MK Counter Service

Casey’s Corner Counter Service Dining Review at Disney

by josh on March 12, 2010

Wondering how Casey’s Corner stacks up against the other Magic Kingdom Counter Service Locations? Check out The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Locations for a comparison of the five Magic Kingdom counter services in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Seating, Best Food, and Best Overall Counter Service.

Food Type: Hot Dogs and Corn Dog Nuggets

Dining Plan: One Quick Service or One Snack

Cost: Entrées: $5-7

Unique Items: Cracker Jacks

Advantages: Easy to decide what you want since there are really only two entrée choices – hot dog or corn dog nuggets.  The cheese sauce at the condiment bar is a great way to spice up an ordinary dog.

Disadvantages: The hot dogs are no longer kosher all-beef.  The previously delicious buns have been replaced by whole grain buns that easily fall apart.  Limited menu.

Value: Below average.  The hot dogs here are nowhere near as good as they used to be and they cost the same $5.  On the Dining Plan, the maximum cost of this meal is only about $10, which is on the low end of the spectrum as well.

Reputation: This counter service is based on the poem, “Casey at the Bat.”  Well, Casey ends up striking out at the end (sorry if that ruins it for you), so I guess we shouldn’t be surprised that this place has a couple strikes against it also.  Casey’s Corner used to be much better.  For some reason Disney has decided that using a bun with a few grams of fiber is better than using a bun that doesn’t fall apart and tastes good.  There are plenty of better options at the Magic Kingdom both for quality and variety, including Cosmic Ray’s, Columbia Harbor House, and Pecos Bill.

Overall Rank on The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Locations: 5th out of 5

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Columbia Harbor House Dining Review at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

by josh on March 12, 2010

Wondering how Columbia Harbor House stacks up against the other Magic Kingdom Counter Service Locations? Check out The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Locations for a comparison of the five Magic Kingdom counter services in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Seating, Best Food, and Best Overall Counter Service.

Food Type: Fried fish, fried shrimp, chicken nuggets, tuna sandwich, hummus sandwich, and several salads

Dining Plan: One Quick Service or One Snack

Cost: Entrées: $7-10

Unique Items: Fried shrimp basket, clam chowder, BLT salad, and tuna sandwich.

Advantages:  Large portions, convenient location, above average nautical theme, and plenty of seating.    The fried shrimp are sizable, instead of the ones that are mostly breading.  Vinegar is available for the fish.  There is a wider variety of options than other counter services.  Food is generally hot and prepared well.  Tuna sandwich is a nice change of pace and clam chowder is great on the side.

Disadvantages: If you don’t like salads, tuna sandwiches, or fried food then you’re in trouble.  Like any Disney counter service, lines can get long and it can get crowded.

Value: Above average.  Although the prices might be a bit high, the quality and variety of the food makes the Harbor House worth it.  It’s easily possible to spend $14+ on the Dining plan here, making it a good value as well.

Reputation:  Columbia Harbor House and Cosmic Ray’s are the two most recommended counter service restaurants at the Magic Kingdom.  Harbor House offers a great tuna sandwich as well as some fried options that are relatively light and unique.  The theme and décor is pleasant and the upstairs seating tends to be quieter than Cosmic Ray’s and less busy than Cosmic Ray’s.  Ordering is also simpler at Harbor House since there aren’t separate lines.

Overall Rank on The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Locations: 1st out of 5

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Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café Review at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

by josh on March 12, 2010

Wondering how Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe stacks up against the other Magic Kingdom Counter Service Locations? Check out The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Locations for a comparison of the five Magic Kingdom counter services in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Seating, Best Food, and Best Overall Counter Service.

Food Type: Rotisserie chicken, ribs, burgers, hot dogs, wraps, salads, BBQ pork sandwich, cheesesteak flatbread

Dining Plan: One Quick Service or One Snack

Cost: Entrées $7-$14

Unique Items: None

Advantages: The widest selection of any counter service at Magic Kingdom.  Plenty of indoor seating.  Fixings bar includes onions, pickles relish, tomatoes, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, lettuce, cheese sauce, and the usual suspects.  Food is generally fresh, prepared well, and portions are large.  Sonny Eclipse, the robotic alien, will entertain you if you sit in his section.

