Best Quick Counter Service Locations

Best Animal Kingdom Quick Counter Service at Disney World

by josh on May 27, 2010

Best Animal Kingdom Counter Service Disney World

Counting the seasonal Picnic in the Park offering, there are five counter service locations at the Animal Kingdom.  Overall, they’re collectively the best quick services of any of the four Disney theme parks that make up Disney World.  Even Restaurauntosaurus, with its standard menu of hamburgers and chicken nuggets, is better than many of the counter services at the Hollywood Studios.

Be sure to read over the full reviews for more information on any of the counter service locations listed.  You can either click here for the full list in alphabetical order or click the individual highlighted links throughout this post.

Most Unique Menu

1. Yak & Yeti (Anandupar Local Foods Café)

2. Flame Tree Barbecue

3. Picnic in the Park

4. Pizzafari

5. Restaurantosaurus

Serving Honey Chicken, Shrimp Lo Mein, and Kung Pow Beef among other Asian inspired entrées, the Yak & Yeti serves a menu full of items you won’t find anywhere else.  Flame Tree Barbecue’s menu offers St. Louis ribs, a smoked half chicken, and a barbecue chicken salad that are all relatively rare.  Picnic in the Park’s style is unique, but it offers a number of menu items that are widely available including the usual sandwiches, salads, and fruit.  Pizzafari is your standard Disney pizza joint serving only two kinds of pizza – cheese or pepperoni.  You’ll also find the hot Italian style sandwich, Caesar salad, and breadsticks.  Finally, Restaurantosaurus offers your standard Disney menu items like hamburgers, chicken nuggets, and not much else.

Best “Value” AKA Most Expensive Meal on the Dining Plan

1. Yak & Yeti (Average entrée $10.17, most expensive $10.99)

2. Flame Tree Barbeque ($8.53, $10.49)

3. Pizzafari ($8.12, $8.39)

4. Restaurantosaurus ($7.33, $8.09)

5. Picnic in the Park ($9.00, $10.49)

Although the numbers are higher for Picnic in the Park, the price includes the drink and dessert, which actually makes it the cheapest option since you would need to add $6+ to each of the meal prices above to get the full cost of the meal, including drink and dessert.  Also, Picnic in the Park comes with only a miniscule bottle of water, so you will probably need to purchase additional beverages either out of pocket or with snack credits.  All of the counter services serve the standard $3.59 prepackaged slices of cake and standard drinks, so both of those are constant no matter which counter service you select.  Overall, the Yak & Yeti is the clear favorite in terms of money for your Dining Plan credit.

Best Value Out of Pocket

1. Flame Tree Barbeque

2. Yak & Yeti

3. Picnic in the Park

4. Pizzafari

5. Restaurantosaurus

The Flame Tree serves the best barbecue in all of Disney World.  Portions are large and the delicious corn muffins have re-replaced the coleslaw.  I think we can all agree that corn muffins and honey are better than shredded raw cabbage.  Although Yak & Yeti is the most expensive quick service at the Animal Kingdom, the portions are large and if you add a $4 side of egg rolls or chicken fried rice then you should have plenty of food for two people to share (and possibly enough even without the additional side).  The quality is also high and the food tastes better than either of the Asian counter services at Epcot.  Picnic in the Park offers plenty of food also, but the small waters make it less appealing.  Both Pizzafari and Restaurantosaurus offer only marginal value.  A hamburger and soft drink at Restaurantosaurus would run more than $10 and a pizza and soda at Pizzafari costs about $11.  Neither of those are particularly appealing prices.

Best Seating

1. Pizzafari

2. Flame Tree BBQ

3. Restaurantosaurus

4. Picnic in the Park

5. Yak & Yeti

Pizzafari has ample indoor, air-conditioned seating.  It’s also an excellent spot to get off your feet and enjoy a treat from one of the outdoor vendors, especially during off-peak meal times.  Flame Tree BBQ has a pleasant outdoor seating area, but you may have to deal with the birds that are common in the area.  They can be annoying as they swoop in to steal your food, walk around eating food off the ground, and poop as necessary.  Restaurantosaurus’ seating area is air-conditioned and inside, but it’s not large enough for the influx of visitors at meal time.  Be sure to eat at off-peak times for a more relaxing meal.  Picnic in the Park is odd because there is no set seating area.  You’re supposed to take your bags of food and hunt down a spot at one of the designated areas through the Animal Kingdom.  You’ll probably want to find a suitable place to eat before picking up your food if you’re unfamiliar with the Park or the seating areas.  Yak and Yeti’s biggest detraction is its complete lack of indoor seating.  Not only is all of the seating outdoors, but there is no covering other than small umbrellas over some of the tables.  This can make for an unpleasant dining experience, especially in the summer heat.  Consider seeking alternative seating if the seating area is crowded or it’s too hot.

