Counter Service recommendations

[imatoad]

We're on the Dining Plan for Oct., and need you counter service recommendations for two parks, Animal Kingdom and MGM studios. Do me a favor and distinguish which rest. for which park, I'm not that familiar with either one. Thanks for the help.

 

[Leota]

AK is easy. There is great CS to be had - Tusker House is my favorite, but Flame Tree is good too if you like BBQ.

MGM CS is atrocious. I was hoping the new Studio Catering Co. would be good, I liked the menu, but it turned out to be just as bad as the rest of MGM CS. I, personally, would leave MGM to eat CS or else plan on eating at a TS restaurant there.

 

[stschaefer]

My recommendation for counter service at MGM is to take the ferry to the boardwalk and eat at Boardwalk Bakery. Great sandwiches and even better desserts!!!

 

[LovintheLodge]

We really enjoyed Tusker House at AK. On a hot day, it's nice and cool inside and the food is good and plentiful. I didn't eat CS at DS, so I can't really recommend anything there.

 

[Manon]

Thats a really nice cs at Animal Kingdom, the chicken salad is great and the ribs are delicious!!!! Great chocolat cake also!!!!

For MGM couldn't tell you, because only been to Sci-Fi Inn!

 

[mommystieg]

I also recommend Flame Tree at AK. I agree with the other posters about CS at the Studios

 

[jann1033]

yeah sorry we never do cs at MGM...we love Brown Derby so we eat lunch there and then get cs for dinner after we leave mgm...an alternative is you could take the boat to the beach club and go to beaches. if you go at an "off " time you shouldn't have to long a wait off season. we went early at 11:30 since we went to emh( epcot) and didn't eat brkfst and waited about 10 mins.

at mgm starring rolls had good choc. crossiants but i didn't try anything else there...i believe they had sandwiches at one time . sad to hear about studio..it looked like a step inthe right direction

at ak we also liked tusker house( cinnamon rolls are great for a quick brfst) and i think flame tree is still seasonal(?) at least i think it was when we went at least

 

[rifamtrav]

At MGM, we were very disapointed with Starring Rolls limitations on using the dining plan - the cashier said 1 pastry and a drink, for a CS meal, that's got to be wrong but I didn't have the strength to argue so we paid out of pocket and shared a few pastries. When we were there (Sep 8th) we planned to try the abc commissary for breakfast CS but it was closed for refurb.
For lunch at MGM we were pleasantly surprised by backlot express - it's between Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular and Star Tours - we ordered burgers and fries, pretty standard stuff, but there were several grilled sandwiches that looked very good. I didn't get the grilled veggie sandwich but I wish I did. Instead I went to Studio Catering because the menu looked good and tried their lamb Gyro, it was terrible!!! I love gyros but this one was just BAD. There are pictures of all of the food on the sign above the counter and nothing looked good.
So, for MGM, I'd definitely go back to backlot express - we're not talking gourmet, but for counter service it wasn't too bad and there were a few other choices besides just burgers.

 

[imatoad]

Thanks for your help everyone.

 

[tinkermell]

My recommendation for counter service at MGM is to take the ferry to the boardwalk and eat at Boardwalk Bakery. Great sandwiches and even better desserts!!!

How long does that take??? Thanks!!

 

[stschaefer]

How long does that take??? Thanks!!

The ferry took about 15 minutes, stops at Swan and Yachtsclub first. I think I will try to contact Boardwalk Bakery about whether they still count as a counterserve. Did while I was there, but others say differently. Hurricane Hannah's also has counterserve (beach type bar with burgers and wraps) - but not as good as Boardwalk.

 

[Manon]

I have the list right in front of me, and the bakery is not on it.....

But maybe its worth it to go anyway and pay from our pocket???

Good luck!

We have the same problem, but we don't want to get out of the park, with 3 kids its too much!! Maybe we will eat a ts for late lunch, and eat cs at our hotel's food court!

 

[stschaefer]

That is what surprised me when they accepted it - the list never mentioned the Bakery - but they accepted the plan for a counterservice lunch DW and I shared. The sandwiches are big and the desserts are great. Beaches and Cream is counted as a TS and would be a great choice if you have available TS for it!!!

We were limited at the time we went to MGM because Sci Fi was closed for renovation - we actually had an ADR 90 days out and they called us 14 days out and said we needed to change our ADR. We chose Mama Melrose and loved it.