There’s one Walt Disney World restaurant at which we’ve dined repeatedly over time, and but, in some way nonetheless haven’t reviewed…till now. Historically, it’s been the worst eating choice at Magic Kingdom, making the ‘most mediocre meal’ moniker hyperbole. (I can’t go up an excellent alliteration–even when including a superlative to mediocre makes little semantic sense.)
This notorious eatery is the Diamond Horseshoe in Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom. Pre-closure, this restaurant operated seasonally and went via a wide range of menus and meal providers, from quick-service lunch to family-style feasts to an a la carte dinner. Very little thought or, frankly, effort was put into any of that. Those menus made Tony’s Town Square seem like the head of the culinary arts, by comparability.
People doing the height weeks at Walt Disney World (and bloggers like us) had been “treated” to a revolving door of ideas on the Diamond Horseshoe, with every new meal managing, in opposition to all odds, to be simply as dangerous because the one earlier than it. This is definitely a purple flag in the case of Walt Disney World eating–the Italy and Mexico cubicles don’t do new menus for each single EPCOT pageant as a result of they’re attempting to push the culinary envelope!
Before we get forward of ourselves, let’s begin this restaurant evaluation of the Diamond Horseshoe with fundamentals. This eating spot at the moment gives a ten% low cost for Annual Passholders or Disney Vacation Club members. (That can improve to twenty% throughout slower seasons–or if Walt Disney World brings again Tables in Wonderland.)
For these planning prematurely, the Diamond Horseshoe is a taking part restaurant for the 2024 Disney Dining Plan. If in any respect potential, we suggest paying out of pocket when consuming right here, regardless of the blingy title, Diamond Horseshoe is a horrible worth on the Disney Dining Plan.
There is completely no motive to consider that’ll change between now and subsequent 12 months, even when the Diamond Horseshoe does get one other menu overhaul. One per this spot is that the menu has all the time been among the many most cost-effective out of pocket eating places in Magic Kingdom. About the one means it might change is that if reside leisure returns to the Diamond Horseshoe…and I’d be shocked if that occurs in my lifetime.
Planning-wise, the Diamond Horseshoe is exceedingly straightforward to guide. In reality, this could be one of many least-competitive in-park Advance Dining Reservations (ADRs) in all of Walt Disney World. It’s by no means booked up greater than 30 days forward of time; even throughout busier instances, there’s often availability just a few days out. (You gained’t want it right here, however see our Guide to Advance Dining Reservations at Walt Disney World for ideas & tips to attain elusive ADRs, information in regards to the 60+10 rule, and extra.)
Basically, the Diamond Horseshoe is the default ‘lack of better options’ choice at Magic Kingdom. If you do any quantity of advance planning, you’ll seemingly have your choose of seating instances. Even should you don’t, it ought to be potential for same-day ADRs or to attain a spot through Walk-Up Waitlist.
Walk-Up Waitlist is exactly how I booked my meal right here. Unsurprisingly, the Diamond Horseshoe had the shortest wait time of all eating places in Magic Kingdom on this explicit evening. Even as different eating places had been booked strong or had lengthy waits, Diamond Horseshoe had an estimated wait of 5 minutes. That was really an earlier return time than many Mobile Order time frames at counter service eating places!
Even although I’ve been burned by the Diamond Horseshoe many instances up to now, I opted to present it one other shot. In half as a result of I needed to lastly get a evaluation revealed earlier than the menu might change once more (mission completed). In half as a result of I used to be touring solo, and I knew Sarah wouldn’t care within the least if I revisited this spot with out her.
Also, there’s no means it may very well be any worse than previous trainwreck meals at Diamond Horseshoe have been–possibly it’d be one other Walt Disney World restaurant redemption story!!! (Narrator: it was not.)
Now that I’ve given away that this isn’t a redemption story, I must also share just a few different key particulars. First, should you get a little bit of the déjà vu trying on the menu, that’s for good motive. The family-style feast right here is precisely the identical because the “All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Bill of Fare” over at Liberty Tree Tavern. The names of the assorted dishes are completely different, nevertheless it’s in any other case equivalent. Not solely that, however the meals all comes from the very same shared kitchen between the venues.
For some time after reopening, the Diamond Horseshoe was used as overflow seating for Liberty Tree Tavern. The former has since returned as a definite restaurant with distinct reservations and a definite menu, however these are finally all distinctions with none significant variations. For all sensible functions, the Diamond Horseshoe remains to be Liberty Tree Tavern overflow–simply with a veneer of separation.
There are in all probability some followers who will declare the delicacies is healthier at Liberty Tree Tavern for some motive or one other (we nonetheless hear related claims with the Monte Cristo served in New Orleans Square at Disneyland), however there’s no foundation to that. Perceptions are coloured by the surroundings, historical past, previous experiences, or no matter. Which is completely honest. Walt Disney World is all about nostalgia, and sure delicacies “hits different” elsewhere.
With that stated, this brings us to a different sensible piece of recommendation for these doing Walk-Ups: have a look at the wait instances for each Liberty Tree Tavern and the Diamond Horseshoe. Again, my wait to be seated right here was 5 minutes. At the very same time, the estimated watch for Liberty Tree Tavern was 55 minutes and there was an enormous crowd outdoors ready to be seated. (I’m type of stunned Walt Disney World wouldn’t redirect company to the Diamond Horseshoe in that scenario.)
