*An update to this article: the taco salad was very recently removed from the menu. Bummer!*
By: Tangled Diva
Most people have one particular place that they like to go every time they go to Disney World. Ours is a restaurant–Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Care to be specific. A visit to WDW is never complete without stopping in at least once and usually twice.
Pecos Bill is a counter-service restaurant (average adult meal is around $15) right across from Splash Mountain. While Pecos Bill is technically in Frontierland, it straddles both Frontierland and Adventureland. Because of this, the entrances to the restaurant are separately themed. The entrance on the Frontierland sides is like walking into an old West saloon, while the entrance on the Adventureland side is more Caribbean in nature (just another example of the lengths Disney goes with the details). The same mixed décor is also reflected inside the restaurant depending on whether you sit on the Frontierland or Adventureland side.
Like all of the restaurants in Disney, the menu has a wide variety of options including healthier options and options for vegetarians. Like most restaurants, there are more options at dinner than there are at lunch. (Click here for full menu–be sure to select whether you want to see lunch or dinner).
But, I am a picky eater, so when I find something I like, I tend to stick to it. This “something” for me is the Taco Salad. Now, I have to admit the first time I saw the taco salad, I thought it was a joke. You see, the only thing that comes on the plate when you order it is the taco bowl/shell and ground beef. But, this is actually a good thing. In the front of the restaurant, are all the toppings, including lettuce, tomatoes, cheese (shredded and nacho), grilled onions, salsa, and pickles. While I love to cook, I am not one of those people that can eat something and immediately tell you what it is in it. But, whatever they use to season their beef, it is wonderful! Adding all the toppings I want until my shell is over-flowing makes me a very happy diva. For those that don’t want a taco salad, you can choose from one of the other many options they have which include southwest chicken salad, cheeseburger, ribs, steak & chicken platter and more. The kiddos can choose from PB&J, turkey sandwich, burger, or BBQ pork sandwich. It has the standard drink options with the addition of a strawberry lemonade slush. And, if you really want to get into the theme of the restaurant, you can choose to have your sarsaparilla in a boot mug ($8.99).
Pecos Bill is a large restaurant and also has an option to sit outside. We always choose this option because we love to people watch in Disney. Our favorite spot is a table tucked away in the corner on the Adventureland side–it is almost hidden as you walk into the outside seating area. It is nice and shaded, you have a great view to people watch, and there is an outlet for you to recharge electronic devices.
Another great thing about Pecos Bill is it is on the parade route for the new Festival of Fantasy Parade and the Electric Parade—the Festival of Fantasy parade actually begins there and the Electric Parade ends there. WARNING: If you are going to watch the parade from there, watch it from the Frontierland Side. We were right around the corner on the Adventureland side, and thought we had the best seat in the house for the parade. But, as it turned out, it is a walkway that leads to the bridge to Splash and Thunder Mountains. So, every time there was a slight break in the parade, they would let bystanders pool in the walkway are and then rush them across. This was not only extremely annoying, but it made viewing the parade extremely difficult and frustrating.
If you’ve not yet moseyed into Pecos Bill, I highly recommend giving it a shot. You will not regret it. The food is wonderful, the atmosphere takes you back to the Old West and it is in a prime location in a quiet little corner near a lot of Magic Kingdom’s major attractions.