Best Food

1. Flame Tree Barbeque

2. Yak & Yeti

3. Pizzafari

4. Picnic in the Park

5. Restaurantosaurus

Overall Best Counter Service at the Animal Kingdom

1. Flame Tree Barbecue

2. Yak & Yeti

3. Pizzafari

4. Picnic in the Park

5. Restaurantosaurus

The possibility of running into some birds isn’t enough to keep Flame Tree out of the top spot.  Quality barbecue, fantastic corn bread, and pleasant surroundings make it an easy number one selection.  It’s also in the top three best counter service locations in all of Disney World, so be sure to give it a try if the menu sounds appealing.  Despite potentially uncomfortable seating, Yak & Yeti is an excellent choice as well and the best “value” on the Disney Dining Plan.  It’s also a good opportunity to order a type of food that you won’t find at the Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios.  Picnic in the Park drops to fourth because of its inconsistency and ever-changing menu.  Confusion surrounding the ordering process and the inconvenience of standing in line to order and pickup also hinders a higher recommendation.  Pizzafari beats out Restaurantosaurus because of its better seating and higher quality food.  Restaurantosaurus does offer a much larger menu, so be sure everyone is in the mood for pizza, salad, or an Italian sandwich if you choose to visit Pizzafari over Restaurantosaurus.  If a burger sounds better than pizza then you’re better off at Restaurantosaurus.

Overall, the Animal Kingdom has the strongest quick service locations of any of Disney World’s theme parks.  There’s plenty of variety and the quality is higher than other locations across the board.

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Best Downtown Disney Quick Counter Service Restaurants

by josh on May 27, 2010

Best Downtown Disney Counter Service Disney World

There are only three real counter service locations at Downtown Disney that serve lunch and dinner – Cooke’s of Dublin, Earl of Sandwich, and Wolfgang Puck Express.  Bongo’s Cuban Café does have a sandwich takeout window that may be of interest if you enjoy Cuban food, but there is limited seating and it is not on any of the Disney Dining Plans, so it won’t be considered in the following rankings.  Ghirardelli Soda Fountain is also located at Downtown Disney, but they serve ice cream and sundaes (not that there’s anything wrong with that, mind you) rather than “food,” so it will be left off also.  I would highly recommend Ghirardelli if you’re looking for a treat.

Be sure to read over the full reviews for more information on any of the counter service locations listed.  You can either click here for the full list in alphabetical order or click the individual highlighted links throughout this post.

Most Unique Menu

1. Wolfgang Puck Express

2. Cooke’s of Dublin

3. Earl of Sandwich

All three of the Downtown Disney counter services offer a diverse menu full of interesting options.  Wolfgang Puck Express is number one because of the sheer number of items on the menu.  You’ll find bacon wrapped meatloaf, curried chicken salad, butternut squash soup, and crème brulee at Wolfgang among many other pasta, pizza, and salad dishes.  Cooke’s of Dublin features delicious “Dublin Style” pot pies, mini Irish sausages, and Georges Bank Atlantic Scallops, all of which are unique.  As far as variety is concerned, you can’t really go wrong with either of the top two choices and Earl of Sandwich provides some interesting takes on the sandwich as well.

Best “Value” AKA Most Expensive Meal on the Dining Plan

1. Wolfgang Puck Express (Average Entrée Cost $12.86, Most Expensive Entrée $17.00)

2. Cooke’s of Dublin ($10.50, $11.95)

3. Earl of Sandwich ($5.95, $5.95)

Wolfgang Puck Express is the favorite of many Disney World visitors on the Disney Dining Plan because it offers some of the most expensive items of any counter service anywhere.  If you chose the oven roasted salmon for $17, crème brulee dessert for $5, and a $3 beverage then you would have a counter service meal in the $25 range, by far the most expensive at Disney World.  There are more than 15 entrées that cost $12 or more, making Wolfgang Puck Express the clear choice for anyone trying to “maximize” their Dining Plan.  Cooke’s of Dublin is fairly expensive as well, with several entrées in the $11 range, but still significantly cheaper than Wolfgang Express.  Earl of Sandwich is the obvious laggard.  Although it’s a terrific deal out of pocket, it might be considered a “waste” of a Dining Plan credit considering the most expensive meal you could put together would be about $10, much less than either of the other two options.

Best Value Out of Pocket

1. Earl of Sandwich

2. Wolfgang Puck Express

3. Cooke’s of Dublin

Earl of Sandwich is by far the best deal out of pocket at Downtown Disney and probably all of Disney World.  Considering it would be a good value outside of Disney World, you know it’s a fantastic deal inside.  You can get a large, freshly made sandwich with quality ingredients for $6 which is about half of the average cost of an entrée at either Wolfgang or Cooke’s.  You can also add a side of potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw, salad, or a bag of chips for less than $2.  Wolfgang Puck comes in second because of the large size of the entrées and the high quality of the ingredients.  A waiter will also bring you your food and take care of anything else you need during your meal, which is unique to the Wolfgang Puck Express.  Cooke’s of Dublin is a close third because most of the entrées won’t be so large that they are easily sharable. While the prices are relatively high compared to other counter service locations, the cost of the ingredients are generally higher as well.  Scallops and shrimp, for example, aren’t cheap.

