Real Food at Counter Service

[Liltx]

I think that this summer we will not do as many TS, probably just one per day. Still I do not like the idea of burgers, fries, and chicken tenders all week. Where can you get real "fresh" food at a counter service place?

I am also on the fence about buffets with my 5 and 3 year old. I love them for the ease of it but they don't eat anything. Normally they just eat off our plates at TS. Would you still go?

Monica

 

[mickeymousemom]

I hate that so many people think that there are no good CS places at Disney. A great thing to do is hit allearsnet and click on "dining"...then look at the list to your left and you can get tons of menus...very helpful.

WS in Epcot is full of very different CS places. Just check out each country.

In the MK, there is Cosmic Ray's, which has salads, wraps, ribs and roasted chicken. Also, Pinocchio Village Haus has some good choices that aren't burgers.

At DtD, Wolfgang Puck's Express is mahvelous! Very good quick food with LOTS of variety and very yummy. The walk up window at Bongo's is also very good. You can get an order of empanadas for around 1.50 or so and also Cuban sandwiches. YUM.

Check out the menus, as these are just the ones that are some of our favorites. There is SO much more than burgers and chicken fingers and you don't have to look hard to find it!

 

[karajeboo]

One of our faves is Flame Tree BBQ at AK - we had roasted chicken, corn on the cob, beans. All very tasty! Also we love the CS place in England in Epcot's WS (can't think of the name!) for fish and chips, and there's a quick CS in Mexico too with a huge platter of Mexican food. Those are also are favorite "bang for your buck" recommendations.

 

[MickeyNicki]

IMHO most of the great CS places are in Epcot. We love the shrimp fried rice in China, the brat and kraut in Germany, fresh fried fish in England. The best of Epcot is Morocco, their food is out of this world.

Alot of the resorts have fantastic CS places, especially the value and mod resorts.

 

[septbaby]

I think that this summer we will not do as many TS, probably just one per day. Still I do not like the idea of burgers, fries, and chicken tenders all week. Where can you get real "fresh" food at a counter service place?

I am also on the fence about buffets with my 5 and 3 year old. I love them for the ease of it but they don't eat anything. Normally they just eat off our plates at TS. Would you still go?

Monica

The little ones can still "eat off your plates" at buffets. Also most of the character meals are buffets, so if you want to take them to any character meals chances are you'll be doing a buffet or 2. I just booked the Playhouse Disney Lunch meal, your little ones are a great age for this one. From what I hear they also structure the time and send the little ones back to their tables after the dancing, etc. with specific instructions to eat before they can come back out and participate next time. From what I hear it works well.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Epcot has tons of great spots.

MK has Columbia Harbour House, which has tasty sandwiches and such.

You can eat BBQ at AK (Flame Tree)

 

[chocovrdmicears]

First one that comes to mind...Sunshine Seasons @ Epcot ~ loved this place...lots of yummy options for everyone.
Like the PP mentioned, any of the TS in the World Showcase.


Definately check Allearsnet.com for specific menus. We have always found lots of options at the parks for different CS meals.

 

[Tink888]

I agree with the other posters. There is now a wide variety of counter service options with much more than burgers & fries. Some of our favs are Flame Tree in AK, Cosmic Rays and Columbia Harbour House at MK, the many CS locations in WS and of course the food courts at the resorts. I also recommend checking out the menus at http://www.allearsnet.com. The kids menus are still a little dissappointing in general at Disney but kids can always share something from the adult menu.

 

[ciera321]

I definately agree with Wolfgang Puck Express!!! Also, Columbia Harbour (MK)House has a great tuna sandwich and great salads...

 

[DisneyFan83]

I agree with all of the suggestions above. I'll also add that The Earl of Sandwich is DTD is great!

 

[DisMN]

Oddly enough with the decline in quality at the table service restaraunts the counter service venues have become much better in quality and selection.......there have been some wonderful suggestions already with our favorites being Sunshine Seasons in the Land, Flame Tree at AK, The Fish Shop (EPCOT/UK), and the bakery in France. (You can get sandwiches and quiche here!) Oh and there's a fresh fruit stand over near the Tusker House...they have fruits, vegies and dips and sometimes fruit and cheese to go!

