Question for those who stay onsite only

[mrsklamc]

We are considering staying onsite for the first time, but we aren't 'foodies' We usually prefer just to eat counter service. We are a little nervous that if we stay onsite, we'll get sick of 'fast' food. Also, we don't like planning our day around ADRs. Any thoughts?

 

[robinb]

I do think that the Counter Service at WDW gets a little repetitive. There's only so much of it you can eat. I guess my question is: where do you eat when you stay off-site? Is it so much different than the WDW CS restaurants? Other thoughts include ... consider renting a car so you can eat off-site or making just a couple of ADRs to break up all the CS meals.

 

[okeydokey]

We always seek out counter service that offers things other than burgers and chicken strips. If you check out the menus at allears there are quite a few good ones. Columbia Harvest house in MK and Sunshine Seasons in Epcot are some of our favorites.

 

[java]

In Epcot almost all the countries have a counter service
Shawarma platter at Tangierine Cafe is yummy

 

[Gabes_mommy]

We just did the Quick Service Dining Plan last week and we did not eat one burger. I used All Ears ahead of time to check menus and found restaurants ahead of time that had yummy, non-fast food type options.

Places we really loved: Port Orleans Riverside food court (their salad station was my favorite), Sunshine Seasons at Epcot, Columbia Harbor House at MK, and we had a delicious italian sandwich at Pizzafari at Animal Kingdom.

There are lots of great non-junky options available.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

We go for 2 weeks and eat CS almost every meal. While I love a good burger, I don't consider WDW burgers to be that good, so we eat very few burgers while at WDW. There is so much out there besides burgers and chicken fingers. You just need to check out the menus.

 

[puffkin]

We actually are looking into this as well because we will probably be doing the Quick Service Dining Plan on our trip in April.

Some unique counterservice places that we have come across are:
Flame Tree BBQ
Yak n Yeti counter service
Sunshine Seasons
Wolfgang Puck Express (great value on the QSDP!).

Also some of the resort options look great too:
Pepper Market
Contempo Cafe

 

[HelenePA]

We'll be doing the QS plan next year. When we went last time we did not like the sit down places types of food. We aren't foodies at all. Over seasoned, over sauced, over priced! I'd rather eat mac & cheese all week.

 

[mrsklamc]

Thank you!

Since someone asked what we usually eat, we stay offsite in a townhouse, so we have cereal, fruit, etc for breakfast, (something fast and simple) and either ate lunch or dinner out (at the parks or elsewhere), and prepared the other meal in the condo.

 

[WDWMom]

Cosmic Ray's at MK has great sandwiches and salads.

 

[SnowWhite607]

Food court at Pop seems to be a bot more diversified. And last time I was there they have a nightly "TV dinner" type meal with an entree and 2 veggies...meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans for example.

There is a Chinese counter service in Epcot that is really good

 

[princess pooh]

I usually get sick of counter service by the end of my trip. You could always try making same day dining reservations if you're flexible. That way you get a sit down meal without being a slave to ADRs.

 

[PatsMom]

I've found some pretty good counter service at Disney. If you're hotel has a food court, there is usually a decent variety of food. And in the parks, Epcot has some of the best fast food you could want. In Future World eat at Sunshine Seasons. And in World Showcase most of the countries have a quick service. Bread and cheese from the bakery in France is my favorite! The Studios is probably the worst as far as fast food goes.

 

[Pembo]

We did QSD last year and it was my quest to eat different things all week. It worked! My favorite meal of all time was dinner at Coronado Springs Pepper Market. My family still talks about it.

FWIW - We stay in a mod, with a fridge and have a car so we make a grocery stop for milk, cereal, Pepsi, bread and other snack foods.

 

[mrsklamc]

Do Deluxes have microwaves by any chance?

 

[SnowWhite607]

Do Deluxes have microwaves by any chance?

Not in the room but every resort has a few in the food court.

 

[emer95]

Pop Century has delicious veggie lasange and breadsticks! So huge my daughter and I couldn't finish it!

 

[eliza61]

We are considering staying onsite for the first time, but we aren't 'foodies' We usually prefer just to eat counter service. We are a little nervous that if we stay onsite, we'll get sick of 'fast' food. Also, we don't like planning our day around ADRs. Any thoughts?

Will you have transportation? We stay on site but we are the opposite. We are big foodies and I grew up in my families restaurant and basically wdw's food is mediocre at best and the quality is 1 step above baseball park quality, so we usually don't do a lot of ts anymore.

If you have a car then you have a bit more options as there are tons of family restaurants right outside of DTD.

Epcot's world showcase has a lot of counter service windows that serve more than the usual "fast food" so that should give you a lot of variety.

 

[mrsklamc]

One of the primary arguments for on site for us would be no rental car. Otherwise, unfortunately I'm not sure I can justify it. I would really like to stay at AKL but Windsor Hills is SO nice and close.

 

[Luvchefmic]

Earl of Sandwich in DTD to die for....I don't know if they take dining plan but you can spend what you would or a little more if you went to McDonalds or BK. My fave is their pineapple/BBQ sandwich, they have fresh salads, deserts, everything all made right there