Do you ever just do counter service?

[RubySlippers]

Does anyone ever just have counter service meals for their entire trip? Do you like the flexability of it? And do you think it is easier on your budget? Just wondering what your thoughts are on this. TIA

Ruby

 

[swilphil]

We do A LOT of counter service, but we do have a couple of seat down meals during the trip, too. Counter service can really add up.

Probably the biggest help is to make a grocery stop. We take a car service from the airport that stops at a grocery store, we buy milk, yogurt, lunchmeat, bread, bottled water, peanut butter and jelly, fresh fruit, cereal, snacks. We do breakfast in our rooms and occassionally have packed a lunch and brought in our own snacks.

It also helps to have sit down meals during lunch. The same restaurants are often much cheaper during the lunch hour.

 

[marcyinPA]

I agree with the previous poster, that counter service can add up too. We ate at the POR food court twice for breakfast and both times spent the same amount as we did when we ate at Boatwright's one morning.

We did a few sitdowns this time (places we've been wanting to try like BOMA and Chef Mickey's which is a must do on our first night.) But we also tried counter service quite a bit too...we tried Tangeirine Cafe in Morroco and Cosmic Ray's in the MK. We enjoyed both.

I actually like to mix it up a bit. We usually don't eat lunch, but we eat a large breakfast and an earlier dinner. That saves $$ right there.

 

[eeyoregirl]

I'm with marcyinpa.

My family mixes is up, too. We tend to eat breakfast, have a light lunch or snack, and then a later dinner most days.

All counter service or all sit-down/buffet meals get tiresome. Both can be equal/comparable in cost, so we do a little of both!

 

[Pammy_from_WI]

We too tend to mix it up. I try to do a few character meals and then a few sit-downs at some point during our trip. We do look for more unusal menus since we're not a burger and fry family, love them just not everyday. LOL

However, we have done just counter service and it's a lot easier in the Disney, Sea World and USF/IOA parks then in your standard theme park. They really do offer a lot of variety, just have to know where to look.

Some CS places have some pretty good options, salads, ethnic foods, soups, sandwiches other then burgers and chicken sandwiches. Last year we stayed at AKL and with Mara we really got a nice variety.

Like Eeyore said you can find good sit-down and buffet places that are very close in price to getting a full CS meal at a park.

Pammy

 

[travellady]

We did quite a bit of counter service when we were there in April. I found it to be cheaper because we ended up sharing quite a bit - hadn't thought we would do this initially but based on portion size it made sense. Honestly, the food was pretty good - one of the best being Starring Rolls in MGM. Not a ton of variety but the Cobb Salad was good.

 

[travellady]

We did quite a bit of counter service when we were there in April. I found it to be cheaper because we ended up sharing quite a bit - hadn't thought we would do this initially but based on portion size it made sense. Honestly, the food was pretty good - one of the best being Starring Rolls in MGM. Not a ton of variety but the Cobb Salad was good.

 

[Carrieberry]

The last time we went it was just DH and I no kids. I had made one PS for a sit down restaurant every day for a 6 day trip.We ended up only doing one and that was on our first morning there (Donald's Breakfastasaurus) and skipping every other one because we were just to busy running around. We ended up eating at one other sit down place and that was when we walked up to Hollywood and Vine without a PS (beginning of dec so it wasn't too busy) and they took us right away. We did counter service for every other meal, mostly ended up being at Epcot since we were at BCV. We also did the food carts on Boardwalk and sat at the counter at Beaches and Cream. We found it nice t onot be tied down to an eating schedule since it was just us grown ups, and I didn't feel like we missed out. Now when we go this year with the kids (DS 6 and DS 8) we will plan on one sit down meal a day, mostly lunches cause they are less $$, and we will probably do all of them. This is just because we feel that it is really a nice break for us as a family to relax and regroup after a morning or all day in the parks. Not to mention that they love the character meals! So we will eat breakfasts in the room (except check out day we are doing the character b-fast at BC) lunches either counter or full service, and I think we have two character dinners, Chef Mickey's the night we arrive and Liberty Tree Tavern the night before we leave (neither of these have a character lunches). We are looking forward to these meals and trying a couple of new places as well!

 

[mamalle]

usually- just for lunches. Most of the time if its at the magic kingdom we eat hot dogs on main street or at the resort by the pool. dinners are normally sit down or buffet style. we tend to try and mix it up also.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

One advantage of counter serve IMHO is that you can order individual items and share them around. I like some better than others as some of the bigger places are too noisy and too hectic to really enjoy but most of them do not offer the different foods that we enjoy so we avoid them.

We tried the China counter serve last trip, don't know why we have not before, and were much taken with the many varieties of things we could chose from. It was a nicely shaded and quiet corner of the World Showcase as well. (Mango drink rocks!!)

You save quite a bit of money, get a better variety and just what you save on tips is significant. All that being said, sometimes we like a nice sit down and be waited on meal. Whatever fits the mood at the time.

I am going to try out some more of the counter serve places at EPCOT on our next trip in October. Any suggestions are most welcome.

