New Menu for Magic Kingdom’s Infamously Subpar Counter Service Restaurant
After years of stagnation, Magic Kingdom’s most mediocre meal spot has a brand-new menu! This post lists all of the new menu additions and food photos from Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, which was previously dead to us. Plus, commentary about why this is likely happening and what it means for Tiana’s Palace Restaurant or Country Bear BBQ.
Somehow, Pecos Bill is/was not the worst counter service restaurant in all of Magic Kingdom, which is really saying something (and not a good thing). Rather, it was the one with the most squandered potential. A spot that could’ve been good and, at one time, was.
It has been surprising and disappointing that at the same time Chipotle Mexican Grill has risen in popularity, Walt Disney World has gone in the exact opposite direction with Pecos Bill. Thankfully, they seem to be undoing that damage with the Fall 2024 menu overhaul, which appears to be the best menu at this location in almost a decade.
The timing of this is opportune. I was just working on a post about pleasant dining surprises I’ve recently encountered at Magic Kingdom restaurants. It seems like this continues that trend in a big way. It’s as if someone dared to dream: what if food at the world’s most popular theme park were actually edible?
In fairness, we have yet to try this new menu at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe. So while it appears to be a dramatic improvement, looks can be deceiving. If we went by the carefully-plated promotional images for the old menu, we might’ve assumed that was also good. And yet, the actual cuisine quality was one step above dog food.
Sometimes Walt Disney World’s food stylists and photographers are miracle workers, right up there with the team that makes the Big Mac look incredibly appetizing in images…despite my real burgers never looking remotely the same (or nearly as large). But I digress.
Here’s the full menu Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe (available as of September 18, 2024), followed by thoughts…
Build Your Own
Steamed Tamale ($12.99) – Steamed Green Chili-Cheese Tamale with Stewed Pinto Beans, Queso Fresco, and Pico de Gallo
Nacho Bowl ($12.99) – House-fried Corn Tortilla Chips smothered with Stewed Pinto Beans, Chipotle Queso, and Pico de Gallo
Southwest Caesar Salad ($12.99) – Romaine tossed in Creamy Salsa Verde Dressing, Pepitas, Queso Fresco, Pico de Gallo, and Tortilla Strips
Rice Bowl ($12.99) – Pinto Beans, Cilantro-Lime Rice, Cowboy Caviar, and Queso Fresco
- Citrus-Chipotle Chicken
- Green Chili Pork
- Coca-Cola Cherry Braised Beef ($.50)
Second Protein:
- Citrus-Chipotle Chicken ($1.50)
- Green Chili Pork ($1.50)
- Coca-Cola Cherry Braised Beef ($2)
Add a Side:
- Queso Chipotle ($1)
- Guacamole ($2.50)
- Queso & Guacamole ($3.50)
Entrées
Double Chili con Queso Burger ($16.49) – Two Flame-broiled All-Beef Patties topped with Chili con Carne, Chipotle Queso, and Corn Chips
Grilled Masa Flatbread ($10.49) – Grilled Corn Flatbread topped with Sweet Potatoes, Stewed Pinto Beans, Plant-based Pepper Jack “Cheese,” Shredded Lettuce, Pico de Gallo, and Plant-based Lime Crema
Sides
Charros Beans ($4.99) – Stewed Pinto Beans topped with Pico de Gallo and Queso Fresco
Cilantro-Lime Rice ($4.99) – Plant-based
Guacamole ($2.50)
Kids’ Meals
Chicken Nacho Bowl ($8.79) – Served with choice of two (2) Sides and choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI Bottled Water
Chicken Rice Bowl ($8.49) – Served with choice of two (2) Sides and choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI Bottled Water
Cheeseburger ($8.49) – Served with choice of two (2) Sides and choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI Bottled Water
Beef Nacho Bowl ($8.79) – Served with choice of two (2) Sides and choice of Small Lowfat Milk or Small DASANI Bottled Water
Desserts
Sweet Corn Mousse ($6.29)
White Chocolate and Raspberry Powder ($6.29)
Mexican Chocolate and Horchata Verrine ($5.49)
Turning to commentary, I’m actually looking forward to trying this! Although I strongly suspect the photo vs. reality difference will be fairly pronounced, the thing is, it’s gotta be better than what’s there now. I wouldn’t expect this to be on par with the quality of the food court at Coronado Springs, but it’ll almost certainly be better than what it replaced.
Top to bottom menu overhauls like this are almost always an improvement. Disney’s culinary teams get the green light to make significant changes and, as you can probably imagine, no one working in a creative culinary position wants to work on an unambitious update. The chefs don’t actually want to serve slop to guests–that’s usually the byproduct of managers coming in and simplifying or streamlining menus to make them more efficient or cheaper.
