Top 6 Best Quick Service Restaurants at Walt Disney World

We have done a previous Walt Disney World post on the best places for table service dining, but decided when we linked up with Destination Disney to focus on the best quick service restaurants within the Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Resorts.

1. Peco’s Bills Cafe~Magic Kingdom

This restaurant is located in one of our favorite lands at Magic Kingdom, Frontierland. There are plenty of positives to this quick service restaurant. First off, the atmosphere is a great western theme which is so fun! If you can’t make it to Wilderness Lodge for a taste of the Ol’ West, then this is next best bet. Second, the food is pretty amazing and different for your typical theme park food. We happen to love the taco salad here. Peco’s Bills also offers a great toppings bar for your juicy burgers. Last, and most unique, is the automated ordering system that Peco’s Bills offers. Skip the line and use your Disney Dining Plan or credit card to order your meal.

2. Columbia Harbour House~Magic Kingdom

Columbia Harbour House is another Magic Kingdom quick service restaurant that we love. It’s located in Liberty Square and is one of the more spacious eateries. There is plenty of  indoor seating so you can enjoy your meal in the AC! Our favorite menu items here are the Shrimp Basket and Tuna Sandwich. The tuna might be an ordinary pick to some but we love it!

3. Wolfgang Puck Express~Downtown Disney

Want a table service meal at a quick service price? Then Wolfgang Puck Express is the place for you! Take a break from the parks and your resort and head over to Downtown Disney for some shopping and then get some yummy eats from this quick service restaurant. Enjoy scrumptious pizzas, salads, and more all with that great, raved-about Wolfgang Puck taste. You won’t regret dining here!

4. La Cantina de San Angel~Mexico Pavilion, Epcot

Epcot has great quick service restaurants, but this one stands out to us because it is one of our favorite pavilions, Mexico. At the La Cantina you can sit outdoors right by the lagoon and enjoy some wonderful, authentic Mexican cuisine. The kids menu is little lacking with just two choices, Empanadas de Queso (fried, cheese filled dough) and Chicken Tenders, but the empanadas have always been a big hit with our kids. The dessert here is great too! Who doesn’t love a Churro?!

5. Flame Tree Barbecue~Animal Kingdom

Another great place to get some bang for your buck and the really use your dining plan wisely. Flame Tree offers some very tasty barbecue meal choices in very large portions. Perfect for sharing if you want to save a buck or a dining credit. The ribs and chicken bbq is a  perfect meal for sharing. This is by far one of the best dining options within Animal Kingdom!

6. Riverside Mill Food Court~Port Orleans Riverside Resort

Why do we love the Mill? Well, it is at one of our favorite resorts, Port Orleans Riverside. You can dine here and when you’re done you can take the boat over to Downtown Disney or enjoy walking the grounds of the resort–sounds like a perfect evening to us! This restaurant offers great scenery of the iconic waterwheel and the Sassagoula River. The food options are abundant with five serving stations — bakery/ice cream, grill, pasta, carved meats, pizza, etc — plus the Grab and Go refrigerator which contains all your chilled drinks and pre-packaged items. Don’t miss out on the Riverside Mill experience during your next Disney vacation!

What are your favorite quick service dining spots within Walt Disney World? Share them with us in the comments below!

Disney Jr.’s Doc McStuffins Games and More!

Has your child fallen in love with the new Disney Jr. series Doc McStuffins? My kids love this cute new show. What child doesn’t like to pretend play and help their favorite stuffed animals?! My kids enjoy fixing up their stuffed animals just like Doc McStuffins. If you haven’t seen tuned in yet, then be sure to check it out online. You can watch the episodes right from Disney Jr.’s site!

There are also new games and crafts too. Make your own Doc McStuffins door hanger, print off some fun coloring pages, and more! Your child will love Stuffy’s Scramble, a search and find game. Girls will especially enjoy Lambie’s Ballet, a fun game where Lambie comes to life and takes the stage. In addition to all this online fun, your child can also create their own Book of Boo Boo’s for their stuffed animals too–just like Doc!

image rights are that of DisneyJr.com. All thoughts expressed in this blog are opinions of SharpMoms.com.

