Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café Appreciation Thread

[Cayaco]

After hearing the crew put it as their first pick for bad restaurants they want to review in 2018, I wanted to come on over to the boards and put my support behind this place.

For us it's a must do. Sonny Eclipse is great to watch, keeps us entertained as long as we are in there. How could anyone not enjoy him just jamming out like a lounge singer? There's nothing else like it on property.

The food we order is one of the nicest meals we eat at any QS location. The quarter chicken and green beans tastes like a good home cooked meal and is one of the best values in the park and we get it every time. I am not sure if there is any reason to order anything else.

Every time this place comes up on a list of being the worst we yell at our screens and can't believe folks don't enjoy this Disney classic.

So, who else out there is with me? Let's hear it for Cosmic Ray's!

 

[SaintsManiac]

We are Cosmic Ray’s fans! We wind up eating there every trip. We were just talking about how weird it is that people hate on it.

 

[rwdavis2]

I find it interesting about peoples varied opinions on dining at WDW. The Dis Dining Podcast slammed Ray's for terrible food. Especially as they compared it to Disneyland quick service. The last time I ate there I had a decent turkey sandwich.

 

[paults]

We eat there almost every trip and really enjoy the atmosphere

 

[Roxyfire]

My very unpopular DISboards opinion is that I'd rather go to Cosmic Rays 100 times than Columbia Harbor House even once. Just being outside that restaurant and smelling the fried fish is too much, it makes me feel queasy. Cosmic Ray's isn't the most elevated restaurant but if I'm in MK and don't want to wait, it's either Pinocchio's (which I'd rather skip) or Cosmic Ray's for the chicken club. Mobile ordering has made it so much easier to manage, I just hate having to vulture for a seat, but I've learned my lesson on that one.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I find it interesting about peoples varied opinions on dining at WDW. The Dis Dining Podcast slammed Ray's for terrible food. Especially as they compared it to Disneyland quick service. The last time I ate there I had a decent turkey sandwich.

I quit paying attention to their food reviews.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

We eat at Cosmic Ray's at least once every trip. We like the variety that it offers. Now you can get all the food at every station it's a lot easier. Also, you can ask for you food "to-go" and it is packed in containers for easier transport ( I don't know if this is still available). The food is as good as you are going to get at a Disney Quick Service place. If you go at off peak times you can always get a table. Cheers!!!!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I have had good luck with the chicken dinner (with green beans and mashed potatoes). Feels like "real" food.

My kids like Sonny Eclipse, but I could do without him. Loved when they called it a frog on the podcast.

Like Roxyfire, the smell of Columbia Harbor House is too much for us. We left wondering why it is such a favorite around here.

 

[amcnj]

We always liked Cosmic Ray's, though miss the cheese sauce on the toppings bar.

 

[jeff_h]

My very unpopular DISboards opinion is that I'd rather go to Cosmic Rays 100 times than Columbia Harbor House even once.

We like both of those places, go to each of them at least once on each trip.

 

[Cayaco]

I have had good luck with the chicken dinner (with green beans and mashed potatoes). Feels like "real" food.

That's our one big thing about this place. There is plenty of good food in Disney, or exotic food in Disney, or stuff I would never eat at home food at Disney, but the chicken in Cosmic Ray's is comforting. Sometimes when you are really tired and just want a meal that you know will taste good and not full of chemicals and spices, just something that tastes like something real, you can't beat this place.

Plus I could hang out with Sonny for hours.

 

[North of Mouse]

Could care less what others think of it - enjoy the chicken meal and hamburger/french fries with hot cheese.
Can easily do without Sonny Eclipse though - just more noise to me.

 

[DLgal]

Yeah, I like the rotisserie chicken meal too. It's filling and sorta healthy.

I can do without Sonny Eclipse. He is just weird, loud, and annoying.

I'm not sure how much I agree with the DIS Unplugged food reviews overall. I tend to favor Ryno/Craig/Charles reviews because their tastes seem to align more with my own. I think Pete tends to oversell places in general, and Steve and the new guy (blanking on his name) seem to prefer very pedestrian "American" food and the stuff they rave about just leaves me scratching my head.

The glowing reviews of Galactic Grill had me particularly perplexed, as it is pretty well known as the WORST quick service burger place at the Disneyland Resort. Makes me hope they tried Smokejumpers and Hungry Bear, which serve FAR better burgers.

 

[DLgal]

That's our one big thing about this place. There is plenty of good food in Disney, or exotic food in Disney, or stuff I would never eat at home food at Disney, but the chicken in Cosmic Ray's is comforting. Sometimes when you are really tired and just want a meal that you know will taste good and not full of chemicals and spices, just something that tastes like something real, you can't beat this place.

Plus I could hang out with Sonny for hours.

Along these lines, they have Chicken Noodle Soup there. One trip, I was hit with a violent stomach bug and spent 3 days confined to my room. When I finally ventured back to the parks, that soup was my SAVIOR! It was the only place I could find something so simple and comforting.

 

[randumb0]

I love their falafel burger I have it at least once a month

 

[NYIrunDisney]

We ate there when we wanted a burger on the last trip. Pecos Bill was always the best but after the revamped menu we were told to try it here. It wasn’t half bad. Not as good as pecos but definitely better than a lot of other spots. I’m a fan.

 

[MickeyWaffles]

We have been to WDW countless times and I worked at one of the resorts as part of the college program and we haven’t gone here! We are doing QS on our MK days next trip so we are trying it for the first time ... finally! I think the kids will enjoy it.

 

[FastPass Dad]

It's perfect for us with our 10 and 8 year olds. I use mobile ordering, they grab a table and we have a really good lunch. I'll stop short of calling it great but it's very good. The toppings bar is a huge plus. It allows me to turn a mediocre park burger into a tasty burger that I enjoy.

 

[ChimCher-ee]

You sold me! I'm going to try it next trip!

 

[fely1st]

Love Cosmic Rays, we visit it every trip at least once. I love sitting at the windows, watching the castle and enjoyIng my bacon or pulled pork burger. This is a part of Disney for me!!!