Disadvantages: This place is huge, crowded and confusing.  You have to get in a different line depending on what you want to order and some lines close early.  Although there are a lot of tables, there are also a lot of people, particularly at peak times.  Desserts are prepackaged.  All buns are now whole grain and tend to fall apart.

Value: Average to above average.  Most of this is typical Disney fare, but there are also some unique items and the portions tend to be on the larger side.  The $13.99 ribs and chicken combo is one of the most expensive items at a counter service, making this a great use of a Dining Plan Quick Service meal credit.

Reputation:  Ray’s is so large I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s visible from space.  Unfortunately, it’s also visible from just about anywhere in the Magic Kingdom, which means it gets swamped at meal time.  Lines usually move fairly fast and the food is freshly made and well prepared.  The turkey bacon wrap is one of my favorite items to share because it’s huge and comes precut into two convenient halves.  The fixings bar makes it easy to create your own cheese fries and make that bacon double cheeseburger slightly more exciting.  Chances are you’ll have to hit at least one counter service at the Magic Kingdom and this one should probably be it.

Overall Rank on The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Locations: 2nd out of 5

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El Pirata Y el Perico Restaurante Review at Disney World

by josh on March 12, 2010

El Pirata Y El Perico is now known as “Tortuga Tavern.”  Find out more details about what this means, here.

Food Type: Mexican, I’ve heard

Dining Plan: One Quick Service or One Snack

Cost: Entrées $6-$8, we assume

Unique Items: Unknown

Advantages: Unknown

Disadvantages: Unknown

Value: Unknown

Reputation:  This is sort of a joke because El Pirata is basically always closed.  I assume that Dory from Finding Nemo is in charge of opening it every morning and she just forgets most days.  Supposedly it’s open from 11am-4pm “seasonally,” but “seasonally” doesn’t seem to refer to any established date or time.  Anyway, when El Pirata is open they offer a variety of tacos, burritos, and salads that are all pretty good.  In a World surrounded by hamburgers and chicken nuggets it can be a nice change of pace.  There is also a unique fixings bar with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and several kinds of salsa.  There is no air-conditioned seating and the seating that is available is fairly limited.  If you see this place open, and it’s not a mirage, I would recommend checking it out because you’ll probably never see it open again.

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Main Street Bakery Review at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

by josh on March 12, 2010

Dining Plan: One Quick Service or One Snack

Cost: Entrées $1-$7

Unique Items: Just about everything.

Advantages: One of the best uses of a snack credit at Disney World.  All goodies are baked fresh.  Convenient location on Main Street as you enter or leave the Park.  Portions are large, especially the cinnamon roll and ice cream sandwiches.

Disadvantages: The line moves slowly because it’s difficult to decide which goody to purchase (they all look good).  There is extremely limited seating inside.

Value: Excellent.  The $3.50 cinnamon roll is gigantic and counts as a snack credit on the Dining Plan.  Most of the other items are under $4 as well and are plenty to share, although it’s unlikely you’ll want to.  For lunch they have ham, turkey, and tomato and mozzarella sandwiches.  On the Dining Plan you can order a sandwich, most any pastry, and get a smoothie to drink.  There are also a variety of other ways to use the Dining Plan.  You may even be able to get three pastries for a Quick Service credit, but it can vary depending on the employee.  Just ask.

Reputation:  The Main Street Bakery is often overlooked in favor of ice cream carts and prepackaged carrot cake.  This is unfortunate because the Main Street Bakery will probably be the best snack credit or $3.50 you spend during your trip.  I would recommend the cinnamon rolls, ice cream sandwiches, and banana bread pudding, but you would be hard pressed to find something that isn’t delicious.  The only downside is that the line can move slowly depending on the time of day and how many people are working.  There is also limited seating, but chances are your kids will be chasing after you and your cinnamon roll anyway, so you probably won’t want to stay seated for too long anyway.