8 Best Lands/Areas at Walt Disney World Theme Parks

We’ve linked up once again for another week of Destination Disney to share our favorite lands throughout the Walt Disney World Theme Parks!

In no particular order…

1. Mexico Pavilion~Epcot

If your kids are little too young to truly enjoy everything about World Showcase–have no fear—they would most definitely enjoy Mexico as their favorite country. Why? It’s simple: The Gran Fiesta Tour. Hands down one of our favorite Epcot attractions and most all little children love this ride! Also, you can’t beat some of the yummy food you can find in Mexico. Most kids love the dessert choices!

2. Dinoland~Animal Kingdom

Another no-brainer in our book, especially if your kids love dinosaurs. If so, this land is a must do. Our favorite parts about Dinoland are the “little” kid friendly rides like the Tricertop Spin and the fun rides for older kids and adults like Dinosaur.

3. Adventureland~Magic Kingdom

Get your Dole Whips, ride some oldies but goodies like Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise and run into a character or two!

4. Africa~Animal Kingdom

So much to love about Africa! It houses one of our favorite restaurants, Tusker House, one of the best rides, The Kilaminjaro Safari, and is in close proximity to one of our favorite meet and greet spots, Camp Minnie Mickey!

5. Future World~Epcot

Test Track and Soarin’. ‘Nuf said.

6. Frontierland~Magic Kingdom

Have a rootin’ tootin’ good time in this land! Love the rides like Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Love the great eats like Peco’s Bills. Love some of the character meet and greets you can find while stopping through!

7. Tomorrowland~Magic Kingdom

Tomorrowland isn’t everyone’s cup of tea (too futuristic/outer space themed), but it’s a must do in our opinion. First of all, the Tomorrowland Terrace has great food for a counter service restaurant. So if you’re around this land for lunch, stop by! Tomorrowland also houses some great attractions like Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, and Space Mountain.

8. Fantasyland~Magic Kingdom

What’s NOT to love about this land? It’s getting a facelift which will add some even better things to what is already pretty darn fantastic. This land hosts can not miss attractions like It’s a Small World, Peter Pan’s Flight, and The Many Adventure’s of Winnie the Pooh. You can always spot a few great characters in this land as well.

What are you favorite places at the Disney Parks? Please share them with us!

Top Favorite Disney Characters

We’ve linked up with Destination Disney again this week to list our top fav Disney Characters!

9. Princess Aurora

This is one of my girls’ favorite princesses! Her golden hair and pink dress make her so princess perfect! She’s pretty friendly in person too .

8. Daisy Duck

This character also makes the list due to another kids favorite. She is Donald’s heartthrob and Minnie’s best friend. Who wouldn’t want to be friends with this sweet, friendly duck?!

7. Donald Duck

Funny, stubborn, and knows how to pitch a pretty good fit–He fits right in with my clan and is again one of our favorites! We all love seeing him get into some mischief on the Gran Fiesta Tour and always hope to spot him for a meet and greet in the Mexico Pavilion at Epcot.

6. Mickey Mouse

Well, you can’t love Disney and not love this great mouse! He’s loveable, loyal, and an all around great pal. Plus, the entire reason all these wonderful places exist!

5. Princess Belle

Belle is what I like to call a “fixer”. She tries to help people become better from the inside. Patient, kind, and loving–she’s one gal you’d want on your side!

4. Pluto

He’s Mickey’s right-hand pooch. Wish he was mine!

3. Tigger

Wooo-hoo-hoo-hoooo! Love this character! He’s a great problem-solver, even if he goes about things in an unconventional way!

2. Minnie Mouse

Love her pink and red style!

1. Goofy

What a funny, goofy pal! Tons of fun and always seeing life from a funny standpoint. Definitely the top of my list!

Who’s your favorite Disney Character? Tell us in the comments below!

Destination Disney Link-Up: Top 10 Disney Attractions

We’ve linked up with Destination Disney over at Heidi’s Head to share our list of Top 10 Disney Attractions!