Those are just a few of many great choices! Have fun!!

 

[HunnyPots]

The little ones can still "eat off your plates" at buffets. Also most of the character meals are buffets, so if you want to take them to any character meals chances are you'll be doing a buffet or 2. I just booked the Playhouse Disney Lunch meal, your little ones are a great age for this one. From what I hear they also structure the time and send the little ones back to their tables after the dancing, etc. with specific instructions to eat before they can come back out and participate next time. From what I hear it works well.

Well yeah, they could, but you'd still pay for them so what's the point? I think the op was wondering if it was worth the price of a child's meal if they hardly eat anything. No sharing allowed at buffets; everybody over 2 gets charged.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The little ones can still "eat off your plates" at buffets. Also most of the character meals are buffets, so if you want to take them to any character meals chances are you'll be doing a buffet or 2. I just booked the Playhouse Disney Lunch meal, your little ones are a great age for this one. From what I hear they also structure the time and send the little ones back to their tables after the dancing, etc. with specific instructions to eat before they can come back out and participate next time. From what I hear it works well.

Not correct. The OP stated the children are ages 3 and 5.

The only people not charged at a buffet are those under three.

 

[KatiebugsMom]

There are tons of great CS......in all parks.

MK - Columbia Harbor house
Epcot - Any place in WS (especially Morocco)plus Sunshine Seasons in The Land Pavillion (Bakery section is devine)
AK - Flame Tree and Yak n Yeti CS
MGM - New found favorite Catalina Eddie's across from BATB theater.


Enjoy!

 

[KayLuvsMickey]

The Land at Epcot is yummy!

Try the butterfinger brownie...mmmmmmm

 

[Illuminations_Rocks]

You got a lot of good suggestions. I want to add BackLot Express in DHS. They've a southwest salad, and a grilled cheese and turkey sandwich, and a grilled veggies sandwhich.

Really you don't have to eat just fried stuff. Yes, it is available at a lot of the parks... but you can find healthier, more refreshing choices. DF is HUGE on burgers/pizza/chicken fingers. I prefer sandwiches. We look at the maps when we get into the parks - the CS places on the maps list a summary of the foods, so you don't need to have places pre-picked.

I also recommend looking up the menus, either on the dis here (wdwinfo site) or on the allears site.

Oh I'm adding in Pepper Market at CSR. I've never actually eaten there but I've heard lots and lots of good things.

 

[belleatheart]

I am allergic to Soy which I thought was going to be a pain in disney the last trip because I had just discovered my allergy a few months before. We go to disney alot and so I just kept thinking great I am going to miss out on my fave places. Nope I discovered so many better places and I can not do the greasy fried stuff often. Here is what we have found
1. Sunshine Seasons in the Land- So many choices that everybody is happy
2. The one in China- They do not use MSG so we are all good here
3. Backlot Express in DHS- not the worlds greatest, but not bad "park" food, they had sandwiches and salads which is what I got then also burgers and what not
4. Columbia Harbor House in MK- Has fish chips for my dad but also great sandwiches for me and my mom, and chicken for my sister. We were all happy here
5. Cosmic Rays in MK- This has for sure become a fave. I love that I can get rotisserie chicken here, and then get ribs too, now that was great, then you can get mashed potatoes but i asked if i could apples and they said no problem since you can get them with the kids meal. It worked out great
6. Wolfgang Puck Express in DTD- This place is great, i felt like it was more a TS meal we got so much food, it was perfect, and fresh and not fried!
7. Artist Palette in Saratoga Springs- Nice little place reminded me of Upstate NY foods, travel there in the summer for the track
8. Flame Tree in AK- we used to go to Tusker but now that it is no longer there oh well had to find a new one and we have discovered this place. I like that I can get BBQ it works out great because it is not Fried or greasy

This is all I can currently think of right now..

 

[disneymom0104]

Another one I haven't seen mentioned is the Yakitori house in Japan in Epcot. They have very yummy curry/rice and teriyaki. Also Morocco has a counter service with shawarma sandwiches and platters and wraps. Yummy!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

World Showcase has some wonderful options that you can't find anywhere else in the "World." I also really like Earl of Sandwich at DTD, and Flame Tree BBQ at AK, for food other then burgers and fries.