Looking across the seating space on the Diamond Horseshoe is like déjà vu another time! (This admittedly extra clever mangling than Magic Kingdom’s most mediocre meal isn’t mine.)
The Diamond Horseshoe would possibly look acquainted should you’ve visited Disneyland, Tokyo Disneyland, or Disneyland Paris. Those parks are house to the Golden Horseshoe, the Diamond Horseshoe, and the Lucky Nugget Saloon, respectively.
Of these, the final two are the perfect and distinct from each other. (Above is a photograph of the now-retired stage present at Tokyo Disneyland–see extra in our Review of the Mickey & Co. Diamond Horseshoe Dinner Show. A brand new idea debuts there in September 2023.)
By distinction, the Magic Kingdom and Disneyland incarnations are straightforward to confuse in model, substance and–sadly for me–names. (Still not as dangerous because the Little Mermaid darkish rides on every coast, however I digress.)
The seating space within the Diamond Horseshoe is pretty small–in all probability the smallest of any restaurant in Magic Kingdom. It’s additionally basically a large open room, with little or no to interrupt up the house.
This was a revue/jamboree a lot within the model of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at Fort Wilderness. I vaguely keep in mind seeing it after I was a child, however nothing has been carried out on stage right here since 2003.
Now, the one “entertainment” on the Diamond Horseshoe is the “World Famous Self-Playing Piano.” The music is sweet, nevertheless it’s a shadow of what as soon as was.
The time for mourning the lack of the revue or jamboree leisure on the Diamond Horseshoe has long gone, and that’s not what I’m making an attempt to do right here. However, I do assume it’s honest to level out that this venue was constructed for that goal, and has basically been a flex house for years.
The Diamond Horseshoe was shuttered for a number of years up till round 2009, when it began getting used as a personality dance social gathering and refreshment spot throughout Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. As famous above, it has since been open seasonally for a rotating assortment of ideas.
Maybe I’ve the burden of data, however the Diamond Horseshoe very a lot feels like a flex house to me, even at present. The old style design and a focus to element is sweet, however you must put blinders on for it. There’s additionally a variety of unused a/v gear, the bars aren’t used for any sensible functions, and the upstairs seating is unavailable.
Again, possibly this can be a “me problem.” But even serving the identical menu, I discover a night-and-day distinction between the ambiance on the Diamond Horseshoe and Liberty Tree Tavern. The latter is much better–extra heat, inviting, and comfortable.
I wouldn’t argue with anybody who claims the meals–which, once more, is precisely the identical–tastes higher at Liberty Tree Tavern consequently. Wrapping up mediocre delicacies in a prettier bundle with nicer ambiance has a means of doing that at Walt Disney World!
Turning to delicacies, I need to provide the vital (to me) caveat that I’m not a meals snob. I really like consolation meals. One of my ongoing private ‘projects’ is compiling a List of the Best Burgers at Walt Disney World. I lately reviewed a brand new menu of scorching canine at Magic Kingdom. I eat and revel in all varieties of delicacies, from quick meals to effective eating.
Just placing that on the market now as a result of the next might counsel in any other case…
The All-You-Care-to-Enjoy Frontier Feast on the Diamond Horseshoe begins with home rolls.
These weren’t superb, tasting like somebody took retailer model bread from Walmart and slathered a layer of butter on the outside and put them beneath a warmth lamp for 45 minutes. Silver lining: bread is pointless filler and may by no means be the star of an all-you-can-eat meal.
After the dinner rolls got here the Diamond Horseshoe Salad: Mixed Greens, Apples, Cranberries, and Cheese tossed with our House-made Dressing.
This is a straightforward and simple pre-mixed salad. A charitable evaluation can be that it’s mild and refreshing, with a wide range of greens, sufficient toppings to make it attention-grabbing, and a straightforward method to test the field of some veggies earlier than consuming a heavy feast. Less charitably, there at the moment are numerous counter service salads which might be higher and extra bold than this.
Still, I extremely doubt anybody is trying on the menu for the Diamond Horseshoe and reserving on the idea of breads or salads. Both of those starters are enough as position fillers.
Let’s flip to the star of the present, which is the Saloon Feast.
This consists of Roasted Turkey, Pot Roast, and Oven-roasted Pork with Mashed Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables, Herbed Stuffing, and House-made Macaroni & Cheese.
I began with the edges, going straight for the mashed potatoes.
These are the usual subject Walt Disney World mashed potatoes, accessible at a wide range of eating places. That’s not criticism–they’ve perfected these mashed potatoes right into a masterpiece, with simply the correct quantity of butter, seasoning, salt, creaminess and texture. They’re not the perfect mashed potatoes you’ll ever have, however they’re a quintessential Walt Disney World dish. I really like them.
Next to the mashed potatoes, you’ll spot inexperienced beans. These tasted like inexperienced beans. That’s all I’ve to say about that.
