Celebration Round Up and BBQ

[Huff]

I'm going next week with 2 11yr old girls. I thought about going to this but at age 11 they are charged the adult rate. They'd eat one small plate each and be full. Just not worth paying $31 or so for each girl for the small amount they eat.

 

[Krissy Marissy]

I remember big thunder ranch bbq too with the covered wagons and all! I used to LOVE eating there as a kid and am glad it is kind of back...however those prices are steep! If the food is great I will do it...but otherwise...I dont think so. Whispering canyon is quite a bit cheaper and they have good food. No disney characters but it is never a dull meal!

 

[DisneyLoren]

Hi, all

I found this forum after seeing somebody had posted one of my photos of Celebration Round Up and BBQ a couple days before it opened. Anyway, I went on opening day and you might be interested in my impressions.

Celebration Round Up and BBQ is rather pricey for what they have to offer. Basically, they run a show continuously through your meal that involve Woody, Jessie and Bullseye. You check in at the front and they bring you past one of the characters that you can pose for a picture with. My friend and I got to pose with Jessie, but, during the course of our meal, I also saw Chip n' Dale and Woody. The disappointing part is that, for the price, you want to feel like you're getting something a little exclusive. But, truth be told, you can watch the show from outside the gates of the restaurant. Now, you don't get to take pictures with the characters, but there's nothing really stopping you from taking pictures of the show without paying. And, the thing is that they have Woody and Jessie wandering around Frontierland all the time. So, getting to pose with them for $30 a pop doesn't really feel exclusive. And, I got to take pictures with Chip n' Dale at Big Thunder Ranch before we went to eat, so that wasn't exclusive feeling either. I DID get to take a picture with Bullseye and that was the first time I got to see him at Disneyland, so that was nice.

The food itself is actually quite good. The chicken is tender and the BBQ sauce is tasty. The baked beans are delicious and I found myself wanting thirds, which is unusual for me because I don't necessarily love baked beans. The cole slaw is vinegar based and tasty. The corn bread was wonderul. It's not like the corn bread served at French Market in New Orleans Square...much heartier and tender. The only disappointment in terms of food was their cowboy cupcake cone that they were trying to promote. It was a little dry and didn't have the same kind of authentic BBQ taste the rest of the meal had.

Also, I was a bit disappointed that I felt ignored by the "proprietress" of Celebration Roundup and BBQ...a character they call Miss Chris. She went around to every table to greet them EXCEPT my friend's and my table. I don't quite know why she decided to skip us, considering there were probably only 15 people in the restaurant. But, it kind of annoyed me.

I don't know if I could recommend Celebration Roundup and BBQ right now. They really need to build a fence or something to make you feel like you're stepping into a place that you can't see unless you pay the money they charge you. I was also disappointed that they took pictures of my friend and me with Jessie and then really tried to get me to buy them for $29 more. I just couldn't do it because, if I did, it would have meant I would have spent over $100 for a lunch for two people.

Anyway, I was going to post a link to my photos, but being new here, it won't let me post a link.

Hope this is helpful to people.

 

[Vala]

Thanks so much for posting, Loren.

The Chip & Dale fan I will have in tow in fall is curious if Chip & Dale were wearing cowboy attire too to fit in with the theme?

 

[PinkBudgie]

Very interesting to read your thoughts. Thanks for posting!

 

[redsox721]

As for the seating, how is it done? If you are a party of two, are you seated at a table for two or are you seated at a large table with others?

There is a review on Mouseplanet with awesome pictures.

 

[Misskitty3]

As for the seating, how is it done? If you are a party of two, are you seated at a table for two or are you seated at a large table with others?

There is a review on Mouseplanet with awesome pictures.