Best Seating

1. Wolfgang Puck Express

2. Cooke’s of Dublin

3. Earl of Sandwich

Wolfgang Puck Express is the only counter service where a waiter will bring the food to your table while you have a chance to sit and relax.  There shouldn’t be any trouble finding a table and chairs either.  Cooke’s of Dublin has limited seating inside and a small attached seating area outside, but it’s usually enough to cater to the small number of clientele Cooke’s serves throughout the day.  If Cooke’s was any more popular, the seating area would be inadequate, but there’s usually plenty of seating.  Earl of Sandwich, on the other hand, is extraordinarily popular and has grossly inadequate seating.  It’s almost always a challenge to find seating in the loud, cramped, poorly lit interior and outdoor seating usually equates to sitting on the curb or the edge of a planter box.

Best Food

1. Earl of Sandwich

2. Wolfgang Puck Express

3. Cooke’s of Dublin

This is close and depends more on what you’re in the mood for or what you like rather than a significant increase or decrease in food quality.  Even disregarding price, the Earl of Sandwich serves some of the best sandwiches in the United States.  Although I’m not a world connoisseur of sandwiches, I have never had a sandwich as good as those found at the Earl.  I have had salmon, pasta, pizza, and salads better than what the Wolfgang Puck serves.  Not that Wolfgang is bad, but it’s unlikely you’ll leave saying “Wow, that was the best spaghetti I’ve ever tasted.”  Cooke’s of Dublin is a close third.  The main reason why it rates below Wolfgang is because just about everything they serve is deep fried, which may not appeal to some people.  The Dublin Style Pies, fried fish, chips, and sausages are all excellent, but anyone looking to cut calories has come to the wrong place.

Overall Best Counter Service at Downtown Disney

1. Earl of Sandwich

2. Wolfgang Puck Express

3. Cooke’s of Dublin

You can’t really go wrong with the counter services at Downtown Disney.  On the Disney Dining Plan, you’ll probably want to use your credits at Wolfgang Puck Express or Cooke’s, but out of pocket the Earl of Sandwich just can’t be beat.  Although it does get crowded, the lack of seating is the only real deterrent.  Wolfgang Puck Express comes in second due to the fact that a waiter will bring your food to your table, the diverseness of the menu, and the high quality of the ingredients.  You won’t find a pizza of this quality at any of the theme park counter services, that’s for sure.  Cooke’s of Dublin comes in third because of the potential limited appeal of its menu, the relatively high prices, and the small seating area.  I would still highly recommend Cooke’s if you’ve already tried both Wolfgang and Earl of Sandwich or if the menu sounds appealing.  It is an excellent counter service and would rank among the best at any of Disney’s other resorts or theme parks.  All in all, there are no losers here and you should be satisfied no matter what your situation is or which counter service you decide to try.

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Best Epcot Disney World Quick Counter Service

by josh on May 26, 2010

Updated October 7th, 2010 with the refurbished La Cantina de San Angel

Epcot is where you’ll find the most diversity in your dining options.  While you’ll still be able to sniff out a hamburger, it won’t be as easy as at the Magic Kingdom where it seems like they’re haunting you at every turn.   Since the Fountainview Café and Boulangerie Patisserie serve mostly snacks, treats, and desserts, I won’t be considering them in the following recommendations.  Both are strongly recommended for a midday snack, especially the Boulangerie Patisserie where you can purchase a wide variety of delicious, freshly baked French treats.

Be sure to read over the full reviews for more information on any of the counter service locations listed.  You can either click here for the full list in alphabetical order or click the individual highlighted links throughout this post.

Most Unique Menu

1. Tangierine Café

2. Kringla Bakeri og Café

3. Yakitori House

4. Sunshine Seasons

5. Sommerfest

6.  La Cantina de San Angel

7. Lotus Blossom Café

8. Yorkshire County Fish Shop

9. Liberty Inn

10. Electric Umbrella

The Tangierine Café is the top choice in terms of uniqueness because it serves food that you not only won’t find anywhere else at Disney World, but also won’t find in many people’s hometowns either.  Shawarma Platters, lamb wraps, falafel, and Mediterranean pita pockets are all on the menu.  In addition, most entrées are served with couscous, Moroccan bread, lentil salad, and hummus.  Kringla Bakeri og Café, serving traditional Norwegian pastries and sandwiches, offers unique flavors as well.  You won’t find school bread or lefse in most cities, nor will you find an apple and ham sandwich, potato goat cheese and vegetable tort, or salmon and egg sandwich.  The rest of the list includes restaurants that serve food that you’ll be able to easily find outside Disney World.  Yakitori House serves inexpensive sushi options including the California roll, spicy tuna roll, and sukiyaki beef sushi roll as well as teriyaki dishes and tempura that you won’t find anywhere else at Disney World.  Sunshine Seasons, Sommerfest, La Cantina de San Angel, and Lotus Blossom Café all have several items on the menu that are unique, but most people will be familiar with Sunshine Season’s sandwiches, Lotus Blossom’s Americanized fast-food Chinese dishes, and Sommerfest’s bratwursts.  Yorkshire Fish only serves fried fish which can be found throughout Disney World and both Liberty Inn and Electric Umbrella offer mostly standard Disney hamburgers, chicken nuggets, and salads.

