Cancelling my on-siter with free DDP :( Restaurant help needed

[IWantMyMagicBand]

Never has my user name been more ironic.....
So, some of you may remember that I had issues with my TA who told me Disney was revoking the free DDP, even to those that had already booked. We all know that was not the case, and the TA even went one step further and said that Disney revoked booking privileges to independent TAs, which we also know is a lie.
So, after being verbally abused by the TA for wanting some form of confirmation that I had a trip booked (exact words were "I don't have to prove anything to you"), and complaining to ABTA (who literally did not investigate, just got his side and took it as truth), and giving the TA a month to address my complaint, I am cancelling our onsite with free DDP (and transport and FP+ and EMH) as I just can't face this man. We have now decided to stay at my dad's 3 bed at Bahama Bay.
SO: because we like our DDP and love character meals, I now need some assistance in counter-service restaurants as main meals. We would usually have a sit-down but it's not in the budget if we have to pay for our character meals now.
What are some of the best, variety-wise, counter-service restaurants on property and also good restaurants offsite as we will now have a car while there? Thanks in advance.

 

[Betsyboo]

I'm sorry you've had such trouble. Is there another agency you could use or book directly through Disney? My favorite QS is Columbia Harbor House. It's a quiet place (upstairs seating) to get away from the crowds. Good luck with your trip.

 

[Mukta]

You can save quite a bit of money by sharing large CS meals.

Cosmic Rays, Tangierine both have large platters that are easy to share.

Even though the Plaza is a TS meal, the portions are large and the prices are low so it is easy to share meals there too.

As for favorite CS

MK: Columbia Harbor House, Sleepy Hollow
EP: Mexico, Norway, China, Morocco
DHS: Pizza Planet
AK: Pizzafari and Flame Tree

 

[Ariel484]

I hate that this happened to you.

We just got back from WDW on Saturday and over the course of the week we realized that I booked too many Table Service places for breakfast and lunch. I ended up canceling 3 Table service breakfast/lunch reservations because...

1. We just don't eat that much food, and
2. It's too pricey - we were paying out-of-pocket and even using a Tables in Wonderland card and for the breakfast/lunch Table Service places we did keep (Boma breakfast, Liberty Tree Tavern/Le Cellier lunch) we ended up spending $30-$40 for just the two of us!

It became clear that doing a counter service breakfast/lunch and a Table Service/Signature for dinner is MUCH more to our liking, so I guess similar to what you're shooting for...so I'll be interested in these responses as well.

For breakfast I'm pretty much happy with Mickey Waffles or a muffin/banana, while my husband goes for an egg on a croissant, which we got at our resort's (Animal Kingdom Lodge) counter service location...so any recommendation I have below would be for lunch spots (links are menus from AllEars.net).

If you're planning on visiting any resorts, I think The Mara at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Gaspirilla Island at the Grand Floridian have some interesting menus. We also like Roaring Fork at Wilderness Lodge. My favorite counter service places on property are Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck Express at Downtown Disney.

As far as the parks...
Magic Kingdom - Be Our Guest...I'm also interested in trying The Plaza because their prices don't look too bad (as far as WDW goes) - actually they look pretty similar to Be Our Guest lunch prices, so it's a pretty reasonable Table Service option, especially if you have a Tables in Wonderland card.
Epcot - Boulangerie Patisserie in France, Tangierine Cafe in Morocco, Kringla Bakeri og Cafe in Norway and Sunshine Seasons in The Land
Hollywood Studios - ugh...walk to Epcot! Or Beach Club Marketplace at the Beach Club (Beaches and Cream is also a cheaper Table Service option), or the Boardwalk Bakery.
Animal Kingdom - Flame Tree BBQ...we also just tried the Yak & Yeti counter service on Friday and it was pretty good!

Good luck! Hopefully now that the TA is out of your hair you can start your planning anew and have a wonderful trip!

 

[Disney Shib]

I'm so sorry. I'm sure that this decision was not easy but rest assured worth it! There are quite a few good QS places in the world so don't fret!

Magic Kingdom: We love Columbia Harbor House! Try the Couscous. It's different and delicious.
Animal Kingdom: Flame tree for sure! Their BBQ chicken is fantastic and the seating reminds me of being outside on an island.
Epcot: Katsura Grill in Japan. That's usually our number one at Epcot.
Hollywood Studios: Go with Pizza Planet if you have kids. The chicken ceasar salad is not a bad choice and the kids will love the atmosphere.

Have a blast!

 

[smk]

I am in love with Pecos Bills! I love the burger fixings! I can make a burger into a three course meal practically. I also like Cosmic Rays, we can share a meal and have a snack later and not be stuffed. And, I cannot pass by Casey's with out getting corn dog nuggets, it is a must, every trip.

Breakfast is easy, fruit, bagel, even a kids meal. We never eat a TS places in the MK, Epcot has many more choices for those but our favorite is Japan with Germany a close second.

 

[luv]

Almost every chain restaurant on the planet has a location near WDW, so you can go to whatever place you like.