I know that sounds harsh, but it’s just the practical reality of things. In the last several years, when new menus have debuted at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, they have almost always been dramatic upgrades. The only reason I’m even saying “almost” always is because I think there was one example of a downgrade, but I honestly can’t remember where. At least 9 times out of 10, they’re major improvements. That’s especially true at a place like Pecos Bill, which has nowhere to go but up.
There’s also a corollary to this: brand-new menus are often better than 6-month old menus. The culinary team aims high, but some of their choices aren’t always practical for high-capacity locations or in line with guest preferences. This is the primary reason that menus are dumbed down over time, everywhere gets a burger added, etc. It’s also often necessary to reduce preparation steps, as dishes become too labor intensive or time-consuming to prepare. I don’t think there’s a danger of any of that here–this looks pretty crowd-pleasing from the get-go!
Now, if Walt Disney World is really serious about sealing the deal on the new Pecos Bill menu being a home run, they’ll bring back the toppings bar. It’s long overdue, both here and at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. That was the thing that both of these massive counter service spots had going for them pre-closure!
Finally, there are the potential implications for the future of this venue. As we recently discussed in Restaurant Mystery at Magic Kingdom, it’s been radio silence from Disney about Tiana’s Palace in Magic Kingdom or anywhere else at Walt Disney World since the last D23 Expo. At one point, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that it would happen–and probably replacing Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe since Imagineers were spotted poking around there on multiple occasions.
I won’t rehash all of the discussion from that post, but one thing I did suggest was this: “With all of that said, I do think something will happen with Pecos Bill. The underlying IP is almost certainly viewed as “outdated” in Disney’s eyes, and ripe for replacement. However, I think if a change is made, it’ll be very superficial–probably just the name, signage, and a bit of placemaking. (Sorta similar to San Fransokyo Square at DCA, but not even as ambitious as that.) If this is on the table, I’d humbly suggest “Sammy’s Raccoon Saloon” or “Big Al’s BBQ Barn.” Or even just revive the Mile Long Bar moniker. Give us Country Bear fans a win.”
Once Country Bear BBQ Jamboree was announced for Disneyland, I figured an East Coast outpost of the same was an inevitability. Especially given that the reimagining of Country Bear Jamboree right next door has already breathed new life into this area of the park and the Country Bears “IP.”
Then came the D23 Expo, and the announcement of two all-new Cars attractions in a reimagined area of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom as well as Villains Land expansion at Magic Kingdom. Subsequent to D23, Walt Disney World revealed that the Cars area will actually replace the Rivers of America, meaning that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Square Riverboat will permanently close.
In light of this news, I now think it’s fairly clear what’s happening. Pecos Bill isn’t going to become Tiana’s Palace Restaurant or Country Bear BBQ. It wouldn’t surprise me if both were seriously considered at one point, but I strongly suspect the ship has sailed on these concepts.
Instead, I would expect this restaurant to be converted to something Cars-themed within the next 5 years. That’s really the only option at this point, and one that makes more sense than Tiana’s Palace Restaurant. For one thing, Princess and the Frog is only so popular, and overdoing it on that franchise may not be a financially-savvy move–especially in the world’s most popular theme park. (I could still see Tiana’s Palace coming to a resort–perhaps still the revived Reflections project?)
For another thing, Cars is insanely popular and no amount of theme park presence would be too much. Since space is limited in the area it’s being built on, I can only assume that Cars restaurants and retail will eventually take over this thoroughfare in Frontierland. It just makes sense, as one of Disney’s merchandising powerhouses isn’t going to get ignored on the monetization front. (I would not expect Flo’s V8 Cafe, since the theme of this Cars land will be different than Cars Land at DCA.)
This would also explain why Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is getting a new menu now. The previous version was awful. Pecos Bill was dying a slow death, but who cared? After all, it was slated for imminent replacement and it’s better to replace a bad thing that no one likes anymore than a fan-favorite. That is, until it wasn’t.
Things have changed, and Walt Disney World is going a different direction, meaning that Pecos Bill is in a holding pattern for the next few years. That’s a long time for the terrible previous menu to limp along on life support. Hence this new menu, which breathes new life into the location and buys it a temporary lease on life–and this location.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe getting a new menu? Are you excited for these changes and additions? Thoughts on the likelihood of a Cars restaurant coming to Magic Kingdom? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
We would always get the beef tacos there. got to find another place now.
Tamales are made with meat inside them, period. That being true, this new menu still looks pretty good to me and I am a Mexican-food snob, being from southern NM where the good stuff is. South of Hatch. No Albuquerque and Sphincter Fe aren’t quite right. The Tex-Mex here in San Antonio is decent, but also not quite right. I think I’ll be checking this out next Saturday when I’m in MK. I’m really glad they didn’t slather any of it in nasty avocado too!
