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Roasted Turkey Sandwich
It’s hard to say whether I enjoy cooking or eating good food more. Disney World has delicious food aplenty and with many different cuisines represented across the Walt Disney World property, planning where and what I’m going to eat is as almost much fun as the dining itself. But, I don’t travel alone and my husband and kids are much less adventurous eaters. In fact, I think they would be content with pizza or pasta with butter and cheese every night.
Family life is about compromise right? I try to balance our daily table-service meal with some quick and kid-friendly dining options at Walt Disney World that have quality and variety for the whole family, including myself. Here is my list of go-to walk-up dining at Walt Disney World.
Downtown Disney
Earl of Sandwich. Earl of Sandwich is actually one of my favorite quick-service locations in all of Disney. It has everything going for it – very tasty, generously-sized sandwiches at very reasonable prices and a line that moves very efficiently. There is something for every taste and I look forward to the seasonal sandwiches such as Holiday Turkey with Cranberry Sauce. There’s no coaxing the kids to eat which makes for a very relaxed meal.
Wolfgang Puck Express. This little gem that is semi-table service location. Guests order dishes featuring fresh ingredients at the counter and are given a number to place on the table that features real flatware. The food is delivered on dishes as opposed to paper plates by the staff which makes this a very convenient place to dine with small children. Although the prices are higher than some other quick-service locations, the quality and portion size more than make up for the price differential.
Magic Kingdom
Sleepy Hollow Thick waffles topped with hearty ingredients are the star of the show at Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square. My family sticks with the warm waffles smeared with Nutella and topped with strawberries, bananas, and berries. We often share these as a mid-morning snack to fill us up and keep us going until lunch.
Pinocchio Village Haus. I’ll be honest, this one’s not my favorite but it made the list because of location, size, and pizza flatbreads. It’s very large, air-conditioned space in in the heart of Fantasyland where my family spends much of our time, making it very convenient. The menu offers pizza flatbreads, which to my kids is the equivalent to the aforementioned pizza slices that they could eat every day. It’s just an easy-choice for us and sometimes that’s enough to make an eatery a winner.
Epcot
Sunshine Seasons. We eat here every trip. There are different areas of this “food court” in the Land Pavilion with quick-service choices that are closer to what I would cook at home but also familiar to choosier eaters. Selections range from grilled fish and roasted pork chops to Mongolian beef, salads and sandwiches for lunch and dinner. The location can be very busy at mealtimes so try to visit it off-hours.
Les Halles Boulangerie & Pâtisserie (aka: bakery in France Pavilion). This location was a hit with my family before the extensive interior renovation and expanded menu and is even more so today. The menu used to feature some simple meal choices like ham and cheese on a baguette but today has even more soup, salad, sandwich, and light meal options. Everything is delicious and there are so many dessert options that you’ll have a hard time deciding how to end your meal.
Animal Kingdom
Flame Tree Barbecue. My family doesn’t even discuss where we’ll eat lunch at Animal Kingdom any longer. We all know it will be Flame Tree Barbecue with its delicious barbecue and hearty turkey sandwich on multi-grain bread. One of its best attributes is the very extensive outdoor seating that is broken up into small seating areas tucked into the landscaping. The kids delight in their own version of hide-and-seek. They find a table with my husband while I’m getting the food and my role is to find them as quickly as possible.
Hollywood Studios
Starring Rolls and Studios Catering Company. Hollywood Studios is a twofer for us. We don’t all love any particular location so I usually opt for a specialty sandwich from Starring Rolls Cafe, which is quite good while the kids have Power Packs, filled with kid-friendly “snacks” such as yogurt, a breakfast-type bar, goldfish, fruit, etc. from Studios Catering Company. The Studios Catering Company is next to The Honey I Shrunk the Kids Movie Adventure set which we usually visit right before lunch.
Resorts
We usually end up visiting one or more of the monorail resorts during our stay.
Captain Cooks. Located at the Polynesian Resort, this location serves up Tonga Toast which has quite the following amongst Disney fans. My husband is no exception. This sweet breakfast dish is a thick slice of sourdough bread stuffed with bananas, dipped in cinnamon sugar, and deep fried.
Contempo Café. There’s something about this resort quick-service location that my kids adore. I think it’s the combination of touch screen ordering and the view of arriving and departing monorail trains from the seating area. It’s a nice option to grab a quick bite to eat if you’re exploring the monorail resorts or what a break from the hustle and bustle of the Magic Kingdom.
These are our tried and true quick-service locations that offer something for everyone in my family. What are yours?
Lisa M. Battista is the author of Beyond the Attractions: A Guide to Walt Disney World with Preschoolers. When she’s not chasing after her little ones, you can most likely find her at the beach or in the kitchen trying her hand at a new recipe. You can follow her on Twitter @DisneyExplorer or become a fan of Beyond the Attractions on Facebook.
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