The different spotlight of the edges would usually be the macaroni and cheese. Not the case with this meal. This was like should you took a field of off-brand mac & cheese, dumped the pasta, powdered cheese, and water right into a container, and microwaved it for 45 minutes as a substitute of 4 to 5 minutes. Dry isn’t usually a phrase I’d use to explain mac & cheese, nevertheless it suits right here.
The herbed stuffing was a tad higher, nevertheless it was undoubtedly over-seasoned/salted. Beyond that, stuffing isn’t actually my factor so I can’t communicate to its total high quality–providing additional ideas can be like a vegetarian reviewing a rack of ribs.
Moving on to the primary occasion: MEAT.
The Roasted Turkey and Pork have very related taste profiles, regardless of being basically completely different. These meats had been dry, salty, and simply usually low-quality and appeared over-processed. Both struck me as the kind of meat that has a double-digit share of “solution” plus a cocktail of chemical substances to “enhance” the flavour, tenderness, and juiciness (mission: failed).
Thankfully, the pot roast delivered.
This is the spotlight of the meats; it’s juicy, tender and melts in your mouth. The pot roast has a wealthy and strong taste, which is additional enhanced with just a bit little bit of gravy. This meat was far and away my favourite a part of the meal; I ordered a refill of this and nothing else from the platter.
Now, I’m not going to say this pot roast is something particular or of a better high quality than the turkey and pork. It in all probability isn’t. This additionally tasted low-quality, and I’m betting an inspection of the label would reveal a bunch of lab-made components the names of which I couldn’t pronounce.
But at the very least this pot roast tastes good. I can settle for that it takes some good ole original science to create a number of the addictively scrumptious meals that I really like. Ignorance is bliss–I’ve zero need to be taught what’s in a McRib or the corn canine nuggets at Casey’s Corner. What I’m not down with is scientifically engineered “food” that additionally, in some way, tastes dangerous.
Finally, we arrive on the grand finale of the meal: dessert! At the Diamond Horseshoe and Liberty Tree Tavern, the signature dish is the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake.
If I’m being trustworthy with you (and hopefully Sarah has stopped studying by this level), “needing” to lastly evaluation the Diamond Horseshoe was merely a pretext. I used to be right here for bottomless Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake that I didn’t should share with anybody. They might’ve served cardboard for the opening acts of the meal (and possibly did!) for all I cared.
Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake is likely one of the finest desserts in all of Walt Disney World. It doesn’t rank because the definitive #1 for me, nevertheless it’s extremely shut. Always within the prime 10, which is extremely excessive reward for a dessert at an all-you-can-eat meal.
The base has the density and taste of a thick toffee-chocolate chunk cookie, with a crunchy exterior giving method to a gooey heart. It’s topped with plain vanilla ice cream, caramel, chocolate sauce, and toffee chips. Much like the remainder of the meal, the components listed below are all a bit odd on their very own. Unlike these, this in some way comes collectively in excellent concord, with the top end result being some of the addictively good, wealthy and scrumptious desserts you’ll have anyplace at Walt Disney World.
It’s onerous to explain what makes the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake so good, nevertheless it jogs my memory of the No Way Jose at Beaches & Cream (one other seemingly “ordinary” dessert that excels) meets the Ooey Gooey Butter Cake Sundae at Ample Hills. Now that the latter venue on BoardWalk has closed, that is the perfect “Ooey Gooey” dessert at Walt Disney World.
Ultimately, the conclusion of this evaluation and my meal on the Diamond Horseshoe are each outlined the identical means: by the ultimate impression. If you stopped studying on the turkey and pork, there’s in all probability no means you’d need to eat right here. And frankly, this household model feast as a complete isn’t superb. Calling it “mediocre” would in all probability be a charitable evaluation when contemplating the totality of the dishes.
Then I believe again to that Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake. It is actually so good that I discover myself participating in psychological gymnastics to justify recommending a meal on the Diamond Horseshoe. Sure, two of the edges and two of the entrees had been borderline inedible, however possibly I bought unfortunate. Maybe your tastes differ. Also, the mashed potatoes and pot roast had been fairly good…and aren’t these the apparent issues any cheap individual would need to eat, anyway? Does the remainder actually even matter?!?
Ultimately, that’s just about the place I’m at with the Diamond Horseshoe. When evaluating the meal objectively–as a complete with all parts thought-about and equally weighted–this may be my least-favorite restaurant in Magic Kingdom. (As a complete, it’s additionally not almost pretty much as good as Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant–talked about as a result of I dined at and am reviewing these back-to-back, they usually’re considerably related.)
However, I’m disinclined to attract the plain “on paper” conclusion in regards to the Diamond Horseshoe. Subjectively, I’m very happy to ignore the dishes that didn’t communicate to me and fee this solely on the idea of the mashed potatoes, pot roast, and Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake. All you may eat beef and potatoes plus drink and dessert in Magic Kingdom for under $39 is a meal I can heartily endorse!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you dined on the Diamond Horseshoe in Magic Kingdom over time? What was the great, dangerous or ugly of your meal at this restaurant? Do you assume it’s all “worth it” for that wonderful Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake? Do you agree or disagree with our ideas? Any questions we may also help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!