When planning a trip to Disney World on a budget, one of the easiest ways to save money is on food. Disney is awesome in allowing food items to be brought into the park. That said, it’s not always the easiest if you’re traveling from far away.
That’s where the Counter Service, or Quick Service, meals come in. They are more affordable than the sit down restaurant style Table Service meals (and they keep you from spending a lot of time eating and give you more time to enjoy the parks). That said, it can be easy to fall into a “Burger or Chicken Finger rut” while at Disney World – as those are the most common types of Counter Service meals.
But that doesn’t have to happen to you. There are plenty of unique and different counter service meals that are cost-effective if you just know where to look.
Here are my Top 5:
5. Lobster Roll, Columbia Harbour House, Liberty Square, Magic Kingdom: I have always loved the “feel” of Columbia Harbour House – or maybe it’s just Liberty Square in general – I love going back in time! The Lobster Roll at Columbia Harbour House is certainly not your typical quick service meal and it’s pretty darn good. It’s served with potato chips and definitely worth a try if you’re in that area at meal time.
4. Honey Chicken, Yak and Yeti Local Foods Cafe, Asia, Animal Kingdom: There are several amazing options here but my favorite is the Honey Chicken, severed with white rice. A close second for me would be the Roasted Vegetable Couscous Wrap which is wrapped in Lavish Bread and served with a Lemon Herb Yogurt Sauce! Not your standard theme park food for sure. Slightly off topic, Yak and Yeti is also home to one of my favorite uses of a snack credit on the Disney Dining Plan – the Chicken Fried Rice!
3. Braised Pork, Be Our Guest (lunch menu), Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom: There is certainly something special about any meal you can enjoy insides the Beast’s Castle and this one is delicious as well! Slow-cooked Pork with Vegetables and Bacon. It is served with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans Jardiniere. This lunch is sure to snap you out of any burger or chicken finger haze you may find yourself in – and it has BACON (which always gets bonus points in my book). And don’t forget to try a Master’s Cupcake before you go – the “Grey Stuff” really is delicious.
2. Power Salad, Sunshine Seasons, The Land Pavilion, Epcot: This may not be the most unique meal you can get at Walt Disney World but it’s probably my favorite. And it’s certainly a welcomed meal after eating pretty heavy foods (like those burgers and fries) for several days. This salad has Oak-grilled Chicken, Quinoa, Almonds and Honey Vinaigrette. It really is super good – in fact, it’s one of the meals I think about when I’m not at Disney! And because this meal is fairly healthy I always feel like I need to splurge on one of the delicious pastries and desserts available! In general, Sunshine Seasons is one of my favorite Quick Services restaurants in Walt Disney World.
1. Chicken and Lamb Shawarma Platter, Tangerine Cafe, Morocco, Epcot: This is one of my favorite counter service stops in Epcot. Everything is unique! And really, really good. I like the combination Chicken and Lamb Shawarma platter though because it’s got a little of both meats. It is served with sides of side of Hummus, Tabouleh and a Tangierine Couscous Salad with fresh Moroccan bread. My second favorite (and it’s a really, really close tie) is the Mediterranean Sliders Combo (three pita pockets: lamb, chicken and falafel with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumber, and Tahini sauce; served with lentils, hummus and tabouleh) but since it’s pretty close to a burger (I mean it’s sliders) I decided to go with the Shawarma Platter. You can’t go wrong trying anything here though!
What’s your favorite unique counter service meal when visiting Walt Disney World? I’d love to hear what you try to get when you’re visiting!
Planning a trip to Walt Disney World on a budget? Or maybe you’re looking for something new to try on your next visit? Let me help! I love sharing tips to stretch your dollars at Disney and dining experiences that are more than just burgers and fries! I am a Travel Magician with World of Magic Travel, the preferred agency of Chip and Co and the Disney Addicts! Email me today at alissa@worldofmagictravel.com to start planning your “Magical” vacation! –Alissa
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