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

[outstandinfarmer]

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).

There's nothing specific that I'm looking for but it's the taste and smell of fast food that gets to me. Or taking a bite out of a hamburger that you can tell isn't fresh meat. I know. I am a piece of work. I wish I wasn't this way, but I can't get past the "cheap" taste and not gagging. We have to rent a car or take a cab to the grocery store for me while we're down there just so I can get stuff for sandwiches or something so I don't starve. I wish it was simpler And before my husband would just ignore my not eating whenever we went anywhere, but now that I'm pregnant he's on my case so I have to look like I'm making an attempt.

I do like WDW popcorn though...

 

[Bimmy56]

If you like Tex-Mex, the Pirate and the Parrot across from The Pirates of the Caribbean has a nice counter service. It has a great toppings bar as someone else mentioned, so you can make tacos or taco salad the way you like it, and you sit outdoors or in small rooms far from the serving area.

The only drawback is that they are only open for lunch, and sometimes not even then.

I believe while Pecos Bills is closed they will be serving hamburgers instead.

 

[MickeyNicki]

In DTD we love WPE, that place is just fantastic! Awesome food, super large portions too.

We are huge fans of the Tangierine Cafe in Morrocco (Epcot). Again, awesome food and huge portions.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I would go with Earl of Sandwich, in Downtown Disney Marketplace.

 

[Anal Annie]

I find in general that the CS restaurants at WDW are pretty good and are nothing like Wendy's et al. I like the ones at AK park for something different and I agree with another poster that the Cuban sandwich at the ABC Commissary is quite good. I'll also give another vote for Columbia House here too and the CS Moroccon place at Epcot. Other than ordering at a counter I would say that's where the similarities end.

(Just wondering...do you also not eat at like Applebee's or Ruby Tuesday's or TGI Friday type restaurants or are you just against the "burger joints"??)

 

[almburr]

Columbia Harbor house.
Cosmic rays.

 

[zuly]

Hi!
at DTD Wolfgang Puck Express is awesome; at MK El Pirata y El Perico ; at AK
we like Flame Tree BBQ and were going to try Yak & Yeti this summer; at DHS The Comissary ; at EPCOT we loved WS China, Mexico,Japan,UK, and in the FW Sunshine Seasons!!! mmmm Im hungry!
Happy eating @ WDW

 

[karibritt01]

Pepper Market at CSR is very good. They have large portions, and the food is made to orer. They have a grill, a pizza and pasta station, a sandwich station, and a mexican station that I can remember. You can get a steak and baked potato there for a CS credit. I to order their quesadillas!

 

[outstandinfarmer]

(Just wondering...do you also not eat at like Applebee's or Ruby Tuesday's or TGI Friday type restaurants or are you just against the "burger joints"??)

HAHA! I'll eat at sit down restaurants but I am very picky with those as well. The atmostphere and smell doesn't make me sick which is nice. I used to love McDonald's until I worked there. The second day I went home sick from the smell and nothing fast food ever touched my lips again.

As far as Applebees, Ruby Tuesday's and TGI Fridays - I don't like any of those. Just simply that I don't enjoy the food at all. I used to love TGI Friday's but then they changed all their food from the fresh made there to the preprepared stuff and I didn't like it anymore. I'm more of a Cheesecake Factory kind of girl

I did work at a Culvers for 4 years and I guess that could kind of be considered fast food. Everything was completely fresh. That is the only one that gets my stamp of approval

My husband hates my food issues. He watches the food channel like it's porn and gets so mad that I don't share his passion for all the wonderful foods of the world. I guess I'd rather just do a bowl of cereal.

 

[brergnat]

As far as Applebees, Ruby Tuesday's and TGI Fridays - I don't like any of those. Just simply that I don't enjoy the food at all. I used to love TGI Friday's but then they changed all their food from the fresh made there to the preprepared stuff and I didn't like it anymore. I'm more of a Cheesecake Factory kind of girl

Hate to burst your bubble, but Cheesecake Factory is definitely NOT all freshly made food...

Just thought you should know.

Anyway, on the subject of WDW food, most of it is not typical "burgers and fries" fast food. I don't know what you consider "freshly prepared", but all the food at WDW is prepared on site. A lot of it is frozen and then fried up, which is what I assume you'd like to avoid. That's simple enough to do.

There are lots of freshly prepared sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc. There are several places that offer rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies, etc. Lots of pizza/pasta available as well.

You should do just fine.

Keep in mind, you can use your CS credit for BREAKFAST each day, if you choose. You can use it for cereal, milk and fruit, I believe. Or cereal, fruit, and juice. You can get yogurts with snack credits, fresh fruits, etc.

You'll be fine. I hate the smell of fast food (grease) too. I've never even noticed it at WDW. They have excellent ventilation systems in all their restaurants. It doesn't smell like a McDonalds. I haven't eaten at a McD's in YEARS, simply because the smell inside those restaurants makes me nauseous as well.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

Hate to burst your bubble, but Cheesecake Factory is definitely NOT all freshly made food...

Just thought you should know.

Anyway, on the subject of WDW food, most of it is not typical "burgers and fries" fast food. I don't know what you consider "freshly prepared", but all the food at WDW is prepared on site. A lot of it is frozen and then fried up, which is what I assume you'd like to avoid. That's simple enough to do.

There are lots of freshly prepared sandwiches, wraps, salads, etc. There are several places that offer rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes, veggies, etc. Lots of pizza/pasta available as well.

