Mickey's Backyard BBQ...also know as MBYBBQ..that one took me a while to decypher once upon a time...is at the Fort Wilderness resort in a large outdoor pavillion. Traveling there is interesting...
We were at MGM that morning...and the day was going so well...we decided not to take a break to our resort...and thus incur more strenuous travel to MBYBBQ...and just take the FW bus from MGM...which would have been a fine plan if I hadn't left the tickets in the room...
The BBQ starts at 6:30 pm...it's open seating at large long picnic tables...find an open spot and hunker down with whoever else decided that spot was good too. The pavillion is large and fully covered...with the stage being set up in the center of one side...with a large open space, that is, the dance floor and performing area in front of the stage...tables run so that everyone has to turn sideways at their picnic table or straddle the bench in order to face the stage...if you are seated in one of the tables before the stage...if you have to sit to the left or right, half the table has their back to the stage and has to fully turn around to see the action...
It is well covered. I think it would have to be blowing wind combined with driving rain to affect the BBQ...here's the pavillion
that orange glow under the pavillion on the left is the stage area...near where the man wearing the blue shirt is on the right is the buffet area where the hot food is.
back to transportation...
if you take the boat from MK to FW then you have landed in the section of FW where the BBQ actually is...that whole area feels a little like a small old west town...wooden buildings...snack carts...you will walk past the Hoop-Dee-Do place, the Trail Ends restaurant, and keep walking...just keep walking...just keep walking...you will finally turn a corner and continue to walk toward the pavillion for the BBQ. It's not an outrageous walk...but again...useful info if you are dealing with little legs or other slow walkers...
Now...if you end up having to do what we had to do...
We finally made it back to BC at 6:05 pm. Quite frankly...I was horrified...I had heard that you HAD to get there early...we would get a horrible seat if we weren't there early...and here we were...we would definitely be late...especially if we took Disney transporation...
The $12.25 cab ride from BC to FW was money well spent...
But we got dropped off at the check-in area of FW. Not to worry...head on over to the bus stop area...the buses run quickly and every single bus that comes will take you where you want to go...which is a name I can't remember right now, but begins with S and is the name of the other bus stop location where all the restaurants and boat launch is located...
It's a similar walk from the bus stop area as from the boat launch. I know...we took the boat to MK home and made the bus transfer there.
Over on the bus side is the petting farm. It was quite large looking...it looks like it would be quite a fun addition to anyone's BBQ planned evening...let alone the other dinner show. IMO, I would research that more, and maybe plan on that being a great break for little people in between Disney transportation to FW and sitting through a dinner show...not so much the BBQ, though, because you don't really sit at the BBQ...
Back to the setting...there may be restrooms somewhere in the little town area, I will call it...at the BBQ, they are the ones that must obviously service the themed pool at FW, which we couldn't see, because it was fenced off and must be under refurbishment. It isn't a long walk...but it is a little walk...something to keep in mind with small bladders...
I think that there was a Photopass photographer that took your family's pic by the water tower when you arrived. I noticed that they were handing out the photos to the people in them during the evening and giving people the opportunity to purchase them. Not sure, mind, because we were late.
We got there at 6:50 pm and the party was in full gear...the band was playing...they were very good...and all the characters were dancing with whoever else wanted to dance
The characters were great. Goofy was the best...I really watched him...he really interacted with the kids...at one point, he had a little circle going on and he would show the group a dance move...then they all would do that for a while...then he pointed to someone else in the group...they did a dance move...they all did that for a while...Goofy was of course, a little Goofy while he danced...so it was fun to watch.
Let's make some notes here before we get to the food...
This place is LOUD!!! Blasting in your ears, leave them ringing like you went to a concert kind of loud, when the band plays...they do take breaks...you'll see...
The characters do NOT sign autographs...and they do NOT pose for pictures...this is NOT a meet and greet event
...I felt very sorry for some families that didn't understand the nature of this event...and left early...and left disappointed...and upset...
I feel better now...at least YOU know and understand...
On to the food...
One bonus about being late...NO LINES at the buffet!!! There were four or five lines that were accessed from two sides. Grab your disposable plates and silverwear and feast on...
and your plate might look something like this
The ribs were very good...I judge a rib by how clean the bone is when I am done with the rib...because that lets you know how easily the meat falls off the bone...and my bones were clean...the sauce was pretty good...a sweet BBQ sauce...not a spicy one...a thick brown one...not a thin red one...if you're into ribs, you know what I mean...
I didn't eat the chicken, but DS did...I found a leg for him...it was good...tender...moist...tasty...
The green salad was surprisingly good...sometimes premixed salads can get a bit wilty...too much dressing...this was crisp...Italian dressing...
