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

By some means, Pecos Invoice is/was not the worst counter service restaurant in all of Magic Kingdom, which is basically saying one thing (and never a great factor). Somewhat, 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 stunning and disappointing that on the similar 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 harm 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 publish about nice eating surprises I’ve lately encountered at Magic Kingdom eating places. It looks like this continues that development in an enormous manner. It’s as if somebody dared to dream: what if meals on the world’s hottest theme park have been truly edible?

In equity, now we have but to do that new menu at Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe. So whereas it seems to be a dramatic enchancment, seems to be could be deceiving. If we glided by the carefully-plated promotional pictures for the outdated menu, we would’ve assumed that was additionally good.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 staff, proper up there with the crew that makes the Large Mac look extremely appetizing in pictures…regardless of my actual burgers by no means trying remotely the identical (or almost 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 individual bowls and dishes, the next customization choices additionally obtainable.

Protein:

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

Second Protein: 

• Citrus-Chipotle Hen ($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 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 anticipate this to be on par with the standard of the meals courtroom at Coronado Springs, but it surely’ll nearly definitely 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 gentle to make vital adjustments and, as you possibly can most likely think about, nobody working in a artistic culinary place needs to work on an unambitious replace. The cooks don’t truly wish to serve slop to friends–that’s often 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 motive 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 bear in mind the place. At the very least 9 occasions 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 outdated menus. The culinary crew goals excessive, however a few of their selections aren’t at all times sensible for high-capacity areas or according to visitor preferences. That is the first motive that menus are dumbed down over time, in every single place will get a burger added, and so on. It’s additionally usually needed to cut back preparation steps, as dishes turn into too labor intensive or time-consuming to arrange. I don’t assume there’s a hazard of any of that right here–this seems to be fairly crowd-pleasing from the get-go!

Now, if Walt Disney World is basically critical 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 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 lately mentioned in Restaurant Thriller at Magic Kingdom, it’s been radio silence from Disney about Tiana’s Palace in Magic Kingdom or wherever 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 doubtless changing Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn & Cafe since Imagineers have been noticed poking round there on a number of events.

I received’t rehash all the dialogue from that publish, however one factor I did counsel was this: “With all of that stated, I do assume one thing will occur with Pecos Invoice. The underlying IP is sort of definitely seen 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 title, signage, and a little bit of placemaking. (Sorta much like San Fransokyo Sq. at DCA, however not at the same time as bold as that.) If that is on the desk, I’d humbly counsel “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 on condition 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 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 Vehicles space will truly change 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 assume it’s pretty clear what’s occurring. Pecos Invoice isn’t going to turn into Tiana’s Palace Restaurant or Nation Bear BBQ. It wouldn’t shock me if each have been severely thought of at one level, however I strongly suspect the ship has sailed on these ideas.

As a substitute, I’d anticipate this restaurant to be transformed to one thing Vehicles-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 barely so standard, and overdoing it on that franchise will not be 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 challenge?)

For an additional factor, Vehicles is insanely standard 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 Vehicles eating places and retail will finally 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 anticipate Flo’s V8 Cafe, for the reason that 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 gradual dying, however who cared? In any case, it was slated for imminent substitute and it’s higher to exchange a foul 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 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 situation and buys it a short lived lease on life–and this location.

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YOUR THOUGHTS

What do you consider Pecos Invoice Tall Story Inn and Cafe getting a brand new menu? Are you excited for these adjustments and additions? Ideas on the probability of a Vehicles 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 while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!