Hey everyone, it's Jacqueline --and Adam --for Pixie Dust PhD. During our fall 2021 trip to Walt
Disney World we did spend about 10 and a half days down in the resort area. And while we did have one
table service meal pretty much every day, we obviously still had to eat at other places. So
plenty of quick service abound. –Yeah, you don't always have time to sit down for two hours, right,
during a very busy Disney day. --I also can't imagine how much more money we would have spent
had we done more table service dining than we already planned. --#DisneyDiningPlan, right?
--Maybe someday. In this video we're gonna go ahead and discuss some highlights of our favorite quick
service restaurants across the resort area, both from our 2021 trip and prior experience. And for
things that are truly a meal, pretty sustenance heavy, as well as some quality snacks. Stay tuned!
Thanks so much for being here we really appreciate it. And thanks to all of you
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And if you want to chat about anything Disney, especially dining, YouTube is basically the best
place to get a hold of me, but you can also find me on Twitter and Instagram @PixieDustPhD. Let's
get into quick service dining, starting with what is perhaps the least exciting location:
Magic Kingdom. So for me my favorite quick service, if we were gonna stay in the park
and eat quick service--which we often don't, but I think I would probably go ahead and pick Sleepy
Hollow. You can get waffles there with either like fruits or just powdered sugar for breakfast time.
And they also have some savory options with like spicy chicken in there too. –Yeah. I’d
have to agree Sleepy Hollow is definitely the number one spot for actual sustenance, right.
There's a lot of really good just quick snacks that you can pick up, but if we're talking about
full spectrum but not a sit down, Sleepy Hollow is really as close as you're gonna get. –Yeah. A lot
of people also like Columbia Harbor House. I just don't love seafood that much, so I hear that one's
okay if you don't want you know chicken waffle or waffle with pre-mixed sugary fruit. But yeah,
quick service in Magic Kingdom I think is largely underwhelming for actual meals. For snacks though,
like Adam was saying, I think there's a lot of great options. My favorite is definitely Aloha
Isle; can't go wrong with the dole whip. And they didn't have this on the menu when we went in 2021,
but they've had it previously and it has now returned--you can once again get your upside
down pineapple cake… pineapple upside down cake with dole whip! I think it's about seven dollars,
which is pretty expensive for a snack but it's like big. It's filling. I usually eat it for
breakfast. --Yeah. “Breakfast”. Yeah. --I think it's a great breakfast. I mean I don't see how
it's any different like pancakes and syrup or whatever. So yeah, I think, you know, Aloha Isle,
that's where it's at for snacks. –Yeah. The… you can't beat the dole whip. I think that's our one
two favorite punch in Magic Kingdom, is--could be Sleepy Hollow and Aloha Isle. So yeah. I
don't know what what else really there is to say about the best of the best of Magic Kingdom when
it comes to quick service, beyond those two names. Certainly have always liked the idea of Casey’s,
but not really food wise. --I don't eat hot dogs. So it's not even on my radar. But if there is
quick service in Magic Kingdom, in the theme park, that you really like leave a comment down below.
Because we always just kind of leave the park or just snack instead of like eat proper meals.
Moving on, let's head over to EPCOT. Interestingly, this one was a little difficult for
me because thinking back to what we eat at EPCOT it's almost always table service meals or festival
booths--not necessarily quick service. But I think that my favorite quick service we've had so far
would be the Yorkshire County Fish Shop. You get a big ol’ fish and chip; well a big ol’
piece of fish and some fries. I found the fries to be really underwhelming, really sad, which is
a bummer because I love all potato products. But the fish was so good, and totally made up for it.
