Counter Service Restaurants About This Page:

[Magoo__]

What are the seating areas like? Are they big cafeteria style or outdoor seating or just individual restaurant type seating? I know we are all going to want to eat at different places/have different food, so I'm just wondering if we'd all be able to get our food at the desired location and then eat in a common area.

[Colexis Mom]

Well, it really depends on the restaurant. A place like Seasons in the Land Pavillion at Epcot has a large amount of seating inside Yet a place like Yakatori House in Japan at Epcot has limited inside and outside seating

Do you have an idea already of where you want to eat or think you'll be eating? It would be easier to comment on individual restaurants directly!

ETA, I just realized this was US/IOA and not WDW. Most of the ones at US that we've been to have good sized seating areas for their restaurants. One we went to only had outdoor seating (pizza place in US near ET), and some only had indoor!

[GoofyMom]

Like WDW, USF has counter service restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating areas. It really does depend on the restaurant and the park that you are looking at eating at. Have you checked the menus? Universal Orlando Resort Menus Maybe if we had more information we could help you more specifically.

[Magoo__]

Say one of us wants pizza from Louies and another wants a burger from Mel's Drive Inn. Could one of us bring our dinner from Louie's and eat at Mel's or is there a courtyard or "combined" dining area we could all eat together at? Pictures I have seen of Circus McGurkus looks like it is a big cafeteria seating area, so I'm assuming if one of us gets their meal elsewhere, they could bring it in and eat with the rest of us with no problem?

[GoofyMom]

I would think that you would have no trouble whatsoever doing that. There's definitely an outdoor eating area at Mel's. I don't remember outdoor seating at Circus McGurkus (although that doesn't mean it's not there, just that I don't remember it), but I'd say that so long as one of you is eating food from the CS restaurant, I can't see why anybody would complain if you were to all sit together in one place.

[BarryH]

Originally Posted by Magoo__

Say one of us wants pizza from Louies and another wants a burger from Mel's Drive Inn. Could one of us bring our dinner from Louie's and eat at Mel's or is there a courtyard or "combined" dining area we could all eat together at? Pictures I have seen of Circus McGurkus looks like it is a big cafeteria seating area, so I'm assuming if one of us gets their meal elsewhere, they could bring it in and eat with the rest of us with no problem?

I've never seen problems in doing that. Now trying to carry the food from one restaurant to another without running into a guest or a runaway stroller is another thing!

I don't recall a counter service restaurant that doesn't have outdoor seating at USF or IOA. Louie's might not have outdoor seating, though, but I think I remember a few outdoor tables. If you really want to eat outside in Louie's, you can always find a nearby bench.

Thunder Falls Terrace at IOA used to have outdoor seating. The problem was the outdoor seating was very close to the splash from the Jurassic Park River Adventure. So if you sat at a table that was close enough, you would get splashed every time a boat came down! Last time I checked, the outdoor tables were removed.

[Shell_of_the_South]

The restaurants at US/IOA are scattered throughout the parks, much like WDW park restaurants. So there's not a "food court" type area, where restaurants are grouped.

Here's a link to restaurants at US:

Theme Park Food at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida

Our favorite is the Midway Grill, right next to Jaws. They have Nathan's hot dogs and the best fries! Midway has outside seating only. The tables overlook the Jaws ride, so you can watch the boats sailing through Amity while you eat. Richter's Burgers has a large indoor seating area. If I remember correctly it has 2 levels of dining rooms.

IOA:

Islands of Adventure Dining: Restaurants and Concession Stands

Enchanted Oak is our favorite counter service at IOA. Nice, large dining area, and a great escape from the heat outdoors!

Like others said, I don't think anyone would mind if you brought food from one restaurant into another, but you may be walking halfway around the park to get from one to another.

[janicelovesmickey]

I love Enchanted Oak!! but I do believe Circus MgGirkus sorry if I spelled it wrong, has both burgers and pizza.