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counter service restaurants Disney

Disney World Counter Service Meals

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!

Do you need Advanced Dining Reservations

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…

counter service restaurants Disney

I don’t know about you, but I love pizza. If pizza had no calories, it would be all I’d eat. So when we’re in Hollywood Studios, I always try and make a pit stop at Toy Story Pizza Planet, based off of the restaurant from the movie of the same name. While not bounding with variety, they have a choice for everyone and even a couple healthier options, too. My favorite part would have to be the arcade – once the kids are fed, but still too hyper to spend an hour waiting in line at Toy Story Midway Mania, you can let them unwind with some classic arcade games while the adults lift their feet for a while. It’s a win-win combination for everyone.

do you need advanced reservations at Disney

Christina Ravnholt
MickeyTravels Blog Contributor
staging.mickeytravels.com
“Making Magic One Vacation at a Time…”

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