Is a hamburger just a hamburger?

[Janell]

Hello,

We are doing a last min trip and trying to keep cost down. I have read though the menu listing and TR, which have been helpful. We have ordered water, soda and some snacks to be delivered to our resort. This we hope will help cut cost. We don't have a refrigerator this trip, so I didn't order things to make things with.

My question for you all is, if you were to keep cost down, where are the best places eat? Are all burgers the same in the different parks? Are there better places to eat that have more then burgers? And any place you like to go that has cheaper food? I know Disney is never really cheap, but the counter services is cheaper then lets say Le Cellar. lol Any advice is great. Thanks

 

[D L and K's Mom]

We always get counter service at Flame Tree BBQ in Animal Kingdom and it is enough for 2 people. Where will you be staying? We found that the food court at the hotel we good and not as expensive. There were many good choices (soup, salad etc) and you could get a yogurt and muffin for breakfast etc...We were staying at POR.

 

[tasha99]

I would say there is good and bad counter service at WDW. I can't say for hamburgers except at Goods to Go (Old Key West.) DO NOT EAT THERE. It's disgusting fast food--dry and old tasting, yet fairly expensive. We've liked Flame Tree BBQ and Caseys (even though outrageously expensive for hot dogs).

 

[got2luvtink]

AK: I second FTB

Epcot: Sunshine Seasons in Future World, and CS's in the World Showcase (with the exception of the American Pavillion) will have options other than burgers.

MK: Cosmic Rays (chicken and ribs) or Columbia Harbour House (fish)

DHS: Can't help you here. Still trying to figure this one out myself. Pizza planet is the only one we tried. It tasted like Boboli pizza IMHO--won't be back.

 

[Perditamarie]

Another time/money saver is to eat breakfast in your room...granola bar, fruit, muffins...the food courts have toaster/microwaves for poptarts, toast, bagels, oatmeal, etc. If you have a coffeemaker, pack some of your own coffee/filters and drink it in your room (I always bring to-go coffee cups) as WDW coffee is blech.

We also love Sunshine Seasons in Epcot...we also like to snack around, and a fresh pretzel can really hit the spot as well as be shared by many!!

Happy planning!

 

[prncess674]

A quick service burger is pretty much universal around the park, as in the meat patty is the same at most quick service locations. Some QS locations have better toppings bar than others.

The great thing about WDW is there are plenty of QS dining options that aren't a fast food burger and greasy french fries.

 

[TENIA66]

We just got back friday and i have to tell you we were very tired of fries and burgers and hot dogs. Diet coke was 2.49 the hot dogs were 6 bucks the other meals were 849 an 799 at counter service. The portions of fries were smaller this time, seems like the old kids meals. We got our orange chicken at the garden terrace by laugh factory and it was definitely smaller. One of the better meals we had was the ham cheese and apple sandwich we got in norway with school bread. Otherwise things did this time seem smaller and a little more expensive. We weren't able to share fries for sure.............and as for options, you wound up finding the shortest line for any food, then buying, the lines were terrible for food. Yes there were some other choices, but in reality burgers fries hot dogs chicken nuggets were it if you didn't want to spend literally an hour waiting for food in line.....also the kids chicken nuggets were very very poor quality food i was shocked disney served them.

Another thing, gone were the stands and resturants that had some mcdonalds type offerings, i guess disney and mcdonalds has had a falling out?

 

[Janell]

Thank you everyone. I will make a list of your suggestions and comments. It is very helpful. I am sorry to hear they are cutting back on the size of food. We live local to Disneyland and they are doing the same thing. Sad, but guess its a sign of the times. Anyhow thank you all for your comments and help.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I think CS burgers are pretty much all the same, no matter where you get them. The quality of the available fixins is what makes the burger marginally better.

 

[mrstomrice]

We used to buy 1 double cheeseburger at Pecos BIlls in MK and buy a 2nd bun. I am not sure if it is still an option, but it worked for us! Also, any CS restaurant will give you free ice water, even without a purchase!

 

[maleficentmom]

We just got back friday and i have to tell you we were very tired of fries and burgers and hot dogs. Diet coke was 2.49 the hot dogs were 6 bucks the other meals were 849 an 799 at counter service. The portions of fries were smaller this time, seems like the old kids meals. We got our orange chicken at the garden terrace by laugh factory and it was definitely smaller. One of the better meals we had was the ham cheese and apple sandwich we got in norway with school bread. Otherwise things did this time seem smaller and a little more expensive. We weren't able to share fries for sure.............and as for options, you wound up finding the shortest line for any food, then buying, the lines were terrible for food. Yes there were some other choices, but in reality burgers fries hot dogs chicken nuggets were it if you didn't want to spend literally an hour waiting for food in line.....also the kids chicken nuggets were very very poor quality food i was shocked disney served them.

Another thing, gone were the stands and resturants that had some mcdonalds type offerings, i guess disney and mcdonalds has had a falling out?

I second the icky chicken nuggets...and they had the same ones everywhere, even when we ordered at some table service places(though they did seem to be cooked better there).Also, w/ the meal plan most counter service kids meals came with some barely gelled jello as dessert, while the adults got huge desserts. But it was so much food we shared(but I totally agree, the kids meals were pitiful, compared to the adult meals at many places) ASMovies food court was pretty good,especially for breakfast,to us Flame Tree is as good as a Table Service,Sunshine Seasons has good offerings at epcot(although it was chaotic),oh and the Morrocan counter service is our favorite.