+1 vote for me on bringing back a real toppings bar! Yes, I know some of us abused it, scabbing free cups of pickle chips every once in a while, but that’s beside the point. It’s not like we were sneaking in our own bags of tortilla chips and making a nacho plate, though I did see that suggested in a Disney forum once, many years ago. Never saw anyone actually do it.
Sorry Tom, but any part of Florida and East Coast are not even related things! Florida is almost not even part of The South, being different culturally from the rest. Florida is almost its own region, in more ways than one…
I considered eating at Pecos Bills when we go next week but none of that sounds remotely appetizing to me. I also don’t want to be stuck eating burgers or just snack foods. MK really needs a decent place to eat.
It’s called Skipper Canteen!
Fully agree with Skipper’s.
Was Sleepy’s Hollows menu a downgrade? I have not eaten there since the changes but if the Chicken and Waffle is actually gone then that would be a major disappointment.
Sadly, the chicken and waffle along with the fruit and nutella waffle is gone.
The chicken waffle was a huge disappointment for me. Way too bland and just not very good overall.
That they designed this menu without an option to either have a plant-based protein or no protein at all for those “build your own” items really shows how thoughtless Disney is about people with various health or dietary preferences and requirements. It would be so ease to have a seasoned tofu, or just offer just the base and then options to add chicken/pork/beef. They also seem to have no concept that there are people who don’t eat meet, but do eat dairy (such as myself) and maybe offer items that have real cheese or sour cream but no meat.
And while I’m bitching about this, the Regal Eagle no longer has a plant-based burger. The only entree option there now is jackfruit (which does not taste like or provide nutrition like a meat) in BBQ sauce on a bun.
I am surprised to hear you say this was forgettable to you. Pecos Bill’s has been one of our favorites for years! We just ate there in August, and the nachos were excellent. We love eating it the area that looks like the outdoor courtyard.
I’m laughing as I read this and I so do understand the distress of those who liked Pecos Bill’s. I don’t thing I’ve eaten there but we like plain food and if those pictures are true to life it would be a NO for us. I didn’t see one option on there for any of my family, young or old.
it’s super upsetting news for us. We absolutely loved Pecos Bill and this new menu doesn’t work for us at all. Not sure what we are going to eat now at Magic Kingdom.
I had a different theory-that perhaps with the elimination of the ROA and the addition of a Cars area, they were going to add additional restaurant capacity that might become a Tiana’s Palace. Perhaps they’ve gone radio silent because they’ve just decided that for the moment it was better to not say anything at all acknowledging that the river is going away. Just a theory, could be totally wrong.
But I imagine that MK could stand to have another mass capacity quick service location, and this expansion might give them a chance to do it in a place that will be more centrally located than the Villains area.
I will say that an *announced* new menu usually means a higher quality of ingredients, so I’m optimistic that we can break the cat food barrier there whether or not I actually like the resulting meals. (Or would that be more than one step above dog food?)
Once we have confirmation that the meal is no longer subpar, I’ll be fully on Team Toppings Bar. I just have too many 80s-era memories of trying and failing to cover up the taste of a lousy burger with practically a whole side salad I didn’t order or want. The Golden Age of Pecos Bill had solid food as well as the toppings bar.
Meh, not really my jam. I would of preferred proper tacos. Last summer ( not this) we went to Disneyland for first time and I gotta say the tacos in san fransokyo area were legit.
That is STILL not a real word, dude.
Pity the fajitas went, that was quite a good value meal for 2 (and also fairly tasty – as of Jan 2023)
Your note that “Princess and the Frog is only so popular” is one that’s often overlooked. Personally I think the movie is pretty good, though not one of the triumphs of Disney animation studios, nor considered anything but a “marginal success” commercialy (underperforming both its predecessor “Bolt” and successor “Tangled” at the box office). It’s got a lively soundtrack but I struggle to think of a memorable song. The fact that it features Disney’s first (and still only) Black princess has elevated its cultural relevance and importance among Disney films but that alone can’t make the film more popular or enjoyable. (The New Orleans setting and storyline does lend itself well to restaurant theming, though).
I personally think the significance of having a Black princess (and what representation means to so many underrepresented communities) is beyond measure. And Disney knows this full well, and they’ve hitched their wagon to Tiana as the face of their efforts to demonstrate diversity and inclusivity. It’s unfair that Tiana didn’t get to be featured in a more enjoyable film with classic songs by Lin-Manuel or Robert Lopez or Alan Menken, but they can’t force people to fall in love with The Princess and the Frog like they’ve fallen for Cars or Moana or Frozen (or even Coco or Encanto). So yes, I think longer term it’s far more likely that this will be a Cars restaurant than a Tiana’s Palace.
