Episode 1033 - Counter Service Madness

Authored by: frandog on Sunday, May 13 2012 @ 10:30 PM CDT

I'll go with The Fountain for the tie breaker-better variety.
Also, Restaurantosaurus is completely counter service now that the Donald buffet moved to Tusker House.

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WE'RE TALKING DISNEY, GOING AT IT AS HARD AS WE CAN!

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Authored by: alagille on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 05:59 AM CDT

There is one sense that gets me every time. Smell. Gotta go with Flame tree barbeque. Also, best seating views outside of epcot.

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Authored by: NullUnit60 on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 07:12 AM CDT

Flame Tree

End of Line.

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Authored by: Brian on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 07:29 AM CDT

One more vote for Flame Tree.

Also, while I love this idea, I think the execution could use some tweaking. Seems like a missed opportunity to have 4 byes while not including some very good counter service restaurants (Yak & Yeti counter service, Columbia Harbour House, Captain Cook's and Mara, just to name a few).

Here's my suggestion for brackets in the future: seed according to the top 16 highest-rated in the Unofficial Guide Reader Surveys. 4 highest-rated are #1 seeds, next 4 highest are #2 seeds, etc. Then you guys vote.

But I love the overall concept and can't wait to see this applied to other topics (Table Service restaurants, resorts, etc.)

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Authored by: toasty on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 10:57 AM CDT

Flame Tree BBQ is the only counter service place I've been to at Disney that I would actually look forward to visiting even if I weren't in a theme park. While I've not been to Fountain, I have to give FTB the nod for having that distinction alone.

I also have to agree with the PP that the seeding could be improved. The NCAA Tourney isn't seeded randomly, it's seeded best to worst, so the approach suggested would work quite well. Additionally, it's apparent from the fact that there were so many byes that some of you picked the same places. Perhaps those places ought to get the byes rather than leaving it to chance -- they've "earned" a bye by virtue of their popularity with the panel, you might say, just as a number 1 seed in the NCAA tourney earns the right to play a creampuff in the first round by virtue of the success it enjoyed in the regular season.

Just a suggestion!

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Authored by: TQM on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 11:31 AM CDT

Another vote for Flame Tree.

But as far as I'm concerned, you can just skip to the end and give Sunshine Seasons the trophy!

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Authored by: wdwtodayfanclub on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 12:02 PM CDT

Flame Tree BBQ! The food and seating is unique for theme park food.

Where is Columbia Harbor House and Backlot Express? This is a completely unAmerican bracket.

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WDWTodayfanclub

We are not Disney nerds, we are enthusiasts

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Authored by: JTJWDWTD on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 01:05 PM CDT

I'll vote for the Flame Tree Barbecue. Great seating area. While we really like the food there, the Onion Rings are always a must.

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Authored by: Patty on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 02:00 PM CDT

I'll put in a vote for Flame Tree BBQ. You're right about the onion rings, they are
amazing.The pork sandwich and even the BBQ chicken salad is yummy.Looking
forward to seeing who makes the finals!

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Authored by: FigmentRules on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 02:29 PM CDT

I vote for Flame Tree Barbecue! The ambiance is amazing and the food is some of the best at counter service restaurants in all of WDW! I love to split an order of ribs with the hubby and just bask in the view over the river toward Expedition Everest, or the reflection pool. It's especially nice off hours. Lunch at 2:30pm there is a great idea! The Fountain is nice and I like the falafel there, but it is table service with a view of a hotel passageway.

I agree with Newell about Katsura Grill, too. I love to just order a nice bowl of Udon and sit out on the patio next to the water garden. It's like being someplace long ago and far away. I like Pecos Bill's for what it is, but there's a reasonable fixin's bar at the Fuddruckers two miles from the office.

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Authored by: kevdo on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 02:40 PM CDT

Tiebreaker: Flame Tree

I agree with the other poster.
1) No "bye" entries. Surely you could have found 16 counter service eateries (and NOTHING from the Studios? Come now...).

2) Rank them based on Unofficial Guide survey results. If there's a tie in rating, don't pit the restaurants from the same parks against each other.

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Kevin Crossman
www.kevdo.com
Cohost of the That's What She Said Podcast - twsspodcast.com

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Authored by: kevdo on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 02:46 PM CDT

French Quarter also has Beignets

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Kevin Crossman

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Authored by: Disney Mike on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 05:07 PM CDT

Flame Tree for sure!

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Authored by: KS Joe on Monday, May 14 2012 @ 10:02 PM CDT

Flame Tree BBQ - those onion rings are good

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Authored by: castawayjp on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 01:07 AM CDT

I'll give a vote for Flame Tree. I really like the food and love the way that everything is set up. Its nice to be able to eat outside in the shade, and there is plenty of seating...

I was a little disappointed in the counter service venues chosen for the brackets though. There was no reason to have 4 byes in the draw. They could have filled those slots with lots of different places. Some I would have liked to have seen included are, Pepper Market, Tortuga Tavern, Starring Roles, Writers Stop, Columbia Harbor House, Casey's. Any 4 of these places could have been used to fill the bye spots. Regardless I love the concept of the brackets shows!

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Authored by: mscopa on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 07:09 AM CDT

Regarding the bracketing:

I poll everyone and they send me their four top choices. Obviously sometimes choices are repeated...Len and Matt may send me similar choices.

I don't backfill any brackets because it's not fair to the content we are dealing with so I put byes in.

As i receive each selection I assign a number to that selection. I then use a random generator to populate the brackets rather than use my own preference. Sure it's random but that's the fair way of doing it.

I could alternately weigh each selection by how many of the co-hosts submit them but it's pretty wide open and again I would be putting in my own bias.

I felt it would be more fun to do it in a random manner, as we did the attractions.

