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 all the new menu additions and meals photographs from Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe, which was beforehand useless to us. Plus, commentary about why that is seemingly taking place and what it means for Tiana’s Palace Restaurant or Nation Bear BBQ.

One way or the other, 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 very good factor). Moderately, it was the one with essentially the most squandered potential. A spot that would’ve been good and, at one time, was.

It has been stunning and disappointing that on the similar time Chipotle Mexican Grill has risen in recognition, Walt Disney World has gone within the precise wrong way with Pecos Invoice. Fortunately, they appear to be undoing that injury with the Fall 2024 menu overhaul, which seems to be the very best 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 just lately encountered at Magic Kingdom eating places. It looks as if this continues that development in an enormous approach. 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 this new menu at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe. So whereas it seems to be a dramatic enchancment, appears to be like may be deceiving. If we glided by the carefully-plated promotional photographs for the previous menu, we would’ve assumed that was additionally good. And but, the precise delicacies high quality was one step above pet food.

Typically Walt Disney World’s meals stylists and photographers are miracle employees, proper up there with the group that makes the Large Mac look extremely appetizing in photographs…regardless of my actual burgers by no means trying remotely the identical (or practically as massive). However I digress.

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

Construct Your Personal

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

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 making an attempt this! Though I strongly suspect the photograph vs. actuality distinction will probably 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 court docket at Coronado Springs, nevertheless it’ll nearly definitely be higher than what it changed.

High to backside menu overhauls like this are nearly all the time an enchancment. Disney’s culinary groups get the inexperienced gentle to make vital adjustments and, as you may most likely think about, nobody working in a inventive culinary place needs to work on an unambitious replace. The cooks don’t truly need to serve slop to friends–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, nevertheless it’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 all the time been dramatic upgrades. The one cause I’m even saying “nearly” all the time is as a result of I believe there was one instance of a downgrade, however I actually can’t bear 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 group goals excessive, however a few of their decisions aren’t all the time sensible for high-capacity areas or in keeping with visitor preferences. That is the first cause that menus are dumbed down over time, all over the place will get a burger added, and many others. It’s additionally usually needed to cut back preparation steps, as dishes turn into too labor intensive or time-consuming to organize. I don’t suppose 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 convey 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 large counter service spots had going for them pre-closure!

Lastly, there are the potential implications for the way forward for this venue. As we just lately 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 because the final D23 Expo. At one level, it appeared like a foregone conclusion that it would occur–and doubtless changing Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn & Cafe since Imagineers had been noticed poking round there on a number of events.

I gained’t rehash all the dialogue from that submit, however one factor I did recommend was this: “With all of that mentioned, I do suppose one thing will occur with Pecos Invoice. The underlying IP is sort of definitely considered as “outdated” in Disney’s eyes, and ripe for substitute. Nonetheless, I believe if a change is made, it’ll be very superficial–most likely simply the identify, 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 recommend “Sammy’s Raccoon Saloon” or “Large 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 Vehicles sights in a reimagined space of Frontierland at Magic Kingdom in addition to Villains Land growth at Magic Kingdom. Subsequent to D23, Walt Disney World revealed that the Vehicles space will truly exchange the Rivers of America, that means that Tom Sawyer Island and the Liberty Sq. Riverboat will completely shut.

In gentle of this information, I now suppose it’s pretty clear what’s taking place. Pecos Invoice isn’t going to turn into Tiana’s Palace Restaurant or Nation Bear BBQ. It wouldn’t shock me if each had been critically 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 Vehicles-themed inside the subsequent 5 years. That’s actually the one choice at this level, and one which makes extra sense than Tiana’s Palace Restaurant. For one factor, Princess and the Frog is simply so fashionable, and overdoing it on that franchise might not be a financially-savvy transfer–particularly on the planet’s hottest theme park. (I may nonetheless see Tiana’s Palace coming to a resort–maybe nonetheless the revived Reflections mission?)

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

This is able to 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 substitute and it’s higher to interchange 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 special course, that means that Pecos Invoice is in a holding sample for the following 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 Vehicles restaurant coming to Magic Kingdom? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!