Picture it: Lunchtime has arrived in Magic Kingdom and you can feel your stomach grumbling. 😟 It’s time to eat and you’re looking for something quick, delicious, filling, and worth your cash. Where do you go?
Once upon a time, the answer might have been Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe. Back in the day, it had a reputation for being one of the BEST quick spots to grab a burger in the Most Magical Place on Earth. These days, the menu has changed to feature more Mexican fare (though there is still a burger on the menu) and it might not always be a spot on people’s radars. But…should it be? Frankly, Pecos Bill has changed and it’s not all for the best…
In some ways, Pecos Bill has gone from pretty great to just not impressive. So, what happened here? What is the delicious Pecos Bill that once was? Hop aboard our time machine and we’ll show you!
The Toppings Bar
The biggest change and most dramatic loss at Pecos Bill has definitely been the removal of the toppings bar. Truly, the toppings bar was the star of the show in the past.
In 2015, the menu got updated and so did the toppings bar. The updated toppings bar was still pretty epic and included things like sour cream, diced onions, chipotle ranch, banana peppers, shredded cheese, verde sauce, guacamole, salsa, pico de gallo, limes, and even roasted corn!
Truthfully, with that many options available to you, you could take an okay dish and turn it into something GREAT by piling on all kinds of additions.
The COVID-19 pandemic really put a pause on toppings bars that has seemingly turned into a total end (at least at the moment). Nowadays, the toppings bar is home to pre-packaged basics like sugar, salt, and other items. No more salsa, pico de gallo, or corn.
You can still get some toppings, but you will have to request them when making your order. For example, when placing a mobile order, you can ask for things like lettuce, sour cream, salsa, and other items (depending on what you’re ordering).
The toppings aren’t nearly as extensive as they were in the past. And the fact that you can’t serve them yourself (to get more or less of what you want as you eat) is a major change and likely a big disappointment to many.
A More Unique Menu
The second major change here has come in the form of menu updates. There used to be some more unique items on the menu here, like a barbecued pork sandwich…
…drinks in a souvenir boot (HOW COOL IS THAT?!)…
…a taco salad, and even chili cheese fries and a deluxe chicken sandwich. And yes, there were those burgers some people loved.
But even some of the items that arrived back in 2015 are now gone. For example, there’s no more burrito (the flavor of the beef in this burrito was really good!), no more chicken enchilada soup, and no more sopapilla for dessert.
Some smaller menu items that were really great in the past are gone too — like the cilantro rice that once came with the fajita platter.
Nowadays, you’ll still find some classics — like the Mini Churros…
…and the fajita platter, rice bowls (served with yellow rice), and other eats, but they’re not all the same as they used to be.
In terms of other current menu items (just for context), here’s a look at the sides and kids meals…
…and drinks.
But let’s go over what else has changed.
Not As Flavorful
In terms of pure flavor, it seems some things have changed here. Years ago, we had some chicken served mixed with sautéed green peppers and onions and we found it to be well seasoned. We also felt like the beef in the burrito had some great flavor.
But, on more recent visits, we’ve found some of the chicken to be more bland. And some of the flavors haven’t been quite what we were hoping for — like how the veggies in our pork carnitas bowl were undercooked, or how the black beans have been just fine. Other items (like the pork) have been more lightly seasoned than we would have liked.
Granted, this could just be our experience — certainly, food can vary from day to day, and chef to chef. And if you’re one that prefers “safer” flavors, then less seasoned food might be a great thing. You can certainly spice up your dishes with salt, queso, and other toppings (just be sure to request them), but it’s just something to keep in mind.
Secret Menu Is GONE
Another huge loss here was the disappearance of the Nachos Rio Grande Challenge. This was really one for the books folks! With this challenge, you’d order some secret nachos and pay a hefty price for them ($90!) but you would get a table that had been all dolled up, pitchers of your chosen drinks, and a processional with cowbells and cheers!
Then, you’d get a HUGE serving of nachos brought to your VIP table in a mini covered wagon along with big tins of green and red salsa, and queso.
Once you conquered the challenge, you were treated to a fun ceremony featuring the Pecos Bill Code of the West, an official certificate, cowboy hats, and sheriff badges.
The experience REALLY put Pecos Bill on the map for a while for those looking for something unique to do in Magic Kingdom! Sadly, this ended in 2017 and nothing has really replaced it.
We would LOVE to see some kind of secret experience become available here again — in the form of nachos or otherwise. Something like that can take an otherwise relatively ordinary spot and transform it into something really unique, and that’s something Pecos Bill would likely benefit from a LOT.
It’s Really Just a Mixed Bag These Days
So here’s the truth about Pecos Bill right now — it’s a mixed bag. We have definitely liked some of the items we’ve tried here (the chicken rice bowl was delicious and surprisingly hearty). And some of the dishes can be really filling, which is AWESOME when you’re looking for a quick service meal that’s relatively affordable and won’t leave you feeling hungry in an hour.
