FAVORITE MAGIC KINGDOM COUNTER SERVICE RESTARUANT FOR LUNCH

[disnmooner2013]

What is you favorite Magic Kingdom counter service restaurant for lunch? Please vote, let me know what you like on the menu and why. It will be my wife, 2-1/2 year old daughter and myself going.

 

[figmentedfollies]

I haven't eaten at Cosmic Rays or Casey's Corner in forever and a day (or within memory) so I'll let others talk about those locations.

I think it really depends on what type of food you're looking for will held determine where you might go. Please note, that for Be Our Guest, you will need an ADR no matter what, even for lunch.

In terms of atmosphere I would rate them as follows:
Be Our Guest
Columbia Harbor House (upstairs)
Pecos Bill
Pinocchio Village Haus

I personally find it hard to rate the food, because again it really depends on what type of food you're craving that day. Though Pinocchio would probably rate last.

Be Our Guest - French Influenced American food. This location is unique because you order and pay and then the food is brought out to you via magical rose/magic band rfid. The food is generally good and served on real plates and silverware. I've enjoyed the turkey sandwich multiple times and enjoyed it each time. I personally don't care for the cupcakes here, but others love them. It doesn't always feel like quick service, but the portions are a bit small in my humble opinion.

Columbia Harbor House - This is primarily seafood and 'New England' fare, much of it fried. They also serve some healthier items in terms of salmon, a veggie sandwich, and steamed broccoli as a side. I've enjoyed the lobster roll, fried shrimp, and macaroni and cheese (either with lobster or shrimp, I can't quite remember). I enjoy eating here, especially on the second floor where it's quieter and the seats have backs, which wouldn't seem like a big deal, but after a long day in the parks that is very welcome. I find the portions filling and I appreciate having the broccoli over fries.

Pecos Bill - Within the last year to 18 months they have undergone a menu change. It's now much more Tex-Mex inspired food with a popular toppings bar. The portions are large here and could probably be split between people depending on how big an appetite you have. The amount of food is expanded with the toppings bar, which from my memory includes lettuce, tomato, onions, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, mushrooms, peppers, and salsa. I used to always get the taco salad, but that has since been removed from the menu. The last time I was there I had the chicken fajita platter. Maybe a few more items. I was pleasantly surprised. I did not walk away hungry from here.

Pinocchio - Italian inspired American food. Of the four, I would probably rate this the lowest. It can get incredibly busy and crowded, which greatly detracted from the atmosphere. The flatbreads aren't bad, I think I had a margarita (tomato, basil, and mozzarella) flatbread, which wasn't bad, but not outstanding or particularly memorable.

Again, my recommendation would be to look at the menus for the restaurants (either here, on Disney's website, or allears.net) and decide which might be the most attractive for you to eat at. Be Our Guest is a great experience, but if you're looking for the flexibility of Quick Service that might not be the best choice for you.

 

[georgina]

I usually stop by Sleepy Hollow around 11:00 for a fruit and nutella waffle! Yummy. I liked BOG the one time we had lunch there, and enjoy Columbia Harbor House, but usually for dinner, as I get the salmon most frequently and that is too much food for me for lunch.

 

[JZCubed]

I selected Columbia Harbor House because a.) it has decent fast food, and 2.) the dining area, particularly upstairs, feels more like a (quiet) table service restaurant than fast food place. When our child was a toddler, this was certainly our favorite fast food spot.

Magic Kingdom may have better fast food than any other Park.

As suggested in another Post, some menus may appeal to you and your family more than others.

--Pinocchio - food wise - meh. If you can get a seat looking at boats from Small World attraction, you could make a case for here.

--Pecos Bill - we've never enjoyed any of the food.

--Casey's Corner - I personally love the Hotdog smothered in pulled pork and topped with cole slaw from the otherwise limited menu. I also love that you can witness live piano playing. And it is just a few steps away from the Baby Care Center....but, despite the expansion of sort, not enough indoor seating to recommend with a toddler (and parents likely looking for some temporary peace and quiet).

--Be Our Guest - yes, a wonderful space for lunch. May have the best food of the list and convenience of not waiting on a line (for pre-ordered food) once you've checked-in. This could certainly have been my 'vote', but we simply prefer going for full-service dinner and meeting The Beast. However, if you've never been, a lovely place to enjoy at least once - for any meal service.

--Cosmic Rays - I believe that I read that you can now get all the food from all the 'Launch Bays', where previously there was a line for salads, a line for chicken, etc....regardless, this is a massive fast food hall and feels like one. Nothing charming, because it is the most 'fast food' and noisiest place on the list.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We really like Be Our Guest because it is more like a TS and is truly a rest in the middle of the day to sit and eat. We are always on the dining plan - if we weren't, we probably wouldn't eat at BOG as much because I'm not sure I could justify paying almost $50 for that lunch.