Byes are a pain but it just seemed a fair way to do it.

The discussions that we go through and the criteria we establish as we make our selections bring it all home.

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Authored by: Betsy on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 07:30 AM CDT

Flame Tree!!

Great show guys, love the idea :)

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Authored by: Casey on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 08:39 AM CDT

My vote is for The Fountain.

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Authored by: pjhdisfan on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 09:18 AM CDT

Flame Tree BBQ - It is good tasting and a good deal!

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Authored by: ardrummo on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 09:28 AM CDT

Before I cast a vote, I wanted to comment on Cosmic Rays:

I went to the world for the first time in 2004 at the age of 25. It was a budget trip, so we didn't spend much time at table service restaurants and ate most of our meals counter service.

When I got home, the thing about the trip I talked about the most was Cosmic Rays. It was the perfect example to me of why Disney World is special and magical. It had nothing to do with the food, it was the "extras" that came with it.

At a burger joint back home, you get your burger and eat it. That's it. At Cosmic Rays, you get your burger, then get to go through the toppings bar (which I still can't believe is free) and then you sit and are entertained by a huge animatronic alien! I mean, what other company in the world would put that kind of effort into theming a burger joint!

Anyway, because of that, Cosmic Rays was the first place I really felt the magic of thinking that Disney really cared about their guests and entertaining them. So, I will always have a spot in my heart for Sonny.

As for the tie, I have never been to the Fountain, but regardless of the food at Flametree (which is excellent) the pavilions with the waterfront view are more than enough for it to get my vote.

Flametree is the only other counter service restaurant I visit on every trip, so go Flametree!

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Authored by: tink18 on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 11:17 AM CDT

Flametree BBQ all the way :D

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Authored by: Doc21g on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 11:44 AM CDT

Flame Tree BBQ

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Authored by: Belgarion42 on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 02:01 PM CDT

I've got to go with Flame Tree BBQ, hands down!

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Authored by: vbdallas on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 02:06 PM CDT

Flame Tree... it's the only place to get good bbq at WDW. You can get a good burger in at least 2 or 3 other locations. So FTB wins on that account alone. Good and smoked, low and slow, like it's supposed to be done.

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Authored by: destinationwdw on Tuesday, May 15 2012 @ 06:28 PM CDT

flame tree, without a doubt

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Authored by: yelverto on Wednesday, May 16 2012 @ 07:51 AM CDT

Flametree BBQ absolutely beats out The Fountain. I stop at Flametree every trip. The ribs are fall off the bone and delicious. Also while you eat, you have great views of Expedition Everest. The food though is the star!

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Authored by: Kfischler on Wednesday, May 16 2012 @ 08:52 AM CDT

My vote is for Flame Tree BBQ

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Authored by: dreamlinda on Wednesday, May 16 2012 @ 11:08 AM CDT

Flame Tree all the way!!

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Authored by: kraftar on Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 07:09 AM CDT

Another vote for Flame Tree!

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Authored by: mnmaier on Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 08:17 AM CDT

Flame Tree - hands down.

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Authored by: pixiedustmama on Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 09:15 AM CDT

having never been to the fountain, i have to go with flame tree bbq. You get a ton of good food, plus the scenery is a beautiful place to sit down and take a break!

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Authored by: hydrotony on Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 12:48 PM CDT

I started to listen to this episode and then heard Scopa try to explain his methodology and decided that it would be a waste of time to listen. WDW has a hundred counter service eateries and to have byes was indefensible. Oh well, all episodes can't be gems.

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Authored by: mscopa on Thursday, May 17 2012 @ 06:24 PM CDT

Methodology is a process...and I used the same methodology as we did with the attractions.

If I ask for only four selections there are bound to be duplication. Since it is not fair for me to add more than my own selections I back-fill with byes. The random number app I use then fills in the starting brackets.

We knew that the selections would not be met with 100% agreements from the listeners...the exercise here is to flush out the criteria we all use when evaluating the various components that make up WDW.

If you don't agree with our selections then please use the home version of WDWTODAY.

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Authored by: Fefsofdl on Saturday, May 19 2012 @ 08:58 PM CDT

We ALWAYS eat lunch at Flame Tree BBQ. I get the half Chicken and my wife orders the Turkey Sandich and then we split our CS entrees. I eat half her sandwich, very tasty and the chicken breast. She eats her half of the turkey sandwich and the wing and thigh of my 1/2 chicken. We love the seating by the water that overlooks Exp. Everest. Great Food, Great View, and the special beer just adds to our mid day break!

Plus seriously, you included a sit down restaurant in your counter service brackets. I call the refs in for bringing the Bama football team to a HS state championship. :-(

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Authored by: TinkyBell on Monday, May 21 2012 @ 03:07 PM CDT

I don't even understand brackets to begin with, but I'll cast my vote for Flame Tree Barbecue. Where was Sunshine Seasons in this whole thing? Did I fall asleep when they talked about it?

I totally agree with Tangierine Cafe, but I also love Marrakesh. Give it a shot! I've been going there just about since it opened. Nowadays I usually get the vegetable couscous, but I tried a really good soup last time (I forget the name) and loved it! The service is always excellent, and I love the music!

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Authored by: TinkyBell on Monday, May 21 2012 @ 03:13 PM CDT

Ok, so I've already established that I don't understand brackets. So, would someone please explain what the heck is a "bye"? When I was listening to it, I thought it was a "buy", which doesn't make sense either. I'm completely sports-illiterate!

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Authored by: afwdwfan on Thursday, May 31 2012 @ 08:39 AM CDT

Yeah... I realize I'm a few episodes behind, and I just listened to this one yesterday, but I just couldn't not comment on this one. Flame Tree, hands down, no contest. It is probably my favorite in park counter service in any of the parks.

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