Author: touringplans.com

When you’re planning a Disney World vacation, one term you’ll run into quickly is “Quick Service Dining.” Here’s everything you need to know about what it is and where to find it.

So what is Quick Service Dining?

Quick Service Dining is what folks out in the non-Disney world might call fast food. In general, Quick Service Dining is a food service venue where you walk up to a counter, place an order, receive a tray of food, and take it to a table on your own.

So it’s what most people would think of as theme park food?

Well, there’s certainly plenty of Disney World Quick Service food that feels theme park-ish (burgers and fries, hot dogs, funnel cake), but there are also healthy and inventive quick service fare available throughout Walt Disney World.

What do you call Disney World food that’s not Quick Service?

Other terms that Disney uses to describe food service locations are “table service,” “signature dining,” “buffet,” “family style,” “casual dining,” “character dining,” “bar,” or “lounge.”

The terms you might hear that are in some ways related to, or synonymous with, Quick Service Dining are “counter service,” “fast casual” (which is not the same a casual), “food truck,” or “food cart.”

How many Quick Service restaurants are there at Disney World?

It depends a little on how you’re counting, but overall there are approximately 200 quick service places to eat at Disney World. Though many have remained virtually unchanged for decades, others are regularly added, subtracted, or reconfigured.

Where are the Quick Service restaurants at Disney World?

Pretty much everywhere. There are Quick Service venues at all four theme parks, at both water parks, at every resort hotel, at Disney Springs, at ESPN Wide World of Sports, and I’m sure somewhere else that I’m forgetting.

OK, so there are a lot of them. How do I find them?

Quick Service locations are indicated on the park maps (both print and online) for park locations, on the resort maps for resort locations, on the Disney Springs app for Disney Springs location.

On the My Disney Experience app, go to the park (or other location) map, selected the “Dining” filter, and you’ll see the map populated with little fork and knife symbols. Click on the symbols for more information about that dining location. One helpful feature is that restaurants that are not open are not marked by the fork and knife symbol. For example, during the pandemic, Casey’s Corner is closed. On the map, you can see the name of the location, but since it is not clickable, you know it’s not open.

Do I need a reservation for a Quick Service restaurant?

Not usually. That’s generally one of the defining features of Quick Service dining.

What do you mean “not usually”?

Every once in a while Disney creates a venue that has hybrid service, for example an restaurant that has Quick Service (counter ordering) at lunch and has table service (wait staff service) at dinner. Currently, the notable example of a hybrid restaurant is Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom. Breakfast and lunch at BoG are sort-of quick service, in that you order your food at a kiosk, and you collect your own utensils and beverages, but a cast member brings the food to your table. Due to the popularity of this location, you do need a reservation, even for this hybrid Quick Service experience. [Dinner at BoG is a traditional table service.]

Why would I eat at a Quick Service restaurant at Disney World?

Lots of reasons, including:

• The restaurant offers the food you want to eat.
• You want to adhere to a modest budget.
• You don’t want to take much time out of your park touring to eat.
• The restaurant is in a convenient location. [For example, the WDW value resorts only have Quick Service food options.]
• You’re on a version of the Disney Dining Plan that requires you to eat Quick Service meals. [Note: the Dining Plan is currently on hiatus.]

So, for Quick Service, I walk up to a counter and order?

Pre-pandemic, you could do that at any Quick Service venue. Currently you can do this at some Quick Service places, but for others you will be required to mobile order your Quick Service food.

What’s mobile order?

Mobile order is placing your food order for a restaurant on a smart phone or other device rather than by speaking directly with a person. (If you’ve ever mobile ordered at a place like Starbucks, then you understand the procedure.) Disney World mobile order takes place on the My Disney Experience app. The app will ping you when your food is ready and you pick it up at the counter.

You can see a complete description and a video on how mobile order works on the TouringPlans.com website.

What are the prices like at Disney World’s Quick Service restaurants?

