Best counter disney restaurants

[hartford]

We are going to Disney for a week in August (Port Orleans French Quarter)and will be trying to eat in the food courts and using counter service restaurants rather than reservation type restaurants that we have used in the past. We are budgeting $25.00 per person per day (2 parents, 3 college age daughters, a grandmother and a teenage nephew) We will have cereal/fruit type breakfasts in the room since there is a refrigerator. It seems like several of the counter style restaurants have pleasant eating areas. Which are the most enjoyable/scenic/relaxing and which have the best tasting food? Also which are the least crowded and the best times to go to avoid the crowds? Any other money saving food tips would be appreciated. Our girls like things like stir fries, chicken teriyaki, chicken wraps and caesar salads, pizza, and the occasional hamburger and fries. In the past we have usually eaten out once a day at Ohana for dinner or Tempanyaki, Sci Fi Dine in theatre, 50's Prime Time Cafe for lunch or a character breakfast, but now that we have to pay extra charges at the hotels since they are 18, 20 and 21 and adult prices for meals we need to cut back. They don't really care about where they eat at Disney anyway. They are more interested in the parks and the pools. But I would like the meals to be as relaxing, healthy, and pleasant as possible and I just want to make sure we don't get sick of too much fast food. Help Please

 

[Tigger79]

Our family loves eating at Casey's! They have great hotdogs. Also Peco's Bill's is a great place to eat as well.

 

[mom2jcc]

Subscribing

 

[jack hannah bananah]

Two of our favorite counter services, where you get more than just the typical hamburger, chik nugget, etc. are Flame Tree BBQ in AK and Morocco in Epcot.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Here is a list of families favorite counter service locations in all of WDW.

Magic Kingdom: Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe.

Epcot: Electric Umbrella.

Hollywood Studios: ABC Commissary.

Animal Kingdom: Flame Tree Barbecue & Pizzafari.

Downtown Disney Marketplace: Earl of Sandwich.

Grand Floridian: Gasparilla's Grill & Games.

 

[Caboosey]

Columbia Harbor House in the Magic Kingdom is great! The food is yummy (I wish I had a Lighthouse Sandwich right now!) and the upstairs is a good quiet place for eating and overlooking Liberty Square!

 

[dalt01]

ditto on the ABC Commissary

 

[lady danger]

Sunshine Seasons in Epcot! Lots of variety, and a lot of it isn't your typical CS fare.

 

[Karnak]

At the Animal Kingdom I think the best CS spot is the Flame Tree Barbecue if it isn't raining. Sit down by the water at a picnic table. There's plenty of seating down there. But if it happens to be raining I would recommend the Pizzafari, again with plenty of seating, but all inside.

At Epcot it's hard to beat Sunshine Seasons. Since I enjoy a cold beer with my lunch I tend to walk right past the Electric Umbrella.

At the Magic Kingdom we like Cosmic Ray's; and at the Studios we like both the Flatbread Grill and the Backlot Express.

Enjoy.

 

[NancyIL]

I like the salads at Columbia Harbor House in the MK and the Italian Deli sandwich at Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom.

 

[sbrotherton]

Definitely Flametree at AK...unless of course it's scorching hot. They do have misters, but August could be pretty steamy. We like the food at Pecos Bills, but it's very, very loud inside there. We don't mind it, but if you're looking for a nice atmosphere and quiet or quaint goes with that, I'd opt for the Pirata y Perico in Adventureland if it's open or Columbia Harbor House. I think Pecos Bills' noise is attributed to the sheer size all under roof. At Epcot, we don't eat at one CS location...we kind of eat at all of them. We pick a little something from every pavillion and share it (nachos in Mexico, something sweet in Norway, fried rice, egg rolls and potstickers in China, pretzel and brats in Germany, a cannoli in Italy, funnel cakes in America, you get the idea...). For those who are adults, we usually get an interesting beverage at each location, too. At the end of the day, no one has any interest in more food after that. As for DHS, we usually get something at Rosie's All American and Catalina Eddie's. That's nothing fancy, but we like eating outside and people watching.

 

[DisneyDancin7]

Columbia Harbor House in the Magic Kingdom is great! The food is yummy (I wish I had a Lighthouse Sandwich right now!) and the upstairs is a good quiet place for eating and overlooking Liberty Square!

i second that...in fact, CHH is my favorite CS in all of WDW. I also like Cosmic Ray's in the MK and the Backlot Express in DHS.

 

[MomWith2Cinderellas]

Columbia Harbor House is what we really enjoy at MK! YUMMY!!!

 

[mommy22pumpkins]

Our favorites are Cosmic Rays in MK...ribs and chicken combo is a great value on the dining plan...may be a bit pricey if paying OOP though. Food is more like home cooked than fast food which is nice.
MGM fave is ABC Commissary...I went with American cheeseburger and chocolate mousse for dessert- awesome!
AK is Flame Tree BBQ. Outdoor atmosphere is a nice relaxing change and food is decent...DH really enjoys the pulled pork- a favorite of his.
Epcot I would definitely go with Sunshine Seasons. Food is very fresh...Salmon was delish and DH loved his Turkey sandwich (and he is picky!) Plently of choices for kids too.

HTH! Enjoy you trip

Danielle

 

[Hedy]

CHH at MK, although I also like Cosmic Rays
Sunshine Seasons at Epcot is great, although the Tangerine cafe isn't bad.

 

[MJMcBride]

The best CS places are Cosmic Rays, Pecos Bills, the Cantina in Mexico, the food court in the Land, the Flame Tree BBQ, Pizzafari, and the Earl of Sandwich. Unfortunately, the CS choice at DHS are subpar

 

[KatMark]

Our favorite counter service establishments are (in order of preference) are:

Magic Kingdom -- Columbia Harbour House, Pinocchio Village Haus and Pecos Bills
Epcot -- Sunshine Season
Animal Kingdom -- Flame Tree Barbecue
Hollywood Studios -- NONE

 

[PrincessAli]

Our favorite CS although not in the parks is 'WolfGang Puck Express' in the Marketplace--offers both inside and outside tables. We have never had a bad experience here. Another one we have visited a couple of times is 'Cooks of Dublin' outside 'Raglan Road' near Pleasure Island. The seating here is basic fast food counter with a few tables--but the food is very good.
Magic Kingdom----Columbia Harbor House (Upstairs)

 

[justplaingoofy]

I see you said they like wraps.. this is from a menu from:

Peco Bills:Chicken Wrap - Served chilled with seasoned chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese tossed with PECOS house dressing served with your choice of french fries or carrots. - $7.59


Also, another great place where you can EASILY split this is Cosmic Rays: Half Chicken & BBQ Rib Combo - Served with mashed potatoes and a seasonal vegetable. - $13.99 (counter service..this is huge..can't imagine anyone being able to eat 1/2 chicken plus ribs by themselves!)

 

[NHTikiBeckie]

Yak 7 Yeti, Tangerine Cafe, the Japan counter service...FRANCE!