Cancelled Dining Plan

[hezreck]

I had to cancel the Dining Plan for our Dec. trip due to some financial reasons. I'm trying to cut down on the cost of the trip. We will get some breakfast foods to eat at the hotel, but the rest of the meals will be in the parks. So my question is, what are the best counter services to eat at? My DH and I plan on sharing some meals, but don't want to eat double cheesburgers (with and extra bun) all week. What are the best counter service meals for sharing?

Also, how much money do you think we would spend on food each day for me, my DH and DD8? Only 2 meals, since we will have breakfast food in room.

thanks

 

[hellokitty86]

Hello!!!

In my opinion, and I'm not sure if you are planning to go to Downtown Disney- but the best CS place on property is Wolfgang Puck Express. It is sooo good! They have HUGE portions and I love their BBQ chicken- it comes with mashed potatoes that are to die for!!!

I love Peco's Bill Cafe at Magic Kingdom- they have good sized portions and have burgers, etc. but different stuff too like bbq pork sandwiches, and different turkey wrap sandwiches, etc. I also really like Casey's Corner because I love corn dog nuggets (weird, I know) but I can't really get them here!!!

At Animal Kingdom, I love Tusker House. You can get a really good chicken meal with mashed potatoes and another side and it is definitely big enough to share!!! Also, at Flame Tree BBQ they have wonderful ribs and it is a big portion.

Epcot has the BEST CS offers than other other park, in my opinion. The Land has an awesome food court that has unique selections. You can view the menu here: http://www.allearsnet.com/menu/men_ssff.htm
Ofcourse, you can also eat at the different countries and they have all different kinds of food if you are sick of hamburgers.

I'm not really sure at MGM, sorry.

I'm sure you will have a wonderful, magical trip! Don't worry about having to cancel the dining plan, there's always next time!

 

[ptrbryant]

and it sved our family money to NOT do the Dining Plan. It was DH, DS10 and myself. At counter service places, I'd say the average for the 3 of us was $26.00. At MK, we loved Pinnochio's Village Haus---good turkey and bacon pannini, fresh Italian sub with real Italian meats and great cannolis!; Cosmic Ray's--1/2 rotisserie chicken with mashed potatoes and veg for about $8...also, remember that if you don't want fries or chips in the posted "meal", tell them and it takes about $2 off! At MGM, we liked Pizza Planet, though others here have recommended Backlot Express. Animal Kingdom--Flame Tree BBQ and Tusker House. EPCOT: You can really do well here. In fact, in World Showcase, we almost like doing the counter service options better than table service. You can get an open-face ham and Jarlsberg sandwich from Norway and have seom gelato from Italy or an eclair from France for dessert!

Another idea: Everytime we've gone to Sci-Fi Dine-In (which is really fun), we DO split the cheesburger because it's 1/2 pound! They cut it in half in the kitchen, bring it on separate plates, both loaded with fries. Even with drinks, I think it would be about $20 inc, tip and tax.

Have a great time! We didn't feel "deprived" at all doing counter service!

Karla B.

 

[Hopefully]

The Columbia Harbour House is a great CS in the MK. They have a very tasty and fresh Tuna Salad Sandwich, chowder, fried fish and chicken etc.
In the AK the Tusker House has a delicious roasted chicken meal with mashed potatoes and green beans, or a salmon dinner. We also ate ate Pizzafari where we shared pizza and salads for a meal.
Epcot has lots of different CS places throughout WS where you can get things other than the Burger and Fry routine. We like Japan, The Tangerine Cafe in Morrocco, Harry Ramsden's Fish and Chips in the UK, the stand in Germany (I can't remember it's name) and the Cantina de San Angel in Mexico.
MGM doesn't have the best CS in my opinion. We ate at the Backlot Express and it was passable, but it was burgers.
Check the menus at allearsnet.com for prices at the various CS restaurants. It will help you to judge the costs of meals.
HTH>

 

[Tinkerbell10403]

I am big fan of the Dining Plan, because it allows everyone the opportunity to pick fun dinners, counter services, and snacks throughout the day...and they are already paid for. However, if your emphasis is not on the character dinners and such, then I agree with the rest of the posters...alot of the CS meals are HUGE, and hardly can be eatnen by one person.

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

Our favorites -

Yorkshire Co. Fish Shop and Lotus Blossum in Epcot
Casey's Corner in MK
Earl of Sandwich in DTD


A nice evening treat is getting a hot dog from the cart on the Boardwalk. They are huge, so don't get 3! We like to find a bench and sit while ..watching the boats and people. Afterwards, you can take a walk and enjoy the entertainment. You could split an ice cream treat from Seashore Sweets or Beaches and Cream.

 

[HopperFan]

We often do all CS meals, and we share, and a cup of ice water is free !

We like to get a dish (say good sandwich or bbq ribs), a salad (full size) and split it. Get the kids meal for DS (includes drink) and it would be @ $20-25. Now if you don't get a full size salad and subbed an extra side like a bowl of fruit you could keep it at @ $18.

I think Breafast can be the most expensive so eat it with your foods in your room. Take a couple apples and granola bars in your backpack. Ask for the free ice water and you can really eat well and inexpensively.

MK - good spot is Columbia Harbor House. Take your food upstairs where it is big, usually empty and a great place to eat and recharge. Nice clean bathrooms up there too. Probably the nicest decor of the CS. Couple weeks ago the parks were packed, the lines at the Columbia were long and folks were wandering all over downstairs looking for tables. We were upstairs where there must have been 40 empty tables. We were in one little room (the bridge over the walkway) by ourselves.