Counter Service that feel like a TS - Help! I haven't eaten fast food in 10 years!

[outstandinfarmer]

So when I was 14 I got a job at McDonald's. It lasted a day and a half and I never ate fast food again - no McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King, Hardees, nothing. I have never eaten at any of the CS restaurants at Disney World in ANY of my 7 visits. I pack a sandwhich and snacks and make do while everyone else eats there. The only CS I went to that I ate at was Beaches and Cream which I really enjoyed.

So what are some counter service restaurants that we can go to that will not send me running to the bathroom with the feeling that I'm eating fast food. It's such a problem. The smell makes me gag and actually throw up. I wish I was better, but now that I'm pregnant it's even worse.

My husband and boys do fast food but I won't. We got the Disney Dining Plan with 1 CS a day and I'm really starting to get nervous about what I am going to do with my CS. And if I'm not eating when my family is eating, my husband will get very angry and scold me because he says I don't eat enough.

So please help me!

 

[karajeboo]

Tangierine Cafe in Morocco in Epcot is a great CS with food that is not like fast food at all. The side dishes are couscous and a wonderful cold lentil salad. I think you'd really enjoy it! Also, at AK, Flame Tree BBQ is another great one - you can get smoked chicken or turkey (I usually get a great turkey sandwich!), with baked beans and corn on the cob. Plus, both of these have great outdoor dining areas that are nice.

Don't forget, most CS places also have salads on the menu, too! Good luck!

 

[Minnie824]

Two of the best counter service are in downtown disney... Wolfgang Puck Express and Earl of Sandwich.

 

[Maude4Disney]

Two of the best counter service are in downtown disney... Wolfgang Puck Express and Earl of Sandwich

ITA!!

 

[emmabemmainc]

I agree w/ all 3 of the places mentioned--they are my favorites. Also, unless you're going to the McDonald's fries places, NO CS places in any of the parks are like typical fast food. They may serve hamburgers and fries at some of them, but that's where the similarities end. Also, I thought Beaches and Cream was TS. Maybe I'm wrong, I'm too tired today!

 

[ROEDISNEY]

I love the good tuna sandwhich in CHH @ MK.

 

[2BOYMOM]

Another vote for Earl of Sandwich. I don't like fast food either and very, very rarely eat it. But I have no problem with CS while at Disney. There are only certain places I'll eat at and only one that I'll actually eat a burger from (Pecos Bills) and NO WAY am I eating hot dogs a Casey's. But I've always been able to find a CS that works for me.

 

[TarzansKat]

Gosh, there are so many places where you can get nicer food for CS meals.

In the Magic Kingdom, I see a pp already mentioned Columbia Harbor House for a great tuna sandwich. I also read somewhere that the bakery on Main St has a great fresh mozzarella sandwich.

In Epcot, there are so many wonderful places to get counter service! You'll find healthier options in Sunshine Seasons in The Land Pavilion. In the countries, if you like smoked salmon, there's a CS that has that in Norway. Also in Japan, there is counter service sushi. I love sushi, and their's is very good for CS.

In DHS, I know that I really enjoy this cuban pork sandwich at the ABC commissary. And a lot of those larger CS places will have salad, and veggie wrap options as well.

I'm afraid we typically don't do CS in the Animal Kingdom, so I'm sort of at a loss there.

Hope that helps!

 

[Alesia]

Also, I thought Beaches and Cream was TS. Maybe I'm wrong, I'm too tired today!

It is.

 

[Lynne M]

Let's see...in Epcot, there's Seasons in the Land. It's a huge food court, so you're not closed in with any cooking smells, and there's not a burger or fry to be found there. Lots of variety, everyone in your party should be able to find something.

Also in Epcot, Tangierine Cafe in Morocco is excellent. Lotus Blossom Cafe in China is also good and has outdoor seating. If you like Mexican, there's the Cantina.

In AK, Flame Tree Barbecue is one of my favorites. The food is great, and it's all outdoor seating.

 

[yasuern]

First Congratulations on expecting

Here is a list of some places - some do also serve fast food items too so not sure how it will factor into the smell reaction.