I was wondering the same thing. We are a family of 4 but it looks like the tables fit 8.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks, DisneyLoren for posting. I think we were all eager to get an account of what exactly was happening in Celebration BBQ. The photo taking thing - where they try to get you to spend another $30 - is nothing new to character meals, BUT I imagine they were letting people pose for pictures with the characters using their own cameras as well. That is how it is at Goofy's - they want you to buy their picture with Pluto, but they will snap a picture of you and Pluto on your own camera too.

You echoed what I was thinking - the food is good but the money is a bit steep to pay for what you get. Perhaps they will make Woody and Jessie a little more exclusive now to lure people in to Celebration BBQ, and not have them roaming around Frontierland where anyone can get to them. Chip and Dale can be found at almost all of the character meals (they are well-traveled little critters), as well as in the parks. I can justify spending $30 - $35 on a character buffet, but this Celebration BBQ price is a little lofty for this kind of set-up. Hmmm...I am going to have to ponder whether this is worth it or not.

Can you tell us a little more about the food? You mentioned chicken (which is what I would eat). I assume there are BBQ ribs too? Any other BBQ stuff? Do they serve corn on the cob as well? Any other side dishes besides the beans, corn bread and cole slaw? Do you get seconds on the food if you want it?

 

[Misskitty3]

Sherry - Here is the link to a great review with lots of photos.

http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/blog.php?b=391

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry - Here is the link to a great review with lots of photos.

http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/blog.php?b=391

Thanks, Misskitty3! What would I do without you? You are always coming through with the great links that give me more info!

 

[DisneyLoren]

Thanks so much for posting, Loren.

The Chip & Dale fan I will have in tow in fall is curious if Chip & Dale were wearing cowboy attire too to fit in with the theme?

Hi, Vala

Yes, Chip n' Dale were wearing Western wear. Both of them wore cowboy vests and a scarf around their necks.

I hope they'll have other classic Disney characters wearing Western wear wandering around the restaurant or Big Thunder Ranch in the future.

Also, both of the people who played Chip n' Dale were great and a lot of fun. They really knew how to engage the visitors.

 

[DisneyLoren]

I was wondering the same thing. We are a family of 4 but it looks like the tables fit 8.

This is for RedSoxx and MissKitty...

Unfortunately, there were less than 1/4 of the tables filled when we were there, so there was pretty much room for every person to have their own table. So, I'm not sure how they'll do it when they have more people. My guess is that at peak capacity they're going to ask people to share tables.

 

[S. S. Columbia]

There is a review on Mouseplanet with awesome pictures.

Here's the link:

http://mousepad.mouseplanet.com/blog.php?b=391

ETA: This link was already posted above.

 

[thmar]

Thanks DisneyLoren and Misskitty3.

 

[Sherry E]

Those cupcakes may be a bit dry (I have noticed they tend to be dry at DLR in general), but they LOOK amazing! I am craving that strawberry shortcake concoction! I just don't know how wise it was for them to charge so much for something in general that is not that exclusive in nature during this tough economic time.

 

[DisneyLoren]

Thanks, DisneyLoren for posting. I think we were all eager to get an account of what exactly was happening in Celebration BBQ. The photo taking thing - where they try to get you to spend another $30 - is nothing new to character meals, BUT I imagine they were letting people pose for pictures with the characters using their own cameras as well. That is how it is at Goofy's - they want you to buy their picture with Pluto, but they will snap a picture of you and Pluto on your own camera too.

You echoed what I was thinking - the food is good but the money is a bit steep to pay for what you get. Perhaps they will make Woody and Jessie a little more exclusive now to lure people in to Celebration BBQ, and not have them roaming around Frontierland where anyone can get to them. Chip and Dale can be found at almost all of the character meals (they are well-traveled little critters), as well as in the parks. I can justify spending $30 - $35 on a character buffet, but this Celebration BBQ price is a little lofty for this kind of set-up. Hmmm...I am going to have to ponder whether this is worth it or not.

