Need advice: Best CS restaurants with young children

[2Pirates2Princesses]

We will have the QSDP but have concerns about the logistics of counter service dining with four young children. I have heard that some locations won't allow you to be seated unless you have your food first which worries me since our plan was for DH or myself to sit with our youngest kids while one of us waits in line and orders the food with the two older kids. I have been advised that not being able to sit at a table without your food is only really enforced at certain CS locations during the busiest times of the year, which is somewhat of a relief. But I would like to have some sort of plan with how we are going to logistically get through a week of CS dining with our kids so I was wondering what some people's opinions are on what you would consider the best CS restaurants (in each of the four WDW parks and DTD) for families with young children. I am thinking of places where the lines don't get too crazy crowded, are easy to navigate and get to the seating areas with both trays and children in hand, and a place where we won't have to worry that we won't be able to find a place to sit and eat. Thank you

 

[gabzee]

I have never had a problem in the past with finding a table and sitting while DH and DD get the food. We have had no problems with this. We don't typically eat CS at HS but these are our favorites at the others. I am suggesting these based on quality of the food, variety of food, amount of seating, etc.:
MK: Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe or The Pinocchio Village Haus
Epcot: Sunshine Seasons
AK: Flame Tree BBQ or Pizzafari

The one CS for us that is a must do would be Sunshine Seasons. For a CS, it has wonderful food, huge variety, and a lot of seating. Everyone can find something here. For the others it is really what kind of food that you prefer. I wouldn't worry about the table situation. I have never had that problem and I'm sure that your two 9 year olds can help. Enjoy your vacation.

 

[SmallWorld71]

One of the best ways to not have to deal with crowds is to eat at off times. If you can eat lunch at 11, you will get in ahead of the big crowds. We eat light breakfasts so we are more than ready for lunch by 11. I am always amazed at how the crowds build after 11:30. If you are big breakfast eaters, then I would try to eat before 8.

As far as crowds, I have found that Pinocchio's at MK gets unbearable crowded (for limited choices) so we avoid that one.