Has Anyone Gone to the Backyard BBQ?

[Trish5768]

How was it and is it worth it? Thanks!

 

[Pluto]

We went June 2001 and loved it. It was me, DH, and DD who was 10 at the time. There was lots of food and it was buffet style so you didn't have to wait for the servers to bring it to you. Plus there was plenty of buffets set up. The band was good and they had a comedian that was funny. They had a roper come out and give a demonstration. DD's favorite part was when Dancing Dan came out and showed you how to line dance, I believe he taught two dances, it was fun, children and adults went out on the floor. The characters that were there was Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip, and Dale. When we were there everybody headed straight to Mickey and Minnie, so we did Chip, Dale, and Goofy. Then when they bring them out the second time, we did Mickey and Minnie and there was hardly a line. I read there was suppose to be games there also around the pavilion but we didn't have any. It rained real hard that night so they lowered the covers around the pavilion. We have done the Luau, Hoop-de-do, and the BBQ and the Backyard BBQ it our favorite

 

[welovemickey]

We've gone to the BBQ a couple of times. Loved it! A very relaxing evening for adults and kids!

 

[Meagansmom]

We would also go again!!!

 

[drusba]

I'll give a vote against unless you really like country music and line dancing. Basically the BBQ is in a large outdoor pavilion, with a lot of park benches for your tables. Food is pretty good, buffet style. The characters show up every 30 minutes or so and then all the kids line up for them to get autographs (you can do that in a lot of places in WDW). Otherwise, all it is is a band playing country music with an emphasis on line dancing tunes.

 

[tjkraz]

When researching it for our trip, the reviews I had read were either very positive or very negative. Seems that people either love it or hate it.

I try not to be too harsh, but I have to say I was a bit disappointed.

Traveling party was myself, wife (31), son (2), and my parents (50s). My wife has recently developed an affection for country music, so I thought it would be something she would enjoy. Unfortunately she never really got into the spirit, and thus we were all pretty bored.

The food was good, although I dispised the way they herded us right toward the buffet as soon as we arrived. They way they had the venue laid-out, there was really no other choice. Traffic patterns certainly wouldn't have been helped by people heading to tables, getting settled, and then back the the buffet. But try to load up 3 plates of food while handling a 2-year old and all of the accompanying paraphanalia.

Anyway, seating was at plain old picnic tables. And we're talking about tables that ran nearly the length of the room. We visited in the off-season, so it wasn't overly crowded. But I imagine that in the summer months, it's uncomfortably elbow-to-elbow diners.

High chairs were long gone by the time we arrived.

And let's not forget the weather. The venue is outdoors (covered shelter area), but even on a late-September night, it was HOT and HUMID. That's probably the main reason we left after only about 90 minutes. In all of the photos we took my son's face is rosy red from the heat.

The characters were present, but they came and went at regular intervals. I'm sure the CMs were suffering from the same heat we were.

Can't comment much on the entertainment. Although it's not my thing, the live music seemed well done. But we left long before any of the other demonstrations people have mentioned.

Honestly, I'd never do the Backyard BBQ again. I'm sure there are many who would love it, but unless you're really a country music fan, I think you can do better for Character Meals. Unless you are primarily there for the music/atmosphere, you are likely to be disappointed IMO.