Springfield Expansion

[Mad Dog]

Just wondering, when folks mention sit down dinning at UNI, do they forget to consider what City Walk has to offer? I just feel there are some decent meals to be had there that are not that inconvenient to get to.

The parks tend not to be open too late the times of year we visit and we can often wait to have dinner when we are done with the parks. I agree for lunch, Springfield has made it easier to grad an ok meal...but sometimes it feels like we can spend a little more and enjoy our meal more by going to Finns

Great points. For all intents & purposes, Citiwalk is really an extension of the two parks, and it's really as close as World Showcase is to Future World in Epcot. So a lot of this discussion is really a matter of semantics rather than the reality of the situation. Bob Marleys, Hard Rock, Pat O'Briens, Emerils, Margarataville etc. are all good places to eat. Not counting the Hotel Resort restaurants that are only a short boat ride or walk away. (Example)You can eat at the Hard Rock Hotel restaurants that are as close to the entrance of the Studios as it takes to walk from the back to front of the Studio' park.

 

[IzzyB]

Just wondering, when folks mention sit down dinning at UNI, do they forget to consider what City Walk has to offer? I just feel there are some decent meals to be had there that are not that inconvenient to get to.

The parks tend not to be open too late the times of year we visit and we can often wait to have dinner when we are done with the parks. I agree for lunch, Springfield has made it easier to grad an ok meal...but sometimes it feels like we can spend a little more and enjoy our meal more by going to Finns

Many people don't want to leave the park and come back in for lunch or dinner. I agree this time of the year it is easier for dinner time, but not lunch time. And there are some decent sit downs in city walk, but I still don't think they compare to the offerings that are in park at places like Epcot.

And again, I was mainly talking about counter service. While I did include sit down, because I do think they need more in park sit down places. I think the great hall would be an addition they could do to really rival Disney's experiences. I also think Uni is starting to take notice to this issue (hence Simpson), but just like the whole family attraction issue, they are far from competing with Disney on this front. Someday they will get there though.

Great points. For all intents & purposes, Citiwalk is really an extension of the two parks, and it's really as close as World Showcase is to Future World in Epcot. So a lot of this discussion is really a matter of semantics rather than the reality of the situation. Bob Marleys, Hard Rock, Pat O'Briens, Emerils, Margarataville etc. are all good places to eat. Not counting the Hotel Resort restaurants that are only a short boat ride or walk away. (Example)You can eat at the Hard Rock Hotel restaurants that are as close to the entrance of the Studios as it takes to walk from the back to front of the Studio' park.

I am sorry, Hard Rock should not be considered a good place to eat. It is a tourist trap that has OK food. While I will give you there are some good offerings in City Walk, the closest ones to Studios (Hard Rock & NBA) are just not good food offerings and not worth leaving the park and coming back in for lunch or dinner.

 

[rhino4evr]

Great points. For all intents & purposes, Citiwalk is really an extension of the two parks, and it's really as close as World Showcase is to Future World in Epcot. So a lot of this discussion is really a matter of semantics rather than the reality of the situation. Bob Marleys, Hard Rock, Pat O'Briens, Emerils, Margarataville etc. are all good places to eat. Not counting the Hotel Resort restaurants that are only a short boat ride or walk away. (Example)You can eat at the Hard Rock Hotel restaurants that are as close to the entrance of the Studios as it takes to walk from the back to front of the Studio' park.

To be honest, Im not really interested in eating at any of those corporate mega chains, typically the food and drinks are over priced and just average. Downtown Disney has quite a few of these as well.

And nonsense that those Sleepy Hollow waffles are over rated. One of the best food items in the park.

 

[Enbee]

The chicken and waffle sandwich is severely held back by the waffles. I will never order it again as long as those bland cardboard-tasting "waffles" are being used.

 

[Accio Butterbeer]

You guys are forgetting Bubba's at City Walk! The food is pretty awesome there too. It's funny because City Walk is ten times better than Downtown Disney when it comes to places to eat.

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

At Uni, unless I'm starving that bad, I'll just go over to Citywalk and get something there. One area where Uni is behind Disney is definitely food.

 

[Sleepyhollowstudios]

At Uni, unless I'm starving that bad, I'll just go over to Citywalk and get something there. One area where Uni is behind Disney is definitely food.

It's always funny to read everyone's opinion. My family feels the exact opposite way. We've always felt Disney's food (especially pizza) is terrible when compared to Universal's.

 

[Macfr3ak]

Man the pizza in springfield is awesome

 

[Cupcakes]

The pizza at FFB is 100000000x better than the pizza at IFFF, so I'd say that makes it good enough.

I swear the last time I ate at IFFF the pizza tasted like Play-Doh. :ack:

 

[UNIrd]

It's always funny to read everyone's opinion. My family feels the exact opposite way. We've always felt Disney's food (especially pizza) is terrible when compared to Universal's.

