Here's the scoop on the Billys --at least as much as I or any of the fans know at this point (in other words--anything management has told them, we know): They have 1 week off (unpaid, unfortunately) and then will be in rehearsals for the next few weeks. When they're returning exactly to perform, we don't know as apparently management is being a bit tight lipped on this (hopefully when I see their last day tomorrow we'll find something out). They have done a pirate band thing though (the Blue team has--not the other two teams)--just not performing in the park (except for the POTC 2 premiere). They performed for the midnight showing of Pirates 2 when it came out, at the premiere last June and at an event at the DL hotel. When the Blue teamed performed at the OC Marketplace last month, they did a Pirate Medly and they were really good--better than the pirate bands in the park, even though they were in their hillbilly garb.
Oh, and while the Golden Horseshoe is indeed adding ice cream to the menu, my understanding from the CMs in there is that they're also keeping the old menu as well. The ice cream will be at one end of the bar and the regular menu at the other. My guess is the ice cream will be at the end where the sink is that they use to wash the trays is.