As with all things Disney, it depends. You can get a sour pickle at food carts in the parks for about $2.00 or you can get a three meat combo platter with a side dish and Texas toast at Epcot’s Regal Eagle for about $19.00. Most Quick Service full meals cost about $13-16 at lunch and dinner. Breakfast is a few dollars less.

Are there meals for kids at Quick Service restaurants?

Absolutely! (You know this is Disney World, right?)

For the complete scoop on Disney World Quick Service kids’ meals, see our dedicated post on that topic.

Are there high chairs at the WDW Quick Service restaurants?

Mostly, yes. In my experience, there are high chairs and booster seats available at all the Quick Service venues that offer indoor seating. Some, like the Magic Kingdom’s Lunching Pad, have solely outdoor seating. High chairs may be in short supply there.

I’m a single parent with a lot of kids, how do I get all my food from the counter to the table?

Disney cast members are happy to assist anyone who needs help with this, whether it’s single parents or guests with physical challenges. Just ask and a cast member will carry your tray for you.

Can I bring a stroller into a Quick Service restaurant at Walt Disney World?

Usually not, though if you’re eating at a particularly empty time and find a particularly kind cast member, they might let you, say, bring a stroller inside if your child is asleep.

If you really want to keep your child in a stroller while you dine, look for a venue that has outdoor seating.

Can adults order kids’ meals at Disney World Quick Service restaurants?

Yes! There are lots of reasons why adult might want to order a kids’ meal: preference for the food offered, cost control, portion control, and so on. There is no one checking the ages of who is buying kids’ meals at Quick Service restaurants.

I just want a simple hamburger. How do I know where to find this?

You can use the TouringPlans website to search for any food item. You can refer to our post on how to do that.

I’m a vegetarian. Are there Quick Service options for me?

Sure. Just about every Quick Service venue has at least one vegetarian entree option, or at least an option that’s easily modified to become vegetarian. For example, Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in the Magic Kingdom offers a Greek Salad with Chicken. You could ask them to omit the chicken to create a vegetarian dish. Cosmic Ray’s also serves a decent plant-based vegan sloppy joe, as well as several vegetarian side dishes.

Someone in my party has a food allergy, how do I know if the Quick Service food is safe for them?

The TouringPlans website includes listings of allergy-friendly menu items at each restaurant. For example, our page on Cosmic Ray’s shows allergy-friendly options for both adults and kids.

Additionally, all Disney Quick Service restaurants keep a binder in the kitchen which includes the complete ingredient list for every item they serve. You are welcome to ask to look at this binder to understand the ingredients in the food your child is consuming. Just ask anyone behind the counter.

There may be off-menu items available to guests with allergies or food intolerances. Again, ask at the counter. You may also want to consult Disney’s official statements related to dining with allergies.

I don’t want junk food while I’m at the parks. What can I eat at a Quick Service restaurant that won’t make me feel ick?

Disney has done a decent job in recent years of adding healthier, “real food” menu items to Quick Service locations throughout the parks and resorts. If the Quick Service restaurant you’re closest to doesn’t offer what you’re looking for, try a few others and you’re likely to find something that meets your needs.

Do you have any examples of real food at Walt Disney World Quick Service restaurants?

Sure. Here are some possibilities:

• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn (Magic Kingdom) – Chicken and rice bowl, topped with black beans, lettuce, and tomato
• Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo (Hollywood Studios) – Hummus Garden spread with plant-based “Kefta”, herb hummus, tomato-cucumber relish and pita bread
• Satu’li Canteen (Animal Kingdom) – Chili-Garlic Shrimp, topped with vegetable slaw
• Sunshine Seasons (Epcot) – Oak-Grilled Salmon with cheese grits and andouille corn succotash
• Landscape of Flavors (Art of Animation resort) – Carved Rotisserie Turkey Breast with choice of two sides

What’s your favorite Quick Service restaurant at Walt Disney World?

