Best Counter Service Meals?

[jenelope]

I'm dragging my parents to WDW for a week in October. Now, let's see how to put this diplomatically... my Dad is somewhat, shall we say, stingy. I sincerely doubt that I will be able to get them into most of the sit down restaurants. (Much as I'd like to get them to the Brown Derby for a late lunch.) We're staying at Fort Wilderness in their motorhome and will most likely be eating in for breakfast every morning and the occasional dinner. However, I'm trying to think of which counter service restaurants have the best food.

I've had good luck at the Plaza Pavilion and Rosie's All American, and I loved the chicken satay at Animal Kingdom (which appears to be gone?). I'm just wondering if anyone else has a recommendation. Thanks in advance!

Edited to add: I usually pore over the menus at wdwig.com, but menus can only tell you so much.

 

[LittleLady]

Have a wonderful trip. Here are my favorites:
MK: Columbia Harbor House (between Fantasy Land and Liberty Square)
Pecos Bills (Frontierland)
EPCOT: The Sunshine Season Food Fair (The Land)
Something here for everyone.
Also, all of the world show case countries have counter service. I have never tried any of these
but have seen nothing but positive reviews on them on these boards.
MGM: I haven't tried counter service here yet.
AK: Pizzafari (Really good individual pizzas)
Happy Dining!

 

[JudithM]

Your dad is "price sensitive" - nothing wrong with that !

At the MK we often grab bite to eat at Pecos Bill's or Cosmic Ray's. Both have a variety of foods & a fixing bar with lots of foods - enough to make a salad. Cosmic Ray's also comes with "entertainment" - Sunny Eclipse!

In EPCOT you can choose a variety of ethnic fare around the World Showcase. It is very easy to eat your way around the World!

At the Studios we really like the international variety at the Commissary. Sometimes we have eaten at Pizza Planet. I don't recall ever having a bad fast food at any of these three parks.

AK leaves a lot to be desired in our opinion regarding food.

Have fun wherever you eat!

 

[DeeP]

MK - Columbia Harbor House
AK - Flame Tree barbeque
Epcot - Food court at the Land
MGM - we always eat at sit down restaurants in this park

 

[eeyore0062]

There is a deal at Animal Kingdom that may appeal to your dad. It is the AK meal deal. Basically for $10.95 per adult and $5.99 for kids you get vouchers. One voucher is good for an entree and large drink, the 2nd is good for one bottled soda or water, and the 3rd is good for popcorn or ice cream. We did this on our last trip, and it worked out great. We ate at Tusker House (very good food!), and our entrees would have been $9 by themselves... the large soda would have been about $3, then add in the bottled water at $2.59 each and the icecream for $3 and we came out WAY ahead!

For our family of 3, we spent $28 + tax for us to eat and be hydrated most of the day... and added up separately, we would have easily spent
$9 adult entree
$9 adult entre
$4.50 child's entree
$6 for 2 large drinks
$2 for small drink
$7.80 for 3 bottled waters
$9 for popcorn and icecream


A grand total of $47.30 (including tax).

Now that's a bargain!

 

[TXMommy]

Here's another vote for Pecos Bill's in the MK - delicious hamburgers with all the fixin's!

 

[ZPT1022]

There is a deal at Animal Kingdom that may appeal to your dad. It is the AK meal deal

I have been hearing about this- where do I buy it? thanks!

 

[eeyore0062]

ZPT, you can buy them at any of the counter service restaurants. We got ours at PizzaFari, but any will have them!

 

[Doctor P]

MK--Pecos Bill's or Cosmic Ray's
MGM-Backlot Express (if you like burgers)
Epcot- Sunshine Food Fair
AK- Tusker House

 

[jx3smom]

AK-Tusker House has a really nice chicken platter and also huge sandwiches. Our favorite counter service in WDW.
EPCOT-I love the Norway counter service. The rice creme is great. Germany serves some nice sandwiches and the pastries at France are to die for.
ESPN at the Boardwalk is not really expensive and it is an attraction in itself. Most men love the place.
Beaches and Cream is a terrific place for burgers and they have the best chicken noodle soup I have ever eaten!

 

[eeyore0062]

Now, since I have finished extolling the virtues of the AK meal deal, my favorite counter service restaurants are:

MK: Cosmic Ray's
Epcot: the food court at the Land
AK: Tusker House, and Flametree BBQ
MGM: have yet to find one!

We also like the food court at PO-R and PO-FQ, as well as Wolfgang Puck Express at DTD Marketplace, and Westside!

Happy Eating!

 

[jenelope]

Thanks for the advice! We'll be at WDW during the Food and Wine Festival, so I figured we could do that for meals.

My parents are only getting four day park hoppers for our seven day trip, so I want to make the most of our park days. These are some excellent ideas!

 

[ZPT1022]

Eeyore0062- Thanks so much! I think we will definitely have to do that meal deal- since there really isn't anything in AK but counter service, it seems almost silly not to!