Copied from the XFCE forums:

Please add at least an option to xfdesktop to disable the new desktop menu.
For me the new menu is almost completely useless. The quick selection of applications is no longer possible.
I do not have the a xfce-menu button in my panel so I just use the desktop menu.

Also: starting an application is the far more common use-case than e.g. creating a new starter on the desktop.

On the other hand: desktop icons are quite convenient.
For now I will just disable the desktop icons because it makes the menu at least usable, but please think of users that rely on the desktop applications menu.

(I did not post this but agree with it. I like the desktop icons but I also greatly prefer the simpler menu when they aren't there.)