Can you tell us a little more about the food? You mentioned chicken (which is what I would eat). I assume there are BBQ ribs too? Any other BBQ stuff? Do they serve corn on the cob as well? Any other side dishes besides the beans, corn bread and cole slaw? Do you get seconds on the food if you want it?

Hi, Sherry

Sorry...I was online late at night and must have been delirious and didn't realize I didn't write about the ribs and corn. YES, they definitely have ribs and they are delicious as well. They give you extra BBQ sauce and it's worth slathering a little more on because it's got such a delightful sweet and tangy taste. There are no other BBQ items outside of the chicken and ribs, though. Basically, you get two pieces of chicken and two ribs per person.

They do also serve corn on the cob or what they call "wagon wheels" which are smaller wagon wheel cut corn on the cob. My friend said the way they cooked them was more authentic to a western BBQ. They have them sit in milk and butter and they're quite tasty, too.

I wish I could post the picture of the menu. So, to be clear, it's two pieces of chicken and two ribs, BBQ baked beans, corn cob wagon wheels, cole slaw, refillable drink and the cowboy cake cone at the end. For my friend and me, there was enough of the sides to fill us up. They bring it to you all family style and they asign a DAD and a MOM to the table. The DAD (played by me on the trip) is supposed to dole out the food and the MOM (played by my friend) is supposed to be in charge of portion control so everybody is happy.

Hope that's helpful!

 

[Vala]

Hi, Vala

Yes, Chip n' Dale were wearing Western wear. Both of them wore cowboy vests and a scarf around their necks.

Thank you Loren!

My room mate will be extremely happy when I let her know that. This might actually be the first character meal where she will come with me voluntarily.

 

[Sherry E]

Hi, Sherry

Sorry...I was online late at night and must have been delirious and didn't realize I didn't write about the ribs and corn. YES, they definitely have ribs and they are delicious as well. They give you extra BBQ sauce and it's worth slathering a little more on because it's got such a delightful sweet and tangy taste. There are no other BBQ items outside of the chicken and ribs, though. Basically, you get two pieces of chicken and two ribs per person.

They do also serve corn on the cob or what they call "wagon wheels" which are smaller wagon wheel cut corn on the cob. My friend said the way they cooked them was more authentic to a western BBQ. They have them sit in milk and butter and they're quite tasty, too.

I wish I could post the picture of the menu. So, to be clear, it's two pieces of chicken and two ribs, BBQ baked beans, corn cob wagon wheels, cole slaw, refillable drink and the cowboy cake cone at the end. For my friend and me, there was enough of the sides to fill us up. They bring it to you all family style and they asign a DAD and a MOM to the table. The DAD (played by me on the trip) is supposed to dole out the food and the MOM (played by my friend) is supposed to be in charge of portion control so everybody is happy.

Hope that's helpful!

Yes, it's very helpful! Thanks! Now that I have seen pictures of the cupcakes, I assume they give you enough for one cupcake per person at the table. There appear to be 4 different varieties of cupcakes and there were only 2 of you in your group, so did you get to choose the kind of cupcake you wanted or did they just pick for you? I would demand the strawberry shortcake cupcake! That is a MUST for me!

 

[DisneyLoren]

Yes, it's very helpful! Thanks! Now that I have seen pictures of the cupcakes, I assume they give you enough for one cupcake per person at the table. There appear to be 4 different varieties of cupcakes and there were only 2 of you in your group, so did you get to choose the kind of cupcake you wanted or did they just pick for you? I would demand the strawberry shortcake cupcake! That is a MUST for me!

They actually just ended up bringing out two cupcakes (yes, everybody gets their own) and we didn't choose, although, I can imagine that you could make a request. We had the red velvet, which I normally love, but found this to be too dry, and the vanilla, which was much better than the red velvet. I think, for me (and others might disagree), the waffle cone was the thing that spoils this dessert because it was a little rubbery. If I go back, I definitely want to try to strawberry shortcake, too.

 

[mmlover74]

Sounds like fun, but definitely pricey.