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 submit lists the entire new menu additions and meals pictures from Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe, which was beforehand lifeless to us. Plus, commentary about why that is doubtless occurring and what it means for Tiana’s Palace Restaurant or Nation Bear BBQ.

Someway, Pecos Invoice is/was not the worst counter service restaurant in all of Magic Kingdom, which is de facto saying one thing (and never a superb factor). Reasonably, it was the one with essentially the most squandered potential. A spot that might’ve been good and, at one time, was.

It has been shocking and disappointing that on the identical time Chipotle Mexican Grill has risen in reputation, Walt Disney World has gone within the precise other way with Pecos Invoice. Fortunately, they appear to be undoing that injury with the Fall 2024 menu overhaul, which seems to be the most effective menu at this location in nearly a decade.

The timing of that is opportune. I used to be simply engaged on a submit about nice eating surprises I’ve not too long ago encountered at Magic Kingdom eating places. It looks as if this continues that pattern in an enormous means. It’s as if somebody dared to dream: what if meals on the world’s hottest theme park had been truly edible?

In equity, we’ve but to do that new menu at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe. So whereas it seems to be a dramatic enchancment, appears to be like could be deceiving. If we glided by the carefully-plated promotional pictures for the previous menu, we’d’ve assumed that was additionally good. And but, the precise delicacies high quality was one step above pet food.

Generally Walt Disney World’s meals stylists and photographers are miracle employees, proper up there with the staff that makes the Massive Mac look extremely appetizing in pictures…regardless of my actual burgers by no means trying remotely the identical (or almost as giant). However I digress.

Right here’s the complete menu Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe (accessible as of September 18, 2024), adopted by ideas…

Construct Your Personal

With any of those construct your individual bowls and dishes, the next customization choices additionally accessible.

Protein:

• Citrus-Chipotle Rooster
• Inexperienced Chili Pork
• Coca-Cola Cherry Braised Beef ($.50)

Second Protein: 

• Citrus-Chipotle Rooster ($1.50)
• Inexperienced Chili Pork ($1.50)
• Coca-Cola Cherry Braised Beef ($2)

Add a Aspect:

• Queso Chipotle ($1)
• Guacamole ($2.50)
• Queso & Guacamole ($3.50)

Turning to commentary, I’m truly trying ahead to attempting this! Though I strongly suspect the picture vs. actuality distinction shall be pretty pronounced, the factor is, it’s gotta be higher than what’s there now. I wouldn’t count on this to be on par with the standard of the meals courtroom at Coronado Springs, but it surely’ll nearly actually be higher than what it changed.

Prime to backside menu overhauls like this are nearly at all times an enchancment. Disney’s culinary groups get the inexperienced mild to make important adjustments and, as you’ll be able to most likely think about, nobody working in a inventive culinary place desires to work on an unambitious replace. The cooks don’t truly wish to serve slop to visitors–that’s normally the byproduct of managers coming in and simplifying or streamlining menus to make them extra environment friendly or cheaper.

I do know that sounds harsh, but it surely’s simply the sensible actuality of issues. Within the final a number of years, when new menus have debuted at Walt Disney World or Disneyland, they’ve nearly at all times been dramatic upgrades. The one purpose I’m even saying “nearly” at all times is as a result of I believe there was one instance of a downgrade, however I actually can’t keep in mind the place. At the least 9 instances out of 10, they’re main enhancements. That’s very true at a spot like Pecos Invoice, which has nowhere to go however up.

There’s additionally a corollary to this: brand-new menus are sometimes higher than 6-month previous menus. The culinary staff goals excessive, however a few of their decisions aren’t at all times sensible for high-capacity places or in keeping with visitor preferences. That is the first purpose that menus are dumbed down over time, all over the place will get a burger added, and many others. It’s additionally typically crucial to scale back preparation steps, as dishes change into too labor intensive or time-consuming to organize. I don’t assume there’s a hazard of any of that right here–this appears to be like fairly crowd-pleasing from the get-go!

