Best counter service to hit with Dining plan

[quandrea]

What are the tastiest and best value counter service restaurants in the Grand Floridian area. Happy to travel a bit.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Tastiest = whichever foods appeal tou YOU.

Best value? Review the menus http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/disneydining.cfm. price

Pointless to order a $20 meal of food you won't iike, simply because of the menu price

 

[Pumbaa_]

It seems most resort qs meals are pretty much interchangeable. Park and DS is where you have more variety and uniqueness

 

[quandrea]

Thank you. I’m trying to decide if we should buy the plan for a one night stay. The regular plan, since I’m doing Garden Grill seems like it would put us ahead easily. We don’t usually eat much cs. I’d like to find one that is a good value and tasty. I’ll peruse those menus. Geyser Point looks good, but it’s a bit out of the way from Grand Floridian and there seems to be consensus in the boards that seating is a bit of an issue.

 

[wdwrule]

Thank you. I’m trying to decide if we should buy the plan for a one night stay. The regular plan, since I’m doing Garden Grill seems like it would put us ahead easily. We don’t usually eat much cs. I’d like to find one that is a good value and tasty. I’ll peruse those menus. Geyser Point looks good, but it’s a bit out of the way from Grand Floridian and there seems to be consensus in the boards that seating is a bit of an issue.

You had mentioned geyser point. While I haven’t been there I just saw this posted on a thread the other day:

@Andysol said:
Hands down best value of any QS is at Geyser Springs (meant Point not Springs) at Wilderness Lodge. Polite Pig at Disney Springs used to be my top suggestion, but Geyser is significantly better. Cocktails are high-end top-shelf (not frozen typical Disney sugar junk), and you have a server and can order steak, bison burgers, salmon, etc. TS level quality at QS price. No brainer best value in the entirety of WDW.

 

[DCLPrincess]

Wolfgang puck express at disney springs is expensive and delicious.

 

[quandrea]

Wolfgang puck express at disney springs is expensive and delicious.

Forgotten about this place.

 

[quandrea]

You had mentioned geyser point. While I haven’t been there I just saw this posted on a thread the other day:

@Andysol said:
Hands down best value of any QS is at Geyser Springs (meant Point not Springs) at Wilderness Lodge. Polite Pig at Disney Springs used to be my top suggestion, but Geyser is significantly better. Cocktails are high-end top-shelf (not frozen typical Disney sugar junk), and you have a server and can order steak, bison burgers, salmon, etc. TS level quality at QS price. No brainer best value in the entirety of WDW.

Interesting...I wonder how they managed a seat. Others have mentioned you have to take your food to go essentially.

 

[wdwrule]

Interesting...I wonder how they managed a seat. Others have mentioned you have to take your food to go essentially.

Not sure as I haven’t been to WL in several years but I found a pic on the Disney website

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

I like the Contempo at the Comtemporary. Last time I was there they had lobster rolls, also good flatbreads and honest to god kale. That was a few years back though.

 

[Andysol]

Interesting...I wonder how they managed a seat. Others have mentioned you have to take your food to go essentially.

View attachment 344052
Not sure as I haven’t been to WL in several years but I found a pic on the Disney website

It’s full blown table service setup. There’s a host with an iPad, and if there aren’t seats (like if it just rained), they’ll text you when there is a seat available. You are seated and a waiter comes and gets drink orders, then comes back for food orders- identical to a TS.

It was so good we ate there two days in a row. For the cheapest amongst you out there, you should know that you should tip, as it’s a traditional waiter who depends on it. So it’s not typical counter service where you grab and go.

I used to be on the polite pig or Wolfgang bandwagon for value, but geyser point wins hands down and the cocktails are miles better (w/ top shelf liquor) than any other counter service place on property.

 

[quandrea]

It’s full blown table service setup. There’s a host with an iPad, and if there aren’t seats (like if it just rained), they’ll text you when there is a seat available. You are seated and a waiter comes and gets drink orders, then comes back for food orders- identical to a TS.

It was so good we ate there two days in a row. For the cheapest amongst you out there, you should know that you should tip, as it’s a traditional waiter who depends on it. So it’s not typical counter service where you grab and go.

I used to be on the polite pig or Wolfgang bandwagon for value, but geyser point wins hands down and the cocktails are miles better (w/ top shelf liquor) than any other counter service place on property.

Bear with me, I’m a slow learner...so given this set up, you still use a CS credit here? No problem with leaving a tip.

 

[Andysol]

Bear with me, I’m a slow learner...so give back this set up, you still use a CS credit here? No problem with leaving a tip.

Yup. Quick service credit.

When I say it’s the best value and no contest, I mean it’s no contest.

Note that I did speak to a waiter about it and he explained it as this:
They originally opened as a bar with cocktail waiters. They also had a quick service food option/counter near the drink refill station. That area still exists, but the food counter is not staffed anymore.
So, when alcohol got added onto the QS dining plan, they were having to take the orders at the food counter and then have an employee go to the bar and place a drink order there. Then they’d have to run the drink to the window and it was basically a cluster F.
So it was decided to just use their existing wait staff previously issued for cocktails to start handling food orders and just have it all in one spot.

Hence, the first “table service” quick service on property.
To be frank, I don’t know how long it will last. A $20 steak or salmon on real plates with silverware, a wait staff and a $12 craft cocktail w/ top shelf liquor in a glass for quick service? So get it while you can.

 

[Lehuaann]

Yup. Quick service credit.

When I say it’s the best value and no contest, I mean it’s no contest.

Note that I did speak to a waiter about it and he explained it as this:
They originally opened as a bar with cocktail waiters. They also had a quick service food option/counter near the drink refill station. That area still exists, but the food counter is not staffed anymore.
So, when alcohol got added onto the QS dining plan, they were having to take the orders at the food counter and then have an employee go to the bar and place a drink order there. Then they’d have to run the drink to the window and it was basically a cluster F.
So it was decided to just use their existing wait staff previously issued for cocktails to start handling food orders and just have it all in one spot.

Hence, the first “table service” quick service on property.
To be frank, I don’t know how long it will last. A $20 steak or salmon on real plates with silverware, a wait staff and a $12 craft cocktail w/ top shelf liquor in a glass for quick service? So get it while you can.

How long ago did you eat there? Others are reporting that the lounge menu isn’t allowed for QS.

 

[Andysol]

How long ago did you eat there? Others are reporting that the lounge menu isn’t allowed for QS.

Last week.

The lounge menu has two items you can’t order. Shrimp and something else. That’s it.

 

[Lehuaann]

Last week.

The lounge menu has two items you can’t order. Shrimp and something else. That’s it.

Thank you. This confirms what the host told me a few weeks ago...that we could sit inside the lounge and use QS credits for the same menu at the counter, but not the lounge menu. But your experience is even better. We didn’t end up eating inside because there was a wait. However, we have eaten inside several times with QS back when it first opened.

Anyways, someone posted on the restaurant board a few days back that no QS was allowed inside the lounge.