Counter Service for 6 full days??

[simonmunro]

As a budget tatic (ie, that or stay home) have you ever eaten exclusively counter service for a week? If you have, tell me how you bypass all the marvelous sit down places and character meals without giving in and lining up in the no ps line??? I had considered going to the places we love during off hours (so as not to be rude) and ordering just appetizers and desserts but I'm a little uncomfortable doing that. Anyone ever tried this? I just don't know if I have the courage to ask for lobster bisque and dessert for lunch at Chefs or something.

 

[WDW2002]

Its your trip and your lunch. Why shoudn't you be able to order an apetizer for your meal? I do this very often at restaurants. Many time I don't fee like a big lunch/meal or the appetizer is what I am wanting. I say GO FOR IT! and enjoy.

 

[SamSam]

I sometimes order a salad and an appetizer because I simply don't feel like a big meal. I also sometimes order only dessert and coffee because if I eat a meal I never seem to have room for dessert. Go and enjoy, it's your vacation!

 

[Lisa F]

I've never ordered just an appetizer/dessert but we have done sit downs instead of counter service by just ordering one entree in the $12-15 range and splitting it. That's about what we'd spend at a counter service.

We do tend to be a little more generous percentage-wise on the tip if we have a very small bill at a sit down restaurant if the service is good (and it almost always is at WDW).

Have fun and have some lobster bisque for me!

Lisa

 

[QuickGold]

I usually only counter service when Im in WDW as a rule. My favorites are ABC Commissary(MGM), Plaza Pavillion(MK - Tomorrowland) & the counter service restaurant in Morrocco(Epcot). As a word of advice, nearly all the counter service restaurants in World Showcase serve close to the same food in the sit downs. What you end up paying for is service. And how do you pass by the nice places? Easy, anytime your tempted, pull out your wallet and it will sing to you if you pass by

 

[musicfan]

Hey, simonmunro -- we do the same thing! We eat mostly counter service (6 days? Pah! Try 3 weeks!), and occasionally eat at the sit down places around 3 pm. Why 3 pm? Because we NEVER have to make PSs anywhere (no matter how popular the place), and the places are almost empty. This has the added advantage of the waitstaff being unhurried. At 3 pm they could are less if you order 3 desserts or 3 entrees. They're grateful they're getting any business at all. We very frequently order three small things, or an entree and two appetizers, or even two appetizers and a dessert. Who cares at 3 pm? Nobody!!!

We've done this at all different kinds of restaurants, from the lowliest to the most upscale. There are a few restaurants that serve only from dinner onwards, so you will have to make PSs, and they can be snotty about ordering small portions. But my experience with upscale WDW restaurants (Flying Fish, Maya Grill, Artist Point, etc.) is that they are not generally up to the level of upscale restaurants I frequent in the outside world. If I'm going to pay that kind of money, I want a meal that justifies the price, and I just haven't gotten it from the WDW restaurants. I feel (just my opinion after a LOT of eating around) that you get the most bang for your buck at WDW counter service.

 

[CHIPSTER]

I've never done only counter service, but I don't think I would have a problem in doing so with the menu variety they offer these days. You have some good choices -- MK - Pecos Bills for burgers; Columbia House for fish/chicken and if you are a family Cosmic Rays for the Rotisserie Roasted chicken. Most of the couner service eateries also have some great salads.

I always do a baked potato and side salad at MGM. The Commissary offers a good breakfast.

EPCOT -- you have a buffet of choices these days with counter service. Fish and Chips at the UK; Mexico - you can enjoy a great Margarita with your lunch/dinner while enjoying the view.

At the Marketplace -- we always do a lunch at Mickey's Pantry on our shopping day. They have 2 hot sandwich specials per week. The reuben was rather good for $4.95.

Counter service will be fine as long as you don't get in a rut.

 

[CHIPSTER]

I've never done only counter service, but I don't think I would have a problem in doing so with the menu variety they offer these days. You have some good choices -- MK - Pecos Bills for burgers; Columbia House for fish/chicken and if you are a family Cosmic Rays for the Rotisserie Roasted chicken. Most of the counter service eateries also have some great salads.

I always do a baked potato and side salad at MGM. The Commissary offers a good breakfast.

EPCOT -- you have a buffet of choices these days with counter service. Fish and Chips at the UK; Mexico - you can enjoy a great Margarita with your lunch/dinner while enjoying the view.

At the Marketplace -- we always do a lunch at Mickey's Pantry on our shopping day. They have 2 hot sandwich specials per week. The reuben was rather good for $4.95.

Counter service will be fine as long as you don't get in a rut.

