Lunch in MK

[Rory607]

Planning a fall trip and I’m thinking ahead to dining. We will have grandparents along, so I want to make things as easy as possible. We’ll do table service each evening for dinner. I’m fine with quick service for lunches, but if it’s super crowded with long lines and difficulty finding a table it’s too much with both kids and seniors, lol.

Is the Plaza decent for lunch? I know it’s not a great use of a table service credit, but that’s okay. We can pay OOP one meal. We’re fine with basic burgers, sandwiches, salads, which is what it looks like. Or any other tips on convenient lunch options? Columbia Harbor House is my other thought since it has all of the upstairs seating.

 

[BrianL]

Planning a fall trip and I’m thinking ahead to dining. We will have grandparents along, so I want to make things as easy as possible. We’ll do table service each evening for dinner. I’m fine with quick service for lunches, but if it’s super crowded with long lines and difficulty finding a table it’s too much with both kids and seniors, lol.

Is the Plaza decent for lunch? I know it’s not a great use of a table service credit, but that’s okay. We can pay OOP one meal. We’re fine with basic burgers, sandwiches, salads, which is what it looks like. Or any other tips on convenient lunch options? Columbia Harbor House is my other thought since it has all of the upstairs seating.

Plaza is okay, but nothing special. For QS, Columbia Harbor House is indeed a good choice and the upstairs seating is usually pretty quiet (a lot of people don't know you can go up there). I would probably favor that over other options.

 

[LoveDaisy]

I’m not a fan of the Plaza, it’s just ok. I would go with Columbia Harvest House or Skipper Canteen if you are looking for a sit down restaurant.

 

[erinch]

Do you want a mid day break-ish? If so, Wailulu is a great option.

If not, I’d plan based on where in the park you’ll be. Columbia Honor Pecos Bills if to the left of the hub and Cosmic Rays if to the right. Lock in your mo isle order early

 

[elvispursley]

Maybe eat at “off” times for lunch. We tend to book a layer dinner ADR and the. Eat lunch around 2:00ish. Crowds have moved along and we can always find a table.

 

[momtwoboys]

Either Plaza OR CHH would be good! Show the seniors the menu and see which they may like better?

 

[Rory607]

Do you want a mid day break-ish? If so, Wailulu is a great option.

If not, I’d plan based on where in the park you’ll be. Columbia Honor Pecos Bills if to the left of the hub and Cosmic Rays if to the right. Lock in your mo isle order early

We are staying at Poly, so I was thinking we’d do dinner there one night. But we could head back for lunch one day instead.

 

[Anthony1971]

If there is one thing we learned from taking our parents and -then young- kids (we own DVC) is seniors need to eat on schedule a 2pm lunch will NOT work. Plan closer to 12 or late 11s - have a light breakfast and the trip will be far more enjoyable. Very young kids are prone to sleeping through Diner they get tired, and the AC puts them out.
Now that my wife and I are on the very low end of what is considered seniors and kids are no longer kids -by age only-we NEED our food at particular times or we will be cranky... buffets forget it can't do them only for entertainment value...
With that CHH has nice chairs upstairs and was always a go to for us with seniors.

 

[Simba's Mom]

A few months ago, I went to Pecos Bills, and surprisingly had a very good meal. Someone here on the DIS recommended it.

 

[focusondisney]

Planning a fall trip and I’m thinking ahead to dining. We will have grandparents along, so I want to make things as easy as possible. We’ll do table service each evening for dinner. I’m fine with quick service for lunches, but if it’s super crowded with long lines and difficulty finding a table it’s too much with both kids and seniors, lol.

Is the Plaza decent for lunch? I know it’s not a great use of a table service credit, but that’s okay. We can pay OOP one meal. We’re fine with basic burgers, sandwiches, salads, which is what it looks like. Or any other tips on convenient lunch options? Columbia Harbor House is my other thought since it has all of the upstairs seating.

We’re late 60s, so definitely seniors, lol. IMO The Plaza is fine, tho the tables can be tight. Tony’s Town Square doesn’t get many good reviews, but we think it’s fine too. My husband doesn’t eat seafood, so I only rarely eat at CHH. Last time I did, the upstairs was as crowded as down. And with no lids for the soda, it wasn’t easy carrying my food up there either. Depending on the kids ages & grandparents mobility, getting up upstairs could be an issue too.

We decided years go we were OK with being waited on even for burgers at sit down instead of standing in lines, so we don’t mind places like The Plaza. But now we do mobile ordering for any quick service meals. It’s definitely easy & very convenient. Order ahead of time, when you get to the restaurant click I’m here then get everyone settled at a table while you wait for your food to be ready. It’s worked great for us.

