When you’re in Disney World, your dining choices are numerous. Some menu items are innovative or elevated, while others are standard classics even pickier eaters will enjoy. Today, let’s go back to the basics with a quick service staple. After all, not every meal has to be fancy!
Chicken strips are among the most common items on Disney World quick service menus. In fact, Disney Adults will find them practically everywhere. They’re a reliable choice, especially for those times when you’re too exhausted to decide on anything else. Have you ever been in that situation? Yeah, me too.
What To Choose When You Can’t Make A Choice
I found myself facing a bit of decision paralysis during a recent stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Contempo Café, the resort’s quick service location, has multiple menu items I thoroughly enjoy. However, as I browsed the mobile order menu on this particular day, I simply wasn’t in the mood for any of my usual favorites. You know that feeling when you’re not super hungry, but recognize that you need to eat “real food”? That was me. I wanted to eat before walking over to Magic Kingdom for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (and all of the party-exclusive treats). Unfortunately, I wasn’t hungry enough for a Contempo Artisanal Burger or Patty Melt. What to do?
Enter good ol’ chicken strips! Contempo Café offers both plain Chicken Strips and Spicy Ranch Chicken Strips. I went with the regular Chicken Strips. So, what do you get when you place an order for Chicken Strips in Disney World? My order came with 4 decent-sized chicken strips plus a side of french fries. They were crispy and hot as I would have expected. Ultimately, if you just want something with no frills, they’re a reliable choice.
Here’s a bonus tip: even as an adult, you can order a kid’s meal from Disney quick service restaurants. This will be a smaller portion, which is perfect for those times when you need an even lighter bite to eat. You can often find chicken strips as an option under the Kids’ Meals section. The kid’s meal portion is also slightly cheaper than the regular menu item (it comes with less, so this makes sense).
I Dip. You Dip. We Dip.
You can choose from a couple of dipping sauce options, if desired. You can grab what you need at the self-serve condiment station. I went with honey mustard, but they also had condiment cups of Heinz Barbecue Sauce. Unfortunately, they did not have ranch as an option. As a ranch lover, this definitely surprised me. Hopefully they add it in the future. Give the people what they want!
If plain chicken strips are a little too plain for your tastes, you can also find specialty chicken strips at some locations. As I mentioned earlier, Contempo Café also offers Spicy Ranch Chicken Strips. Some examples of other specialty chicken strips you can find at various places in Disney World include:
- Buffalo-Ranch Chicken Strips
- The order I got from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café was a little oversauced, so order at your own discretion. They’re available at other quick services as well.
- Gochujang-glazed Chicken Strips
- At first I liked these, but ultimately decided the flavor wasn’t for me. You can find them at multiple locations to try for yourself.
- Jerk Chicken BBQ Chicken Strips with Pineapple Salsa
- Marcus had the same issue as my Buffalo-Ranch experience. He ordered these from The Mara and thought there was a little too much sauce. They’re also available elsewhere.
The Verdict
Chicken strips are a solid choice when you want something basic. Mine were good, but there are other items I would typically choose first (the Contempo Artisanal Burger, Patty Melt, Loaded Cheese Fries, or Marcus’s favorite Three-Meat Flatbread all come to mind).
Who Would Enjoy These Chicken Strips:
- You’re not an adventurous eater (prefer things plain, don’t like spicy, etc)
- You want something basic and familiar
- You want a satisfying meal but not a giant portion
- You want something a little more budget friendly (as of publication, plain chicken strips are priced at $11.99)
Quick Services Are Budget-Friendly and Convenient
While I love many of Disney’s Table Service Restaurants, sometimes you just want a flexible, budget-friendly meal. This is where quick service locations shine! Be sure to grab a Rapid Fill Mug and fill up on your favorite beverages to accompany your meal. Speaking of meals, MouseHouseNews.net has honest reviews on some of the great places you can eat around Disney World. Check out this one about the Churro Mickey Waffles from Spyglass Grill. We’ll see you real soon!
