Lunch in the park or go back to hotel?

[MammaMoe48]

We're at BWV and was wondering whether we should eat lunch at EPCOT or go back to our room for lunch. I'm thinking that with a 10-15 minute walk each way and allowing about 30 minutes to eat, it would only take about an hour to go back to the room but how long could we expect to wait on line for food at EPCOT? We would only be grabbing dogs or nuggets at counter service so I don't know if that would take a long time or not. We will there the 3rd week of August so it will be hot and I've heard seating can be hard to come by at the CS places. Thanks.

 

[sharadoc]

We're at BWV and was wondering whether we should eat lunch at EPCOT or go back to our room for lunch. I'm thinking that with a 10-15 minute walk each way and allowing about 30 minutes to eat, it would only take about an hour to go back to the room but how long could we expect to wait on line for food at EPCOT? We would only be grabbing dogs or nuggets at counter service so I don't know if that would take a long time or not. We will there the 3rd week of August so it will be hot and I've heard seating can be hard to come by at the CS places. Thanks.

If the only reason you go back is to eat, then it will not be worth it, but that answer also depends on the number of guests in your party.

The food choices at Epcot are not that great if you only want dogs or nuggets, your choices are American Adventure or Electric Umbrella (blech!). The walk from one of those, to International Gateway will be at least 15 minutes, plus hotel walking time.

If you plan to cook or make lunch in a villa, then you'll save a heck of a lot of money. Maybe take some time off, have lunch and swim, then go back to Epcot. You'll feel relaxed and refreshed!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Look for venues with short lines,or eat at off times.
How realistic is it that You will walk directory from Epcot to your room, prep and eat lunch, and immediately head back to Epcot?

 

[Crystal824]

I would not go back just to eat. If you want to go back to swim, etc. then maybe it is worth. Even then, when we stayed at BWV, we went back for naps and swimming, we grabbed food at the France quick service and took it back with us to eat in the room.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I'd grab a bite at Epcot. If you are going to eat quick snack, then just grab a bite at Sunshine Season or Electric Umbrella if you are near the entrance for inside seating that should not take too long. Certainly better than walking back in the heat.

 

[NancyIL]

Epcot is a great park in which to enjoy "ethnic" dining in World Showcase. It will take around an hour to eat at a sit-down restaurant, and it will cost more than counter service or the pb&j sandwich in your hotel room. However, eating at a WS restaurant will be a refreshing break, and you may enjoy trying something new.

 

[loves to dive]

To start with, I'd never grab dogs or nuggets at Epcot, there is just too many other options at WS. I've never really stood in any long lines at any of the countries, maybe 10 min. would be the longest and frankly I can't remember ever even waiting that long. I've also never had a problem finding somewhere to sit when eating at any of the countries. The only place I've ever found really crowded is Sunshine Seasons and I don't eat there since I enjoy all the other options. There is no real seating at the QS in UK (fish and chips) but there are lots of benches around the corner in the gardens. If you are trying to save money and going back to the villa to make lunch there, then yes you will save money but if time saving is your issue, I think you'd be better off staying in the park.

 

[MammaMoe48]

If the only reason you go back is to eat, then it will not be worth it, but that answer also depends on the number of guests in your party.

The food choices at Epcot are not that great if you only want dogs or nuggets, your choices are American Adventure or Electric Umbrella (blech!). The walk from one of those, to International Gateway will be at least 15 minutes, plus hotel walking time.

If you plan to cook or make lunch in a villa, then you'll save a heck of a lot of money. Maybe take some time off, have lunch and swim, then go back to Epcot. You'll feel relaxed and refreshed!

We are staying in a 1 br w/ full kitchen and having groceries delivered so we can do sandwiches in the room or grab pizza at the Pizza Window on the BW. We have ADRs for 6:30 on both EPCOT nights so we hadn't planned on eating a huge lunch. What is wrong with American Adventure and Electric Umbrella? Is it any worse than any kind of park food - which, face it, isn't really good anywhere?

 

[maxiesmom]

August is hot, so why waste time and energy walking back to your resort in that heat? There are many indoor counter service venues at Epcot. I'd hit one of them.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Epcot is a great park in which to enjoy "ethnic" dining in World Showcase. It will take around an hour to eat at a sit-down restaurant, and it will cost more than counter service or the pb&j sandwich in your hotel room. However, eating at a WS restaurant will be a refreshing break, and you may enjoy trying something new.

I'm not concerned about cost or trying something new, DH and I will eat almost anything and DS is willing to try anything once. Most of the time he likes what he tries so we are lucky to not be limited to dogs and nuggets but we wanted something quick that won't spoil our appetites for dinner in the evening. I may consider bringing in our own sandwiches, do they still allow you to bring outside food?

 

[Linleedo]

We love grabbing a bite at Sunshine Seasons in Epcot. http://allears.net/dining/menu/sunshine-seasons/all-day
We try to pick places to cool down in the air conditioning.They have so many options and it's a quick service meal. We stay at the Yacht Club. We also love going back to the resort to swim and grab a sandwich at the Hurricane Hanna's http://allears.net/dining/menu/hurricane-hannas/all-day or Captain's Grill http://allears.net/dining/menu/captains-grille/lunch There are so many options. In September , we never need to wait in long lines for counter service food. Hope this helps.

