There are some Walt Disney World eating places we revisit time and again, particularly quick-service eating spots that supply nice bang for buck. I’ve already eaten at each Pecos Invoice and Columbia Harbour Home a number of instances this 12 months in Magic Kingdom, together with loads of different spots ‘for analysis.’
Over at EPCOT, frequent favorites are Sunshine Seasons, in addition to the bakeries in France and Germany, and even Connections Eatery or Regal Eagle in a pinch. And that’s along with competition cubicles, which have turn out to be our de facto counter service replacements more often than not. We admittedly don’t spend as a lot time in Animal Kingdom, but have managed to do stable numbers at Satu’li Canteen (particularly with breakfast again).
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a distinct story. I’ve lengthy mentioned that DHS has an underrated culinary scene, and is an underappreciated meals park amongst Walt Disney World followers. There are a number of eating places right here we actually like and suggest. No less than, on paper. In follow, we’re additionally among the many followers doing the underappreciating. We routinely Park Hop between DHS and EPCOT, and eat on the latter at the very least three-quarters of the time after we do. On the more and more uncommon events once I’m doing all-day Lightning Lane testing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, I’m consuming the very same meal at ABC Commissary. (There hasn’t been a “want” to analysis different eating places, is my excuse.)
Chopping to the chase, the end result has been that we’ve largely discovered excuses to keep away from the second-best in-park choice on our record of the Prime 20 Counter Service Eating places at Walt Disney World. We’re speaking about Docking Bay 7 Meals & Cargo, which is the large-scale quick-service spot in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, positioned between Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Ronto Roasters. And truthfully, virtually each time I’ve gone to Docking Bay 7 within the final couple of years, I’ve ended up consuming one thing from the Ronto Roasters menu, a spot that doesn’t even make the ‘better of’ record!
The explanations for this are fairly easy. Each time mulling over a meal at Docking Bay 7, I see the menu costs and am reminded that each dish I really like is at the very least $17 (or solely obtainable at Disneyland). I additionally do not forget that the previous few instances we’ve dined right here in the course of the post-reopening period, I’ve left hungry.
Value will increase and portion cuts are nothing distinctive to Docking Bay 7. I might say that just about no restaurant has been protected from each, with a number of uncommon exceptions. That’s why the considerably stunning picks of Pecos Invoice at Magic Kingdom and (particularly) each Regal Eagle and Connections Eatery in EPCOT made the record above. Identical with Satu’li Canteen, albeit to a a lot lesser extent (it’s hit and miss).
You would possibly recall the precise second when this development began. Dearly departed CFO Christine McCarthy was requested on an earnings name in regards to the impression of inflation on Walt Disney World. That’s when she made this notorious remark: “We are able to modify suppliers. We are able to substitute merchandise. We are able to minimize portion sizes, which might be good for some individuals’s waistlines.” So actually, we should always all be grateful for these smaller parts. This isn’t about “shrinkflation!” No, it’s about Disney doing us a stable and making an attempt to assist us slim down. C’mon everybody, can’t you see it?!
Don’t fear, I can’t both. And that’s exactly why I don’t eat a lot at Docking Bay 7 anymore. As a lot as I really like the meals there, I don’t love dropping $17 or $18 on a counter service entree…solely to go away hungry. That’s occurred extra instances than I can depend on the Star Wars restaurant. To be honest, it’s occurred loads of different locations, however it appears to happen extra there than simply about wherever else. Flame Tree BBQ might be #2 in that regard, and that’s why I additionally don’t eat there a lot anymore.
Anyway, I nonetheless just like the menu at Docking Bay 7 and suppose it’s the most effective counter service eating places at Walt Disney World, and simply #1 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. However all of that’s on paper or in concept. In follow, I eat at Ronto Roasters (or the Ronto Wrap from Docking Bay, if it’s later) extra typically–and ABC Commissary or Woody’s Lunchbox most often at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Each have filling responsible pleasure that I crave. It’s humorous–the indulgent consolation meals usually haven’t gotten a lot smaller as a consequence of cheaper elements within the first place, so the issues which can be worst for my waistline are simply as huge and unhealthy as ever!