So, here we go…

10. Pirates of the Caribbean: This is a no-brainer! Who doesn’t love pirates these days? Plus, when you really need a good break from walking around the park, this boat ride offers a great place to sit, relax, and enjoy some AC and pirate action!

9. Magic Carpets of Aladdin: Well, when you’re traveling with little ones (like me!) and the line for Dumbo is waaaaaay too long, then your next best bet will the be The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Same kind of ride as Dumbo…Spinning carpets with up and down motion, BUT my kids especially love the golden camels! Watch out! You just might get sprayed!

8. Gran Fiesta Tour: Nestled in the back of the San Angel Inn in Epcot’s Mexico Pavilion, this is probably not a top pick for most Disney goers. Let me say though, if you have small children, this is the ride for you! Our kids LOVE this silly little boat ride featuring Donald Duck. Best of all, there is hardly EVER a line! We say get your laughs in and take the time to enjoy the Gran Fiesta Tour!

7. Studio Backlot Tour: This is a great attraction at Hollywood Studios. Get a first look at how special effects work and also learn a little more about the history of Disney!

6. It’s a Small World: One word: Classic! It’s a must-do Fantasyland attraction no matter how young or old you may be!

5. Beauty and the Beast Live! On Stage: Sit back, relax, and enjoy this wonderful production put on at Hollywood Studios. Really and truly, this is a first rate show and a must see for all princess lovers!

4. Splash Mountain: Get a little wet and have a little fun on this log ride based on Disney’s film, Song of the South. Our kids love this ride and who doesn’t love the big drop into the Briar Patch?!

3. The Festival of the Lion King: Get in line early to see one of the showings of this live production at Animal Kingdom. Audience participation, live stunts, and good music make this attraction one of our very top picks! You definitely don’t want to miss this!

2. Kilimanjaro Safari: A favorite for many, this one comes in second, but a close first really! Get aboard a safari jeep and take an adventure through the African safari. See some beautiful animals up close and get some great pictures for your scrapbooks!

1. Toy Story Mania: Coming in at #1 for us is the very popular Toy Storia Mania at Hollywood Studios. Why? Well, it is far more fun that Buzz’s Space Ranger Spin (for many reasons but one being that the laser doesn’t ever seem to work correctly for me–I aim, but no points are ever credited)! You can shoot out all kind of targets in 3D on Toy Story Mania! Another fun feature of this attraction is the talking Mr. Potato Head. You’ll love seeing him as you walk through the stand-by line!

What are your favorite Disney Park attractions?

Tangled Ever After to Premiere on Disney Channel March 23, 2012!

Calling all Tangled fans! The ever-so-popular short, Tangled Ever After, will be making its TV premiere on the Disney Channel Friday, March 23, 2012 at  9:15 p.m. EST after The Princess and the Frog. Be sure to set your DVRs–we already have!

As if that wasn’t enough Tangled news, you can now download the Tangled Storybook Deluxe on your iPhone and iPad ($6.99). Get the app here. This is a great interactive storybook with full narration and more!

All images are that of Disney and Disney.com.

Disney Dining: Our Top Picks for Dining at Downtown Disney

If you are heading to Walt Disney World and are using the Disney Dining Plan you may not consider Downtown Disney as a dining option. Think again! There are several restaurants at Downtown Disney that fall under the dining plan for both counter service and table service. We are going to share with you our top picks for dining at Downtown Disney (DTD).

Best Counter Service Restaurant: Wolfgang Puck Express

This, without a doubt,  goes to Wolfgang Puck Express. Please do not confuse this with the Wolfgang Puck Cafe (a table service restaurant also located at DTD). The Wolfgang Puck Express offers the same great flavors as the cafe, but for only ONE counter service credit per person. The menu is quite good and this is definitely the place to get the most food for your credit. If you are paying out of pocket this is a great option too as the portions at Express are huge! We last dined here during our winter trip to Disney and thoroughly enjoyed our meals. I got the chicken ceasar salad, brushetta, brownie, and beverage (all under the dining plan). Out of pocket the salad is around $15, and that’s the ballpark price for most entrees here. Like we mentioned, the portions are enough to feed more than one person. So, although a little pricey for counter service, you do get a lot of food for the money. Not to mention all entrees are prepared with the same Wolfgang Puck gourmet style as if you ordered from the Cafe. We give Wolfgang Puck Express two thumbs up! It’s a must try on your next trip, especially if you have counter service credits to use.