This is like asking me to choose my favorite child. There are so many! Some that I return to frequently are Columbia Harbor House (Magic Kingdom), Flame Tree BBQ (Animal Kingdom), and Katsura Grill (EPCOT, Japan).

What do TouringPlans readers think the best WDW Quick Service restaurants are?

All of TouringPlans reader ratings are available online. To find their Quick Service picks, change the last filter menu from “all categories” to “Quick Service.” The top ten rated places are below.

Have any other questions about Quick Service dining? Let us know in the comments.

The post FAQ: Get to Know Quick Service Dining at Walt Disney World appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), Kids Quick Service, quick service, quick service dining

It has been an extremely wet September around Walt Disney World. If you’ve been in the neighborhood, your shoes have gotten wet at least once, and you’ve probably had to clear out of the pool due to lightning. And all of that was before the tropical depression moved through south Florida, turning into Tropical Storm Sally while still pouring down rain on the peninsula.

If you were expecting a drying-out in Sally’s wake, surprise! It’s going to be another wet week. Tropical moisture is still in place, allowing our sea breeze storm pattern to continue operating. That should be in place for another month, by the way. The average end of the Florida rainy season is October 14 or so.

This week’s forecast is pretty repetitive, but if you get bored, just scroll down for the longest tropical update I’ve ever had to write!

This Week’s Weather at Walt Disney World

With Tropical Storm Sally moving west-northwest from the area, associated rainbands will continue to move through. But with the storm’s departure, the tight gradient between low and high pressure will loosen, and as the winds die down, the steering currents aloft will weaken. This means those rapidly moving storms we had yesterday will slow down this afternoon.

There will be a good chance of heavy rainfall this afternoon and evening — but not a lot of lightning, so you can stay outside if you don’t mind getting wet. But we’re talking very wet. If you get caught under a rainband, several inches of rain could fall in a short period of time.

On Monday, the southeast wind associated with Sally switches back to the east, helping the sea breeze patterns get back on track. Expect showers and storms moving in from the coast, with rain possibly sticking around into the evening. The high will be around 90, with about a 70% chance of showers and storms. Overnight low will be around 76 degrees.

On Tuesday, we’ll have a breeze from the east southeast, a high of 90, and a 70% of showers and afternoon thunderstorms. They’ll taper off late in the evening, with a low of 74.

Wednesday, the breeze picks up again in the afternoon with a high of 90, and a 60% of showers and afternoon thunderstorms. The overnight low will be 75.

Thursday through the weekend, you can expect a high around 92 degrees with more showers and afternoon storms. The chance of rain is 60%, with an overnight low of 76 once they clear out.

Tropical Weather Update

Historically and statistically, this has been the perfect week for tropical cyclone activity. Close to home, we just passed the anniversary of Hurricane Irma, which  roared through Florida three years ago, causing widespread damage and power outages in the Orlando area.

This is the height of the hurricane season. The period from mid-August to mid-October accounts for 78% of all tropical storm days, 87% of minor hurricane development, and 96% of major hurricanes. If you’re making plans this time of year in Florida — or anywhere along the Atlantic and Gulf coast — you should be doing so with the awareness a hurricane could interrupt your schedule.

So today, as we duck and cover from tropical rains, there are seven active areas of interest in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. (The Caribbean is quiet!)

We can discount about half of these from affecting Central Florida. First, let’s look at the organized storms:

• Hurricane Paulette is approaching Bermuda and is expected to continue east across the Atlantic.
• Tropical Depression Rene is right behind her, but is expected to dissipate into a remnant low.
• Tropical Storm Sally is leaving us rain bands and clouds on her way into the Gulf coast somewhere between Louisiana and the Panhandle, likely as a hurricane.
• Tropical Depression Twenty is expected to strengthen into a hurricane over the open waters of the Atlantic, and is moving west-northwest with an expected northwest turn. Wind shear has been slowing its development, and it is actually expected to run into more wind shear after getting a break over the next few days. So while this storm is moving generally towards the Southeast, it has a lot of issues and those are expected to continue.

