overpriced and not very good...

[meeshkamooshka]

is how I'd describe most of the fast counter service retaurants at WDW...

few examples:

MK - casyey $30 for 3 hotdogs and 2 sodas
Epcot-electric umbrella- spent over $30 for 2 chicken fingers, Double Cheesburger drinks
Wilderness Lodge Hotel - flat bread pizza at about $8 a pop...

my question...has disney world ever thought of leaving that part to the experts?
( McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Etc.)

This time I actually packed cans of tuna, and ordered from Wegoshop...that worked out well!

next time I think I will bring/buy even more of my own food...

 

[meeshkamooshka]

the wait time is ridiculous at some of these fast counter services...don't they know this already??? shall would suggest a fast past for that too!

 

[kaytieeldr]

To your last statement - probably you would be better served by visiting the counter service locations when there are few/no customers. That way, any wait time could be attributed almost exclusively to preparing your food fresh.

And, respectfully, simply because you feel fast food chains outdo Walt Disney World, doesn't make it true. Sure, some items can be found anywhere. If you feel McDonald's excels in burgers, simply don't order burgers at WDW. Be adventurous!

And no, I wouldn't have paid $10 for a hot dog and 2/3 of a soda. Of course, I wouldn't have eaten at Casey's anyway.

 

[budbeerlady]

Sorry your dining experience wasn't good.

I tend to gravitate towards other items so we are not eating all the fried foods and stuff we can get at home. It can be hard it that is all your family will eat.

I love Tangerine cafe for a cs and the lighthouse sandwich is out of this world at Columbia harbor house. We try to seek out the menu items that are not the same at all the cs.

Dd loves the turkey and Swiss on focaccia (sp?) at animal kingdom in Africa. Its under $8 and I dont mind paying that if she will eat the whole thing. I drop alot of $ if we go to McDonald's once in a while and its crap, not very tasty, chain food junk. So I am alright with paying a little more for decent food in Disney.

We also try to eat before or after the rush. I have seen the lines at noon, they are long but double sided and move along alright. I would rather eat at 11 or 1 just to not have a wait.

 

[Riviera510]

Yikes that is expensive for hotdogs! Glad we did the QSDP so I wont freak out at the costs of the counter service meals.

From reading these boards for the last couple weeks there seems to be definite bad places to get CS and good places.

I plan on making up index cards for each park with locations of CS places to go to that have gotten good reviews.

 

[Vickis3js]

Its WDW I honestly don't expect low priced meals. I can say this their meals are much better and less expensive then Great Adventure,Six Flags for those outside of NJ. So it could be worse. I never really paid too much attention to cost but I know I was never blown away by the prices we paid while there to feed our family of 5.

 

[catne]

in 10 trips to Disney, I think I got a counter service burger once...have never got a hot dog. Don't even go looking for that kind of food -- I figure I can get that stuff at McD's, or at the mall, and I don't even want that kind of food on vacation. And why bother with it at WDW when there are so many delicious counter service choices.

And seriously, if you go to ANY fast food place at prime meal times you will wait in line. We've waited 10-15 minutes for food at McD's & Burger King when we make the mistake of stopping by between 12 & 1:00. Never had long waits there (or at Disney) when we eat around 11:30 or 1:30.

 

[wezee]

Cans of tuna? Did you take your cat?

 

[budbeerlady]

Cans of tuna? Did you take your cat?

LOL! Good thing I wasnt drinking my pop....

You are correct about Universal, aside from happy hour drinks I thought the food was very expensive. We bought a bucket of popcorn that was very stale and expensive.

 

[koolaidmoms]

WDW as with any park venue pretty much has a captive audience and can charge whatever the market will bear for food. Most theme parks you go to will have similar food (I personally think WDW offers some outstanding choices if you look)- fries, burgers, dogs, etc... at similar prices.

The little park near us charges $8.75 for 3 chicken strips and a handful of fries. Hot dogs are $4.25. Sometimes the food is hot and good. Sometimes it is not.

Until people start leaving the parks in droves to find food elsewhere (which I don't think will happen) things will not really change.

 

[MusiqChic99]

in 10 trips to Disney, I think I got a counter service burger once...have never got a hot dog. Don't even go looking for that kind of food -- I figure I can get that stuff at McD's, or at the mall, and I don't even want that kind of food on vacation. And why bother with it at WDW when there are so many delicious counter service choices.

And seriously, if you go to ANY fast food place at prime meal times you will wait in line. We've waited 10-15 minutes for food at McD's & Burger King when we make the mistake of stopping by between 12 & 1:00. Never had long waits there (or at Disney) when we eat around 11:30 or 1:30.

I agree. Research is key when finding options of CS. World Showcase comes to mind. Why eat a burger and fries at the American Pavilion when you get hop on over to China and have an egg roll or 2 or 3.

I do find the food to be pricey but it's a theme park. I expect this. And often times there are some places where you can share meals.

Wait times come with the territory too, however I dont think we waited more then 10 minutes on our last trip.