It was definitely big enough to be shareable depending on how hungry you are. It wasn't too
expensive. It's on mobile order. It came out super fast… like I would definitely get it again. And
I would recommend it. -Yeah, and I would say my favorite quick service spot is probably uh
Les Halles. You know, it's really... obvious you can just get snacks there, but they also have all the
full service--sorry they have whole sandwiches and things like that. And they have really good
variety. And while it's not quite as piping hot as a fried fish sandwich or a fried fish,
you know, it's still really good and definitely my favorite go-to spot. Plus it's open early. –Yeah,
Les Halles being open… it typically opens with the park. So most of the Future World dining options
don't--or not Future World, sorry. Most of the World Showcase dining options
don't open until about 11 or so. And so if the park's opening at nine and you want to
grab something for actual breakfast or you want a snack to hold you over until an early lunch,
Les Halles is a great option. Especially if you're coming in from that international gateway entrance
because it's really not that far. I'll also second what Adam said in terms of Les Halles--that's
definitely my choice for a snack. I used to love… they had like a bacon and cheese roll. It got
downgraded significantly, which I’m still really sad about. But like the croissants are really
good; there's a lime raspberry mickey macaroon that's phenomenal. So whether you want to go
for snacks or proper food like sandwiches I think Les Halles is fantastic. It does often have quite
a long line, but it typically moves very fast so don't let that deter you too much. --So I’m a big
fan of dumplings, and one of my favorite snacks it took was actually in the China pavilion at Lotus
Blossom Café. Really surprise sleeper hit; was not expecting to get such good dumplings out of that
little quick service spot. And they gave you the dip and it's--it was very filling, hot and fresh,
so I was very pleased. And you definitely get underwhelming dumplings pretty easily in EPCOT,
so I was pleasantly surprised. –Yeah, definitely a sleeper hit. I would get them again. Next, let's
move over to Hollywood Studios. For me, I think if we're talking an actual meal, I was surprised
upon reflecting that my pick would probably be ABC Commissary. So they overhauled their menu I
think between our 2019 and 2021 trips. Previously it was a lot of like sad barbecue-esque stuff,
and now it's like sandwiches, salads, tacos… and I had a chicken grilled cheese basically;
it was like buffalo chicken grilled cheese, and it was really good. –Yeah, that was really good.
--And it was pretty cheap. And if you're eating there like the location itself is actually pretty
nice too; like when we went anyway it was fairly empty, it was super air conditioned, the bathrooms
were really clean. So I don't love the food at Hollywood Studios. I would say it's definitely
nowhere near as sad as Magic Kingdom, but ABC Commissary I was actually really impressed with.
-Yeah, I also really liked ABC Commissary. But I think, you know, my favorite in terms of meal
would would actually probably be the same thing… --Really?! --just because there's not, you know, a ton
of options. And, you know, Star Wars is all very kitschy. --Oh yeah, I definitely thought you'd
pick Docking Bay Seven –Yeah, or Ronto Roasters. --Yeah. –Yeah, you know, I think that it's good,
but, you know, I think once you look past the novelty of it's just another Casey’s Corner but in
space. You know, the amount of choice and how well executed and how much faster it actually is--is
actually, you know, makes it I think overall a better experience. –Yeah,
the Star Wars food is good, but I think it is very expensive. So like Docking Bay Seven you can pay,
you know, $16 to $18 for an entree for a quick service restaurant, which is--you're definitely
paying that up charge for the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge experience. And it is good food, I just like
I don't know… I don't like it enough to justify that price when I can go to ABC Commissary instead
and get a sandwich for you know $12 or $13. --Also super easy to get seating, super air conditioned,
right in the middle of the park. Docking Bay Seven, not quite so much. --Yeah. Finding a place to eat,
like to sit down in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge can be really challenging. Then in terms of snack,
and even for a meal but I would prefer for snacks, is Woody's Lunch Box. So they have some really
fun fake pop-tarts basically. --Yeah. --They're, they're better than pop-tarts, but, you know,
it's a pop-tart. And I like the tots. And then for actual food they do have some sandwiches; I like
the barbecue brisket melt is pretty good. --That is really good. --But price... the value is not as
good as ABC Commissary I would say. It's a little bit on the smaller side; it is very tasty, but
again you're paying a little bit of an up charge I think for the like Woody's Lunch Box experience.
-- I also... last time I think we were there they had like ushers like guiding people around.
They wouldn't let you into the enclosure unless you had ordered, all that, because it's a really
popular spot. I really do like the pop-tarts, and I like how they rotate them seasonally.
The pop-tart is probably, you know, my favorite like breakfast-y snack. --Yeah. I would eat it any
time of day, but yeah. Also suffers the fate of not enough seating for how popular it is, just
like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It is also pseudo outside. I mean you're not in an air-conditioned
building at least. So I don't know. I mean I like those places a lot, but I think depending on what
kind of mood I’m in I probably just want to sit in ABC Commissary, in the air conditioning, you know,
by myself, and not be so overwhelmed with the heat and all the crowds et cetera. --To each their own,
right Jacqueline? –Yeah. And finally for theme parks let's move over to Animal Kingdom. I suspect
we'll have the same answer here as will many of you. My favorite for actual sustenance, for a
meal, is absolutely Satu’li Canteen. –Yeah, I have to agree. It's basically like Disney Chipotle.
