The Best Quick Service Restaurant to Eat at Walt Disney World

Knowing where to eat at Walt Disney World can be a little tricky. When it comes to counter service or quick service (fast food type places where you are not waited on by a server), there are many places both good and bad. Of course everyone likes different things, but Walt Disney World has some quick service dining choices that stand out above the rest as clear favorites. Listed here are both popular Disney counter service restaurants as well as some hidden gems that I love.

Magic Kingdom

1. Pecos Bill's is one of the more popular quick service locations in the Magic Kingdom located in Frontier Land. This is your typical burger and fries joint and the burgers are actually pretty good. What I like here are the taco salads. They come like a normal taco salad in a crispy shell with ground beef and cheese, minus the vegetables. The vegetables you actually add yourself at their wonderful toppings bar. So you can pile up your salad and even go back for seconds on the veggies. The are extremely filling for the money. You can also ask for a substitution of chicken instead of ground beef at no charge.

2. Cosmic Ray's is a great place in Tomorrow Land for the picky eaters, because they have something for everyone. They have different stations for different types of food such as burgers or chicken. They also have a nice toppings bar that will really bulk up a meal. Their chicken and ribs plate is great for those with a big appetite since it comes with half a chicken! Cosmic Ray's also has Sonny, a cute animatronic alien will entertain you while you eat. This can get pretty busy, and noisy! It's a great place to go when you are really hungry.

3. One of the Magic Kingdom's hidden gems, and my personal favorite, is Columbia Harbor House . This counter service location is located in Liberty Square and is a great place to unwind. Even on the busiest days, the upstairs area is usually very quiet with few people. They serve mostly seafood and chicken and it's very delicious. My husband is quite fond of the fish and chips. My favorite here is the salmon platter which comes with grilled salmon, cous cous, and broccoli for around $10. So after the hustle and bustle of a busy theme park, I love to come up here for a nice healthy meal and relax for a bit.

Animal Kingdom

1. Flame Tree BBQ is my favorite at Animal Kingdom. This cute, colorful place has wonderful decor and really good food. My husband and I will usually get meals here and share. He likes the slab of ribs, they really are delicious. I get the BBQ chicken which comes with half a chicken! This is a great place to come when you are really hungry.

2. If you like Chinese food, then check out Yak and Yeti. They have both a table service (The pineapple wontons are to die for!) and a quick service. The quick service side is great when you are on a tight budget. The chicken fried rice is only $4 and it's lovely.

Hollywood Studios

1. My one and only pick at Hollywood Studios is Starring Rolls Cafe. This is a very nice bakery that has delicious sandwiches and wonderful pastries. The chocolate peanut butter cupcake and red velvet cheesecake cupcakes are big enough to make a meal out of. Honestly, when it comes to good quick service food, Hollywood Studios doesn't offer much and we usually try to eat elsewhere. I consider Starring Rolls to be more of a snack place, but their sandwiches are quite good and would make a filling lunch. Beyond this, I'd go to one of the other parks to eat.

Epcot

1. Sunshine Seasons in Future World's The Land is one of the best counter service locations anywhere in the parks. This place has something for everyone and is one of the largest. It's also one of the few places where you get your own soft drinks so you can refill your sodas. Most of the dishes here are very filling. The half chicken rotisserie with yellow rice and black beans is wonderful. I really loved the rice and so did my son who usually hates rice. The slow-roasted pork chop is wonderful as well and very filling.

2. Throughout the countries there are many great places to eat. My favorite, and another hidden gem, is Tangierine Cafe . The Shawarma Platters are my favorite here. You choose from chicken, lamb, or both and they come with a side of hummus, tabbouleh and a couscous salad with fresh Moroccan bread. These are so good and very filling, you could easily share one of these.

3. Taqueria Del Lago in Mexico has really good nachos for $9 that comes with beef, cheese, and served with beans and rice. The quesadillas are very popular as well and a favorite of my family.

Downtown Disney

1. Downtown Disney offers many great places to eat. I've heard wonderful things about Wolfgang Puck Express but I've not had a chance to try it yet. It will certainly be on my list for the next visit. My favorite place in Downtown Disney is Earl of Sandwich . They serve wonderful sandwiches and salads for around $6. While Earl of Sandwich is not run by Disney, they are accepted on the Disney Dining Plan. Honestly, it's hard to pick a favorite sandwich here. Due to it's popularity, you can expect to see is a long line! However, the line moves deceptively fast and it's well worth the wait.

One thing you can be sure of is that Disney changes it's menus and prices often. The prices listed in this article are current as of October 2011. Another thing to keep in mind is that some restaurants are seasonal and not open during slower times. But no matter what time of year it is, there is always something good to find, even at a quick service location. Some places are quieter, or offer unique foods, or offer a wide variety. It's really not hard to find something to please everyone in your group.