Counter Service

[ourtrip]

We are planning our first trip to Wat Disney World and can't wait till October.

I have a question. Does the counter service mean like going to McDonalds?

Our family of 3 are not big eaters and counter service would be great. I know probably one night we would like to eat out somewhere nice.

Thanks for the help.
Jen

Oh yea forgot to ask, how does the character meal work?

 

[Faldred]

It's like going to McDonald's, but in most cases, hopefully better.

In general, you go up to the counter, choose your items from a menu, and pay for them at the register (using CS credits if you're on a dining plan). Some may be "cafeteria" style where you just add things to your own tray.

As for character meals, they're just like any other TS meal, though usually done buffet-style. They just have characters at them.

 

[ofhs93]

We are planning our first trip to Wat Disney World and can't wait till October.

I have a question. Does the counter service mean like going to McDonalds?

QUOTE]

Basically...only the food and atmosphere is typically much better

 

[ourtrip]

Thanks so much.

If we get the quick dining plan, can we add a character breakfast?

These boards rock.
Jen

 

[Faldred]

Of course you can get a character breakfast (assuming there's a reservation available); it just won't be covered by the quick service dining plan (QSDP) -- you'll have to pay out of pocket (OOP) for it. Character meals (or any other regular dining service) are not exclusive to dining plan members.

As with most table service restaurants, advance dining reservations (ADRs) are strongly recommended.

 

[Luvamouse]

Jen,

Here is a link to a Dining Plan page on ALLEars. It lists the participating restaurants in the DDP. (You need to scroll down a bit for the chart.) The chart has links to the menu page if there is a menu available for the location, AND it is organized by Location then by snack, counter service, table service, signature. Find a location and restaurant and click the blue link---it'll take you to the appropriate location on the menu page where you can click the link to the most recent menu submitted. Much easier to do than I made it sound here... Some of the CS locations have pretty cool theming, others are so-so. Same with the food.

 

[VAN]

You mention you and your family are not big eaters. I'd probably suggest that you not sign up for a meal plan and just wing it. The credits for counter service include a drink, entre (like a hamburger basket), and dessert. You will probably find that two of these is enough for the three of you and then you're scrambling to use the rest of your credits.

IMHO I don't think the quick service plan is really going to save you that much and will only restrict you from eating when/what you want.

Just suggest that you take a look at some the menus and crunch some numbers.

We were on the free dining last September and found that our days were planned around using the credits. You got so much food at the counter-service that you had to eat early enough in the day to be ready for table-service at night. Don't get me wrong - I enjoyed it. But to pay for the quick service plan ... it wouldn't be worth it for me. The savings over OOP in how I really eat would be minor if any.

 

[ourtrip]

thanks for all your help. I am sure I will be lurking from now until Sept.

Jen

 

[ofhs93]

"IMHO I don't think the quick service plan is really going to save you that much and will only restrict you from eating when/what you want."

How can you say it would restrict them???? The beauty of the QSDP is that it does NOT restrict you...you can eat whenever you want...your not tied down to ADRs with it. We Found the QSDP to be the PERFECT answer for our family last week. We absolutely loved it...the flexibilty was tremendous...and there was plenty of food for us...we easily had enough to share with our DS2.5 (who east as much as his older brother) Between the 2 snacks a day and the CS meals we had more than enough food but still got a lot of value out of it. I would say we are sort of big eaters....if you have a family that does not eat much then maybe OOP would be better...but we certainly got more than our money's worth out of the QSDP.

 

[brandylouwho]

I think that any dining plan can be restrictive if it doesn't fit the way you want to eat. For instance, you don't need the QS plan if you are happy buying 2 burgers and drinking a water (just an example off the top of my head).

The only way to really know is to experience it for yourself, the 2nd best way to get an idea of which plan, if any, is right for you is to look at the menus & crunch the numbers.

DH and I are over eaters at home (and we have the bodies to show for it), but at WDW in the heat of August we barely eat a thing, so no dining plan for us--well, usually.

 

[ofhs93]

Well...I still believe that it does not create a RESRICTION. If your doing CS then you can eat basically whenever you want. If you don't want the dessert then so be it...I have read a number of places that will sub out the dessert for a different side item. Now, if you are a light eating group then that is a totally different issue. Then maybe the costs don't add up.

Personally...I rather err on the side of having enough food then not having enough...touring on empty stomachs can make for cranky kids Our CHEAPEST adult CS meal was about $15 after tax. So at that rate our snacks and mugs were free...and trust me...MOST of our CS meals we well over $15 after adding on the dessert and drink. So we came out quite a bit ahead. It also took the mental aspect out of it. We could order whatever we wanted...if I was not on the plan we would not have enjoyed them as much. I know how I am....I would have been nickel and dimeing the meals to save 50 cents here and there.

 

[Uncle.Jr]

ofhs93,

since u just got back and u were on the qsdp, i have to ask the nagging question that keeps getting bounced around here...

so do they actually separate the adult cs and child cs credits?

thanks

 

[disneyfan55]

I think the CS at WDW is a step up from McDonalds at most places. Sunshine Seasons, Cosmic Rays, Pepper Market and Columbia House are a few in my opinion that have a variety of offerings and not just a hamberger/chicken sandwich type meal. You can get ribs and 1/2 chicken, veg, potatoes, dessert and drink at Cosmic rays that in my opinion is too much for just one person but it counts as only 1 CS. Yes, there are hamberger places, but I do think these are also a step up in taste and most have a fixins' bar with onions mushrooms and fresh lettuce/onions/tomatoes for you to eat as well.

 

[ofhs93]

ofhs93,

since u just got back and u were on the qsdp, i have to ask the nagging question that keeps getting bounced around here...

so do they actually separate the adult cs and child cs credits?

thanks

I KNEW this would end up getting asked...the only answer I have is that they are NOT separated on your reciepts. I did not try to "bend" the system to get more adult meals than we were supposed to be allocated simply because we didn't NEED to. There was MORE than enough food by following the rules...so I did not try anything else. I WAS tempted just to see...but we were having such a great vacation that I did not want to throw any possible wrenches into the mix Sorry I cannot give you any more specifics than that