Best “Value” AKA Most Expensive Meal on the Dining Plan

1. Tangierine Café (Average Entrée Cost $11.56, Most Expensive Entrée Cost $13.99)

2. La Cantina de San Angel ($10.84, $11.95)

3. Sunshine Seasons ($9.20, $9.99)

4. Kringla Bakeri og Café ($8.20, $9.99)

5. Yakitori House ($8.57, $9.99)

6. Lotus Blossom ($8.19, $8.49)

7. Liberty Inn ($8.09, $8.59)

8. Electric Umbrealla ($7.24, $8.39)

9. Yorkshire County Fish Shop ($7.99, $7.99)

10. Sommerfest ($6.65, $6.69)

Tangierine Café is the clear winner here with the most expensive counter service entrée at Epcot and the highest average cost.   With a drink and dessert you’re looking at a meal in the $20+ range.  La Cantina de San Angel is a close second, with an average entree cost just shy of $11.  With dessert and drink, the most expensive meal at La Cantina is about $20 with tax.The next three all feature a $9.99 entrée, but Sunshine Seasons is the place to go because their desserts are the most expensive.  Kringla comes in third because their desserts are slightly less expensive and Yakitori House rounds out the top four.  The rest of the choices are all in the $8 range, except for Sommerfest, which only serves bratwurst or a frankfurter on the cheap.

Best Value Out of Pocket

1. Sunshine Seasons

2. Tangierine Café

3. Kringla Bakeri og Café

4. La Cantina de San Angel

5. Yorkshire County Fish Shop

6. Sommerfest

7. Yakitori House

8. Lotus Blossom

9. Liberty Inn

10. Electric Umbrella

Sunshine Seasons delivers the most bang for your buck in terms of cost compared to the quality of ingredients, freshness of food, and portion size.  I would shy away from the Asian entrées, but the rest of the choices are excellent, especially the gigantic sandwiches and tasty grilled options.  Although Tangierine Café is the most expensive counter service at Epcot, the Schwarma Platters are large enough to share, especially if you add one or two extra side dishes that each cost about $2.  The wraps may be enough for two people to share as well and are moderately priced at $9.99, which is about as much as most entrées at the other counter services cost.  The same is true for Kringla, which serves large sandwiches for about $8 and the highly recommended school bread for only $2.  A sandwich and two school breads should be plenty of food for two people to share and would only cost about $12 for two people, making it an excellent and inexpensive choice as well.  La Cantina is on the expensive side, but the food is high quality and it is presented better than other counter services. Both Yorkshire Fish and Sommerfest have limited menus, but both serve nice size portions of high quality food for one person in the $7-$8 range.  Either would be a fine choice depending on what you’re in the mood to eat.  Yakitori House and Lotus Blossom serve average fast-food style Asian dishes that will satisfy most people looking for quick Japanese or Chinese food, but won’t compare to your favorite places back home.  Yakitori House is slightly better because the portions are larger.  Both Liberty Inn and Electric Umbrella serve the famous $8 cheeseburger/french fry combo that isn’t much of a value at all.  Any of the top five choices come highly recommended when paying out of pocket.

Best Seating

1. Liberty Inn

2. Electric Umbrella

3. Sunshine Seasons

4. Kringla Bakeri og Café

5. La Cantina de San Angel

6. Lotus Blossom

7. Yakitori House

8. Tangierine Café

9. Sommerfest

10. Yorkshire County Fish Shop

Why does it always seem like the seating rankings are the exact opposite of all the other categories?  Liberty Inn and Electric Umbrella are in the top two spots because they offer both air-conditioned indoor seating and outdoor seating.  Liberty Inn has the most indoor seating of the two, but the Electric Umbrella does have upstairs seating, so make sure to check there if the downstairs is crowded.  Although Sunshine Seasons’ seating is completely indoors and air-conditioned, it’s also located in one of the noisiest areas at Epcot, with Soarin’ and Living with the Land right next door.  Instead of being an open space, Sunshine Seasons’ seating area is reminiscent of a maze with strange pathways connecting the different sections.  Nonetheless, there are usually available tables and it is comfortable temperature-wise.  Kringla is at the top of the outdoor-seating-only counter services because there’s (almost) always available seats under a canopy that keeps the temperature somewhat cool, even during the hottest months.  La Cantina de San Angel has excellent seating options between 11am and 3:30pm because guests can choose to sit outside on the covered patio or inside the air-conditioned La Hacienda de San Angel.  The problem is that after 8pm there is very little seating because the tables have such a good view of Illuminations.  Chances are very good you won’t be able to get a table after 8pm, which is why La Cantina drops to the 5th.  If you do get a table, it is an excellent place to sit and enjoy a meal.  Lotus Blossom also has a large seating area overlooking the beautiful Chinese Gardens, but the temperature is usually hotter.  Although Yakitori House does have a small amount of indoor seating and the outdoor seating is picturesque with its own miniature garden, there generally aren’t enough seats to meet demand.  Tangierine Café’s seating area is relatively small and not air-conditioned, which can make it uncomfortable in the heat.  Both Sommerfest and Yorkshire Fish have grossly inadequate seating areas.  You only have about a 5% chance of getting a table at Yorkshire, which means you will almost always have to find seating at a nearby bench or curb.  Sommerfest isn’t much better, but it isn’t as popular so you have a slightly higher chance of getting a table.