 

[Rory607]

A few months ago, I went to Pecos Bills, and surprisingly had a very good meal. Someone here on the DIS recommended it.

I think we are here a long time ago, but I can’t remember. I kind of forgot about it, I guess. Is there a decent amount of seating?

 

[GrumpyInPhilly]

I think we are here a long time ago, but I can’t remember. I kind of forgot about it, I guess. Is there a decent amount of seating?

In the past, CMs have roped off seating areas unless you had a tray of food. Haven't been there in a while, so not sure if that's still done.

 

[BrianL]

In the past, CMs have roped off seating areas unless you had a tray of food. Haven't been there in a while, so not sure if that's still done.

They do this when it's busy, but there is a lot of seating there. Do note, that the seats are like little stools - no backs.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I guess I am the only senior that would prefer the Plaza .
I guess I like to know the Castle is right outside the window .
But you will need reservations .
Do not like mobile order …

 

[Pens Fan]

Of the two, I'd definitely pick Columbia Harbor House over The Plaza. The one time we tried Plaza the food was pretty bad and we hated how close the tables were. We've never had a bad meal at Harbor House and it's less expensive to boot. I love the upstairs seating area.

However my number one choice for dining at MK is Skipper Canteen. We love that restaurant and eat there often, though I understand the the menu is not everyone's cup of tea.

 

[bluezy]

Columbia Harbor House is good if you like seafood (I don't). We used to eat there all the time because they had several non-seafood options on the menu. I loved sitting upstairs and people watching. A few years ago they changed their menu and only have two non-seafood options (chicken fingers and a vegetarian mushroom roll -- I don't eat mushrooms) available so we don't eat there anymore.

We don't mind any of the QS restaurants at MK -- none of them are spectacular, but they're not bad either. We eat lunch as early as possible (usually at 11:00) to avoid the crowds. We don't have trouble finding a table when we get there but by the time we're finished eating, the restaurant is much more crowded. Eating early or late (not between 11:30-12:30) is key. We also like to jump on the monorail and eat at the Poly or GF QS restaurants. Again, getting there early or late is the key to avoiding crowds.

 

[hardcorestitch]

Planning a fall trip and I’m thinking ahead to dining. We will have grandparents along, so I want to make things as easy as possible. We’ll do table service each evening for dinner. I’m fine with quick service for lunches, but if it’s super crowded with long lines and difficulty finding a table it’s too much with both kids and seniors, lol.

Is the Plaza decent for lunch? I know it’s not a great use of a table service credit, but that’s okay. We can pay OOP one meal. We’re fine with basic burgers, sandwiches, salads, which is what it looks like. Or any other tips on convenient lunch options? Columbia Harbor House is my other thought since it has all of the upstairs seating.

Have you looked into the Pinocchio Village Haus in Fantasyland? There is some ample indoor seating in that place. They have flatbreads and salads there too.

 

[Giraffe_Zen]

Planning a fall trip and I’m thinking ahead to dining. We will have grandparents along, so I want to make things as easy as possible. We’ll do table service each evening for dinner. I’m fine with quick service for lunches, but if it’s super crowded with long lines and difficulty finding a table it’s too much with both kids and seniors, lol.

Is the Plaza decent for lunch? I know it’s not a great use of a table service credit, but that’s okay. We can pay OOP one meal. We’re fine with basic burgers, sandwiches, salads, which is what it looks like. Or any other tips on convenient lunch options? Columbia Harbor House is my other thought since it has all of the upstairs seating.

Plaza has been one of our fave restaurants for years. Lunch is our fave time to eat there.

 

[Rory607]

Of the two, I'd definitely pick Columbia Harbor House over The Plaza. The one time we tried Plaza the food was pretty bad and we hated how close the tables were. We've never had a bad meal at Harbor House and it's less expensive to boot. I love the upstairs seating area.

However my number one choice for dining at MK is Skipper Canteen. We love that restaurant and eat there often, though I understand the the menu is not everyone's cup of tea.

We’ve done Skipper Canteen for dinner before and enjoyed it. But the other issue we have is that one of our kids is technically a Disney “adult” now and is a picky eater, so I’m not sure which restaurants will let him still order off the kids’ menu with the dining plan.

 

[Simba's Mom]

They do this when it's busy, but there is a lot of seating there. Do note, that the seats are like little stools - no backs.

I forgot about the seats having no backs. This was the only place I stayed in my scooter to eat-because of the backless stools. Also, I don't know if the CMs control seating during busier times. When I ate there, it was 2:30 in the afternoon, and definitely not busy. What was nice (I thought) was that there were no sections roped off since there were so few people, and I ate in a big room off to the side, where there was only one other family eating in the whole room.