I might eat at Docking Bay 7 much more often if we had been on the Disney Eating Plan, however we virtually by no means use it anymore. That is regardless of the Fast-Service Disney Eating Plan being a significantly better goal worth than the common DDP, and my means to simply break-even with it, even with out ordering any alcohol.
Between the liberty and suppleness that paying out of pocket affords, and the sensible actuality that curiosity in our assets in regards to the DDP has plummeted since its return, there simply hasn’t been the will or demand for utilizing the Disney Eating Plan.
I believe that’s going to alter subsequent 12 months due to the Children Eat FREE All 12 months in 2026 at Walt Disney World perk. In case you missed this, visitors staying at considered one of Walt Disney World’s greater than 25 on-site Disney-owned resort inns all through 2026 will get a FREE Disney Eating Plan for his or her youngsters (ages 3 to 9 on the time of journey) when buying a Disney Eating Plan as a part of their package deal for the opposite members of their celebration (ages 10 and up on the time of journey).
In contrast to common Free Eating, which has seen its recognition plummet, there’s no catch or advantageous print. It is a improbable particular provide for normal visitors as a result of it will likely be stackable. Walt Disney World has introduced that the Children Free Eating Plan can be mixed with “different choose particular affords,” that means you should still be eligible to reap the benefits of different offers that roll out later in 2026.
In an unprecedented transfer, it’ll even be obtainable without cost on Disney Trip Membership stays, which is unprecedented and big for us. This implies we’ll be utilizing the DDP extra beginning in late 2026, and shall be consuming much more costly entrees, particularly quick-service ones. We’re guessing that so will a lot of you!
With all of that in thoughts, I figured it was price revisiting Docking Bay 7 throughout a current LLMP discipline testing day as a result of there would possibly now (in all probability? hopefully?) be extra reader curiosity in these higher-priced entrees. Costly counter service meals are among the many finest methods to maximise worth on the Disney Eating Plan, even when they’re poor picks when paying out of pocket. Let’s dig in…
For my first entree, I ordered the Batuuan Beef and Crispy Topato: Smoky Beef braised in Tamarind Sauce served with Harvest Greens.
The Batuuan Beef is a dish that was added considerably lately, and by that I imply post-COVID. When it initially opened, Docking Bay began with an extremely expansive menu, had that reduce significantly lower than a 12 months later in the course of the phased reopening, after which had new dishes added when issues went again to regular. There nonetheless aren’t as many entrees as there as soon as had been, however it has gotten higher.
That was over 2 years in the past, so this dish isn’t precisely new. It’s, nevertheless, $1 much less costly than it was when first launched to the menu. I in all probability don’t want to clarify to you that Walt Disney World pricing usually doesn’t go within the downward course. So what provides?
In all probability the portion dimension. I might assume that’s been made smaller (for my waistline), or maybe Walt Disney World acknowledged that $19.99 was pushing it for a counter service entree, so that they decreased this dish to $18.99. Solely a greenback distinction, however it brings it nearer to the opposite choices, and avoids the looks of a $20 quick meals entree.
Regardless, it’s nonetheless overpriced.
The meat is middling. Some bites style nice, and it usually just isn’t too fatty–it’s like a young, hearty and flavorful stew beef. The primary downside is that it’s too dry. This meat would’ve benefitted from a sauce of some kind, or any accompaniment that helped add some juiciness, however the dish as a complete can also be fairly dry.
The accompaniments are wonderful, however it’s an identical story–there aren’t sufficient of them.
The Crispy Topato (anagram of “potato”) is improbable. These are actually distinctive herbed fries with an awesome texture, crunch & crispness, and taste. I really like them and will eat a complete entree (or huge facet) of simply these. The issue is that there aren’t a lot of them, so that they’re not all that filling.
I didn’t do an awesome job of photographing it, however it’s an identical story with the harvest vegetable medley beneath. It is a modest mattress of veggies that style adequate, however I used to be nonetheless hungry after ending this dish. I’d haven’t any complaints had been it not $19, however for that quantity, the entire thing simply felt missing.
