Mickeys backyard Bbq question

[DisMama5]

I made our resi the day after our 180 mark, got it and we have a party of 12. Wondering how tables go? Will we be close because we booked early or is one day after my 180 window opened considered late?? I'm hoping we are at a table closer to the action...

 

[Nancyg56]

I made our resi the day after our 180 mark, got it and we have a party of 12. Wondering how tables go? Will we be close because we booked early or is one day after my 180 window opened considered late?? I'm hoping we are at a table closer to the action...

1. The BBQ has no reserved seating. If you want to be in the center of the room, near the dance floor, be sure to arrive early. The tables are long picnic tables thar circle the floor out to the perimeter of the Pavilion. This event is not like th HDDR or luau, where the time you reserve impacts your table.

 

[Tonberry]

Arrive very early if you want your choice of table. When we went, we were told to arrive at least 30 minutes before it opened. We arrived 30 minutes prior and were nearly the last ones in line! When they opened up, it was a mad dash to the tables.

 

[Nancyg56]

Arrive very early if you want your choice of table. When we went, we were told to arrive at least 30 minutes before it opened. We arrived 30 minutes prior and were nearly the last ones in line! When they opened up, it was a mad dash to the tables.

We did the same thing! I had no idea how that place fills up, and while we were okay sitting at teh rim of the pavilion, others may be disappointed.

 

[DISNEY1975]

I agree to arriving early..especially with a group of 12. Most families who are first in line go to completely empty tables. Once every table has at least one family sitting at it, a second round starts with the table filling. With 12 people, I wouldnt risk even being in that second round as you might not find availability to sit together. My guess is each table seats about 16 - 18 ish

 

[rere101399]

So if 30 minutes isn't early enough, anyone recommend how early to be for first pick? We'll be doing it with a party of 9.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Tables are long picnic table rows of about 40 people per row, so you sit with others.
2) No reserved seating, so the "mad dash" for seats can be interesting - sometimes lots of running and pushing and shoving.
3) There is no "front row", just the end of the picnic tables.
4) Everyone wants a seat close to the front, where the characters stay.
5) And, no, there is no "line saving", so people have to pretty much stay in line.
6) Folks start lining up about 1-1½ hours prior to the 5:30pm seating.
7) If you arrive at the recommended 30-minute early, you WILL NOT get seats together.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Really, 40 people per side of the table? I dont think so, unless things have changed. I know I went with a family of 6, including 3 kids, and we had a little less than 1/2 the table. We sat with another family of 5 and another family of 4 (all with kids). We did have plenty of elbow room, but no where near being able to fit another 25 people! Are you including the table next to another table as a "row" ?

 

[Jadyreen1282]

It's a BBQ. It's not SOA or HDDR. There are tons of tables. CMs let people in from the line a few minutes before. There's plenty of food, entertainment and booze.

Just accept it's an outdoor covered BBQ for a ton of people and you will have fun.

 

[Traveliz]

I always read about this mad dash for tables but I will say when I went last summer (with a group of 9) the lined formed up and when it opened they had us walk to the front where there were probably 6-8 CMs who took groups in one by one and seated them. I had literally booked the week before and we were seated at the first table stage left right up next to the stage side.

Liz

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Really, 40 people per side of the table? . . .

Per table row, not per side.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

I always read about this mad dash for tables but I will say when I went last summer (with a group of 9) the lined formed up and when it opened they had us walk to the front where there were probably 6-8 CMs who took groups in one by one and seated them.

That was my experience as well. My party of 5 were seated at a table by a CM. I have read about the "table dash" as well and was always confused.

 

[Nancyg56]

A 30 minute early arrival is fine if you are not a large group who is planning to be seated togeher, do not care if you are in the "front", and don't have preference about the "direction" your family faces. Now my little group was about 30 minutes early, and we had a little shy Princess in tow. We really did nto care where we sat, and that was a good thing because the four of us got a spot together at the very back (the perimeter of the pavilion). If we were a larger group at that time, we would not have been sitting togethe unless we were able to coerce others to squeeze or move. My Princess would not dance with the characters, but she did like to watch. I took her up, but if kids would have liked to dance, and parents wanted to sit and watch from their seats they could not from my vantage point. Again, not a big deal if your kids are comfortable on their own and you are as well. Kady never could have done that, and she was 4, so I would not have just sent her alone if I could not see her. I did not mind getting up with her, but people's preferences are different, so it is bes to know ahead of time what it is like so you can figure out what worlks for you.

The BBQ is not like other dinner shows. You are not seated according to the time you reserve, so your arrival is key to your enjoyment. No one can decide what factors determine any individual family's comfort, so knowing upfront how this works can make the difference between feeling the event was worth the money or a gynormous disaster.

 

[tabm01]

I'd like to leave Epcot around 5 and drive and park at Fort Wilderness and take the bus to the pavilion. Is this enough time to make it to the 6:30 bbq?