Fast food is the same almost all over WDW. Epcot has the countries n the World Showcase to shake things up a bit and Sunshine Seasons has a nice variety, so people with different tastes and appetites can usually all be happy there.

Some people swear by Cosmic Ray, but won't eat at the ABC Commissary. I really don't see a huge difference myself.

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I'm a huge planner so taking the DDP off the plans was awful for me, but it would appear I can plan our QS meals though not to the same degree.
I feel much happier about my decision to cancel onsite with the TA. There was no way of booking direct through Disney at the moment as the offer has ended, so staying offsite is our best option. We plan on Ohana's, CRT and Tusker for character meals, with a possible Hollywood if we can't meet Doc or Sofia separately. We don't queue for characters as it frustrates me on so many levels
@luv - is there a Chili's? We used to have them in the U.K but they went into administration

 

[luv]

Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I'm a huge planner so taking the DDP off the plans was awful for me, but it would appear I can plan our QS meals though not to the same degree.
I feel much happier about my decision to cancel onsite with the TA. There was no way of booking direct through Disney at the moment as the offer has ended, so staying offsite is our best option. We plan on Ohana's, CRT and Tusker for character meals, with a possible Hollywood if we can't meet Doc or Sofia separately. We don't queue for characters as it frustrates me on so many levels
@luv - is there a Chili's? We used to have them in the U.K but they went into administration

Of course!

http://www.chilis.com/en/mobile/Pages/LocationResult.aspx

 

[Club34]

this might be out of line, but name names. who was this hack who botched your trip? they need public shaming. sorry, but when you mess with someone's trip home, you are going to have problems. serious problems.

 

[Jo DeVil]

This is terrible, He shouldn't be allowed to call himself a TA, I have never used one, I normal book direct with Virgin and your situation has confirmed my belief in not using them. For my 2 penneth Columbia Harbor House, not your standard menu and it has loads of seating upstairs. We had to cancel our trip Oct 13 so we haven't tried BOG but are planing on trying it when we go Oct 14. Hope you have a great time.

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

this might be out of line, but name names. who was this hack who botched your trip? they need public shaming. sorry, but when you mess with someone's trip home, you are going to have problems. serious problems.

All in good time - we are UK based and this guy is an independent local TA.

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

This is terrible, He shouldn't be allowed to call himself a TA, I have never used one, I normal book direct with Virgin and your situation has confirmed my belief in not using them. For my 2 penneth Columbia Harbor House, not your standard menu and it has loads of seating upstairs. We had to cancel our trip Oct 13 so we haven't tried BOG but are planing on trying it when we go Oct 14. Hope you have a great time.

We are going Oct 12th, and plan to do notsoscary hp on 24th

 

[NiarrNDisney]

MK - Be our Guest, Columbia Harbour House, Sleepy Hallow, Tortuga Tavern

Epcot - Boulangerie Patisserie, Katsura Grill, Kringla Bakeri og Kafe, Sunshine Seasons, Tangierine Cafe

DHS - Backlot Express, Starring Rolls, Studio Catering Co.

DAK - Flame Tree BBQ, RestaurantoSaurus

DTD - Cookes of Dublin, Wolfgang Puck Express

Resorts - All resorts have wonderful CS options

__TS__ (Less expensive options around property)

Boatwright's Dining Hall (PoRS)
ESPN Zone (BWR)
the Fountain (Dolphin)
Garden Grove (Swan) least expensive character breakfast buffet
La Hacienda de San Angel (Epcot)
Mama Melrose's (DHS)
Maya Grill (CSR)
Plaza Restaurant (MK)
Spice Road Table (Epcot)
Trail's End Buffet (FW)
Turf Club (SSR)
Via Napoli (Epcot)

 

[Jo DeVil]

We are going Oct 12th, and plan to do notsoscary hp on 24th

MNSSHP is fantastic we have done it on each of our last 4 trips (in costumes) and are going to doing it again this year, not picked a date yet. Halloween is definitely done better state side.

 

[IWantMyMagicBand]

MNSSHP is fantastic we have done it on each of our last 4 trips (in costumes) and are going to doing it again this year, not picked a date yet. Halloween is definitely done better state side.

We have already planned our wreck it ralph costumes, although I really want to be mother gothel or maleficent but kids want to keep it on one theme. I'm vanellope, hubby is ralph, youngest is felix, other kids are francis and taffeta, with my dad as turbo

 

[BigTxEars]

NSSHP is the BEST!

And what kinda of sicko TA messes with people trip to WDW? Curses upon him forever I say!

 

[Jo DeVil]

We have already planned our wreck it ralph costumes, although I really want to be mother gothel or maleficent but kids want to keep it on one theme. I'm vanellope, hubby is ralph, youngest is felix, other kids are francis and taffeta, with my dad as turbo

I have gone as Evil Queen, Maleficent and Queen of Hearts, I am hoping to make Mother Gother for this years. There is only 3 of us but we would never find a theme, I suggested Tangled DH is fine with Flynn, but DS refuses to go as Rapunzel. LOL