It’s easy to get swept up in the rush and excitement of Advanced Dining Reservations. I know they’re a favorite activity of mine – planning where we’ll be eating 180 days away is fun! My family and I base what park we’ll be in each day off of our restaurant planning alone, but what do you do when the table service credits run out (or your family’s patience runs out, whichever comes first) and you’re still hungry? Counter service, of course!
Walt Disney World reportedly serves around 7 million hamburgers and 5 million hot dogs per year, but that’s not all they have! There are some really unique and exciting counter service restaurants that still serve up all of the magic of Disney without having to compromise with your wallet.
In the Magic Kingdom, my personal favorite counter service restaurant will have to go to Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café – there’s just something about it! Maybe it’s the 3 bays they have that all serve up different stuff – chicken, burgers, or sandwiches – or maybe it’s the unlimited toppings bar, or it could even be the entertainment provided by Sonny Eclipse, but Cosmic Ray’s is a must do for any trip we take. Their pulled pork (found in the chicken bay) is so juicy, too. There’s something for everyone there, but I don’t recommend going on its neighboring Mad Tea Cups afterwards…
One of Walt Disney World’s most beloved restaurants is Chef Mickey’s located on the 4th floor of the Grand Canyon Concourse in Disney’s Contemporary Resort. It is a character meal that offers both buffet breakfast and dinner options that come along with a heaping side of character meet and greets. One of the best aspects of this character dining location is that it is chock full of “classic” Disney characters – Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy and Donald (The Fab Five). If you happen to miss these beloved characters in the parks, you will certainly get your opportunity to see them here. So it shouldn’t surprise you that Chef Mickey’s earned the 2004 Disney Magazine Reader’s Choice Award for Best Overall Walt Disney World Resort Restaurant for Kids!
After checking into the restaurant, you’ll be sent to a line where you’ll wait to have your photo taken with the Chef Mickey’s iconic statue, and then you’ll head over to one of the newly-renovated waiting areas until your pager buzzes. As you are waiting, you can take in the allure of this resort and the Southwest flair all around.
The whole family can eat fun food while the likes of Mickey or any assortment of his pals roam the restaurant. You never know who might show up! Delicious specialties make for a spectacular spread in this bright, happy space located beneath the quiet whisks of the monorail. As you are dining, you can watch the monorail as it rolls by above you taking guests to their next destination – most likely the Magic Kingdom, which is a stone’s throw from this lovely resort.
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