Best Food

1. Tangierine Café

2. Sunshine Seasons

3. Kringla Bakeri og Café

4. La Cantina de San Angel

5. Yorkshire County Fish Shop

6. Sommerfest

7. Lotus Blossom

8. Yakitori House

9. Liberty Inn

10. Electric Umbrella

Overall Best Counter Service at Epcot

1. Sunshine Seasons

2. Tangierine Cafe

3. Kringla Bakeri og Café

4. La Cantina de San Angel

5. Yorkshire County Fish Shop

6. Sommerfest

7. Lotus Blossom

8. Yakitori House

9. Liberty Inn

10. Electric Umbrella

Sunshine Seasons wins best overall counter service because of its diverse menu, fresh food, large portions, and ample air-conditioned seating.  Chances are high that everyone in your group will be able to find something they like and it’s a good value on or off the Disney Dining Plan.  The only real deterrent is the noise from all the people in the Land Pavilion and the confusing layout of the seating area.  The ordering process is also a little odd.  Instead of one counter or window, there are several stations that all serve different food.  You’ll have to check them all out to get an idea of what you want to order and then you pay at the registers once you’ve collected all of your food and drinks.  The Tangierine Café is the most expensive counter service and an excellent value on the Disney Dining Plan, but the menu may not be for everyone and the seating and ordering areas are often congested.  Nonetheless, the portions are large and the food is unique and delicious.  If you’re in the World Showcase and the Tangierine Café is nearby then it would get my vote.  Sunshine Seasons isn’t so much better that it’s worth making a special trip out to Future World from the World Showcase.  Kringla Bakeri serves delicious desserts and sandwiches, but the menu is somewhat limited and service can be slow depending on time of day.  I would definitely order a “school bread” at some point in your trip as a snack, but eating lunch here isn’t mandatory.  If the sandwiches and soup sound good then give it a try.  You won’t be disappointed.  La Cantina de San Angel serves high quality food tha is carefully prepared and presented well.  The abundance of lunchtime seating is a nice bonus, but getting a table after 4pm will be a much bigger hassle, especially as you get closer to 9pm for Illuminations.  Despite a lack of seating, Yorkshire Fish does the one thing it does do well – serve fresh, lightly battered fish with tasty chips.  If you don’t like fried fish or can’t eat without a table then it’s probably much lower on your list.  Sommerfest is similar to Yorkshire Fish in that they only serve frankfurter and bratwurst.  Both items are excellent, but you’ll want to skip it if it doesn’t sound good.  Sommerfest also serves the best pretzels in Disney World, so return here for a snack or add one to your meal.

Lotus Blossom edges out Yakitori House because of Lotus Blossom’s superior seating area and better tasting food.  If you’re a big eater then you may want to visit Yakitori House because their portions are much larger, but the quality of the food isn’t as good in general.  Yakitori House’s “sushi” is mass produced and prepackaged, but may still taste good to the very casual sushi eater.  Liberty Inn and Electric Umbrella round out the list in the final two positions.  The Liberty Inn is better because they offer a unique hot roast beef and cheddar sandwich, which is a recommended entree for the unadventurous eater.  Otherwise, there’s really no reason to visit either of these locations unless you don’t like anything other than Disney hamburgers and chicken nuggets.  All in all, depending on your personal food preferences, the top five counter service locations are slam dunks.  Despite some reservations, even the bottom four counter service locations aren’t terrible.

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Best Hollywood Studios Quick Counter Service Disney World

by josh on May 26, 2010

Best Hollywood Studios Quick Service Disney World

As far as dining is concerned, the Hollywood Studios is the antithesis of the Animal Kingdom.  Whereas you almost can’t go wrong at the Animal Kingdom, you’re going to be hard pressed to find an excellent meal at the Hollywood Studios.  ABC Commissary, one of the Studios’ primary counter services, may very well be the worst in all of Disney World.  The Backlot Express, Sunset Ranch Market, and Toy Story Pizza Planet don’t offer particularly inspired menus or food either.  Starring Rolls Café offers excellent sandwiches, desserts, and breakfast, but they often run out of food and close long before the Studios’ stated closing time.  All in all, deciding where to eat may be a challenge at the Hollywood Studios, but for exactly the opposite reason of the Animal Kingdom.

Be sure to read over the full reviews for more information on any of the counter service locations listed.  You can either click here for the full list in alphabetical order or click the individual highlighted links throughout this post.