SG/Linda

 

[marcyinPA]

Originally posted by SlightlyGoofy
One advantage of counter serve IMHO is that you can order individual items and share them around. I like some better than others as some of the bigger places are too noisy and too hectic to really enjoy but most of them do not offer the different foods that we enjoy so we avoid them.

We tried the China counter serve last trip, don't know why we have not before, and were much taken with the many varieties of things we could chose from. It was a nicely shaded and quiet corner of the World Showcase as well. (Mango drink rocks!!)

You save quite a bit of money, get a better variety and just what you save on tips is significant. All that being said, sometimes we like a nice sit down and be waited on meal. Whatever fits the mood at the time.

I am going to try out some more of the counter serve places at EPCOT on our next trip in October. Any suggestions are most welcome.

SG/Linda

Linda,
Check out Sunshine Season Food Fair in the Land at EPCOT. This is one of my favorite counter service places. It is set up like a food court and the food is really good...great variety, very fresh.

In WS, we ate counter service in Morroco and enjoyed it very much. Very tasty and different.

Have fun!

 

[monarchsfan16]

We usually eat at mostly all counter service places, but we do go to a few sit down places. I think in 2002, we went to 2-3 counter service places. I really would like to do an additional "nice"/"special/"fun" meal on this next trip, and I know my mom wants to too. Counter service is good for quick, but it's nice to be able to sit down, and have it a little quieter.
There are counter service places that we absolutely never miss (Columbia Harbour House, Sunshine seasonings, etc) just because we like them.

 

[KELLY]

For a Seven day trip we have to PS for two late character breakfests. One crystal Palace and the other Donald's Breakfest. We will probably eat once at the Rainforest and maybe once at Planet Hollywood and the rest will be counter service. We are staying at PC and I have purchased Q&C Vocuhers and two breakfest Voucher's. This is for 2 adults. I find it hard to have to be somewhere by a certain time but we are going in September so it may be easier with the smaller crowds.

KELLY

 

[Karalea]

During my 5 day trip last year we only did counter service. Since we drove down, we were able to bring food with us to have in the room.

None of us are big eaters so we had breakfast in the room. Usually bagels & fruit. We did counter service for lunch and usually bought 2 meals to share between the 3 of us or my 62 year old mother would sometimes order of the children's menu. We then could "snack" during the day without feeling we were overeating. We would then grab counter service again for dinner or have fruit,fresh veggies, crackers & cheese for a lite dinner in the room.

Counter service doesn't always have to mean burgers & hot dogs as most poeple think. Disney has some of the best quick service food that is a real meal. Wonderful salads, rotisserie chicken, pizza, wrap sandwiches, meats with vegetables (Tusker House), fish & chips, and the wonderful, more exotic options at Epcot.

In the 5 days we were there, I only at 1 hot dog and NO hamburgers. I rarely got fries because most places let you get carrot sticks instead. I don't think I ate the same thing twice.

We didn't spend half as much on food as I had budgeted just by sticking to counter service and had more time to enjoy the parks.

This year we have schedulee one sit down character breakfast as a special treat for my nephews who we are taking with us. Other than that, it will be counter service & the food court at POR.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

While I admire the planning skills of those who have each and every moment and meal planned out far in advance it is not for us. I usually do not make PS's and if I do feel so inclined I make one from the room before we head for the parks. I hate having to be places at a certain time as I miss so many magical moments. We were waiting for our PS at the Crystal Palace recently when we met the most delightful couple who live at Celebration. It has hard to have to leave to make our reservation time. Walking around the parks you run into the neatest things and people and having the time to stop and enjoy is one of the reasons we buy AP's. Being on a diet I do not care to eat when I am not hungry and being able to stop by a counter serve is convenient, interesting, tasty and usually cost saving as well. Is why Disney has so very many different choices for the varied tastes of its patrons. Love it!

SG/Linda

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I did a few times, but found that I was often spending as much money and more time in line than a sit down meal would have taken.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

Hi Esmerelda

I imagine that it matters what time of year and which counter serve you have visited. I do not care for the hamburger/hot dog/pizza type places and they are usually huge, crowded and nosiy. I prefer to eat differently than when I am at home at DW and love the out of the way smaller places which work for us.

SG/Linda

 

[RubySlippers]

Thank you all for your input! We have never done an all counter service trip . We are thinking about trying it on our next quickie trip!

Thanks
Ruby

 

[crazelion]

I eat at counter service, food court at the Resort , and some bar and grill type places in WDW.

There is plenty to choose from these types of places. I love order separtely just type of food I like. I am picky eater. Some those sit down places have odd food that I don't like.

 

[donac]

On our last trip I did only 3 sit downs 2 for dinner and 1 for lunch. We made those the day we wanted them because I don't like to be tied down to a special park so I don't make PS's before I leave. For us I think that the counter serve saves us money because you can order small orders or even kid meals for yourself. Or you can share as other people have said. They have a great deal of variety in the counter serve so you should give it a try.

Dona