According the Scottish poet Robert Burns, even “the best-laid plans of mice and men oft(en) go astray.” This dictum applies to vacation plans as well. Despite the advance dining reservations, MyMagic+, Fastpass+, and the countless hours of preplanning that many of us put into our respites at the Vacation Kingdom of the World, things rarely go as planned.
And this is not necessarily a bad thing.
Despite the many modern marvels at our planning-obsessed fingertips, there’s something to be said about experiencing vacation with a less structured approach. As Mary Poppins sings, “a little spontaneity keeps conversation keen.” The same can be said for following whims while on holiday.
It’s certainly true that table meals at Disney parks offer varied experiences for just about every taste, but there’s something to be said about the counter service restaurants scattered across property. While these “fast food” places have a much-maligned reputation, things have changed—for the better—at many Walt Disney World counter service eateries. For those times when we want to wander and discover without a set plan in mind, the following theme park locations are favorites for my family.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Flame Tree Barbeque
Located in the Oasis area of the park—which is the hub of Disney’s Animal Kingdom—Flame Tree Barbeque offers a much wider array of dining choices than one might expect to find at a busy theme park. There are salads, fruit plates, jumbo turkey legs, St. Louis Ribs, barbequed chicken, pulled pork barbeque sandwiches, and smoked turkey breast sandwiches as well. As one might expect from the name of this establishment, many of the entrees make use of a homemade barbeque sauce that is sure to please anyone who loves tangy barbeque. Flame Tree Barbeque even offers its own adult beverage: a Safari Amber specialty brew. The mandarin orange lemonade is also very good, and especially refreshing on a warm afternoon.
For kids, there’s a chicken sandwich (complete with fruit, vegetables, and milk), peanut butter and jelly, a baked drumstick, or a hot dog.
For dessert, there are two great desserts here as well: chocolate mousse and our personal favorite, key lime mousse. There’s something special about a dessert that you can only experience on vacation at one of your favorite places; it's not to be missed.
Some of the seating at Flame Tree Barbeque gives good views of Expedition Everest. Photo by Chris Barry.
Our favorite part of this restaurant, however, is the outdoor seating area with its varied picturesque pavilions. Some seats offer views of Expedition Everest, while others overlook a more peaceful reflection pond. The ambiance is wonderful here, one of the many places at Disney’s Animal Kingdom where it is easy to forget that you are in the middle of a theme park.
Magic Kingdom: Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café
While no one could ever describe Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café of being remote or quiet, it does offer some of the Magic Kingdom’s better fast food options in a rollicking establishment that is almost the “wildest place west of the Alamo” like the tall tale hero for which it is named.
While the offerings include the usual suspects—hamburgers, fries, and cheeseburgers—there are also some surprises. Two salads are standouts: the surprisingly filling taco salads and the surprisingly zesty Southwest Chicken Salad. The BBQ pork sandwich is one of our favorites, and Pecos Bill Café is one of the only places where we splurge on french fries. The chili is also hearty, meaty, and filling.
Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is located in Frontierland. Photo by Brian Bennett.
As noted above, the atmosphere here is boisterous, to say the least. Cast members ensure that guests enter and exit proper doors, helping them line up at one of the many registers, and corral them into one of the many voluminous seating areas. Don’t be faint of heart; there are some charming areas to eat here. There’s a small outdoor patio overlooking Frontierland, a charming indoor hacienda with perpetual moonlight where Zorro himself might feel at home, and two other larger areas themed to various tall tale heroes. You might see Zorro’s cape, Paul Bunyan’s ax, Pecos Bill’s rope, or Casey Jones’ hammer adorning the walls in unique frames.
Epcot: Sommerfest
World Showcase offers so many charming dining establishments that we typically make advanced reservations for one of our favorites when we visit Epcot. Sometimes, however, we find ourselves in World Showcase “of an afternoon” with no dining plans. More often than not, we end up in the charming St. George Platz in the Germany pavilion and grab something quick at Sommerfest, located under the pavilion’s signature glockenspiel.
There are few surprises here, and that’s a good thing. Traditional bratwurst and frankfurters are offered, as well as a tasty currywurst—pork sausage seasoned with curry ketchup. The side dishes include nudel gratin, a baked macaroni and cheese that is amazingly filling and tasty. The German cold potato salad is also a favorite, and the house made paprika chips are really a treat. Of course, all of the above taste even better when accompanied by a Radeberger Pilsner or Altenmunster Oktoberfest beer. There are some favorite desserts as well: apple strudel with vanilla sauce or rich Black Forest cake.
Much like the Flame Tree Barbeque, the ambiance here is a major draw. It’s both merry and convivial to sit among the charming shops, near the placid fountain of Saint George and the dragon, or at one of the boisterous tables located beneath the overhang near the entrance to Biergarten.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Anaheim Produce
These open-air stands are located along Sunset Boulevard near the entrances to the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster and the Tower of Terror. Named for the city in which Disneyland is located, Anaheim Produce is simply a collection of food stands and covered outdoor seating, but we always find something here for every member of our family. There are quick snacks like energy bars and fresh Mickey pretzels, as well as a good selection of healthy, lighter options such as dried cranberries, trail mix, assorted fruit options, carrot and celery sticks, and hummus with pretzels.
The Anaheim Produce stands also offer a surprising array of beverage options. There are the usual soft drinks, but frozen lemonade is also available here, even an option that includes an Orange Bird cup. For grown-up guests, there are frozen golden margaritas, blueberry ale, beer, and hard apple cider.
Best of all, the seats offer shady, scenic views of Sunset Boulevard, and one of the best people-watching locations on property.
Anaheim Produce is located along Disney's Hollywood Studios' busy Sunset Boulevard. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.
No Reservations? No Worries!
Please share your favorite places to grab a quick bite and enjoy a unique location at any of the theme parks at the Vacation Kingdom of the World.