Most Unique Menu

1. Starring Rolls Cafe

2. Sunset Ranch Market

3. Studio Catering Company

4. ABC Commissary

5. Backlot Express

6. Toy Story Pizza Planet

Starring Rolls serves a large variety of decadent pastry and breakfast options as well as three to four unique sandwiches for lunch.  You won’t find better desserts or treats at the Hollywood Studios, either in terms of selection or taste.  Sunset Ranch is actually made up of four individual counter service locations that share a covered seating area.  The most unique being the newly-converted-from-a-McDonalds Fairfax-Fare, which serves BBQ plates, briskets, ribs, and sandwiches.  Studio Catering Company’s menu has some nuances that differentiates it from your standard Disney menu, but don’t expect to be impressed by the selection.  The ABC Commissary, Backlot Express, and Toy Story Pizza Planet all offer menu items that can be purchased from at least a half dozen other quick service locations.  ABC does serve two or three unique items which puts it slightly above the bottom two.

Best “Value” AKA Most Expensive Meal on the Dining Plan

1. Sunset Ranch Market (Average Entrée Cost $10.82, Most Expensive $13.99) The cost for Sunset Market Ranch only takes into account the menu items from Fairfax Fare, not Catalina Eddie’s, Rosie’s All-American Café, or Toluca Legs Turkey Company, which all serve lower price items.

2. Starring Rolls Cafe ($9.19, $9.29)

3. Studio Catering Company ($8.21, $8.99)

4. Backlot Express ($8.04, $8.69)

5. Toy Story Pizza Planet ($7.69, $8.49)  This only takes into account the meal-size salads and pizza + salad combo meals, not the individual pizzas since you can order the combo on the Dining Plan there would be no reason to order just a pizza unless you have no intention of eating the salad.  The pizzas only cost between $6 and $6.49.

6. ABC Commissary ($7.23, $8.89)

Fairfax Fare is the most expensive counter service at the Hollywood Studios.  The most expensive entree from the other counter services are about the same price.  Second place goes to Starring Rolls, which serves the second most expensive entree and the most expensive desserts.

Best Value Out of Pocket

1. Starring Rolls Cafe

2. Toy Story Pizza Planet

3. Sunset Ranch Market

4. Studio Catering Company

5. Backlot Express

6. ABC Commissary

The $9 sandwiches at Starring Rolls are expensive, but one sandwich and one dessert should be plenty of food for two people to share.  This would lower the actual cost per person to the $6-$7 range, not including beverage.  Toy Story’s $6 pizzas are also an economical choice and significantly cheaper than the usual $8-$9 hamburger or chicken nugget options.  The Sunset Ranch’s value depends a lot on what you decide to order.  Fairfax Fare’s entrées are generally high quality and large enough to share, though they do cost a couple of dollars more than entrées from the other counter services.  The entrées at the other three Sunset Ranch locations don’t offer a superior value compared to the other options.  The bottom three locations don’t offer a notable value, though Studio Catering Company’s wraps and sandwiches may be large enough to share and the food is a higher quality for the cost than the bottom two choices.

Best Seating

1. ABC Commissary

2. Toy Story Pizza Planet

3. Backlot Express

4. Studio Catering Company

5. Sunset Ranch Market

6. Starring Rolls

ABC Commissary has the most ample indoor seating with fantastic air-conditioning.  If you need a place to stop, relax, and plan the rest of your day or a spot to enjoy a treat from an outdoor vendor then this is the ideal location.  I just wouldn’t recommend ordering anything.  Toy Story Pizza Planet can get loud, but there is upstairs air-conditioned seating that is somewhat quieter and limited outdoor seating as well.  Kids will love the bright colors and video games available downstairs.  Although the Pizza Planet isn’t nearly as neat as the one in the movie, kids don’t seem to mind once they receive a pizza and a handful of quarters.  Backlot Express has limited indoor seating and plenty of outdoor seating.  Both Studio Catering and Sunset Ranch only offer outdoor seating, though it is covered and slightly cooler than being directly in the sun.  Starring Rolls is really the only quick service with an inadequate seating area.

Food Availability

1. ABC Commissary

2. Backlot Express

3. Sunset Ranch Market

4. Studio Catering Company

5. Toy Story Pizza Planet

6. Starring Rolls

This might seem like an odd category, but Hollywood Studios is fairly unique in the fact that many of its counter service locations close prior to dinner.  For example, don’t be surprised if Toy Story Pizza Planet closes at or before 6pm.  In addition, Starring Rolls routinely runs out of sandwiches by 2pm, so they may close up shop before you have a chance to order one.  Be sure to pay attention to your schedule so you aren’t stuck at the ABC Commissary.