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Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Café Dining Review at Disney

by josh on March 12, 2010

Wondering how Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe stacks up against the other Magic Kingdom Counter Service Locations? Check out The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Locations for a comparison of the five Magic Kingdom counter services in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Seating, Best Food, and Best Overall Counter Service.

Food Type: Burgers, Wraps, Salads

Dining Plan: One Quick Service or One Snack

Cost: Entrées $7-$9

Unique Items: The 1/3 Pound Deluxe Angus Burger

Advantages: One of the best fixings bar at Disney with plentiful sautéed onions, sautéed mushrooms, pickles, lettuce, cheese, onions, tomatoes, and that hot cheese sauce we’ve learned to love so much.  The Deluxe Angus Burger is topped with two large onion rings, bacon, BBQ sauce, and as many toppings as you see fit.  The seating area is mostly cool and dark which feels great after a day in the hot sun.  There is also covered seating outside.  Food is prepared well and served hot.

Disadvantages: This is the most crowded counter service at the Magic Kingdom.  The lines to order are close together and there are not enough tables for everyone who wants to sit.  Try walking to the back of the restaurant and work your way forward as it’s more likely to find a seat farther away from where the orders are taken.  There are no backs on the chairs because Disney doesn’t want you to stay.  The hamburger buns have changed to whole grain and may disintegrate while eating.  The fried chicken dinner is gone.  Desserts leave something to be desired.

Value: Average.  Pecos has all of your standard $8+ burgers, wraps, and salads. It’s possible to spend $15 on the Dining Plan, making this a decent value.

Reputation:  If your goal is to only eat one burger during your trip then Pecos should be it.  If your goal is to eat a burger at every meal then you’ll want to hit Pecos as well.  The toppings bar spices up what would be “just another burger” at another location.  The quality of the Angus beef is higher than standard Disney burgers and the Deluxe burger is excellent if you like onion rings and BBQ sauce.  The location is conveniently near Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad which makes Pecos an excellent place to stop midday.  Overall, Pecos is probably the second or third best counter service choice, slightly behind Cosmic Ray’s because of the additional variety and seating at Ray’s.

Overall Rank on The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Locations: 4th out of 5

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Pinocchio Village Haus Review at Disney’s Magic Kingdom

by josh on March 11, 2010

Wondering how Pinocchio Village Haus stacks up against the other Magic Kingdom Counter Service Locations? Check out The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Locations for a comparison of the five Magic Kingdom counter services in a variety of categories including Most Unique Menu, Best Value on the Disney Dining Plan, Best Value Out of Pocket, Best Seating, Best Food, and Best Overall Counter Service.

Food Type: Pizza, Chicken Nuggets, Salad

Dining Plan: One Quick Service or One Snack

Cost: Entrées $6-$9

Unique Items: Figaro Fries are gone!  They do have a meatball sandwich, though.  And where else can you get a pizza and a chocolate shake?

Advantages: The upstairs seating at Pinocchio’s overlooks the “It’s A Small World” ride which can be fun if you can handle the song.  This is the only counter service at the Magic Kingdom that serves pizza.  The Mediterranean salad is better than most counter service salads and the meatball sub is good too.  They have chocolate milkshakes.  This place is a lot larger than it looks and is nicely air-conditioned, but it does fill up at peak times.

Disadvantages: Oh the pain – no more Figaro Fries!!!  For the uninitiated, these were fries topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and ranch dressing.  Luckily, you can more or less reproduce them yourself with the fixings bar at either Pecos or Cosmic Ray’s.  Pizzas may not be as fresh as those made at Pizza Planet.

Value: Average.  Pinocchio’s is another fairly standard Disney menu with standard pricing.

Reputation:  Pinocchio’s is a lot less popular than Cosmic Ray’s or Pecos Bill’s, but it’s certainly worth checking out if you’re in the mood for Disney pizza.  Don’t be scared away from the little storefront either, this place is deceptively large and the seating overlooking “It’s A Small World” is fun.  Although I am devastated that Figaro Fries are off the menu, I think I could be consoled with a chocolate shake.  Pinocchio’s isn’t on the top of my list, but if it’s pizza and shakes that you’re looking for then this is a fine destination.

Overall Rank on The Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Locations: 4th out of 5

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