Best Table Service Restaurant: Fulton’s Crab House

If you’re looking for a fine dining experience while at Disney then try Fulton’s Crab House. This restaurant is set up in a three-tiered river boat! It offers a great atmosphere, awesome views, and delicious food! All seafood is flown in daily and super fresh–seafood lover rejoice! Fulton’s is open for lunch and dinner, but we suggest dining here for dinner so you can load up on a great meal and not have to risk walking all over the parks with such a full tummy. If you don’t like seafood there are a few other options on the menu so don’t shy away from this great eatery. However, we do suggest Fulton’s for the avid seafood fans. The Alaskan King Crab Legs are a diners favorite, but also consider Fulton’s Seafood Trio or the Shrimp and Lobster Ravioli. If you’re into wine Fulton’s has a great list with over 50 selections. Some of our friends dined here on their last Disney vacation and claimed Fulton’s was their best meal of the week. If you’re paying out of pocket be prepared to pony-up as Fulton’s is not cheap. If you’re on Disney’s Dining Plan then save your credits; Fulton’s Crab House is signature dining experience and uses TWO table service credits per person. Fulton’s is a favorite among Disney goers so we do suggest making dining reservations in advance.

Best Family Oriented Restaurant: T-Rex A Prehistoric Family Adventure

We vote the T-Rex Cafe as the best place to dine for family fun. This restaurant is covered under the dining as a table service restaurant and uses ONE table service credit per person. If you have children of varying ages in your group this restaurant is must-do! Tired of character meals? Again, T-Rex Cafe is a must-do! While dining you’ll be surrounded by life-size, moving dinosaurs. One favorite is the large octopus over the main bar area–and look out–it really does move! So characters in the traditional sense won’t be found here, but you’ll still be entertained with all the dino action. Keep in mind your very young children may be a little timid to eat with life-size dinosaurs, so think about that before dining her. As far as the menu goes, T-Rex Cafe is most famous for its Layers of the Earth Lasagna, Prehistoric Pizzas, and the Eruption (a to-die-for dessert). The children’s menu carries all the staples as well. Your family will definitely enjoy their time here and also get a great meal in the process. It’s a pretty popular restaurant so be sure to snag advanced dining reservations. Walk-ups risk waiting up to an hour and half on busy days.

**These are the opinions of SharpMoms. SharpMoms was not paid by Disney to endorse these restaurants.**

DisneyJr.Com’s Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Lucky You Game

I don’t know about your children, but mine love any chance to play on the computer and a smartphone. I guess it’s a techie world these days, so I can’t really blame them! When we play online, Disney Jr. isn’t usually a page we visit, but we decided to over the weekend and found a super fun and cute game called “Lucky You”.

{via}

This game is St. Patty’s Day themed and made so that two people can play against each other. There is a parent option for playing with an adult or another option for playing with a peer. You can choose which character you’d like to be, then you “spin” the wheel and answer questions that boost counting, pattern making, and listening skills. If you answer correctly, you move 3 spaces; If you miss, you get another turn to answer again. If your character lands on a lucky clover you’ll receive a bonus and get to move ahead several spaces. Bottom line: My kids loved this game! We hope yours will too! Play it here at DisneyJr.com.

Freebie from The Disney Store

Every Mom loves a freebie, right? SharpMoms thought their readers might be interested in this free gift from The Disney Store. All you have to do is go into any Disney Store on Earth Day, April 22nd. Bring 6 empty plastic water bottles or soda cans to be recycled, and receive a FREE Eco-Friendly Baseball Cap. There is a limit of 1 cap per person.