Big Thunder Mountain BBQ - pork in the beans?

[mcm574]

So I, my mom, and my kids would all LOVE the all-you-can-eat option at Thunder Mountain; but my husband and his brother and sister-in-law don't eat pork. If this just meant they'd skip the ribs and load up on chicken, while eating everything else, that would work fine; but if it meant they couldn't eat the beans, either, I worry that it wouldn't really be fair to them.

I've tried reaching out to the Special Diets Team to find out the answer to this question, but got the following response: "Due to the volume of meals we serve, we are unable to provide ingredients for
menu items in advance; however we encourage you to speak with your server so they may assist with providing you with the information you have requested."

So I turn to the all-knowing members of the DIS board - does anyone know if the Big Thunder Mountain BBQ ranch beans contain pork? and/or is it possible to get a vegetarian serving of beans?

 

[GatorChris]

Why on earth would you go to Big Thunder BBQ and not eat RIBS!?!?! That's just crazy.

As memory serves me, the beans did not have pork the last two times. It's just beans.

 

[mcm574]

Trust me, I agree. (They don't eat bacon, either! It's insanity!!!) Thanks for the info!

 

[Thundergod]

Ranch beans. Just beans and darn good ones

 

[SMD]

I don't know if this is a deal breaker, but the meat is served in one bucket and the chicken will touch the other items. You can ask for a bucket of just chicken, but when I did it they said they couldn't do it. I had the veggie skewers and have not been back in years.

 

[Zbugz]

I think it highly likely that Disney has a list of which food items have pork for its Jewish and Muslim guests.

 

[mcm574]

I think it highly likely that Disney has a list of which food items have pork for its Jewish and Muslim guests.

I would have thought so, too - I was surprised that they couldn't answer the question when I posed it that directly, but they either couldn't or wouldn't!...

 

[SMD]

I think it highly likely that Disney has a list of which food items have pork for its Jewish and Muslim guests.

I don't know about Muslim/halal requirements, but no Jewish person who keeps kosher would eat there because there's pork served. They can't have anything prepared on a surface where pork has touched or been cooked nor any utensil or plate that has touched it, even if it's been washed. This location also serves meat and dairy together, which is also not kosher. Disney pre-orders specially prepared kosher meals, they don't alter ingredients or kitchen practices. You can try reading vegan trip reports about the beans, but you'll still have to confirm it when ordering. I think their point is that while the beans may not contain pork now, they have no way of knowing if the recipe or supplier will change before the day of your reservation. They would still have cole slaw and cornbread even without the beans, and corn on the cob if you go for dinner.

 

[DCDisney]

Various groups of Jews and Muslims handle it differently. My kids don't eat pork at all but they eat where pork is served or prepared and do eat milk/meat together. That's pretty common in Reform Jews in our area and for some of their Muslim friends. Asking to not be served ribs with the chicken is not a large request and since this is all you can eat they should have plenty on hand for those who choose to not consume pork. I would just ask to speak to a manager when you arrive if the server can't get a separate extra bucket of chicken for you.

 

[Zbugz]

I believe that BTRBBQ also has veggie skewers upon request.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

I don't know if this is a deal breaker, but the meat is served in one bucket and the chicken will touch the other items. You can ask for a bucket of just chicken, but when I did it they said they couldn't do it. I had the veggie skewers and have not been back in years.

That's interesting. DH doesn't like chicken and I've always asked for the ribs and chicken to come in separate buckets and they've always accomodated us.

 

[SMD]

That's interesting. DH doesn't like chicken and I've always asked for the ribs and chicken to come in separate buckets and they've always accomodated us.

There were like 20 of us. They acted like if they brought extra food we'd waste it. Maybe if I had asked for just a single piece of chicken at the beginning it would have been different, but I thought it would be a platter, and I'd just grab a piece that wasn't touching anything else.

 

[Meriweather]

I don't eat the ribs or the beans and still enjoy it

 

[NorthernCalMom]

I believe that BTRBBQ also has veggie skewers upon request.

Would they add one or two veggie skewers if we ask? We are four people, one of whom is a 7-year-old who tends to be on the picky side, and it would be great if we had more variety for her to choose from. But I wouldn't want to order an entire bucket of veggie skewers, just a couple. Would they do that?

 

[SMD]

Would they add one or two veggie skewers if we ask? We are four people, one of whom is a 7-year-old who tends to be on the picky side, and it would be great if we had more variety for her to choose from. But I wouldn't want to order an entire bucket of veggie skewers, just a couple. Would they do that?

They bring 2 on their own plate in lieu of meat for vegetarians. They're not intended to be an extra side. I'm sure you can get refills if anyone would eat more than 2. I know people have said they come with sauce, but mine were served dry.

 

[lunaland]

My travel buddy is allergic to pork, and we ate at BTBBQ a few years back. They had no trouble keeping the chicken in its own bucket for us. I just asked her if she could eat the beans and she said no. So my guess is there's pork in them somewhere.

 

[DisneyJamieCA]

There were like 20 of us. They acted like if they brought extra food we'd waste it. Maybe if I had asked for just a single piece of chicken at the beginning it would have been different, but I thought it would be a platter, and I'd just grab a piece that wasn't touching anything else.

That's disappointing. I know we've done it at least 3 times with parties of 12+ and it's never been a problem. We get a bucket (or 2) of ribs and separate, but equal number of chicken. We've even asked for refills of chicken only and it hasn't been a problem. As with most things, I guess it's the luck of the draw.

 

[mr.bungle]

Beans without pork is an abomination. Beans make me fart bad though. Thanks, SIBO.

 

[mcm574]

Various groups of Jews and Muslims handle it differently. My kids don't eat pork at all but they eat where pork is served or prepared and do eat milk/meat together. That's pretty common in Reform Jews in our area and for some of their Muslim friends. Asking to not be served ribs with the chicken is not a large request and since this is all you can eat they should have plenty on hand for those who choose to not consume pork. I would just ask to speak to a manager when you arrive if the server can't get a separate extra bucket of chicken for you.

We actually refer to my husband as "fauxsher" - he doesn't keep kosher by any stretch of the imagination, but he chooses not to eat pork or shellfish (while he's not especially religious anymore, he says that at this point they just taste "weird" to him). He wouldn't have any issue with his chicken touching the ribs - but he can taste when there's even the tiniest bit of pork in something (like if a dish has a bit of crumbled bacon, he can taste it every time, and thinks it tastes horrible).

 

[mcm574]

They bring 2 on their own plate in lieu of meat for vegetarians. They're not intended to be an extra side. I'm sure you can get refills if anyone would eat more than 2. I know people have said they come with sauce, but mine were served dry.

That was the other question I posed to Disney, whether we could get the veggie option in lieu of ribs (but in addition to chicken) for a few members of our party - but, again, they said they couldn't answer that specific question. If anyone has a definitive answer to this question, that would be great!