Mickey's Backyard BBQ?? Is it terrible?

[BriesMomma]

So I booked Mickey's Backyard BBQ because I thought "how can you go wrong with Mickey and BBQ?!?"

And then I read this horrible review saying it was long, boring, didn't serve sodas, it gets cold in the dining area (Jan), the food was blah...etc. I mean, it was bad. Having already paid for this meal in advance and thinking this would be cool for my 6 year old Step son and his rib lovin' daddy- I am now worried everyone will hate me. SO... Is it worth the time its going to take us to go there- or am I going to be P'd I made them do this? We also have an impatient 2 year old.

I don't have any Character Meals planned so I'm thinking of cancelling and trying to get in at Chef Mickey's for dinner instead so we can hop over from MK or vice versa. Please tell me what you guys think!! Thank ya!

 

[catgirl]

I was wondering the same. Not sure if I should reserve for my 4/2010 trip. Hope someone can give us advice.

 

[jessicam40]

my children were 3 and barely 1 when we went. My 3 year old did NOT like Mickey's Backyard bbq - it was chaotic, loud, overwhelming. We went in October and the show was packed. It was a cattle call to get a good table and the food was okay at best. I will never go again.

 

[dato63]

Everyone likes different things. So you'll get positive and negative responses.

Last year, I went to utube and searched videos to see the entertainment. It looked like fun for me so I booked it. We enjoyed it a lot - it was DH's favorite meal of our trip. We are going again this year.

We enjoyed the ribs, chicken, beans, cornbread and my DH loved the potato salad. We didn't try the hamburgers - as they looked unpleasant to us. But we saw plenty of people eating them. Is the food worth the price? Not really - but I think most WDW places are over priced.

I thought the worst part of the meal were the parents. In the excitement they all wanted to get pictures of their kids with the characters - which is understandable. But some resorted to being pushy, etc. But you'll find that all over WDW.

I do not remember sodas, seems it was punch and/or lemonade.

The characters come out and dance with you. Then there is a rope trick guy, they teach you the electric slide. Overall it was a fun night. But it is very loud. The volume + the size of the characters did scare one of my daughters (it was our first night on our first WDW trip) - but she enjoyed it as well . . .from a distance.

You might consider looking at utube and seeing if it is your kind of fun. The nice thing about Disney is they have something for everyone. . .so if this doesn't look like your cup of tea - you'll find something else.

 

[gwensgoofy]

We went probably 5 years ago, and my sons were around 5 and 7. They loved it! Loud, dancing, cool rope trick guy. The food was about what we expected when they try to serve that many people from a buffet. It probably depends on what your kids are comfortable with, and how much the parents can tolerate. It was nice to let the kids blow off steam.

 

[kimysbug]

I loved it!
Think old school 4th of July bar-B-Que
at the comunity park
yummy food
fun music
and some of Mickeys gang

it was me 33-dh43-my dad 60-SM50 little brother 12

 

[Halbleib1]

We enjoyed the food at mickeys bbq. The only thing we did not like was that you did not get assigned seating which can be difficult if you are traveling with a large party. The entertainment was ok. It was not the best dinner show we did and IMO not worth two table service credits. But if it is something that you think your family will enjoy give it a try one time. Everyone is different in what they like and do not like. Of all the dinner shows we prefer Hoop Dee Doo. That show is definately worth two table service credits. Even my son liked this show. They do not serve soda. They served some sort of punch the night we were there that was more like koolaid but really bad koolaid. Hardly any taste and not enough sugar at all. They also serve ice tea and wine and I think beer also. We do not like ice tea so we were stuck with the punch. They definately need to improve the drinks here. My son was three when we went here and it was very difficult for him to get any time with the characters as the older kids would push right through. Some with the help of parents as others have said. It does get loud here as well. My son did not enjoy this at all. He would have rathered stayed out where you first wait before going into the pavilion and played. They had sidewalk chalk and hula hoops etc. for the kids to play with while waiting. However until we were let into the pavilion it was hard for the kids to play with any of it because of the crowds all around. So after dinner he went out and played with it some. We did not stay until the end as it was just not entertaining enough for him in the pavilion. You should know that the characters do not come around to the tables to greet you. You only see them on the dance floor and they do not sign autographs. They did stop at a couple of tables on the outskirts coming back from break but for a very brief time. They do not come to all the tables like at other character dinners. So if you are looking for that type of experience this is not the place.

We have ate at Chef Mickey's on all three of our trips and found that the food has really declined each time we went. Our first trip was in 2007 with our last being Dec 2008. Our worst experience at Chef Mickey's was in Dec 08. We ate there in Sept. of 08 and found the food good but not great but by the time our trip came in Dec. the food was pretty bad. So bad that I do not know if we will go back on our next trip. Also on each of our trips the character interaction got less and less. So if you do not do the bbq I would pick somewhere else besides Chef Mickey's for dinner at least.

 

[mischief32]

We loved it. We went in May and it is the only place my husband was firm about us doing again next year. Have it book for the end of April 2010. I do recommend getting there early, around 5:30, as they recommend. I t was raining when we went but did not spoil the the fun. Even saw a armadillo on way the bathroom. Never seen one of those before. The food was good but it is BBQ food so nothing fancy. The rope guy was great. We got a table right up front because we got there early... I do agree there was a mob like mentality with Mickey and Minnie when the dancing started but Chip and Dale and Goofy came to our table...

 

[BriesMomma]

So I've decided to cancel my ADR @ Mickey's BBQ. After reading the few negative things- and the good ones- and checking out the videos on YouTube, it just seems like it would be too stressful and too time consuming! I got us in at Chef Mickey's for the same night- I know the food might not be that great. (But if you ask my family nobody cooks better than momma anyway!!!) Now that we're not doing that- I also booked a Princess Breakfast at Akershus for just my daughter and I!!! I'm so excited about that one!

But thanks for the input everyone. I also scrolled back through some of the other threads about Mickey's BBQ and they were not so great either. It's really too bad. Maybe when the kids are older- and when their dad grows up too!!

 

[aguinnmc]

I am glad you have it worked out! I just wanted to say that we did Chef Mickey's and LOVED it! We have actually opted for it over many other choices, mainly because the food was great. You might be pleasantly surprised...we were

We wanted to try the Backyard BBQ, but haven't yet. Instead, we are going to Hoop de Do again. It is really a lot of fun and the assigned seating helps a lot as well. It might be a good choice for another trip and it sounds like the food is similar.

I think you will have a good time at the Princess breakfast as well.