My second entree was the Peka Tuna Poke: Uncooked Tuna tossed in a Spicy Sriracha Dressing and served with Inexperienced Papaya Salad, Pickled Mushrooms, Contemporary Herbs, and Crispy Garlic.
In relation to the protein, that is virtually the alternative difficulty as with the Batuuan Beef–an excessive amount of of the spiracy sriracha sauce to the purpose that it masked the flavour of the tuna greater than I might’ve appreciated. Don’t get me fallacious, I loved the dressing, however there was simply an excessive amount of of it instantly on the fish.
The portion of the tuna was additionally smaller than I might’ve appreciated. You’ll be able to roughly see the whole thing of it within the photograph above–there’s no more “hiding” beneath. It’s not larger than it seems. That’s it.
It could’ve been one factor if this had been a salad topped with tuna poke. I might’ve handled that, having a extra meager quantity of meat however with salad as filler.
This didn’t actually provide that, although. The mattress of salad was largely one-note. I used to be trying ahead to the recent herbs and crispy garlic, however I couldn’t actually style both. Even the ‘pickled’ mushroom didn’t actually stand out.
The predominant taste was sriracha, and the portion was as soon as once more small. To be honest, what I might style of the tuna was excellent, however every thing else was simply advantageous, at finest. An honest dish in the event you’re available in the market for a sriracha dressing, I suppose, however there are in all probability cheaper methods of accomplishing that with out dropping $18.49 for this entree.
In the end, I used to be as soon as once more reminded of why I really like the thought of Docking Bay 7 Meals & Cargo greater than the restaurant in follow. That is at the very least my third consecutive meal on the Walt Disney World location with undersized (for my part) parts for the value. After getting what amounted to 2 outsized rooster nuggets on a mattress of mac & cheese final time (for $16), I swore off the restaurant for some time.
I figured we’d come again the subsequent time Sarah needed the Felucian Falafel and Hummus Backyard Unfold, which stays the very best worth on the menu at solely $13.29. Whereas I can’t communicate to the portion of that as of Spring 2025, it was nonetheless going sturdy the final time we had been there.
The Felucian Falafel plus the Ronto Wrap after 3 p.m. stays the out of pocket play at Docking Bay, with a big gamble on the Smoked Kaadu Pork Ribs (generally the portion is sizeable and the ribs are meaty, different instances not a lot!) being the transfer on the Disney Eating Plan. Any of these choices are cheaper than what I ordered, and all of them are additionally higher–even the plant-based one!
As a substitute, I revisited Docking Bay 7 alone and dropped roughly $40 on these two entrees…and nonetheless didn’t go away full, regardless of becoming a member of the ‘clear plate membership’ (twice!) by consuming each final little bit of the meats and sides. I wasn’t flat-out hungry like I might’ve been had I simply eaten considered one of these dishes, and I do have an abnormally giant urge for food (particularly at Walt Disney World). However I wasn’t stuffed, as I might’ve anticipated after dropping forty bucks at a counter service restaurant.
It’s not that these dishes had been unhealthy–I’ve had far, far worse at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It’s simply that they had been mediocre by Docking Bay 7 requirements, and for the value paid. Precisely the kind of factor that I’d say might perhaps be ‘price it’ on the Disney Eating Plan in case you have credit to spare and are intrigued by both choice, however undoubtedly not advisable in the event you’re paying out of pocket. Suffice to say, I’ll be sticking to my favorites at ABC Commissary and Woody’s Lunch Field, ordering extra strategically when Sarah desires to eat right here…or simply bouncing over to EPCOT, which stays the most suitable choice of all.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever seen smaller parts at Docking Bay 7 or wherever else at Walt Disney World in the previous few years? For ~$19 every, would you count on larger and/or higher dishes from counter service eating places? If you happen to’ve tried both of those dishes, what’d you consider them? What do you consider the meals in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Walt Disney World? Agree or disagree with our evaluation of the delicacies at Docking Bay 7? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