 

[aka-mad4themouse]

I think CS burgers are pretty much all the same, no matter where you get them. The quality of the available fixins is what makes the burger marginally better.

I agree. I don't think that I've ever "enjoyed" a CS burger in WDW. They're more like fuel to keep going. The Fixin's Bar at Pecos Bill's makes the burgers a little more palatable, but if you want good burgers onsite you need to go to a TS restaurant like the Rainforest Café, HOB or Planet Hollywood in DtD.

 

[sneadae]

We used to buy 1 double cheeseburger at Pecos BIlls in MK and buy a 2nd bun. I am not sure if it is still an option, but it worked for us! Also, any CS restaurant will give you free ice water, even without a purchase!

We also buy the second bun for my little guy, but last time we were there I think the bun was $2.49!! Yikes! Could almost buy a kids meal for that price!

 

[Maggimus]

Here are places we eat when at WDW... i typically always get the wrap at PB (as does DH) and the Wrap at SCC

Peco's Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe- (At MK)
#4 Chicken Wrap - Served chilled with seasoned chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and cheese tossed with PECOS house dressing served with your choice of french fries or Apple Slices. Without Chicken $5.19 - $7.59


Studio Catering Co- (At Hollywood Studios, better known as MGM)
BBQ Pulled Pork Sub - Served with potato chips. - $7.59
Chicken Caesar Wrap - Chicken caesar wrap. - $6.69

 

[Colinsmom]

ITA that the kids' chicken nuggets and the CS burgers were just awful last fall - McDonald's would have been a huge improvement.

At DHS, we liked the hot italian deli sandwich at Catalina Eddie's, which is kinda next to RNRC.

At Epcot, I agree with Sunshine Seasons or Norway.

At MK, we used to like Pecos Bill's but now prefer Cosmic Ray's (though the kids' options there were awful).

DTD has some of the best CS options, with Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck Express.

 

[Maggimus]

ITA that the kids' chicken nuggets and the CS burgers were just awful last fall - McDonald's would have been a huge improvement. I'll have to pull out my maps - we found a decent CS place next to RNRC that served a hot "italian" sandwich that both DH and I didn't mind eating. I'll post back if I can figure out the name.

This reminded me of another place I failed to mention above at Animal Kingdom. I havent tried the Parm Sandwich (wanted to add it b/c its not your avg burger and fries) but I can say the Italian Sandwich is really good... we typically eat there each trip as well.


Pizzafari (At AK)
Chicken Parmesan Sandwich - Served on a multi-grain bun with chips. Add a side caesar salad $1.49 - $7.19
Hot Italian Style Sandwich - Served with chips. Turkey, ham, swiss and provolone cheese topped with caesar salad and pesto marinated tomatoes. Add a side caesar salad $2.00 - $7.49

ETA: That makes all 4 parks have stuff other than your avg burger and fries-- which i can say ive always liked. Epcot has a lot in WS like a PP mentioned.

 

[torinsmom]

If you go to Disney Quest, the burgers at the Cheesecake Factory inside are SOOOOO good! They are cooked right on the grill while you wait. I ordered a double and an extra bun. The guy asked me if I wanted him to put the second patty on the second bun and add cheese and he did it all for me!

If you don't want to buy an extra bun, just cut the double burger right down the middle. Same amount of meat, but less bread(who needs the extra bread anyway) Or just buy two kids meals. They come with a drink and you can get fries in place of the healthy side if you ask

Marsha

 

[rockyroad]

We were there in March and I agree that the food quality has gone down.

We called the chicken nuggets chicken doggy treats, although I suspect that picky dogs would refuse them.

And if you think that sharing a meal is the way to go then plan to stay on the peckish side.

At Biergarten, our must do, the food quality is still good, but the price has gone up a bit. However, the wonderful pretzel bread rolls are no longer wonderful.

And saddest of all is what has happened to my beloved school bread from the bakery in Norway.
It has for years been my favorite and longed for treat.
Alas, they are selling something and calling it school bread, but it is a poor substitute...kind of the equivalent of less than wonderful grocery store doughnut.

 

[MoniqueU]

Welcome to my life at DL where the food is horrible at best with the exception of the buffet at GC an Goofy's kitchen. We have decided to pack our own lunches from now on, not so much to save money as to get something that doesn't taste gross. Last I was there a couple of weeks ago at DCA it looked like the Mcdonalds restaurant was still open but I didn't get up that close. I have long envied hearing about the dining reservations at WDW that people were so excited about. Even Blue Bayou at Disneyland is bad imho though a great atmosphere.

 

[Janell]

Welcome to my life at DL where the food is horrible at best with the exception of the buffet at GC an Goofy's kitchen. We have decided to pack our own lunches from now on, not so much to save money as to get something that doesn't taste gross. Last I was there a couple of weeks ago at DCA it looked like the Mcdonalds restaurant was still open but I didn't get up that close. I have long envied hearing about the dining reservations at WDW that people were so excited about. Even Blue Bayou at Disneyland is bad imho though a great atmosphere.

Yeah DLR food is so much worse then what WDW sounds like it use to be. We were there May 08 and when we got back all I chatted about was the food. Sounds like WDW food has gone down and that is sad. Im not a fan of eatting at DLR. I tend to go into the Grand Cal Hotel to eat. Its almost the same price, a bit more, but worth it because its taste. lol