I actually agree with you here. I DREAD eating at Magic Kingdom or Hollywood Studios. Unless it's sit-down, the food just sucks. AK actually has decent counter service food, thanks to Yak & Yeti and Flame Tree BBQ. If you make your way around the world, Epcot has good choices too.

At Universal, I actually at least do enjoy the food at Springfield, Louie's Pizza, and even Monsters Cafe. IOA's best counter service is easily Thunder Falls Terrace. Three Broomsticks is alright but nowhere near how good Enchanted Oak was.

 

[IzzyB]

I don't really get pizza in theme parks, so I would not be comparing that between Disney and Uni. MK has the Harbor House which has a really good selection, when it is open they have a decent Mexican counter service, and I like the two burger places with the toppings bar. So to me there is way more selection of good food in MK. Sleepy Hollow is something many people love, but waffles and chicken is not my thing. Now Hollywood Studios I would agree, there options suck. AK there are a couple good places, and well Epcot has probably the best food options of any park hands down.

 

[fryoj]

While not a counter service or sit down, Epcot will always win on food because of that caramel shop. :drool:

 

[UNIrd]

I don't really get pizza in theme parks, so I would not be comparing that between Disney and Uni. MK has the Harbor House which has a really good selection, when it is open they have a decent Mexican counter service, and I like the two burger places with the toppings bar. So to me there is way more selection of good food in MK. Sleepy Hollow is something many people love, but waffles and chicken is not my thing. Now Hollywood Studios I would agree, there options suck. AK there are a couple good places, and well Epcot has probably the best food options of any park hands down.

Now that you mention it, I did enjoy Pecos Bill Cafe last time I was there.

 

[natespf]

As far as regular counter service inside the parks I have never had bad food in Uni, it has always been good. But I have had many disgusting meals in Disney parks. Part of the attraction of Epcot is the food so it's not so hard there. I also love some of the restaurants outside of the parks at Disney. But in my experiences USF and IoA had much higher quality foods than MK, HS, and AK.

 

[AK-Jake]

Uni has some REALLY bad counter service. But I do think that Springfield, The Three Broomsticks, Thunder Falls, and Cafe LaBamba (when it's open) have some really good choices. I also like the choices at the new Kabob stand. And Burger Digs isn't awful.

But, I avoid like the plague, Circus McGurkus and Comic Strip Cafe.

The first time I went to UOR was on a 3-day mini-trip to Orlando. I spent the first day at Seaworld and the other 2 at UOR. I foolishly bought the Universal Meal Deal and as a result was limited to the Meal Deal locations. My first meal was at the Comic Strip Cafe and dinner was at Louie's in USF. The second day was Circus McGurkus and Mel's Drive-In. I found the food at Comic Strip, Circus, and Louie's so bad that I vowed never to eat at Universal again. Mel's was okay, but not great. The next year I went, Hogshead Pub was open, and I ate at some of the NON Meal Deal locations. The food was so much improved it wasn't funny. It wasn't GREAT, mind you, but it wasn't awful either. And now that Springfield is open, things are looking even better.

I will never set foot in Circus or Comic Strip ever again. EVER.

 

[Parkscope Joe]

Just because something sells well doesnt mean the park shouldn't take strides to make their food taste better. I'm sure a lot of people want to try this sandwhich due to the pure indulgence of it, but will they try it again when they realize they are just eating a giant chicken finger on an Eggo?

Compare it to the fresh waffles made at an extremely popular restaurant in the magic kingdom. And you will see exactly what they are missing.

This this this. :thumbs:

 

[ThemeParks4Life]

The one place in Uni I'll never eat at again is Ritcher's. Easily the worst burger I've had anywhere. Disney's CS burgers are hit or miss, the other week I had a burger at Pecos Bill and thought it was good, but I've eaten there and Cosmic Rays in the past and thought the burgers were crap. When we're talking burgers in both CS and TS, nothing will beat Hard Rock Cafe IMO. I've also heard the make your own burger at The Wave in Contemporary is pretty good, need to try that sometime.

 

[romo]

See for me its mythos or nothing... i rather not hope for good food from counter service.. and its nice to sit and chill inside mythos!

 

[UK-Trigg]

The one place in Uni I'll never eat at again is Ritcher's. Easily the worst burger I've had anywhere. Disney's CS burgers are hit or miss, the other week I had a burger at Pecos Bill and thought it was good, but I've eaten there and Cosmic Rays in the past and thought the burgers were crap. When we're talking burgers in both CS and TS, nothing will beat Hard Rock Cafe IMO. I've also heard the make your own burger at The Wave in Contemporary is pretty good, need to try that sometime.

The burger in wave is amazing :doggie:

 

[Bubbles1]

I'm surprised no ones mentioned sunshine seasons- my family loves the food there, especially the cashew chicken. NOM!