--Yeah. --And it's--it's really good. --It's so good. And it's not that overpriced. And they manage to
deliver a really consistently good product; like every time we go it's good. It's never been a
miss, which I don't know if you can say that about almost anywhere in Walt Disney World. So yeah,
you pick--you're building a bowl, and so you pick a base. You can get, you know, rice or potato hash
or greens I think. And then you can pick a meat or a meat substitute. And it comes with like some fun
boba balls on top and some veggie slaw. It's just like very delicious. --Yeah. It's really creative,
and, you know, I--I would say that there are better named quick service restaurants,
like Trilo-Bites, and fun places like that with animal puns. --The puns. --But in terms of food versus puns,
you know, I think the food's a little more important. –Yeah, Satu’li Canteen is easily
the place I recommend to everybody the most. Then in terms of snacks from Animal Kingdom I would say
I typically would go with Flame Tree Barbecue, but it's not currently on the menu… they used
to have barbecue fries basically; so you get a bunch of french fries and they put some barbecue
on top of it, and it was a fantastic snack. Very shareable. Honestly, could be a whole meal. But
since that's not currently on the menu I think I would revert over to Eight Spoon Café, which has
baked mac and cheeses. You can get a plain one or with various other
barbecue options. –Yeah, I’m gonna still say Flame Tree would probably be my favorite,
just because every time I walk past it it smells like amazing barbecue. --It is really good. --And
they do a good job. --They have a lot of seating, although it is outdoor. Some of it's covered,
but you're not sitting in the air conditioning. But we've never had a problem finding a seat right
at Flame Tree Barbecue, which is also really nice. Moving outside the theme parks then, let's look at
the overall resort. So excluding Disney Springs. --Yes. --But basically the hotel areas. I think my
overall favorite both for meals and snacks would be The Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge. So we've
gotten full meals there a couple times now. They are incredibly large for the price. You're paying
you know hotel quick service prices--so $10 to $12 per entree for the most part. And they're really
good, super flavorful, well executed. And then snack wise I mean you can get those zebra domes to
go from The Mara, so you don't have to do the full Boma experience. Still get your zebra dome snacks.
So I never have any complaints about The Mara. It is annoying to get out to Animal Kingdom Lodge
if you aren't staying there. But otherwise, like absolutely worth it. Always fantastic.
A really good value, and super tasty. --So resort wise for me, the good old monorail loop.
Capt. Cook’s at the Polynesian is definitely my favorite quick service spot. Now again, The Mara
is fantastic. We always—if we’re out there by Animal Kingdom and have the ability to do so,
we’ll--we're typically making a stop. Of course the Poly is a little more convenient
for our typical vacation that we take. And, you know, like The Mara I mean their menu is
well-rounded, and everything they put out of that kitchen is really good. And quick. And,
you know, it's in the AC; plenty of seating. And what's really cool is you can you know take that
food to pretty much anywhere in the resort. --Yeah, they have the wings there are super
good. The nachos are really good. We've had the Thai meatballs… like everything at Capt. Cook’s
is pretty good. They also have really generous hours; it used to be open I think all night.
It's not quite that anymore, --not 24/7 now. --yeah. But if you're looking for a late night bite
check the Capt. Cook’s hours; it may be one of your best bets unless you're going off to Disney
Springs or like out to a McDonald’s in town or something. But for sure when people ask like “what
should I eat when I go to the Magic Kingdom?” I usually tell them to go to Capt. Cook’s--to
leave the Magic Kingdom, go to Capt. Cook's, get your meal there, and then head back in.
Those were definitely the tops--The Mara and Capt. Cook’s. But I do want to give a quick shout out,
honorable mention to Contempo Cafe at the Contemporary. I don't think the food is all that
special, but they do tend to have a lot of really good desserts, specialty cupcakes. I really love
the peanut butter pie there. So if you do have a sweet tooth I would say, you know, get your meal
at the Poly at Capt. Cook’s, get back on the monorail, make your way over to the Contemporary,
get some dessert, and then you know hit up the rest of your day--whether that's in the theme
park or you're just chilling at resorts. --Yeah that monorail is gonna get, you know, a lot of rides,
right. Which color we're gonna get today? You never know. --It's always peach for us.
--Always peach. Yeah, that's the running joke. No, yeah Contempo Cafe... those desserts were delicious,
especially while watching fireworks. --Yeah, pretty special. So that's our wrap-up of some of our
favorite quick service places for a full meal as well as for snack at the four theme parks in
Walt Disney World and then at the resort hotels. What did we miss? What do you love? Please let
us know in the comments down below. I definitely am a creature of habit, so we tend to keep going
back to the same places. And it's helpful to get comments people saying, you know, “oh you
have to try xyz!” to sort of push me out of my comfort zone. --Yeah. --Definitely looking forward
to trying some new things in our future trips. --Yeah. You know, Disney World it's--it's a huge
place, right. So we--if we miss something please let us know, because we do like food and trying
new things; despite what Jacqueline just said, it is a lot of fun to find that undiscovered
gem. --I like trying new things, I just slip into my old habits frequently. We hope the
rest of your day is magical, and we'll see you real soon at Pixie Dust PhD! --Okay, bye!