| There are some really great "counter services" | | | | have a long time at times, and it's quite popular with |
| restaurants at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida. | | | | visitors and locals alike. I checked the listing in |
| This is a first-person presentation on three of them: | | | | TripAdvisor and it's 9th out of 1,224 eating spots in |
| Flame Tree Barbecue, The Earl of Sandwich and | | | | the Orlando area. For Disney fans alone, AllEars.Net is |
| Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe. Also included here is | | | | there to hear what your fellow visitors think. |
| information on researching the best restaurants at | | | | PLAN YOUR MEALS FIRST |
| the "World". | | | | I also want to make a recommendation to help plan |
| FLAME TREE BARBECUE | | | | your next trip to Walt Disney World. It's good to |
| Everyone has their own favorite Barbecue place, so | | | | start planning your Disney World vacations with the |
| trying one in a theme park can challenge your taste | | | | restaurants you want to visit, and then go back to |
| buds. And even though Flame Tree is in a Disney | | | | prepare the rest of your schedule. So I always begin |
| park, I was not quite sure until we visited The Flame | | | | with The Disney Food Blog and their "Best |
| Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom. My wife and I felt | | | | Restaurant" page. Take some time to read reviews |
| they did compare very well to our local BBQ pits. | | | | there and on other Disney fan sites. You won't be |
| Smoked Barbecue Ribs, pulled pork and chicken | | | | disappointed that you planned where you would like |
| sandwiches, baked beans and cole slow, it was a | | | | to eat first. |
| pleasure to stop twice during our last trip. | | | | PECOS BILLS TALL TALE INN AND CAFE |
| At the Flame Tree BBQ the hot meals are $9-11 each | | | | Finally we arrive at the Walt Disney World Magic |
| but there are also salads and a fruit plate for a little | | | | Kingdom and Pecos Bills Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, |
| less. But don't forget to share an order of fries or | | | | located in Frontierland. They have hamburgers, but it |
| onion rings. There is plenty of outdoor seating, and | | | | is the Dagwood-style burgers you can create on |
| various breeds of birds (like Egrets) to accompany | | | | your own! You order your food at an computer |
| your meal. The scenery is really nice and quiet, and | | | | Kiosk, which I thought was a little strange, but then I |
| be sure to look around at the pavilion carvings and | | | | noticed the fixings bar, and any apprehension I had |
| period decorations. The way it's laid out, you are out | | | | went away. And this is a big place, tables inside and |
| of the way of the busy main walkways so there is | | | | outside that means room for hundreds. |
| some privacy. You will enjoy the meal. | | | | When you are really hungry, go to Pecos Bills. Combo |
| THE EARL OF SANDWICH | | | | meals like the Bacon Double Cheeseburger and |
| The Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney is another | | | | quarter pounders can double in size with a visit to |
| great stop, and it reminds me of deli-style stores in | | | | fixings bar. There are also BBQ Pork sandwiches, |
| big cities, but without the bulk meat purchases. There | | | | chicken wraps, salads and vegetarian burger. In 2009 |
| are soups and salads, a wide variety of delicious | | | | they added a fried chicken and gravy dinner with |
| carefully-designed hot and cold sandwiches, and some | | | | corn. And in 2010 they added an Angus Burger. When |
| pre-wrapped sides and desserts. All of it is very good | | | | you add the sides (like chili cheese fries!) plus |
| and will draw you back many times for a quick, but | | | | desserts, you have a meal equal to the five |
| well-prepared meal. | | | | recommended food groups. |
| The Earl's sandwiches have names and cost about $6 | | | | The character Pecos Bill is real (or maybe real folklore |
| each. These include the The Full Montagu (Roasted | | | | of the old west), but Disney adopted him to their |
| Beef, Turkey, Swiss & Cheddar Cheese, Lettuce, | | | | own devices through film, cartoons and a theme park |
| Roma Tomato & Earl's Mustard); the Original 1762 | | | | restaurant. You might remember Melody Time, the |
| (Freshly Roasted Beef, Cheddar Cheese & Creamy | | | | Disney animated feature from 1948. The finale of |
| Horseradish Sauce); Hawaiian BBQ (Grilled Chicken, | | | | Melody Time was a cartoon about Pecos Bill and his |
| Roasted Ham, Hawaiian BBQ Sauce, Aged Swiss | | | | horse, Widowmaker. Pecos Bill in the cartoon was not |
| Cheese & Fresh Pineapple); the Earl's Club (Roasted | | | | too politically correct since he smoked, so it's not |
| Turkey, Smoked Bacon, Swiss Cheese, Lettuce, | | | | widely distributed for today's audiences. But then |
| Roma Tomato & Sandwich Sauce) and Cannonballs | | | | came the 1995 Disney movie starring Patrick Swayze |
| (Meatballs, Marinara, Mozzarella & Parmesan Cheese). | | | | as Pecos Bill. |
| They also have salads. | | | | These counter-service options are much faster than |
| The Earl of Sandwich originated at WDW and was | | | | sit-down dining (even with the waiting-to-order and |
| founded by Robert Earl of Planet Hollywood fame | | | | pick-up lines) but that means you get back to your |
| and the actual 11th of Earl of Sandwich Lord John | | | | real purpose for being at a Walt Disney theme park. |
| Montagu. They are trying to build a nationwide chain, | | | | Plus counter-service meals are clearly less expensive |
| with about a dozen right stores now. This place can | | | | for everyone particularly families. Have a magical day. |