Best Food

1. Starring Rolls

2. Pizza Planet

3. Studio Catering Company

4. Sunset Ranch Market

5. Backlot Express

6. ABC Commissary

Starring Rolls is the clear winner, serving large, freshly-made sandwiches and delicious desserts.  It’s also the place to go for breakfast.  Not everyone enjoys Pizza Planet pizzas, especially pizza-snobs from Chicago, New York or similar areas.  Indeed, these aren’t gourmet pies, but they do the job and the great majority of guests enjoy them.  Sunset Ranch comes in fourth place because only Fairfax Fare is recommended.  The burgers, turkey legs, and sandwiches from the other counter services are nothing special.  Backlot Express makes a decent hamburger and they fry their chicken nuggets as well as any place at Disney World, but it’s unremarkable food in every sense of the word.  ABC Commissary is a distant sixth place, offering food that’s plastic in both texture and taste.  Eat there at your own risk.

Overall Best Counter Service at the Hollywood Studios

1. Starring Rolls

2. Toy Story Pizza Planet

3. Sunset Ranch Market

4. Studio Catering Company

5. Backlot Express

6. ABC Commissary

As expected, this list is just about the same as the “best food” category above.  Despite the possibility of having to hunt down a seat, Starring Rolls is far and away the best counter service at the Hollywood Studios for breakfast, lunch, or a treat mid-day.  Toy Story Pizza Planet is second on the list, but the pizza here is a contentious topic.  If you can’t stand anything other than the pizza from your ‘favorite local joint’ then you’ll want to skip Pizza Planet because there’s nothing gourmet or premium about it.  It’s still a fun location, with or without kids, and the pizzas are served hot and taste good.  Fairfax Fare is the best choice of the four counter service locations that make up Sunset Ranch Market.  Catalina Eddie’s, Rosie’s, and Toluca aren’t anything to write home about and I wouldn’t necessarily recommend any of them over Studio Catering Company.  Nonetheless, the fact that Fairfax is there makes it rate higher than Studio Catering, and the wide variety of options is a nice bonus.  Studio Catering Company serves mass produced sandwiches and salads, but they are a cut above the mass produced hamburgers and nuggets at Backlot Express in both taste and food quality.  ABC Commissary is far behind, even though it does have the best seating at the Studios.  The lackluster food and limited menu sinks it to a level that even air-conditioning can’t bring it back from.  The problem you may run into, especially at dinner time, is that the top two choices may not be open.  If that’s the case, you’ll have to work down the list based on availability.

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Best Magic Kingdom Quick Counter Service Disney World

by josh on May 25, 2010

The Magic Kingdom has about eight main counter services as well as several smaller counter service locations that serve just two or three items like hot dogs or turkey legs.  The number isn’t exact because two places in particular are only open “seasonally,” which generally means “probably not open.”  Both Tomorrowland Terrace and Tortuga Tavern (formerly El Pirata y el Perico) fall into that category.  Both the Terrace and Tortuga Tavern will be left off this list because they’re so often closed and not necessarily  recommended anyway.   The food at Tortuga Tavern is decent, but it’s so rarely open that the people working don’t really know what they’re doing because they don’t have an opportunity to get the hang of it.  This means long waits for food and inconsistent quality.  The seating area is not air-conditioned, which makes for an uncomfortable experience in the heat as well.  Tomorrowland Terrace serves an odd variety of chicken nuggets and Asian inspired fast-food dishes.  The Asian dishes are generally mushy and full of salt and the chicken nuggets are nothing special.  There’s just no reason to hunt down either of these counter services even if they might be open.

Main Street Bakery is excellent for breakfast or a mid-day treat and it is my number one rated location for using snack credits on the Disney Dining Plan.  With most items less than $4, Main Street Bakery is an excellent choice when paying out of pocket also.  Although they do serve sandwiches for lunch, I won’t be listing it below due to the fact that it isn’t set up to handle large masses like the other counter services.

Be sure to read over the full reviews for more information on any of the counter service locations listed.  You can either click here for the full list in alphabetical order or click the individual highlighted links throughout this post.

Most Unique Menu

1. Columbia Harbor House

2. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

3. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe

4. Pinocchio Village Haus

5. Casey’s Corner

None of the Magic Kingdom counter service locations offer an inspired menu, but Columbia Harbor House does serve several unique items including a tuna sandwich, hummus sandwich, fried shrimp basket (with large shrimp), two unique salads, and clam chowder, all of which can’t be found elsewhere.  Cosmic Ray’s has a large menu, but you can still find most of the items at other locations throughout Disney World.  Pecos Bill serves the usual hamburgers, Pinocchio Village Haus serves standard Disney pizza, and Casey’s Corner only offers a hot dog or corn dog nuggets as entrées.  All in all, you’re going to be hard pressed to end up at a location that doesn’t serve Disney hamburgers or pizza.

Best “Value” AKA The Most Expensive Meal  on the Disney Dining Plan

1. Cosmic Ray’s (Average Entrée Cost $8.32, Most Expensive Entrée $13.99)

2. Columbia Harbor House ($8.09, $9.69)

3. Pecos Bill ($8.09, $9.09)

4. Pinocchio Village Haus ($7.93, $8.29)

5. Casey’s Corner ($5.39, $6.59)

Cosmic Ray’s is the favorite among visitors with the Disney Dining Plan because you can put together a meal with the $13.99 half chicken and rib combo plate, $2.49 soda, and $3.59 slice of cake for a total meal cost of more than $20.  This is one of the most expensive counter service meals at any of the Disney theme parks.  The next three are all similarly priced.  Only Casey’s Corner is a distinct “bargain,” at least in terms of price.

