Best counter service?

[momslave3599]

Hey Everyone,

First timer here going with DH 34, DS 7 and Birthday Boy turning 6 while we are there. Going March 15-21st. I need to know the best counter service places or easy on the budget restaurants that don't need an ADR. Can you please suggest some places for each park?? Thanks a ton!

 

[bcrook]

We enjoy pizza at walk up window at Spoodles on the Boardwalk, it is fun to sit outside in the evening as the sun is setting and eat by the lake. Cantina San Angel in EPCOT is reasonably priced and filling. Flame Tree BBQ in Animal Kingdom is good but limited in menu. All of these locations are fairly easy to get food without much waiting. In MK the Columbia Harbour House has a nice upstairs dining area that I like because of the atmosphere - the food is decent too. Never had much luck with Hollywood Studios for counter service. Get an ADR for Sci-Fi Dine in and enjoy the atmosphere. All the resorts have decent CS options, the Pepper Market at Coronado Springs is great fun (but not necessarily inexpensive). You get to wander around the food islands and mix and match your freshly made food. It is worth the visit.

Have fun!!!

 

[TaraPA]

Columbia Harbor House in MK and Sunshine Seasons in Epcot FW are our faves. Also Tangierine Cafe in Morocco in Epcot WS if you're looking for something different.

 

[KatMark]

Our favorite Counter Services are:

Cosmic Rays at MK -- love the turkey wrap and the barbecued pork sandwich with eclipse chips; they also have burgers, chicken, etc.

Sunshine Seasons at Epcot -- different stations with something for everyone

Animal Kingdom -- Flame Tree Barbecue -- yum

Studios -- none, unfortunately. We usually go to one of the nearby resorts for our counter service meal

As for table service, your best bet is to look at the menus on the home page for prices, etc. It is strongly suggested that you make ADR's (depending on what time of year you are going). It is very difficult to just walk up and get a seat. One of our favorite relatively inexpensive table service restaurants is the Plaza Restaurant at the MK. It is not "heavy" meals like a lot of the other places, but is bascially salads, soups and sandwiches (burgers, reubens, club, chicken) and great shakes and awesome desserts.

 

[momslave3599]

These are good suggestions! Having not been there since I was a kid, I can't imagine what I'm in for. We have done Disneyland, but I am so excited about making WDW. We made a few ADRs: Hoop De Doo, Sci-Fi, Cinderella's RT, and T-Rex (preferred seating). We get bfast at the hotel every morning, but I have no idea where to hit up for a quick bite. I am so grateful for any suggestions at this point.

 

[Joy1956]

I agree about the Sunshine Seasons at Epcot. We shared a single meal and it was plenty for us. And it was good! We also had a good experience at the Dinosaur place (can't remember the exact name) in AK-it's right near Dinoland-we had pretty good burgers there.

 

[patsfan101]

We like Yak & Yeti at AK and have also enjoyed Sunshine Seasons in the Land pavilion at Epcot. Avoid Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland at MK - you're better off getting a hotdog at the cart by Tom Sawyer's Island/Thunder Mountain RR.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

You can also get a 10-piece chicken meal from Trail Ends http://allears.net/menu/menu_teb.htm (or just eat at their buffet- the least expensive in the world). We like going there for lunch to escape the large mid-day crowds & to get out of the heat. It's a quick boat ride from Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness.

As for CS in parks/hotels:
MK: Cosmic Ray Cafe has large CS meals (enough to share) & lots of options
AK: Pizzafari has a large Italian Sandwich that can be shared
Epcot: Cantina, Sunshine Seasons, or Tangerine Cafe all have large sharing options
MGM: DH & I enjoy sharing a Turkey leg.
Your hotel: Check-out the pizza pick-up line. They're large enough to feed a family & less than buying 3 meals.
*Many CS also have double cheese burgers for only $1 more than a reg burger. Cut one in half & two people are pretty much eating a whole burger.

 

[Crystal824]

MK- Pecos Bills (great burgers although it can get very crowded)
Epcot- Love Sunshine Seasons and Lotus Blossom
DHS- None really the Backlot Express is probably the best option IMO
AK- Flametree BBQ (it is my favorite counterservice)

 

[skw444]

One place that wasn't mentioned is Wolfgang Puck Express in DTD. We had a great meal there!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

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.

Contemporary: Contempo Cafe.

 

[bpsmit28]

If you have kids, Pizza Planet in DHS is basically like a Chuck E Cheese only slightly less physically oriented. The pizzas are ok, but it's more for them to be able to see something from the movie.

 

[java]

You can also get a 10-piece chicken meal from Trail Ends http://allears.net/menu/menu_teb.htm (or just eat at their buffet- the least expensive in the world). We like going there for lunch to escape the large mid-day crowds & to get out of the heat. It's a quick boat ride from Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness.

.

Curious is there someplace to sit and eat if you get the to go? It looks good and we would love to check it out over there.

 

[nikkers]

Sunshine Seasons in Epcot. There is a great selection, definately something for everyone.
Columbia Harbour House in Magic Kingdom.
Flame Tree BBQ in Animal Kingdom.
Pizza Planet in Hollywood Studios. When we were there they closed at 5:30pm. He said they closed earlier on that side of the park?
Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney. This was definately our favorite counter service.

We celebrated DS's 5th birthday while we were there in January. Everyone made such a big deal about it. It was so great. Make sure to get him a birthday pin.

Have a great vacation.