Disney4me Posted November 14, 2016 Report Share Posted November 14, 2016 We are heading to one of Walt Disney World’s busiest park counter service locations to see what’s new for lunch — Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. Learn About:Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe Magic KingdomDisney World Restaurants Located on the edge of Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland near where it transitions to Fantasyland (it’s just to the right of the castle), Cosmic Ray’s is an excellent bet for finding something to please everyone, especially if your party includes members who are less adventurous in their tastes. But if you do like more interesting fare, don’t be afraid of this intergalactic hotspot! In addition to tried and true favorites like Chicken Nuggets and Bacon Cheeseburgers, you’ll usually find some outta this world (see what I did there?) options as well. Besides, Cosmic Ray’s is home to one of Disney’s legendary toppings bars. And you KNOW how much I love a good toppings bar. Wanna see what I’m talking about? Let’s head in. Atmosphere Much like the rest of Tomorrowland, Cosmic Ray’s is at once retro and futuristic — although the retro vibe is more 1980s than anything. Purple, teal, and silver will send you searching for your Swatch Watch. Cosmic Ray’s Sign We’ll get to the ordering set up in just a sec, but first, let’s check out the seating. There’s a reason I want you to see this area first — one of the galaxy’s most famous acts takes center stage while you enjoy your meal. Take in the Musical Stylings of Sonny Eclipse Be sure to stick around and check out Sonny Eclipse while you dine! Sonny Eclipse Entertains at Cosmic Ray’s In addition to this seating area, you’ll find more indoor seating away from the action. More Inside Seating at Cosmic Ray’s But sitting outside has its charms, too. The covered patio is nicely protected from the hot sun, and ceiling fans keep the air moving. Outside Seating But besides all of that you’ll have a view of the castle! When it comes to ordering, you’ll find the basic Disney set up here. Give your order to a cashier, and then move forward and pick it up at the counter. One thing to note: Cosmic Rays is kinda huge, and there are three different ordering areas, or Bays. And note that there CAN BE variation in the menu at the three separate bays, so be prepared to wait in two separate lines if necessary to get your family’s whole meal. Ordering Area at Cosmic Rays Eats This isn’t our only visit to Cosmic Ray’s recently. (I’ve kinda got a thing for Sonny.) We checked out some of their new offerings just a few months back. And it looks like things haven’t changed much since the last time. But we did note one missing item. The Half Rotisserie Chicken and Rib Combo is no longer available (this one transitions on and off the menu, in our experience). But you can’t go wrong with options like the Bacon Cheddar Hot Dog or the lighter Greek Salad with Chicken. And I should mention that a recent look at the menu (like, today) shows that now there IS a Half Rotisserie Chicken and Pulled Pork Combo available, and at around $16, it’s a great deal if you’re using Quick Service Credits on the Disney Dining Plan. Menu — Click to Enlarge Menu — Click to Enlarge I made my selections and then headed to the Toppings Bar to check out the lay of the land. Don’t miss the chance to dress up…well, whatever you decide to order. There’s plenty of Shredded Lettuce, Sliced Tomato, and Pickles to top your sandwiches and such. Toppings and Condiments There are also Peppers and other goodies. More Toppings and Condiments But you’ll find more than just cold toppings. Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions are available too! Toppings — Sauteed Mushrooms and Onions Sadly, my most favorite thing ever on the Toppings Bar — the Plastic Cheese Dispenser — is still nowhere to be found. However, you can purchase Cheese Dip — for a $1 a cup. “Add Cheese Dip” Sign at Cosmic Ray’s Note that they’ve now switched up to Gehl’s sharp cheddar sauce, which is a huge step up from the pre-packaged option they used to have. And FYI, it IS served warm, so even though it’s not true plastic cheese (and it’s NOT free), it’s a good substitute. Container of Nacho Cheese Dip I still haven’t quite gotten over the fact that you used to get unlimited amounts of this wonderfulness for the price of your meal. But if you are desperate for cheese sauce, well… at least you have options. Nacho Cheese Dip — Inside You aren’t without interesting dips, though. I found a brand new Sriracha Spicy Aioli. So I’m pretty pumped about that. Pump for Sriracha Spicy Aioli It’s pretty much amazing for Burgers, Chicken, Fries, or just about anything you order. (Well. Maybe not dessert.) And the heat level isn’t overwhelming. Sriracha Spicy Aioli On this visit, I didn’t really have anything to put the aioli on, so I just used it (and the cheese) as dips for my fries :-D. So on to entrees! I had to revisit the Barbecued Pork Bacon Cheeseburger. Barbecued Pork Bacon Cheeseburger It’s basically two sandwiches in one. You have a heaping helping of shredded Pork Barbecue topping a Bacon Cheese Burger. Barbecued Pork Bacon Cheeseburger — Another Angle Now, despite the nearly well-done burger patty (just so you know, you’ll rarely find a decent pink burger patty at a Disney quick-service location — though I can highly recommend the medium-to-medium-rare standard that’s been set at D-Luxe Burger in Disney Springs), the flavors were fantastic here. Barbecue pork? Gooooood. Bacon? Gooooood. Cheese? Gooooooood! So while I can’t forgive the burger patty, I’m pretty much resigned to this fact of life by now at Disney restaurants and can appreciate the burgers for their added accessories. Check out all of this pork!! Crazy! Barbecued Pork Bacon Cheeseburger — Cross Section The sandwich is normally served with French Fries, which I totally got. But I really, really love Green Beans. Especially Cosmic Ray’s green beans. So I grabbed a cup of those as an extra side. No joke, you guys, these are SO GOOD! Yes, I’m sure there’s plenty of butter (or “butter product”) and salt on them, but they are one of my favorite snacks in the park. Side of Green Beans Now, dessert! I’ve had the Triple Chocolate Cake, and I really don’t consider Greek Yogurt to be a dessert, so it seemed like the perfect time to try something new to Cosmic Ray’s — S’mores. The dessert is basically a Graham Cracker Cookie studded with Chocolate on the outside. S’mores Tucked inside is where you’ll find the Marshmallow as well as more chocolate. We had previously tried this treat at Herbie’s Drive-In over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and reviews were mixed. And these were actually better than I thought. S’mores — Cross Section Overall, we like them, but I agree — I love the caramelized marshmallow part of the s’more, and you don’t get that here. Overall I can’t help it — Cosmic Ray’s is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me. I know that a lot of people write it off. Sure, there’s more history at Casey’s, and there are beloved specialties at Columbia Harbour House. And of course, the food quality is better at Be Our Guest. But I just love Cosmic Ray’s. Maybe it’s the campy, slightly dated decor and floor show. But they totally own it! Or maybe it’s the fact that I can always rely on it for a good, solid, generous meal (GREEN BEANS!!). For real, this place saved my rear end when I was starving, my kid hadn’t eaten all day, and we just need a ton of food. Cosmic Ray’s to the rescue!!! Whatever it is, I’ll keep stopping by Cosmic Ray’s to get my Sonny fix whenever I’m in town. Now, I’d love to hear from you! Is Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe one of your favorite spots to dine in Magic Kingdom? Leave a comment and let me know! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Review: New Items at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland Review: Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe at Magic Kingdom Guest Review: Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in the Magic Kingdom View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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