Counter Service at Walt Disney World Resorts

Walt Disney World's deluxe and home away from home resorts have a lot to offer guests. Luxurious accommodations, richly themed architecture and décor, excellent table service restaurants, countless recreation activities and more. The atmosphere itself extends an invitation to linger and enjoy time at the resort, whether you're a resort guest or visitor. In the midst of the activity, guests can leave the theme parks to enjoy a quick lunch and experience the ambiance the deluxe resort has to offer. And when you are using the Disney Dining Plan, finding new and tasty places to use up those counter service credits is as easy as hopping a bus, boat or monorail.

From the Magic Kingdom. When you're enjoying the day at the Magic Kingdom park, there are four deluxe resorts close by to give you a quiet break. Hop the monorail to the Contemporary, Grand Floridian or the Polynesian resorts or get on a small boat to take a cruise to Wilderness Lodge. No matter what, you'll find opportunities to use up those counter service credits.

The Contemporary has a new restaurant called the Contempo Café. Following a remodel at this resort, options available echo a contemporary theme with standard breakfast fare and some interesting salads and sandwiches later in the day.

The Grand Floridian has Gasparilla Grill and Games where guests can sit outside by the marina and enjoy burgers, hotdogs, sandwiches and wraps. This is not a destination restaurant where the food is the draw, but the lovely Grand Floridian resort is worth the trip to see.

The Polynesian's Captain Cook's restaurant is the place to go for breakfast. The Tonga Toast that is so popular upstairs at the table service Kona Café, is now available. A large piece of sourdough bread stuffed with bananas, deep fried, rolled in sugar and served with maple syrup or a strawberry sauce is now also available at Captain Cook's. Add a side of sausage or bacon and two beverages and you have a counter service breakfast worth traveling for! Captain Cook's also offers standard American fare with some Polynesian twists. But more than anything, the item that makes this a great break from the parks is the soft serve Dole Whips guests can add to their lunches for dessert.

If you'd prefer a cruise over water to a ride in the monorail, you can take a small ferry boat to Wilderness Lodge from the Magic Kingdom to have a meal at Roaring Forks. Similar to the majesty of the Grand Floridian, the Wilderness Lodge is a resort worth visiting simply to take in the beauty of its architecture. Roaring Fork, located just inside the resort adjacent to the pool is also worth a visit. Featuring made to order yogurt parfaits next to other hot and cold items for breakfast, later offerings include delicious cold sandwiches, made to order salads, flatbread pizzas and more. The dessert items are varied from fresh baked good to ice cream treats.

From Disney's Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

Epcot has a plethora of great counter service and table service options, but sometimes you need a break from the madness. Disney's Hollywood Studios has less to offer for counter service. Both are just a boat ride away from the Beach Club, Yacht Club and Boardwalk resorts.

At the Yachts and Beach Clubs, guests can pick up lunch from Hurricane Hannah's, located just outside the pool complex. Burgers, chicken, sandwiches and salads taste great when devoured next to the shores of Crescent Lake. Take a closer look at the resort and stop at the Beach Club Marketplace for decadent pastries, a selection of gelatos, gourmet sandwiches and made to order salads where you choose the ingredients. There is seating outside the Marketplace, or guest can take the food to go and settle back in at the beach.

At the Boardwalk, the table service restaurant Spoodles serves up pizza by the slice at its window service. Not to far down to the boardwalk you will find the Boardwalk Bakery. While entrée items are limited to omelet sandwiches and fruit platters for breakfast and panini type sandwiches for lunch, who really cares? The handmade pastries and treats you can select for your counter service dessert make this a destination in and of itself!

From Disney's Animal Kingdom.

A short bus ride away from the Animal Kingdom Park is the similarly named Animal Kingdom Lodge. The current primary counter service restaurant at this deluxe resort is The Mara, where diners can feast on African themed fare alongside their cheese and pepperoni flatbread pizzas and burgers. African stew and falafel pitas showcase more exotic flavors, as well as a kalamata olive chicken flatbread. Desserts range from cookies, ice cream and cheesecake to the more interesting and unique zebra domes and the fun Simba's paw print brownies. This counter service restaurant can offer a nice rest from the parks and the lush resort architecture and grounds teeming with African wildlife make this a true eye candy place to visit.

From Downtown Disney.

Downtown Disney itself features gems such as Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck Express. But take a restful boat ride and you can enjoy some resort counter service as well.

Disney Vacation Club's original resort, Disney's Old Key West is the final stop on the Sassagoula river boat trip. The counter service you will find here is called Goods to Go, and while the food is hot, fresh and delicious, it is also more of a restaurant for resort guests. However, there is no more peaceful resort on Disney Property than Old Key West and stopping for a bite before renting a boat at the resort's marina can make for an excellent afternoon.

Directly across from Downtown Disney and within walking distance of the Marketplace is Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa. The place to eat here is called Artist's Palette and the delicious cold sandwiches with housemade chips, gourmet flatbreads and salads are worth the walk. Breakfast is also made hot to order and the pastries and dessert selections range from yogurt parfaits and fresh strawberries and whipped cream to the most decadent cheesecake. The dining area also features table easels and crayons for young artists to create their own masterpieces.

The Disney Dining Plan is convenient and a huge bonus for many Disney World guests. And while the parks offer up plenty of places to use those snack and counter service credits, don't forget that the resorts take them as well. Combine touring some of the lovely deluxe resorts with a break for breakfast, lunch or dinner and enjoy some of the best Disney has to offer!