Now, if Walt Disney World is de facto severe about sealing the deal on the brand new Pecos Invoice menu being a house run, they’ll deliver again the toppings bar. It’s lengthy overdue, each right here and at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe. That was the factor that each of those huge counter service spots had going for them pre-closure!

Lastly, there are the potential implications for the way forward for this venue. As we not too long ago mentioned in Restaurant Thriller at Magic Kingdom, it’s been radio silence from Disney about Tiana’s Palace in Magic Kingdom or anyplace else at Walt Disney World for the reason that final D23 Expo. At one level, it appeared like a foregone conclusion that it would occur–and possibly changing Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn & Cafe since Imagineers had been noticed poking round there on a number of events.

I gained’t rehash the entire dialogue from that submit, however one factor I did counsel was this: “With all of that mentioned, I do assume one thing will occur with Pecos Invoice. The underlying IP is sort of actually considered as “outdated” in Disney’s eyes, and ripe for alternative. Nevertheless, I believe if a change is made, it’ll be very superficial–most likely simply the title, signage, and a little bit of placemaking. (Sorta just like San Fransokyo Sq. at DCA, however not at the same time as formidable as that.) If that is on the desk, I’d humbly counsel “Sammy’s Raccoon Saloon” or “Massive Al’s BBQ Barn.” And even simply revive the Mile Lengthy Bar moniker. Give us Nation Bear followers a win.”

As soon as Nation Bear BBQ Jamboree was introduced for Disneyland, I figured an East Coast outpost of the identical was an inevitability. Particularly provided that the reimagining of Nation Bear Jamboree proper subsequent door has already breathed new life into this space of the park and the Nation Bears “IP.”

Then got here the D23 Expo, and the announcement of two all-new Automobiles points of interest in a reimagined space of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom in addition to Villains Land enlargement at Magic Kingdom. Subsequent to D23, Walt Disney World revealed that the Automobiles space will truly substitute the Rivers of America, that means that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat will completely shut.

In mild of this information, I now assume it’s pretty clear what’s occurring. Pecos Invoice isn’t going to change into Tiana’s Palace Restaurant or Nation Bear BBQ. It wouldn’t shock me if each had been severely thought-about at one level, however I strongly suspect the ship has sailed on these ideas.

As an alternative, I’d count on this restaurant to be transformed to one thing Automobiles-themed throughout the subsequent 5 years. That’s actually the one possibility at this level, and one which makes extra sense than Tiana’s Palace Restaurant. For one factor, Princess and the Frog is just so well-liked, and overdoing it on that franchise is probably not a financially-savvy transfer–particularly on this planet’s hottest theme park. (I may nonetheless see Tiana’s Palace coming to a resort–maybe nonetheless the revived Reflections undertaking?)

For one more factor, Automobiles is insanely well-liked and no quantity of theme park presence can be an excessive amount of. Since area is restricted within the space it’s being constructed on, I can solely assume that Automobiles eating places and retail will ultimately take over this thoroughfare in Frontierland. It simply is sensible, as certainly one of Disney’s merchandising powerhouses isn’t going to get ignored on the monetization entrance. (I’d not count on Flo’s V8 Cafe, for the reason that theme of this Automobiles land shall be totally different than Automobiles Land at DCA.)

This could additionally clarify why Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe is getting a brand new menu now. The earlier model was terrible. Pecos Invoice was dying a sluggish demise, however who cared? In any case, it was slated for imminent alternative and it’s higher to exchange a nasty factor that nobody likes anymore than a fan-favorite. That’s, till it wasn’t.

Issues have modified, and Walt Disney World goes a unique path, that means that Pecos Invoice is in a holding sample for the subsequent few years. That’s a very long time for the horrible earlier menu to limp alongside on life help. Therefore this new menu, which breathes new life into the placement and buys it a brief lease on life–and this location.

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YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you concentrate on Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe getting a brand new menu? Are you excited for these adjustments and additions? Ideas on the chance of a Automobiles restaurant coming to Magic Kingdom? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!