 

[WDW2002]

Above I said its your vacation and if you feel that you want to eat at a restaurant and order just an appetizer and dessert then to go for it (which I still belive).

But I also belive you could do counter service for those six days and virtually never eat the same meal twice (if you eat meat). We rarely do a sit down meal at Disney for a couple reason, they are too expensive and they take too much time from the parks. We will be there for up to 16 days in December and with short park hours and the expense, I do not plan to do any sit down meals, other then Cindy's for breakfast (if we can get in). You can do to wdwig and "scope out" the menus (if you need to) and get an idea of what you might want to eat before you go. I am doing this because being a picky vegetarian (no tofu or soy for me) I need to know what is available and where for meals and plan ahead.

No matter what you decide I am sure you will have a great trip.

 

[frannn]

When we go to WDW, we only do a bunch of sit downs when we have the kids.
Otherwise, counter service is the best option. It doesn't take a lot of time out of our
park hopping, and we don't feel overstuffed trying to get the best bang for our buck.
There are so many great choices, especially in Epcot (I like the Chinese counter service).
If you want to have a sit down meal, there are lesser expensive decent places at Crossroads
and offsite. The Ponderosa offsite has a great tasting steak meal (although a not so good salad bar). Check the menus at Deb Will's site and some of the Orlando coupon links on
Mousesavers.com. You will not go hungry!
bar) for around $10-12.

 

[emmalgin]

Don't get it....... Food is one of the most important things about any vacation, especially dinner.

Have to ask simple questions?

Are you on or offsite (offsite is 1/2 to 1/3 the price)?

Are you staying at a place with breakfast included?

Are you driving or have a car in Orlando?

How about meals offsite? Many are same or better, plenty of coupons and much cheaper....

I would never consider a week of counter service.....

 

[friskylady]

My daughter and I always do this because the meals are too big for just one of us.

Another suggestion, the Gourmet Pantry in the Marketplace has some great prepared meals, mostly sandwiches that are much better than counter service restaurants in most of the parks.

Hope this helps!

 

[simonmunro]

Everybody has been so helpful! I have learned much and think I can divide our meals between lots and LOTS of counter service (kidz with major appetites) and some fancy desserts and appetizers arount 3 p.m. THANKS FOR THAT TIP!!!

 

[MinnieMe2]

I wouldn't hesitate to do just what you're considering. My sister and her family always go to (I think) Victoria & Albert's for my niece's b'day, and all they order is desert. No problem.

And many times, between the heat, the crowds, fatigue, we're just not that hungry. So if we do a sit-down, which we don't do all that often, we quite often have just a salad or soup or desert. And we do it without hesitation.

We all have our own priorities. We don't happen to vacation to eat, we vacation to experience a lot of different things. So we spread our food $$ out a bit.....

 

[Pembo]

Last year with my 5 y/o ds we ate all counter service except one Character Breakfast. Not a problem, but I was craving a vegetable....ended up with corn at the food court!!!

 

[landog]

What are the "PSs" referred to in the posts ahead of this one?

Thanks!
- landog

 

[DiznEeyore]

Originally posted by landog
What are the "PSs" referred to in the posts ahead of this one?

Thanks!
- landog

They're Priority Seating arrangements. Disney restaurants don't do "reservations" -- they call them "priority seatings", which means they'll give you a time and confirmation number, but you're not guaranteed a table at that time; only that you'll get the next available table for your party size.

HTH!

 

[musicfan]

Oh, Pembo, I know what you mean! Even with sit down dinners, I still end up craving veggies by the end of the vacation. My family eats about 200% more vegetables at any given meal than most restaurants serve!

 

[WDW2002]

Because of my food limitations (no meat) I have done extensive "research" on what is available at WDW. And while you might have to "hunt them down" you can getting a variety of veggies at the counter service places. Salads are just about everywhere. Epcot and MGM (if I remember correctely) both have several places that sereve veggies and AK has corn on the cob. Plus the food courts serve veggies also.

 

[Kermit]

Once about 15 years ago, my mom took my sister and I to WDW intending to eat at counter service restaurants almost exclusively since my dad couldn't make it and we didn't want to spend a ton of money without him. We ate at a character breakfast the first morning, and then counter service for the next few days. By the 3rd or 4th day, we were ready to spend whatever it cost to eat at a full service restaurant. Part of it was the lack of variety at the counter service restaurants, but that part is much better now. The other aspect was that we were tired. You get a much better break when you sit down for about 30-45 minutes and let people bring you food.

I wouldn't feel embarrassed about ordering something besides an entree in the off hours. DH and I usually split an appetizer and an entree because we don't want too much food.