Mostly agreed. I love Princess and the Frog, but admittedly that’s probably largely due to the circumstances that produced it, ‘vibe’ of the movie, and Dr. Facilier (an all-time great villain). Then again, I also like Bolt a lot for somewhat similar reasons–that movie ushered in a great new era for WDAS.
I’m frankly shocked Disney hasn’t just made more movies featuring minorities or underrepresented cultures. Coco is another example, perhaps an even better one, of this approach working really well. And I don’t recall that being the least bit controversial. Seems like a better approach than the half-measures they’ve pursued since, but what do I know.
Don’t forget Raya (most people already did, I’m guessing!) as a non-European princess. As for PatF music, I agree that Newman, while good, isn’t up there with Menken for memorable tunes. But Friends on the Other Side is a great villain song.
Yes. The real opportunity for MK is to build a NEW signature restaurant serving Creole/Cajun food with good table service with indoor and sheltered outdoor seating and a side area for lighter counter service.
Let’s celebrate the French Quarter in style, not like an afterthought (such as ruination of Splash over a stupid idea).
Pecos fare was WAY above Pinocchios! That burger looks inedible. And “Cars is insanely popular” just means the author and I live in separate worlds.
I’m not sure which market you live in, but here in the United States, Cars is insanely popular by objective metrics. It’s a merchandising powerhouse to this day. I could see it being less popular in other markets that don’t have our affinity for the automobile.
Pixar didn’t make 3 theatrically released Cars films and build a whole land in Anaheim because the franchise is unpopular.
I agree with you – the burger does look inedible…tasty, but inedible. What’s up with cooks and food stylists thinking that anyone wants to see a burger that’s six inches tall placed in front of them???
I wouldn’t be surprised if Pecos Bill gets a Cars makeover…except in the concept art, it looks like the building is separated from the main Cars area by trees and the side of the mountain. We might not even be able to see any Cars from the restaurant.
I wouldn’t spend too much time dissecting the concept art–it’s not necessarily accurate to what they’ll be building.
For example, the buildings in the image on the far left are not even part of Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland…they’re Disneyland Paris.
There is already an unused restaurant space in the French Quarter. It used to be “Bonfamille’s Cafe” and Tiana would fit right it.
Looks like they already reused that space, but if there is any space at Port Orleans it would be a welcome addition.
If they wanted a table service restaurant at POFQ again, it would go into the Bonfamille’s space. For whatever reason, they’ve expanded and separated Scat Cat’s Club into two venues, but it could just as easily be a single multi-purpose location in the old lobby lounge.
I highly doubt Disney wants to use the table service facility there, though.
That’s at Disneyland CA. This is about Magic Kingdom WDW Florida Frontier land.
Deleting all my thoughts about Cars, and about the kind of “complaints” that probably led to Cars, and about the kind of people that probably made the kind of “complaints” that led to Cars…
WHY can’t we get Tiana’s Palace somewhere? And why in the world can’t that “somewhere” be at Port Orleans FQ??? If it’s not an enduringly popular IP, then put it in “New Orleans” where it belongs! Then it’s off the beaten path for most people, but those of us who love that movie (and the PO resorts, historically) will have a fresh reason to stay there, or at least an opportunity to head over for dinner.
Sadly, I think you answer your own question: “it’s off the beaten path for most people”
POFQ had a table service restaurant–it wasn’t viable. And that was years ago, before Disney Springs made a wealth of dining options even more accessible from Port Orleans.
I just don’t see WDW adding restaurants to resorts that require bus transportation.
Are we not going to talk about the “sweetcorn mousse” apparently being an actual corn on the cob lightly dusted with sugar? Is…is this an American thing?
(Signed, a baffled Brit)
@Helen Lived all my life in the NE United States and never heard of the Corn thing described. Maybe a Southwestern US thing???
I’m guessing that’s the wrong picture? It looks like Mexican street corn to me. I don’t think that fits any definition of mousse I’ve ever seen.
I think it’s probably the correct photo, and it’s just shaped that way. They’ve done a couple of corn on the cob shaped desserts in the last few years. The real thing probably isn’t quite so convincing.
I saw a video of someone cutting into it, and its definitely mousse shaped like corn.
That flatbread looks like somebody ate it already.
What does it say about The Magic Kingdom that I read the headline, and in spite of being an avid reader of the Disney Tourist Blog, I still wasn’t sure WHICH location you were referring to?
That menu looks really good! I love tamales and have never seen one at a Disney park – I hope they do them well. And I’m not usually one for vegetarian entrees, but the grilled masa flatbread sounds quite good. The Double Chili con Queso Burger sounds a little dubious (how would you eat that neatly?), but I suupose all QS must have a burger on the menu.