 

[Googilycub]

I happen to like the cs meals at disney. I think that dining out is part of being on vacation. I dont see any point in stressing over the costs of a hot dog (which is $4.79 at Caseys or $6.59 for the combo meal...I would like to add that it is a HUGE hot dog, and they have a great topping bar). When I go to Disney I budget for the meals as part of the vacation, and if I was going to get upset over a $5 hot dog...I would stay home.

 

[pixarmom]

I agree. Research is key when finding options of CS. World Showcase comes to mind. Why eat a burger and fries at the American Pavilion when you get hop on over to China and have an egg roll or 2 or 3.

I do find the food to be pricey but it's a theme park. I expect this. And often times there are some places where you can share meals.

Wait times come with the territory too, however I dont think we waited more then 10 minutes on our last trip.

Agreed again - this is one of the areas where we've found the research/planning really makes a big difference. We really enjoy Flame Tree in AK and many of the World Showcase options, and just fold them into our plan. It's a little more difficult for us at MK and DHS, but we're fine with Casey's and Toy Story Pizza Planet because they are fun for our kids. (Although I'm rethinking that Casey's stop for the next trip, and talking up El Pirata with the kids, in case it's open!) We eat early (between 11 and 11:30) and no waits!

 

[Violet Parr]

is how I'd describe most of the fast counter service retaurants at WDW...

my question...has disney world ever thought of leaving that part to the experts?
( McDonalds, Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Etc.)

Ooh, I don't mean to be argumentative, but that would gross me out. First off, I can get those things anywhere. Second, I have had some GREAT CS food at WDW. I especially like the cold sandwiches. And I love that we can get sushi at CS at Sunshine Seasons. (Is that the correct name?)

I do think taking your own food is a great idea and that if that works for you, that's great. We go on the dining plan because my husband doesn't like to think about how much money he is spending when he eats on vacation. That's part of the vacation for him.

VP

 

[Violet Parr]

I happen to like the cs meals at disney. I think that dining out is part of being on vacation. I dont see any point in stressing over the costs of a hot dog (which is $4.79 at Caseys or $6.59 for the combo meal...I would like to add that it is a HUGE hot dog, and they have a great topping bar). When I go to Disney I budget for the meals as part of the vacation, and if I was going to get upset over a $5 hot dog...I would stay home.

Yes, it is huge. Dh and I usually split a Casey's dog.

VP

 

[kaytieeldr]

Even if the prices quoted by Googily Club aren't 100% accurate - they're supported by both www.wdwinfo.com and allearsnet - the meal would have had to increase by over seventeen percent since November (extremely unlikely). So the OP couldn't have gotten "just" hot dogs, they must have gotten three combo meals. Without the 17% - or any - increase, they couldn't have paid more than $27 for the items reported. STILL HIGH, but not $30.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I really like the counter service at options. I usually stay away from the usual burgers and fries type fare though. In nine trips to Disney I've had one hot dog, and only a few burgers.

Yes, the costs are higher then what you'd pay at your local McDonalds, but I also think for the most part the quality is much higher as well.

And there are cheaper eats if you know where to look; $5 sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich, $2 sides at Tangerine Cafe, etc.

 

[RMulieri]

There are plenty delicious options for Cs at WDW.I happen to think that some of it is quite good too.I love Tangerine cafe in Morrocco at Epcot or Sunshine seasons.If you venture away from burgers and hot dogs there are plenty of delcious, fresh options out there.As for cost, it is a themepark.Disney has a captive audience and knows this.I have found equally overpriced food at the local mall ,local attractions too

 

[DisneyMim]

I agree with Violet Parr. I can get Burger King, etc anywhere. When I am at Disney I don't want that. I also happen to like CS at DW. We get the dining plan and have always been happy with it. There are some great food in Epcot, World Showcase. As for cost, I guess it's all relative. We live in the Northeast and everything here is expensive. You go to Fenway Park and come away thinking that Disney is a bargain!! I don't happen to think that the food in Disney is any more expensive than anywhere else. As always, everyone has their own opinion and this is how it should be.

Enjoy The Magic!!

 

[meeshkamooshka]

that disney so graciously provides me the opportunity to eat ...lol

my brother drove off property to bring his kids to a chick fil a once and i was trying very hard to order a pizza from pizza hut (dont diliver to area I found out ) but pappa johns does....

actually to be fair...i did have 3 good eats ..

1. tuna sandwich at harbor house - not only for cats....humans can eat it too...it gas omega 3 , every good for you

2.turkey sanwich at contemporary

3. tonga toast at polynesian

i just located the reviews area on the site here though i will add my two cents and do a few reviews...good resorce! http://reviews.wdwinfo.com/showcat.php/category/40

ironically i wasn't the only one that had a cold double cheesburger at eletric umbrella ( epcot )

my other alternative is to stay at a resort where prepare my own light meals...I know that wouldn't be at the CR, POL GF, WL. AK....

so where are the resorts with an actual kitchen? BC ?