The Harbour House , Cosmic Rays, Main st bakery(have specialty sanwiches)at MK

Sunshine seasons(the land), Yakitori House(Japan), Tangierine cafe(Morocco),
in Epcot


Back Lot Express, Starring Rolls Bakery(have some specialty sandwiches), Studio Catering Company at DHS

Flame Tree BBQ, Pizzafari(have things besides pizza), Yak and Yeti Counter Service at AK


Here is a link to WDW menus so you can check them out yourself and plot your stops.

http://allears.net/menu/menus.htm


Sue

 

[ChristaDeVil]

In my opinion, most of the CS options are not your average fast food. Of the ones that we tried last trip, only Casey's felt like "fast food". Everyone on here has given great options, and I may be duplicating some of them, but here are my suggestions:
Epcot - Sunshine Seasons. It's considered "fast casual" instead of "fast food". Lots of options, and most are very healthy & fresh.
AK - We LOVED the Yak & Yeti CS. It's typical Chinese food, but fresher and tastier than our local take out place.
MK - We also love the mexican place in Adventureland, that I cannot remember the name of. (Pirate? Something?) Fresh toppings bar.

 

[v_gan]

I agree with Columbia Harbor House and Tangerine Cafe. They're my favorites!

CHH has such a cozy and quiet atmosphere upstairs (much busier downstairs!). It would be extrememly hard to compare it to a fast food restaurant.

Tangerine Cafe is also really hard to compare to fast food. It's filled with natural light and has a great variety of fresh food.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

It is.

I called Disney Dining and asked about Beaches and Cream. They said it was a counter service. I said "Really? Are you sure?" And she said yes it is! No PS for that restaurant so it is a CS.

 

[BriarRosie]

I called Disney Dining and asked about Beaches and Cream. They said it was a counter service. I said "Really? Are you sure?" And she said yes it is! No PS for that restaurant so it is a CS.

The Disney Dining cast member didn't know squat. While Beaches and Cream doesn't take ADRs, it is most definitely a table service, the way Johnny Rockets is a table service. Those places are pretty interchangeable in terms of food and atmosphere.

You still have to get seated by a host/hostess, and servers will bring you food. And I believe it counts as a TS credit on the dining plan.

Beaches and Cream does have a take out counter, but it's VERY limited.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

The Disney Dining cast member didn't know squat. While Beaches and Cream doesn't take ADRs, it is most definitely a table service, the way Johnny Rockets is a table service. Those places are pretty interchangeable in terms of food and atmosphere.

You still have to get seated by a host/hostess, and servers will bring you food. And I believe it counts as a TS credit on the dining plan.

Beaches and Cream does have a take out counter, but it's VERY limited.

Well I'm very upset. What's the point of calling them and asking them about something if they have no clue?

 

[Justsyd2]

That's true. I'm on the QSDP, and Beaches and Cream is not listed as a CS restaurant.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

That's true. I'm on the QSDP, and Beaches and Cream is not listed as a CS restaurant.

You know, other trips I have been so impressed with the people at reservations but this trip every time I call it seems as though I am bothering them and they are trying to get me off the phone. I only had one girl that was friendly and helpful.

Well good to know. Of course disers would know more than a cast member!

 

[dvcdisney]

So what are some counter service restaurants that we can go to that will not send me running to the bathroom with the feeling that I'm eating fast food. It's such a problem. The smell makes me gag and actually throw up. I wish I was better, but now that I'm pregnant it's even worse.

I know what you mean, I hate CS meals. I find myself eating the Chicken caesar salads that are offered in most places. But even that, I'm not too thrilled with.

But I do find that Sunshine seasons has a pretty good Salmon. It's not great. But after I've eaten it, I don't feel like I just ate a CS meal.

Other places like Main Street Bakery or some resort CS offer great sandwiches or Chicken Wraps.

 

[disprincessatheart]

What type of food do you want to eat or want to avoid? Do you not want bugers and fries or do you not want something that seems at all like a CS place? Many CS places will not serve burgers, and many that do will also serve chicken or pizza or sandwiches and wraps. WDW has lots of options and the PP's have mentioned several great ones.

ALso, where are you staying? Several resorts have CS places that are really nice and won't feel like a CS.

If it's the smell inside the building that really bothers you, but you could eat say a wrap or chicken sandwich from there, send DH in with a kid or 2 to order, while you find a place to eat nearby. There's outdoor seating near lots of the CS places and some like Sunshine Seasons have such a large open seating area that you dont' smell the food much (and that one's not fast food anyway).