After these, we have three areas of interest. Closest to home there is a stirring of rain and low pressure in the south-central Gulf of Mexico. Before 2020, you probably wouldn’t have thought the Gulf of Mexico was big enough for two tropical systems at once, would you? Anyway, this one is drifting southwest and has a low chance of development, but it’s there.

Right behind Tropical Depression Twenty, a tropical wave is forecast to move off the coast of Africa. It will have a low chance of some gradual development over the next week. Right above that, an area of low pressure is trying to get organized into a tropical system. It has a strong chance of development, but will move into cold waters and a windy atmosphere as it tracks northwest.

As you can see, the Atlantic can be extremely active—possibly more active than in any other recorded year—but the mainland and even Caribbean Islands can still be relatively unaffected by all of this weather. Of course, all that rain and wind has to go somewhere and our friends in northern Europe probably end up dealing with most of it—thanks, guys!

But one hurricane in any season is more than enough, as I’m sure our Gulf Coast readers will agree. Seven named storms have made landfall in the U.S. this year, and Florida has seen impacts from quite a few of those. With another month to go at the season’s peak strength, and La Niña officially developing in the Pacific, all we can do now is check our supplies, keep back-up plans, and watch those forecasts.

Have any questions about this week’s weather? Feel free to ask in the comments.

The post This Week in Walt Disney World Weather — September 13, 2020 appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Walt Disney World (FL), Weather, weather

It is amazing how two characteristics that once were not all that important to me have become invaluable when deciding where to eat in this new age. Outdoor dining is an absolute must for me personally, especially when at a theme park. Online ordering is very important to me too. Although Katsura Grill at EPCOT’s Japan Pavilion lacks mobile ordering, its breathtaking outdoor seating area more than makes up for it.

On a recent visit to EPCOT with my toddler son I found myself craving the tranquility of the Zen garden that surrounds the outdoor dining area of Katsura Grill. I craved the steamed rice and teriyaki sauce here too. The food at Katsura Grill is authentic Japanese cuisine with an approachable leaning towards American tastes.

The Japan Pavilion itself is one of my favorites. It is beautifully detailed, peaceful, and has lots of places to explore. The only Mitsukoshi Department Store in North America exists here. A museum with rotating exhibits highlights Japanese culture and art. And the tranquil Zen garden is multilevel and winds around the left side when facing into the pavilion. Katsura Grill sits at the top of stairs overlooking the Zen garden.

Sounds of the babbling waterfall and koi pond gently welcome guests as they approach the outdoor dining area. There are clusters of tables and chairs, some near the small waterfall, and some across the bridge under the shade of beautiful, blossoming trees. Generally there is plenty of shade in either area. Views of the garden, the Japan pavilion, and the World Showcase promenade and lagoon can be enjoyed here.

When I visited with my son I needed to use the ramp so we could have our stroller with us. Right now one side of the building is labeled as “entrance only” and the other side as “exit only.” Since I was traveling alone with my son, once I had my tray of food I had to go back out the entrance side in order to retrieve our stroller. We ended up sitting on the wrap around platform of the building rather than enjoying the actual outdoor dining area. When you’re traveling with a toddler by yourself you do what must be done to avoid a meltdown.

Over the years the menu at Katsura Grill has changed. Sadly there are some items that I wish were still on the menu. Back in my day they served a “Shogun Combination” which was chicken teriyaki and beef sukiyaki. The chicken teriyaki was dark meat chicken thigh, which is traditionally how it is served, and the beef sukiyaki was tender with savory flavor and succulent onions.

Now they offer the Chicken and Beef Combination. The beef is savory and flavorful, but lacks the unique style of sukiyaki, and the chicken breasts with teriyaki sauce lacks the tenderness and heartiness the chicken thighs offered. Still, I am sucker for the flavorful sauce, especially when dabbing some of the tender steamed rice into it. The steamed veggies are nothing special, similar to steam-in-the-bag vegetables you can buy at any grocery store.

