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Review: Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom


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Today, I’m heading back to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe!

I hadn’t been to this corner of Magic Kingdom for a while to eat, and it was time to visit again.

Atmosphere

The legend of Pecos Bill is an interesting one.

But first and foremost, where the Tall Tale Inn — Pecos Bill’s for short — is concerned, it’s the story of two restaurants in one. That’s because Pecos Bill’s straddles two different Disney “lands”: Frontierland and Adventureland.

Pecos Bill Sign

Pecos Bill Sign from the Adventureland Entrance

And depending on which side you enter from, you’ll either feel like you’ve stumbled in from a Western frontier town, or a just colonized Caribbean island. It reminds me a bit of the dual personalities of another Magic Kingdom counter service favorite, Columbia Harbour House. (Check out pics of the two styles you see there — one Fantasyland, one Liberty Square — in this review.)

pecos bills

Pecos Bill Sign from the Frontierland Entrance

You’ll see nods to both settings inside as well. More on that in a minute.

But back to the story. You can read all about Pecos Bill in the story about how the Tall Tale Inn came to be. (And fans of classic Disney film will recognize Pecos Bill’s likeness at the top from Melody Time, the Disney anthology featuring the Pecos Bill short.)

Story of Pecos Bill - click image for larger version

Story of Pecos Bill – click image for larger version

And you should really brush up on the Code of the West. Just in case you’re tempted to, you know, spit or something. Be sure to check out other fun Codes we found on a tour of Magic Kingdom in this post.

Pecos Bill's Code of the West

Pecos Bill’s Code of the West

But don’t just grab a burger and rush through it here! (I know, I know. FastPasses and all that.)

Remember the story above? Of course you do. It was two pictures ago! Well, there are some really cool “artifacts” at Pecos Bill’s that you’ve gotta see.

Check out this pistol and group of playing cards, courtesy of superstar sharpshooter Annie Oakley. The display commemorates one of her most famous tricks, splitting playing cards and shooting them through in mid air.

Revolver and Bullet-Riddled Playing Cards

Revolver and Bullet-Riddled Playing Cards

And of course, there’s memorabilia from Bill’s best girl, Slue-Foot Sue. She autographed these gloves just for him. :-)

A Lady's Gloves -- Autographed and Framed

Slue-Foot Sue’s Gloves

In fact, you can see the gloves in this pic. They hang right around the corner in the seating area from a portrait of Slue-Foot Sue herself!

Regarding seating, it’s plentiful, and you’ll find a fun mix of decor here, befitting its setting at the corner of two Lands. Here, it looks like a tavern in a Texas frontier town.

Seating

Seating

Additional Seating

Additional Seating

But here, the setting is more like Adventureland. Caribbean Island? Mexico? It’s a little of this and a little of that with hanging lanterns, potted flowers, and a verandah overlooking the seating area.

Gorgeous "Outdoor" Seating -- Indoors

Gorgeous “Outdoor” Seating — Indoors

There are also lots of seats outside, and many are conveniently shaded.

Shaded Outdoor Seating

Shaded Outdoor Seating

Patio Outdoor Seating

Patio Outdoor Seating

Ordering at Pecos Bill’s is classic Disney counter service. Cast Members are ready to take your order as soon as you mosey up to the podium.

Regular, Non-Express Ordering Line

Pecos Bill’s Ordering Area

After we placed our orders, it was time to take a look at one of Pecos Bill’s most famous “attractions” — their condiment bar! This collection of toppings is one of my favorites. They have everything here! Peppers and Pickles to top your sandwiches? For sure.

Peppers and Pickles at Pecos Bill's Condiment Bar

Peppers and Pickles at Pecos Bill’s Condiment Bar

And while the Salsa clearly isn’t the handmade variety I usually enjoy in Texas, it’s still pretty awesome to have it as an option.

Condiment - Salsa

Condiment – Salsa

Sauteed Mushrooms are a hearty favorite of lots of people (not me, but you’re welcome to them). You could practically make a side dish out of ‘em. ;-)

Condiments - Sauteed Mushrooms

Condiments – Sauteed Mushrooms

More traditional options are also available, like Shredded Cheese, Lettuce, and Sliced Tomatoes.

Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes on Condiments Bar

Cheese, Lettuce, Tomatoes on Condiments Bar

But all of it pales in comparison to the very best condiment available — Plastic Cheeeeeeeeese!

Plastic Cheese

Plastic Cheese

Plentiful pumps of Ketchup, Mayo, and Mustard also make easy work of dressing your sandwich or covering your fries.

Condiment Dispensers

Condiment Dispensers

A central stash of other condiments and plastic tableware are located conveniently so you can grab them on the way to your table.

Other condiments and utensils

Other condiments and utensils

And now it’s time to dig in!

Eats

A while back, I enjoyed the Root Beer Slush in the clear Souvenir Boot here at Pecos Bill’s. On this visit, they were featuring a new drink in the Souvenir Boot — and as it turns out, a new boot altogether!

The boot is Black these days, and currently comes filled with Strawberry Lemonade Slush.

Strawberry Lemonade Slush Served in a Souvenir Boot

Strawberry Lemonade Slush Served in a Souvenir Boot

As for eats, I was a little sad to see some of my favorites gone from the Pecos Bill menu. Those killer Onion Rings? Gone. And we’ve all heard about the demise of the Taco Salad; it’s still not back. You can breathe a sigh of relief that the Chili Cheese Fries are still here, though.

But there are also some additions. I had seen the Deluxe Chicken Sandwich before, and decided to give it a try on this visit. A Grilled Chicken Breast is topped with Cheese, Bacon, and a Chipotle Mayonnaisey type of sauce. The whole thing is served on a Ciabatta Roll.

Deluxe Chicken Sandwich

Deluxe Chicken Sandwich

Honestly, that roll was a little dry, and really soaked up the sauce. I could have done with a lot more, but the flavors were good.

Deluxe Chicken Sandwich -- Cross Section

Deluxe Chicken Sandwich — Cross Section

My friend went with the Barbecue Pork Sandwich. It looks exactly — exactly — like the Barbecue Pork Sandwich I showed you a while back from Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland.

Barbecued Pork Sandwich

Barbecued Pork Sandwich

There was a good portion of tender, shredded Pork Barbecue on the sandwich, and we both liked this bread choice a little better.

Barbecued Pork Sandwich -- Cross Section

Barbecued Pork Sandwich — Cross Section

Still, my friend likes LOTS of sauce — so it was handy that we could grab a little extra Barbecue Sauce on the Condiment Bar.

Heinz BBQ Sauce

Heinz BBQ Sauce

And here’s a TIP: we weren’t terribly hungry, so we decided to order just the sandwiches without the side order. (Both come with your choice of Corn on the Cob, Fries, or Apple Slices.) We saved a little money and a little stomach room by taking advantage of this off-menu secret! (You’ll find lots more tips like this in our DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining, by the way!)

However, a little later in the evening, I happened to be back at Pecos Bill’s for a late night snack, and opted for an order of French Fries. This is what the a la carte fries look like.

French Fries

French Fries

And they were pretty awesome dipped in Plastic Cheese. :-)

Overall

Overall, Pecos Bill’s is still a good, solid choice if you’re looking for a quick meal at the crossroads of Adventureland and Frontierland.

Sure, the menu items here aren’t all that original for the most part; they closely resemble lots of your choices at Cosmic Rays on the other side of Disney World.

But that beautiful condiment bar allows you a certain level of customization, and you’ll find that the menu leans slightly to the Southwest, which does make it a bit more interesting than standard hamburgers and fries. Every once in a while you’ll find specialty items here as well — like steak, or short ribs.

Besides, who can resist the opportunity to check out some fine Disney film history? Make sure you absorb the intentional details in the decor here. To a great extent, they really set it apart.

What’s your favorite detail about Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn — the food or the themeing, or both? We want to hear your thoughts in comments below!

Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com!Also, come on over and:




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