Throughout the parks and resorts, Walt Disney World offers a variety of options for feasting. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing, sit-down meal indoors, or an on-the-go power-up, you are sure to have ample choices to satiate your palate. The smartest approach would ideally provide a balance of dining methods, evenly distributing the investment of time and money during your stay.
Quick-service restaurants are the middle-of-the-road dining options – offering less varied menus and faster service than table service restaurants, but wider variety and a more relaxing break than snack carts. They are generally either self-service/ cafeteria-style or counter-service. It’s a smooth experience where reservations aren’t generally an option, and payment is made when ordering, meaning no delays or service interruptions. Quick-service does have its benefits – especially when you choose your quick-service locations wisely.
1. Sunshine Seasons – Epcot
It sounds anything but unique – a food court with mixed cuisines and baked goods, but Sunshine Seasons is far from cliche. Located within The Land pavilion at Epcot, Sunshine Seasons is a hidden gem. The atmosphere is airy, open, and bright, with ample seating providing more room than many on-property restaurants, but the real lure is the food itself. The menu options include items that aren’t readily available everywhere else, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner service available. Along with sandwiches and baked goods, Sunshine Seasons boasts the Asian Wok Shop and Wood-Fired Grill. Highlight items include rotisserie chicken, Mongolian beef, seafood, soups, and salads. The highlight of Sunshine Seasons is the impeccably fresh nature of the food. In fact, many of ingredients are grown and cultivated on-site, in the greenhouses within the pavilion!
2. ABC Commissary – Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is not known to have the very best dining options, especially when it comes to quick-service establishments. While ABC Commissary doesn’t have the most superior menu on-property, it does have undeniable benefits. This is one of the larger, more roomy dining areas, and there’s rarely an exceptional crowd gathered for lunch or dinner. Personally, I have great appreciation for any dining option that offers a break from the crowds, so I consider this a tremendous bonus! ABC Commissary has the feel of Hollywood, adorned with film and television posters and props. The menu is trendy and simple, with features including Asian salads, seafood, burgers, and steak.
3. Casey’s Corner – Magic Kingdom
Of all Disney’s quick-service dining choices, Casey’s Corner may be my very favorite. It’s the one I have consistent failure at passing up! Perhaps it’s my love of baseball, or maybe it’s the menu options that are completely unique to other Disney restaurants, but this one hits a homerun! Be warned – this is not the place to stop if you’re afraid to break your diet. Casey’s Corner promotes the very best of the very worst – ballpark cuisine – but what truly matters is its high ranking on the yum scale. Casey’s offers a minimal breakfast service with pastries and croissant sandwiches, but lunch and dinner are the meals that make this place shine! Menu items include generous chili cheese dogs, barbeque slaw dogs, and polish sausage, as well as corn dog nuggets and nachos. Best of all, you can add a little overindulgence to your plate, thanks to the self-serve toppings bar! Don’t forget the cotton candy and Cracker Jacks! Indoor seating is hard to come by at Casey’s, but the outdoor tables provide an unbeatable view of Cinderella Castle, as well as the potential for a ragtime-style performance from resident pianist, Jim. Please don’t feed the ducks – no matter how much they beg!
4. Columbia Harbour House – Magic Kingdom
For a meal set in a seaside New England tavern, consider Columbia Harbour House. This guest-favorite has a deceptively-small appearance from the outside, but it houses multiple, spacious, indoor dining areas bedecked in rustic woods and nautical decor. Even when Columbia Harbour House is in the throes of a busy spell, there’s usually seating available, and personal space is greater than many comparable restaurants. Open for lunch and dinner, Columbia Harbour House offers sandwiches, seafood, chicken, and salads – as well as a phenomenal fruit cobbler. Another perk to this location is the nature of the outgoing personalities of the Cast Members that work here – some of the most pleasant you’ll encounter throughout the entire Walt Disney World Resort.
5. Tortuga Tavern – Magic Kingdom
Tortuga Tavern is one of the most underestimated quick-service options at the Magic Kingdom. It’s greatest downfall is its minimal operating hours. As a fan of Tortuga Tavern, I’ve often found myself simply unable to get there in time to dine. They only offer lunch service, but if at all possible, make this one a priority… if you’re a fan of Mexican cuisine. There aren’t an overwhelming amount of options for Mexican food at Walt Disney World, and the Tortuga Tavern menu is a decent representation when this is what you’re craving. The menu selections are limited, but every item is irresistibly delicious. Choose from burritos, nachos, or the generously stuffed taco salad. Top off your meal with cookies and cream gelato.
6. La Cantina de San Angel – Epcot
Speaking of Mexican cuisine – naturally, you can expect to find some at Epcot’s Mexico pavilion… and you won’t be disappointed! I am a staunch supporter of all of Mexico’s dining options, and La Cantina de San Angel is a fine quick-service option. Although the menu items are reason enough, the location is the aspect that seals the deal. This open-air, patio-dining area rests on the interior ring of World Showcase, overlooking the lagoon. By day, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of World Showcases representative nations. By night (if your timing is right), you’ll have one of the most enviable seats for Illuminations viewing. Cheese empanadas, tacos, nachos, and churros are just some of the menu highlights here. Wash it all down with one of the flavorful margarita selections!
7. Pepper Market – Coronado Springs Resort
Designed to mimic the feel of a Central American marketplace, Pepper Market is one of the best quick-service dining establishments at Walt Disney World, and absolutely worth the excursion to Coronado Springs Resort – even if you’re not staying there. With seven stations offering diverse menus, this is the safest food court when trying to appease a variety of taste cravings for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The beverage station serves up all of the standard drinks, as well as smoothies and margaritas – and the coffee bar will delight caffeine lovers. The bakery station offers a variety of breads, pastries, desserts, and churros. You can have your salads and burritos however you like them when you select the option of building them yourself. Ribs, chicken, burgers, and pasta round out the menu options. Pepper Market is also home to one of the largest assortment of food items for kids.
8. Beaches and Cream – Beach Club Resort
Sandwiches, burgers, and amazing onion rings are just the start of the fun at Beaches and Cream at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. Themed around the style of a beachside soda fountain, you can just as easily come here for a dessert-binge dinner as you can for the more standard entrees. The vibrant colors and lively atmosphere make Beaches and Cream as fun as it is delicious! After your meal, you can stroll the Boardwalk, or enjoy a quiet respite on the beach. If you do opt for dessert, might I suggest the No Way Jose, drenched in peanut butter and chocolate? Or for the truly adventurous family, go for the Kitchen Sink!
In the presence of such extraordinary table service options and tempting grab-and-go desserts and treats, it’s all too easy to overlook quick-service restaurants. After all, the quick-service options at Walt Disney World tend to be repetitive, crowded, and simply less appealing overall. However, some of those quick-service establishments actually are worth a second glance, and consideration. During your next visit, take a moment to consider these quick-service meals. You might just be surprised to find they’re better than you think!
