#AskIt Results – Walt Disney World Food and Bev Needs

Last week, we promoted you to head up Food and Beverage at Walt Disney World and asked which area would be your first priority. There was one clear winner (is it really a winner if the most people said it needs improvement?)…. There was a clear consensus among our readers for where they’d start.

Results

Quick Service options – 1296✅
Character Dining – 254
Adult and Signature Dining – 184
Bars and Lounges – 177

And of course this makes total sense. Of this options given, quick service is one dining choice that nearly everyone who visits Walt Disney World will experience. It’s also the most ubiquitous. So why do so many people think it needs improvement?

Quality and choice were mentioned many times. There is a feeling out there that Disney quick service is nothing but burgers, chicken nuggets, and pizza. This is interesting because while those are certainly available, each park has many other choices.

Here are some of my picks for quick service options in Walt Disney World based on a thoroughly unscientific basis of where I tend to eat when doing research with Len Testa:

Magic Kingdom

Columbia Harbour House and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe are the two places you’ll find me and Len when we’re eating at Magic Kingdom. Both have interesting menus. Columbia Harbour House wins for me because you can often find a quiet place to eat upstairs. Pecos Bill is Len’s choice for the fajitas and toppings bar.

Avoid
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. I just can’t with Cosmic Ray’s. I know there are lower rated places in Magic Kingdom, but I never willingly eat here.

Epcot

Nine months out of the year, any Festival booth is your best quick choice for dining at Epcot. There’s something for everyone to enjoy and you can sample around many booths as opposed to committing to one location.

Tangierine Cafe is a big favorite around here. Come for the food, stay for the beautiful Morocco pavilion.

Sunshine Seasons doesn’t just have good food, it’s a great place to relax and get out of the sun. Rope droppers will enjoy its breakfast offerings after a ride on Soarin’.

Avoid
Epcot is known for food, so why would anyone elect to eat at Electric Umbrella or Liberty Inn? Expand your Horizons and try something new.

Animal Kingdom Park

Satu’li Canteen came on the scene and reminded us how good Disney can be at quick service dining. Even the desserts here (usually just an afterthought when it comes to this type of meal) are worth trying.

Flame Tree Barbecue is a longtime favorite with Animal Kingdom visitors, though its vegetarian options are extremely limited.

Avoid
Pizzafari. Actually avoid all quick service pizza in every park.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

I was going to say, “don’t even try,” but today I’m feeling optimistic that Woody’s Lunch Box will turn around the sorry state of quick service dining at Hollywood Studios. If you’re an adult looking for a snack and something to take the edge off, BaseLine Taphouse is my choice. (The alcohol helps me forget the lousy quick service dining options at the Studios.)

Avoid
The rest of the park. There’s nothing sadder than being hungry at Hollywood Studios and not having a dining reservation or just not wanting to have a sit-down meal.

What are your winners and losers in quick service dining at Walt Disney World? Talk about it in the comments. And stay tuned for this week’s poll.