During our visit it was incredibly hot outside, so I decided to also order a side of chilled edamame (steamed soybeans). I knew my son would eat some and I figured it would be refreshing. At $4.00 it is a little pricey for a snack, but it is good quality and nutritious. My son and I shared the Chicken and Beef Teriyaki as well as the edamame (though I should clarify, he has an allergy to beef so he did not have any of the beef teriyaki). I really enjoyed the beef, but I missed the traditional teriyaki chicken thighs immensely. Next time, I visit I would like to try the Ramen or Udon Noodles, or perhaps the Chicken Cutlet Curry.

Even with the disappointing change to the menu, there are still plenty of other entrees that are loved by many Disney visitors. Katsura Grill has an 88% thumbs up rating on our TouringPlans reviews. It is personally one of my favorite counter service locations in all of Walt Disney World. During our meal I felt relaxed, which is a rare treat during meal time with a toddler. I appreciate the tranquil atmosphere and the bright flavors offered here.

Have you ever dined at Katsura Grill? What do you think of it?

The post REVIEW: Katsura Grill is EPCOT’s Hidden Gem appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Dining, Epcot, In the Parks, Trip Planning, Walt Disney World (FL), disney dining, epcot dining, epcot japan pavilion, epcot restuarants, outdoor dining disney

He’s royal purple pigment; Figment is undoubtedly a star in EPCOT. This year’s Taste of EPCOT Food and Wine Festival is an abbreviated version of the festival, but it is still fun and full of tasty bites. And it is of course full of festival merchandise. Over at the Festival Showplace our team found a collection of Festival merchandise all dedicated to Figment. Let’s check out the collection.

• Figment T-Shirt – $29.99
• Figment Sweatshirt – $36.99
• Figment Leggings – $39.99
• Figment Mug – $19.99
• Figment Plate – $14.99
• Figment Tervis – $21.99
• Figment Trash Can Salt and Pepper Shakers – $12.99
• Figment Conversions Magnet – $14.99
• Figment Trivet Hot Plate Coaster with Conversions on the back – $14.99
• Figment Ornament – $22.99

(What better way to commemorate 2020 than with trash cans?)

Are you a fan of Figment? Which of these items sparks your imagination?

The post Figment Flies Onto EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Merchandise appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Epcot, Festivals, In the Parks, Merchandise, Shopping, epcot figment, epcot food and wine festival, Epcot merchandise, figment

Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean fans always have a lot of merchandise to choose from, which I think they take for granite. Thankfully a fresh line of Jungle Cruise merchandise has arrived at World of Disney in Downtown Disney at Disneyland Resort. . .

. . . Starting off with this $39.99 Jungle Cruise ornament set. The water coming out of the elephant’s nose may look like water, but it’s snot.

For $55.00 this Jungle Cruise “bote” cookie jar can be yours.

This hat is obviously for skippers who have misplaced their Jungle Navigation Company-issued hats.

Shirts for your entire crew. Prices range from $24.99 to $36.99.

This Jungle Cruise Skipper bag ($49.99) can be used for all your shopping trips to Trader Sam’s.

A $19.99 water bottle, perfect for storing samples from Schweitzer Falls.

Commemorate the first time you saw O2H with this “Backside of Water” magnet.

Finally, this Jungle Cruise Adventure Game. This should be an excellent training tool for all the wannabe skippers out there.

That’s it for this time. If you enjoyed yourself, my name is Guy and this has been a post about items from the world famous Jungle Cruise. If you didn’t, then my name is Derek and this has been Saturday Six.

The post Pictures: A Boatload of Jungle Cruise Merch Arrives at Disneyland Resort appeared first on TouringPlans.com Blog.

From our friends at touringplans.com
Filed Under: Disneyland (CA), Merchandise, Jungle Cruise, merchandise