Counter service plan or not?

[Steph9072]

For those of you who plan do you plan your counter service meal or just the table service? I want to have a few options in each park but dh says lets just eat where we are. But I want to know where we eat is going to be yummy. So please tell us your favorite counter services in each park. TIA



Steph
dh
ds2 yrs
dd 6 yrs
dss 11 yrs

 

[mickeystoontown]

I am a HUGE HUGE HUGE planner. We have been to Disney World eleven times in the last nine years and I have planned each and every one of them months and months in advance. I do not, however, plan our counter service meals. I do my research by checking out the restaurants menus (go to www.allearsnet.com, click on dining and scroll down to menus).

Our favorite counter service meals are as follows:

Magic Kingdom: We never miss Pecos Bills.

Epcot: Futureworld: The Land. There is a huge variety of foods to choose from. World Showcase: The counter service in Mexico or China.

MGM Studios: Backlot Express.

Animal Kingdom: Flame Tree BBQ blows everything else away.

Hope this helps you out a bit, Lisa

 

[stitchlover]

We plan our TS only and then play the rest by ear. If we don't have breakfast TS plans we eat in the Food Court at our resort, well DH and DD do, we usually pay cash for breakfast so then we have CS to eat in the park or whereever. I take some Weight Watcher muffins in my suitcase and have one with a fresh piece of fruit on those days. For CS we just play it by ear.

 

[4boysrus]

i'm a first timer, but my plan is to have a few places in mind for each park. like you said, i don't want to be stuck eating somewhere with yucky food.

 

[Bride2Be0705]

I don't normally plan our counter-service meals... I do, however, print off the ones that sound good. In MK, I usually do El Pirata y Perico or Cosmic Ray's. I usually do Cosmic Ray's and says EP&P for later in the evening when I want a 'snack.' Their tacos ROCK! In MGM, we do Pizza Planet or Catalina Eddie's. In Epcot, it's Mexico's counter service or Sunshine Seasons in The Land. At AK, we do Flame Tree, which is AWESOME!!!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Nope, don't plan counter service but we do know where all of them are located and which ones we like so we just make a call when we get hungry =)

I don't want to be tied down THAT much; we might be on the other side of the park when we get hungry so we'll find something good near us instead of trekking across for something else.

Our faves:

MK - Columbia Harbour House
AK - Tusker House (incredible fresh food in air conditioned tables!)
MGM - Nothing
EPCOT - Tangerine Cafe, Sunshine Seasons if in future world

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

Weve never planned a counter service, but we reviewed places prior so we had an idea of where we wanted to go.

 

[Steph9072]

Thanks everyone! I think I am going to review places in each park and have a few ideas through out the park. Thanks again!



Steph
dh
ds2 yrs
dd 6 yrs
dss 11 yrs

 

[Harambe]

I don't plan CS's totally, but I do try to hit at least one new one each trip. But my family has its favorites and sometimes I can't get them to budge (I do bully them into TSs I want to try, so I compromise on the CSs). I am still trying to get them to go to Tangerie Cafe in Morroco!

Our favorites:

Columbia Harbour House (MK)

Tusker House (AK)

Yakatori (Epcot - Japan)

Starring Rolls (MGM) for bagels. I purposely plan to not eat at MGM unless its a TS lunch, but in a pinch, we'll grab a bagel.

 

[Disneyof3]

Another no planning with CS. But I do have a couple in mind everytime we go to decide on and I also look at the menu's from allears. Hate to go somewhere and find out there isn't anything on the menu you like. It's been a tradition now in our family that we always eat dinner at Pecos Bill watching Spectro and again this March will be no different.
Favourite:
MK: Pecos Bill
AK: Flame Tree
DMGM: Backlot Express
Epcot: Lotus Blossum (closed this trip when we go )

 

[DVC Jen]

We go with an idea of the places we would be happy choosing, but we don't really PLAN where we will eat for CS.

Sometimes you just need to wing it and relax. In my opinion some planning is smart and much needed (ADRs for TS - EMHs - that type of thing) too much planning just makes your vacation a chore to keep up with the schedule... and much less like the much needed vacation we need and have been so looking forward to.

 

[pezpam]

I don't plan CS meals, but I do have an idea of the menus at each place so when we get hungry, we can choose where to go without wasting time checking menus at each place, then backtracking to the one we like. Sometimes we eat where we are, sometimes we have a craving for something specific and go there.

 

[ransom]

I don't plan the CS meals, but I do make notes about the ones that I might want to try in my daily itinerary. I note the restaurant name and what type of foods they serve.

 

[december]

I planned our Cs meals in July, and I'm already researching it for November. Yes I'm very much Type A. But when you are going with kids, and trying to get some variety, you have to research the menus. DD loves mac and cheese, but even she would be tired of it after 10 days. My son is a big eater, so he was my biggest concern last year (on dining plan). Thankfully, this year he will be 10. Yes I have to pay more, but he can eat whatever he wants!

 

[The Sweetness]

I don't plan CS meals, but I do have an idea of the menus at each place so when we get hungry, we can choose where to go without wasting time checking menus at each place, then backtracking to the one we like. Sometimes we eat where we are, sometimes we have a craving for something specific and go there.

Same thinking here

 

[PrincessTrisha]

Even the few times I have "planned" a counter service meal, we always seem to eat somewhere else.

Every trip I have wanted to try the chicken and ribs combo at Cosmic Ray's and I still have not managed to do so. We are always at the other side of the park.

I echo the "take a look at the menus and have an idea but go with the flow" sentiment.

 

[SnwflkCts]

I actually DO plan the CS meals but always with the idea we can change our minds ... but we never do! Mainly, I do it as a way to flow us through the park or if we are coming back to the resort. Definately one of those things you can HANG LOOSE on though. I just enjoyed the planning. It is a good idea to look at the menus beforehand and at least pick out places where you know you will find something you like to eat.