You should do just fine.

Keep in mind, you can use your CS credit for BREAKFAST each day, if you choose. You can use it for cereal, milk and fruit, I believe. Or cereal, fruit, and juice. You can get yogurts with snack credits, fresh fruits, etc.

You'll be fine. I hate the smell of fast food (grease) too. I've never even noticed it at WDW. They have excellent ventilation systems in all their restaurants. It doesn't smell like a McDonalds. I haven't eaten at a McD's in YEARS, simply because the smell inside those restaurants makes me nauseous as well.

No, no, no. I wasn't saying that I only eat something that is freshly prepared, I just hate that fast food old, gross taste and smell. That's all. I'm not saying that Cheesecake Factory is this supreme restaurant, I just have happened to have a good meal every single time I eat there.

 

[outstandinfarmer]

I haven't eaten at a McD's in YEARS, simply because the smell inside those restaurants makes me nauseous as well.

Haha! It's good to know there's others out there like me

 

[perdidobay]

I posted this on the thread about salads, maybe you can find it and read it- the food court at Wilderness Lodge-Roaring Forks- has a great salad made fresh in front of you and they have some very good sandwiches also.

SALAD AND SANDWICH CREATIONS

Roast Beef and Blue Cheese on Focaccia with Grilled Red Onion, Mizuna lettuce and Buttermilk Chive Spread $6.99

Ham and Tillamook Cheddar on Whole-Grain Mustard Rye $6.49

Smoked Turkey and Brie on Honey-Oatmeal Bread with Tarragon Mayo spread and Mizuna Lettuce $6.49

Grilled Vegetable Sandwich on 7-Grain Bread" Hummus, Zucchini, onion, tomato, lettuce $6.49

Grilled Chicken Salad with Apple Vinaigrette - Granny Smith Apples, Candied walnuts, Tillamook cheddar cheese, croutons $7.99.....
This is my favorite! There is a photo on the salad thread.


Vegetarian Salad with Orange Sesame Vinaigrette - Diced Beets, Feta Cheese, Golden Raisins, Millet $6.99

 

[tndisneyfan]

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

I agree with you but it's just a fact of WDW life. If you have questions you are much better off asking them here on the Dis. The posters on this board are way more knowledgable than most CMs. That's not to say there's not knowledgeable CMs out there.

Also I would recommend Wolfgang Puck Express, Cosmic Ray's in MK, Flame Tree BBQ in AK, also any of the world Showcase places in Epcot. These are just a few I can think of right off hand. There are lots of options besides burgers and fries.

Just curious, what happened at MickeyD's?

 

[creativeamanda]

Here are my recommendations:

Magic Kingdom--Cosmic Rays has roasted chicken

Epcot--Sunshine Seasons

Hollywood Studios--Toy Story Pizza Planet

Animal Kingdom--Flame Tree Barbeque

Downtown Disney--Wolfgang Puck Express

 

[fall08CP]

I agree with a PP that Pepper Market is an outstanding choice.

Most of their food is made to order. They have pizza, pasta, chinese, grill (steak!), Mexican, and deli/salads. The stuff really tastes superb and is worth the trip to CSR. There are also many dessert choices as they have a mini bakery!

 

[outstandinfarmer]

Just curious, what happened at MickeyD's?

I worked in the kitchen and there was no handsoap in the employee restroom OR in the kitchen. Not a dispenser, or a bar of soap, nothing! The meat would sit in those little pull out trays all day long and all I could smell was meat going bad. There was this one breakfast meat thing that smelled like death. They had the "secret sauce" guns and everytime the guy across from me would make a Big Mac and throw the "secret sauce" gun back in it's holster, I would get shot in the forehead. EVERY SINGLE TIME! The kitchen was a mess and a disaster using dirty tools and dirty grills. I could go on and on. When I went home that day I never did fast food again. I couldn't even if I wanted to because of the smell. It's a flashback everytime I get that smell.

My best friend worked at Mc Donald's for years (the new one in town) and said everything was very clean. I guess I just got the bad one. It's weird though, I have dreams where I'm eating at McDonalds and breaking the 10 year fast food fast. And then I start screaming in the dream "What have I done?!" And then I wake up. Haha! So weird!

 

[pbnanner]

I posted this on the thread about salads, maybe you can find it and read it- the food court at Wilderness Lodge-Roaring Forks- has a great salad made fresh in front of you and they have some very good sandwiches also.

SALAD AND SANDWICH CREATIONS

Roast Beef and Blue Cheese on Focaccia with Grilled Red Onion, Mizuna lettuce and Buttermilk Chive Spread $6.99

Ham and Tillamook Cheddar on Whole-Grain Mustard Rye $6.49

Smoked Turkey and Brie on Honey-Oatmeal Bread with Tarragon Mayo spread and Mizuna Lettuce $6.49

Grilled Vegetable Sandwich on 7-Grain Bread" Hummus, Zucchini, onion, tomato, lettuce $6.49

Grilled Chicken Salad with Apple Vinaigrette - Granny Smith Apples, Candied walnuts, Tillamook cheddar cheese, croutons $7.99.....
This is my favorite! There is a photo on the salad thread.


Vegetarian Salad with Orange Sesame Vinaigrette - Diced Beets, Feta Cheese, Golden Raisins, Millet $6.99

We are staying at WL next trip and will be on the Quick Service Dining Plan....everything you described sounds wonderful!