 

[sharadoc]

We are staying in a 1 br w/ full kitchen and having groceries delivered so we can do sandwiches in the room or grab pizza at the Pizza Window on the BW. We have ADRs for 6:30 on both EPCOT nights so we hadn't planned on eating a huge lunch. What is wrong with American Adventure and Electric Umbrella? Is it any worse than any kind of park food - which, face it, isn't really good anywhere?

Hi. I'm guessing you haven't been to Epcot before, so you don't have a sense of the food options there. American Adventure is fine, my bleh is for Electric Umbrella. It's been yucky every time we've tried it, we go there every couple of years because we don't like Sunshine Seasons (an unpopular opinion - it takes WAY too long to get food there because there are multiple stations).

Disney tries to do better than "park food" and in many cases, they do. Electric Umbrella is the closest to crappy park food I've had there. But I've also had wonderful stuff from UK Fish and Chips, France Bakery, Morocco Shwarma and Falafel, Japan Udon Noodles, Sushi and Tempura (and sake), Mexico burritos and churros. We really enjoy grabbing one or two of something from a country and sharing, so we get a lot of fun and international flavors.

If your touring plan brings you to Canada/UK area by lunchtime, then popping back to your villa for lunch will not be too bad. But if you are just getting off Test Track and say "Lunchtime", then stay in the park unless you plan to go back to the room for a few hours.

JMHO based on experience of staying at BWV.

 

[NancyIL]

I'm not concerned about cost or trying something new, DH and I will eat almost anything and DS is willing to try anything once. Most of the time he likes what he tries so we are lucky to not be limited to dogs and nuggets but we wanted something quick that won't spoil our appetites for dinner in the evening. I may consider bringing in our own sandwiches, do they still allow you to bring outside food?

Yes, you can bring in outside food.

 

[Alesia]

We are staying in a 1 br w/ full kitchen and having groceries delivered so we can do sandwiches in the room or grab pizza at the Pizza Window on the BW. We have ADRs for 6:30 on both EPCOT nights so we hadn't planned on eating a huge lunch. What is wrong with American Adventure and Electric Umbrella? Is it any worse than any kind of park food - which, face it, isn't really good anywhere?

I'm going there guess that you've never been to Epcot before. There are so many wonderful counter service choices there. Seriously - really delicious food. Please don't waste your time and money on hot dogs or nuggets. And the pizza at WDW is awful.

 

[MammaMoe48]

Hi. I'm guessing you haven't been to Epcot before

Nope, this is my first time at WDW and DH hasn't been in almost 40 years so it may as well be his first time too. After getting all this great information, I think we'll just stay in the park for lunch on our FW day and for our WS day, we will be sleeping in and getting to the park for the 11 o'clock opening so we will be eating a late breakfast in the room and probably won't need to eat lunch. There's so much to know. I look at this as our "learning curve" trip so while I know we'll have fun and "magic" I'm not building up impossible expectations. Once we get this trip under our belt, I think future trips will be easier to plan.

 

[sunshinemelody]

Nope, this is my first time at WDW and DH hasn't been in almost 40 years so it may as well be his first time too. After getting all this great information, I think we'll just stay in the park for lunch on our FW day and for our WS day, we will be sleeping in and getting to the park for the 11 o'clock opening so we will be eating a late breakfast in the room and probably won't need to eat lunch. There's so much to know. I look at this as our "learning curve" trip so while I know we'll have fun and "magic" I'm not building up impossible expectations. Once we get this trip under our belt, I think future trips will be easier to plan.

That's how I feel as well.

Hope you have fun planning!

 

[MammaMoe48]

I'm going there guess that you've never been to Epcot before. There are so many wonderful counter service choices there. Seriously - really delicious food. Please don't waste your time and money on hot dogs or nuggets. And the pizza at WDW is awful.

I know there's a lot of options, I was mostly concerned about spoiling our appetites for dinner with big lunches. DS is more excited about going to the WS than to FW and he wants to try all the different foods.

 

[Alesia]

I know there's a lot of options, I was mostly concerned about spoiling our appetites for dinner with big lunches. DS is more excited about going to the WS than to FW and he wants to try all the different foods.

If that's the case, why not just skip dinner and snack around the world. Get one or 2 things in each country and share them as you go throughout the day.

I'm not sure I understand why you think eating delicious, interesting food will spoil your appetites, but bland, typical park food won't. It's not like chicken nuggets are less filling than a sandwich from Le Halles.

 

[5kidsmommy]

Epcot is treating for getting a bite of food and not spoiling your appetite. You can get snacks that are filling but not too filling. I'd enjoy the world showcase instead of going back for lunch or bring something in with you.

 

[brockash]

We are staying in a 1 br w/ full kitchen and having groceries delivered so we can do sandwiches in the room or grab pizza at the Pizza Window on the BW. We have ADRs for 6:30 on both EPCOT nights so we hadn't planned on eating a huge lunch. What is wrong with American Adventure and Electric Umbrella? Is it any worse than any kind of park food - which, face it, isn't really good anywhere?

Nothings wrong with them and yes they're the same and it's basically the same food as you would get anywhere on Disney property with that menu. I think in general ppl. think of Epcot as a place to get away from the regular American stuff, but there are many ppl. who like or who have ppl. in their party that prefer it. If that's what you guys want, then either of those are good options.