We also really like Columbia Harbor House. It is nice to sit upstairs and eat.

 

[Anniefrances]

Columbia HH for food quality and Pecos Bill for the toppings bar. FWIW, I'm vegetarian, so this plays into my choices. Also, the rotisserie chicken at Cosmic Rays is a hit with my boys. If we end up there I go with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans, which is a tasty, albeit light lunch.

 

[LilyWDW]

While I do really like Be Our Guest, I have to go to Columbia Harbor House every single trip for a tuna sandwich. It seems so silly when I say it but it's a tradition and a tasty one at that.

 

[Disney_traveler]

I voted Pecks Bill. I love their food. Had it 2 times on our last trip. Got beef nachos both times and instead of dessert got the little container of queso blanco to pour on it.

I also like Columbia Harbor House even though I can't eat seafood. I got the chicken pot pie and broccoli and it was really good!

I used to really like Be Our a guest but this last time was horrible. Not food wise, but service. Waited forever for our food to come, when it did, it was wrong and I had to point it out and then waitress looked at receipt. But the worst was the repeated use of calling us "mamas". As in "it's ok mamas, I will go get it. What was it again? Ok, mamas, it will be right out." Being from South Texas, calling people this is common (and I hate it here too). I don't mind "princess" or "your majesty" or the Disney stuff at Disney but come on! Luckily we spoke to a manager and he mended the situation.

 

[Disneylover99]

Bog - roast beef sandwich and French onion soup

CHH - lighthouse sandwich and broccoli

 

[drnp]

CHH, but BOG is a close second.

 

[disneyAndi14]

I would say in our experience it is BOG, CHH, Pecos Bills, Casey, Pinocchio Haus, Cosmic Ray. We really enjoy the food and atmosphere at Bog, the food and quiet of CHH, the nachos and fixings bar at Pecos and the corn dog nuggets at Casey's. Our pizza at PH was just okay at best and we have not eaten at Cosmic Rays in forever

 

[disnmooner2013]

Is there enough for a 2-1/2 year old to pick from at BOG? Also, is there any character interaction at lunch?

 

[Oswin]

BOG and CHH are my favorites, I can't choose between them! I loved the Braised Pork, Master's cupcake, and atmosphere at BOG. I also like the unlimited drink refills. At CHH I like how you can go upstairs and find a quiet corner to sit in right under an air vent and cool off. I don't eat seafood so the food there isn't my favorite but I do like that the chicken nugget plate is so large you can split it.

 

[TristiK]

We loved both Pecos Bill's and CHH. At PB, I had the nachos, DH had the salad and my DDs shared the Mac and cheese. We all loved our good and can't wait to return. At CHH I had the shrimp, DH had the fish, and the girls shared chicken nuggets. Again, everything was great and we'll definitely be back.

 

[LovesTimone]

I voted Cosmic Ray's, as it has 3 bays (sides) with different offerings. It has a burger bar to jazz up your burgers, grilled mushrooms and onions, lettuce, tomatoes, onions (sliced), pickles, and a few other items I can't think of this early in the morning. Plus this is a special spot for our family, we always have a meal here and remember when this happened or that happened, lots of memories its a spot that my grandparents ate at when they came to WDW with my family when I was a kid, I have a picture with them down by the docking area where the Swan ride was...which is no longer there so that tells you how old I am...LOL

 

[SaintsManiac]

Lobster Roll all day!!!

 

[disnmooner2013]

Lobster Roll all day!!!

Last time my wife thought the lobster roll was just ok at CHH

 

[3BellesAndABeast]

Columbia Harbor House is best in my opinion. We love the food-DH and DD get the lobster roll-and it is the BEST for a quick relatively quiet and air conditioned rest. The food is good at BOG and we love the atmosphere but the competition to get in is much stronger here. Definitely worth a try but CHH is our go to place at MK.

 

[aretha30]

We love the pork at Be Our Guest and the Lobster Roll at CHH. Really any of the options are great at either place, we will eat at both multiple times in a trip.

 

[GeorgiaHoo]

I voted CHH, but Be Our Guest was probably our favorite last trip. Problem is the hassle involved to try to get a reservation. CHH has pretty good food (though all these are essentially fast food places). I like the option of shrimp and fries instead of a hamburger. We also like the flatbread at Village Haus, and the upstairs seating is usually pretty quiet. We rarely eat at Casey's Corner except when we grab something at night when leaving the park. Food isn't bad there but not something I would go out of the way for. Pecos and Cosmic Rays are on my do not eat lists -- too crowded, the food is meh, and (Cosmic Ray's in particular) they are both messy/dirty.