DH refuses to go to Cosmic Rays!

[bigal'sdaughter]

Ok so let me explain....we ate here in early May 2004 (engagement trip)and in Nov 09. For our first day lunchtime we need a CS and we will probably again be in tommorowland for our upcoming trip.
The food was fine - but inside it was a zoo! Both times we went were not peak park days - but it was during the lunch hour. We have never even made it around to see Sonny -b/c we had to grab the first table - you know?
DH has put his foot down. He refuses to go in there EVER AGAIN!
We both LOVE CHH - so much calmer upstairs.
Any other recs? Definitely Pecos Bill's - but Pinnochio's?.. but I PROMISED DH that he could pick whatever CS he wants for that first day in MK.
I don't think the noodle station will be open at end of Jan...
(Oh yeah... I hope not to walk all over tarnation with a almost 4 year old and a 10 month old in the double stroller)
Thank you all so much in advance!!

 

[Max Webster]

Cosmic Rays is great. Too bad your husband refuse to go there again. It sounds to me like you should be in the market for a different DH.

Cheers!

Max

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't want to go in there either when it is crazy. Nothing gets crazier than that place at peak mealtimes.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Cosmic Ray's is that busy most of the time.
. . . it is very popular
. . . it used to be our favorite fast food eatery at WDW
2) Plus, they changed the burger buns
. . . now, a wheat/grain mix
. . . they fall apart in your hands
. . . the taste rivals soft cardboard
3) Maybe your husband is wiser than your knew.

 

[budbeerlady]

We NEVER eat at Cosmic Rays for all the reasons listed. It can get so busy and loud, we avoid Pecos Bills for the same reasons. Columbia Harbor house has good food that we enjoy so we always go there by default.

All Disney places can be nuts at lunch time, are you willing to go a little before or a little later than the usual lunch time?

 

[ftwildernessrick]

Eat early.
We always try to eat lunch at 11:00 and supper by 5:30. Avoid the crowds, and lines. Also, table service buffets are cleaner/neater.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

The buns don't bother my family since we don't eat white bread at home most of the time. It is VERY crowded, and that can be quite stressful, but we DO like the food.

But maybe you should consider Columbia Harbour House? It seems to be overlooked a lot, and is really quite good.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

We enjoyed Pecos Bills a few times on our last time but are looking forward to trying CH this time as well

 

[kmk1180]

If your eating QS, at prime lunch time it's going to be busy where ever you go.
Personally we LOVE CR.
Sonny is awesome.
As for food, it's fast food, if your expecting top quality stuff, well that's like expecting great food at McD's.
We like the burgers, and despite claims you can't tell the difference. No more than you can tell any other place anywhere that is doing the same thing of switching to grain's.
It's hamburger bun.

But if you've said it's his choice, then you have to accept it's his choice.
Sorry.

 

[GovieMom]

Our experience with Cosmic Ray's as a family of four was that, since each of us wanted something different, we had to stand in different lines to get what we wanted. After getting our food, the first person ready had to find a table, and the rest of us had to search around the place trying to find them.
The line I was in happened to be a very slow moving one, and by the time I got my food and found their table, my family was finished eating. And yeah, the place definitely was a zoo. Never again!

 

[Belle5]

Have you ever considered exiting the park to go to a monorail resort or even boating to the WL for your QS meal? That would be my choice--unless I was really limited on time.

 

[Max Webster]

Have you ever considered exiting the park to go to a monorail resort or even boating to the WL for your QS meal? That would be my choice--unless I was really limited on time.

No. That would be a giant waste of time.

 

[disnut8]

We experienced Cosmic Ray's twice on our last trip during the first week in November. My husband hadn't stepped foot into the place until then. On Wednesday, he loved it. Low crowds as we got there and ordered at 11:59 (have the receipt in front of me, I'm not that much of a geek to remember that). They had a couple of Cast Member to hand out menus of all three stations so people could discuss possibilities before getting in line. We got a seat on the level above Sonny but we could have sat right in front of him if we wanted.

Then we go on Friday and it was a madhouse. Lines seven people deep, you would have to seek out a table. My husband took one look at it and said "nope. going to come back again when it's not so crowded".

I'm going to agree with your husband here slightly. He should look at the situation and then decide. Have an alternate (or two or three) in mind.

 

[Belle5]

No. That would be a giant waste of time.

Maybe when you have been around a while or visit WDW more often, you will realize that not everyone views things the same way as you. Some of us have "been there, done that" as far as the attractions go and we enjoy a nice boat ride and the chance to explore a beautiful resort and to enjoy food that is a little step up from theme park QS. As shocking as it may seem to you, some WDW guests stay for three weeks or more (or visit many times per year) and feel free to take their time and do these sorts of things.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Ha! My boyfriend refuses to eat at Cosmic Ray's too, for the reasons your husband mentioned, plus Sonny Eclipse. In his defense, Sonny is awful.

I'm with you guys. The Columbia Harbor House is, in my opinion, the most tolerable counter service location in the Magic Kingdom. If faced with picking another option, we'd be more likely to just grab something snacky from one of the kiosks or walk-up windows.

 

[bigal'sdaughter]

Thank y'all so much! I truly appreciate it. So it looks like it will be CHH - or maybe Pecos Bills if its not a zoo.
With little ones - it's easier to try and keep them on "their schedule" as much as possible you know - so lunch unfortuantely usually ends up at a "peak" time.
It makes me feel a little better that others feel the same, though!

 

[Sandy Mouse]

Cosmic Rays was nuts last time I was there and it was late evening and not peak season. We ate a late lunch at Il Pirata last time and really enjoyed the food. I see that it is walled off now. I wonder how long it will be closed.

 

[bumbershoot]

With little ones - it's easier to try and keep them on "their schedule" as much as possible you know - so lunch unfortuantely usually ends up at a "peak" time.

See, I think crowds destroy everything. So I'd give 'em a snack...give the 4 year old (and any cranky adults) a granola bar, have some extra milky time with the baby, and have full lunch at 1.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I forgot to mention . . .

. . . Cosmic Ray's is THE busiest fast food eatery in the world!
. . . the #2 is a McDonald's in Russia
. . . they sometimes trade places
. . . but, Ray's always comes back
. . . after all, it has seating for over 1,100 people

 

[PoohsFan1]

We too stay away from Cosmic Rays due to the the craziness that goes on there. Plus I hate the fact that I have to stand in 3 different lines because my family doesn't like the same things as everyone else. Instead we like to go to Pecos Bills for some Taco Salads and BBQ sandwich for my DH or we like to go to CHH for the shrimp baskets.