Best Value Out of Pocket

1. Columbia Harbor House

2. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café

3. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn

4. Pinocchio Village Haus

5. Casey’s Corner

Columbia Harbor House and Cosmic Ray’s both offer entrees with large portions,  many of which could easily be shared.  Columbia Harbor House wins because its sandwiches and other items are generally fresher than Cosmic Ray’s and the fried shrimp and chicken are higher quality.  Neither Pecos Bill nor Pinocchio Village Haus is a tremendous value compared to other counter services because their menus and pricing are standard for Disney.   Casey’s Corner may offer the cheapest entrées, but the quality of the hot dogs has declined immensely in the last year or so.  The corn dog nuggets are still good, but it’s a small portion.

Best Seating

1. Pinocchio Village Haus

2. Cosmic Ray’s

3. Columbia Harbor House

4. Pecos Bill

5. Casey’s Corner

Pinocchio Village Haus usually has the most ample seating and some of the tables overlook the “it’s a small world” water ride next door which can be fun to watch while eating.  Many people tend to shy away from Pinocchio because it looks like it’s a tiny little place from the outside.  Don’t be fooled, it’s much larger than the storefront would lead you to believe.  Cosmic Ray’s has the largest indoor and outdoor seating area, but even then it does get full during peak meal times.  Nonetheless, if the seating is crowded at Cosmic Ray’s, you know it’s going to be even worse elsewhere.  Cosmic Ray’s also features a seating area with light entertainment performed by Sonny Eclipse, the audio-animatronic alien.  Columbia Harbor House gets busy, but there is plenty of additional seating upstairs so make sure to check if the downstairs seating area is crowded.  Pecos Bill is dark, which is nice after spending the day in the bright sun, but it’s usually a hassle to find an open table.  There just isn’t enough seating.  It got so bad that Disney was testing a program where you couldn’t sit unless your entire party was ready to be seated with food trays in hand.  They scrapped that plan and it is still more likely you’ll have trouble finding a place to sit here than the other restaurants.  Casey’s Corner’s seating area is outside and there isn’t a lot of it, which puts it in last place again.

Best Food

1. Columbia Harbor House

2. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

3. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe

4. Pinocchio Village Haus

5. Casey’s Corner

Columbia Harbor House barely wins this race, with Cosmic Ray’s and Pecos Bill a close second and third.  Even Pinocchio Village Haus isn’t a distance fourth.  The freshness of Columbia Harbor House’s sandwiches and salads and the light crispness of their fried fish and shrimp put them a cut above Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café and Pecos Bill.  The Magic Kingdom is an even closer call because the top three counter services all serve chicken nuggets, salads, and similar sandwiches and wraps.  Since Disney owns and operates all of the counter services at the Magic Kingdom, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that they’re all similar in food quality and variety.  Pinocchio Village Haus serves pizza that’s on the same level as Pizza Planet or Pizzafari.  If you like pizza from chain pizza restaurants like Pizza Hut then you’re likely to enjoy Disney pizza. If you wouldn’t dream of ordering a Domino’s then you probably want to skip it.  Casey’s Corner, with its crumbling whole grain buns and low quality non-kosher hot dogs, is a distant fifth place.  Overall, you’ll find similar food options and quality at the top three choices and slightly different, but still decent food at Pinocchio Village Haus.

Overall Best Counter Service at the Magic Kingdom

1. Columbia Harbor House

2. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe

3. Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe

4. Pinocchio Village Haus

5. Casey’s Corner

The Magic Kingdom is the only Disney World theme park where the top choices are so similar in quality, service, and selection.  If Columbia Harbor House is a B+, then Cosmic Ray’s is a B, Pecos Bill is a B-, and Pinocchio’s Village Haus is a C+.  Columbia Harbor House wins out because of its unique menu and the slightly higher quality of the unique items.  Cosmic Ray’s serves about 90% of Pecos Bill’s menu and a lot more items, including rotisserie chicken and BBQ ribs, which puts it ahead of Pecos.  If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan and want to get the most “value” for your credit then Cosmic Ray’s is the obvious choice as well, with the most expensive quick service meal at the Magic Kingdom.  If you’re planning to order a hamburger then you may want to choose Pecos Bill because it serves a “Deluxe 1/3 Pound Angus Cheeseburger” topped with bacon, onion rings, and BBQ sauce.  It’s the best burger at the Magic Kingdom.  Pinocchio Village Haus lags behind because of the blandness of the pizza and the limited menu options.  If something slathered in marinara sauce doesn’t sound appealing then you’re out of luck at Pinocchio’s, unless you love Disney’s chicken breast nuggets.  Casey’s  is the only real loser and the only one I would expressly not recommend.  The quality of the hot dogs and buns is substantially lower than it once was, making Casey’s a “dog” in its own right.

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