The cole slaw was good. Nothing special. But good.
The potato salad was bad. The potatoes were mushy, overcooked...not firm, like they should be...and the dressing was a vinagrette type dressing...which wouldn't have been bad under other circumstances...but I was really hoping for some tasty good ole mayo based potato salad...
The beans were rather bland...I didn't enjoy them...
The corn was good...a little on the soft side...you know how corn gets when it just a little overcooked?...but it wasn't totally overcooked...just slightly...I ate it...I enjoyed it...
I went back for more ribs...
As the food is depleted, they condense the buffet...as time goes by...there will only be one buffet line left open...I do think that food was available for most of the night though...
certainly there was plenty to choose from here...
all night long...Mickey bars...Minnie bars...and popsicles...those long twirly looking ones that are orange and yellow and green?
I didn't partake here...
It was off to the side and I didn't see it before I was too stuffed with ribs...I had moved on to here...
or rather to the beer offered at the table next door. A nice CM stands behind the bar and serves Bud Light from the tap. I didn't take his pic. That felt like it would be weird.
If you prefer the nonalcoholic variety of refreshment, go here...
there is water, iced tea, lemonade, and fruit punch...I think...DS drinks water, we did too, along with our beer...there are two banks of drink dispensers, one on either side of the buffet on the backside of the pavillion...assuming that the stage side is the front.
BTW, there were also two ice cream coolers and two watermelon counters.
I tried and tried to take pictures of the entertainment...but it just didn't work...it was getting too dark...the pics are either dark...or make you dizzy blurry...which is too bad, because the rope trick guy was very cool.
First, I know you are really wondering if we got a decent seat...and we did...we were toward the back, but we had a center front view of the stage. But I have to tell you, I don't think it matters where you sit...not too much anyway...
the band plays for quite a while. They acknowledged a colonel in the guests and sang a song in his honor...Proud to be an American...I also remember the Devil Went Down to Georgia...which was a fair rendition of the song...and incase you are wondering...the did sing something else about the Devil's mother so as not to offend little ears...so obviously they have a fiddle in the band and they really keep the beat going...if you are ready for a rip roaring good time...then you can have some fun...
The entire night is filled with YeeHawing...
The characters take a break...the band takes a break...and our rope trickin' cowboy comes center stage...or rather, center dance floor...all children are invited to come sit behind the safety blue line...parents are invited to come join their children...by sitting behind their children...
Two children were invited to learn to twirl a rope and participate in some tricks...he was good and highly entertaining...
Here comes the band...and then, let's all give a yee haw and call back the characters...they wished everyone a happy birthday and read their names and ages out one by one...and sang Happy Birthday...and then they acknowledged the anniversaries...and sang a slowish type song...
There goes the characters...and there goes the band...
And here comes our dance instructor...he is going to teach us how to line dance...I admit I got up...several other adults did too...I wasn't the only one...
Now here comes the band...and Yeeeeeeee Haaaaaaaaaw...here come the characters...and we are all going to get into a circle and do the Cotton-Eyed Joe.
Now it's time for the grand finale folks...sit behind the safety line and grab your cameras because this is your only opportunity to take a picture of the band and all the characters...I tried...
Happy trails, folks, that was the end...and it was just after 8:30 pm. Seriously. I know. I thought it went until 9:30 too.
Hit the restroom before walking to the boat...you'll be glad you did...
DS played on the playground for a bit on the way to the boat...the wait wasn't too long...we didn't make the boat that was waiting there...but another boat came within 10 minutes...and we were able to sit in front in the outside area of the boat...and I think we saw the fireworks from Fantamic!...they were random and that's the only thing I can think they were...
We paid OOP for MBYBBQ, because I had heard it wasn't worth 2 TS credits. I have to agree. But otherwise...this can be an event...especially if you enjoy what the FW has to offer, and aren't late...we enjoyed ourselves...I am glad we did it...DS said on the way out that he didn't understand that he wouldn't get to interact with the characters in a more typical character meal kind of way...ooooooohhhhh, sweetie....I am sorry...I thought I explained that...be clear, very, very clear...
I am hooked 
. I don't know that I would go out of my way for it...however, if you are at all in the vicinity, it is definitely worth a stop, if you like tasty frozen treats.
.)
, and as far as I could tell, the same menu. Unlike the other Express location, there isn't a single table for inside dining...there is a bar height countertop with bar height stools, about 6 of them. Virtually all the seating is outdoors.
Apparently, creme brulee is only an option in the Cafe at this location...someone else owns the Wolfgang Puck Express location in the marketplace...this west side location is owned by a different company...and this company does not do the creme brulee for the Express.
We do have 2 trips scheduled after all! 
