steak?

Be our guest has a steak sandwich at lunch time and its a CS place.

We also hardly ate if at all burgers on our last trip. We finally made it to sunshine seasons this past trip and it was great the Mongolian beef with rice was great. Had good pasta at POR and the food at wolf gang puck is fantastic for a CS best value as far as I can see on property.

Overall I'm amazed at the offerings you can get in Epcot alone let alone what you can find in the other parks.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I always come home feeling gross and unhealthy....and it wasnt worth it.

I have a totally different view point, and think that in the lasts several years the CS options have improved!

Here are a few of our favorites:

CHH at MK, Tuna on whole grain, and I'm not a big fan of fried, but the fried shrimp w/ brocoli slaw is good and a change from burgers and fries! We also love the vegetarian chili.

TC at Epcot, Schwarma Platter, cous-cous and lentil salad, falafel

SS at Epcot, Roasted beet salad w/ goat cheese and the new Pork Bahn sandwich is really good! They have new menu items, I haven't tried the seared tuna noodle salad yet

KB at Epcot, one of my absolute faves, the open faced egg and salmon sandwich. Their club is good too!

These are just a few! As far as kids meal, my son ate what we ate, so rarely kids meals unless they had decent offerings like steak, fish etc. and I think those have also improved quite a bit! I've been going to Disney since it opened and I think CS has improved greatly, where as TS has gone in the opposite directions, down the toidy!