Plus, you can still get some toppings, as we mentioned above. They’re just not as extensive or fun as they used to be. And some are NOT free. For example, a side of guacamole will set you back $2 now and queso is $1 (unless included on the item).
Some eats are more “standard” — like the Beef Nachos — but they can TOTALLY hit the spot (warm, filling, and sharable).
On the plus side, we’ve really enjoyed some of the seasonal additions here, like the Ricotta-dropped Mini Doughnuts and Hades Nachos.
And certain dishes have really impressed us, like the Sun Bonnet Trio Strawberry Salad and Teddi Barra Swingin’ Shortcake. The salad was fresh and delicious, and the shortcake was one of the best desserts we’d had in a while!
Some items (seasonal) have also been really unique!
But it’s not all good news. Some treats here have been just ok — fairly bland, too soggy or greasy, or a little stale. And some seasonal items have been downright bad.
So, as we said, it’s a mixed bag. Don’t get us wrong, you can improve nearly all of your meals here with a $1 side of queso, and there are some tasty eats to try. But it’s a far cry from the extensive toppings bar and more unique eats, souvenirs, and food challenge that used to exist here.
What do you think? Are you a fan of Pecos Bill? Do you think it used to be better than it is today? Tell us in the comments!
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Are you a fan of Pecos Bill? Tell us in the comments!
Marcus says
Because it will likely become Tiana’s Palace in 2024.
Pris says
I remember Tortuga having taco salads and burritos where you could add the fixings! They were great! Haven’t eaten any fast food at MK in YEARS! Mostly garbage!
Roz says
Used to be a fan until my husband and I got sick from the mushrooms on the fixings bar. We were sick for two days I’m stopping short of saying food poisoning but the mushrooms were absolutely bad. We don’t eat there anymore
Summer says
We went last weekend and I found out they got rid of the walking taco! They said it cost too much for them to keep. I’m so sad! They don’t even serve fries.
Rich says
Totally agree with your comments. This used to be our go-to place but it became really inconsistent and then disappointing. Don’t really have a go-to place anymore.
JM says
We ate here in April,multiple times. It’s a really good quick service option,we were a large family group with lots of kids,looking for a decent price,semi decent food. I (adult) loved the kids meal with beans,rice and meat – filling and not too heavy! I’d go again,I liked the menu.
Janice says
Use to be our favorite lunch spot back in the day. Have only been a couple of times since they changed the menu. Sadly it isn’t as good anymore.
pattie says
Do they still have those great turkey legs they r a meal them selves
Michael says
We are in MK many times every year, and Pecos Bill’s was a must-do on every visit. We have been maybe twice since 2015. The fixings bar was AWESOME! You could take an okay burger and plus it up! Grilled onions, bell peppers and mushrooms! Sadly, no more. Now, we choose to spend that same money on a GREAT burger off property somewhere nearby, such as off 192 or in Horizon West, like at New York Beer Project, Ford’s Garage or Red Robin. We usually leave during the hottest part of the day for late lunch/early dinner.
Jacqueline says
I feel like they are purposely just letting Pecos go to crap because they are going to put Tiana there. They did the same thing to SM. It’s a shame because Pecos was really good and fit so well in Frontier Land. I remember it being so packed that I had to carry my tray to Tortuga to eat. Tortuga is another spot that is so cool but Disney doesn’t show it any love. 2-3 things on the menu and we just have to deal with it. It’s like they want to push us all into a sit down with a prefixed menu.
Jennifer says
I totally agree with you AJ! This used to be an absolute must for our dining plans in Magic Kingdom- I remember the fixings bar so fondly! Sadly it is not tasty enough now to include on our food stops. Prices of meals are so out of control we don’t want to waste money on disappointing food. So sad.
Desirer says
It’s disgusting now. It was our family favorite place back in the day. Now I just try to avoid eating meals in MK because it’s all dreadful.
Tammy says
It’s so sad that was my favorite quick serve lunch, but the last couple times we were disappointed. The choices weren’t great and the things we ordered didn’t taste that great or they were so spicy I couldn’t enjoy it. I understand the fixing bar change but go back to the old menu basic foods. Burgers, hotdogs, chicken and fries.
Gary says
Agreed. Used to be our go-to spot for lunch. Now it sucks.
Doug says
Sooo…I used to work at Pecos, and I don’t speak for Disney, but certain things have valid reasons.
True, the pandemic took away a couple of things. Unfortunately, stuff like the Nacho Challenge and Toppings Bar were already on thin ice for other reasons (food waste, free “salads”, etc.), and the pandemic simply gave them the excuse they needed.
But, good news on some fronts:
– Both the Cilantro Lime Rice and the Pinto Beans have returned.
– The BBQ & Slaw sandwich has returned on the backside restaurant, Tortuga Tavern, joined by the BBQ Slaw Dog.
– Other things may get new updates or return once Tiana’s Bayou Adventure opens.