Mickey's Backyard BBQ with 2 kids- suggestions?

[dreambound]

I am so surprised we got this under 60 days out since it is only twice a week!

It will be our first night at FW (spending one night before at Coronado Springs.) After we get settled in, we'll head to the BBQ. Anyone have suggestions/tips/ideas/notes? Kids are 6 and 3. 6 year old will take ANY chance to dance publicly.



Thanks!

Meg

 

[dreambound]

Any thoughts? I've read that early arrival is really important, but I can't see waiting outside for too long with our little ones. How early is early enough? Are there any suggested places to sit, etc?

Thanks!

 

[Laura.bora]

I've never been there - but I was just reading a link where someone said to be there at 5:45-6:00 because she arrived at 6:15 and it was packed.

 

[Laura.bora]

If you want the link I was on it was http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1423955&page=2&highlight=Mickey's+Backyard+BBQ

It discusses all 3 dinner shows - I'm trying to decide which one if any.

 

[mom2aredhead]

Seating is at long picnic tables, and you'll want to get a seat close to the dance floor if your kids are going to be up/down a lot. The buffet is also open early so in most cases you can go there, get a seat, and be eating before it even "officially" starts.
The characters DO come around to the tables for pictures (maybe autographs too, I do not remember) and are on the dance floor for a good part of the night. There are also other performers (roping cowboy, line dance instructions, country western band) Keep in mind that the characters get swarmed by kids when they are dancing, so prepare your kids that they will likely not be able to dance exclusively with Mickey or Minnie for very long (if at all) They (characters) do a conga line around the pavillion w/everybody and the grand finale is pretty cute.
The food is OK - burgers, hot dogs, salads, ice cream. It is not great, but it's fine for picnic food. Beer/Wine is included too.
At the end of the night the dock for the boat will be mobbed with people leaving the BBQ and Hoop Dee Doo. The boat on the left goes back to MK. The boat on the right goes to the Contemporary. Depending on how long the line is, it may be faster to take the boat to the Contemporary and either walk to MK or hop on the monorail depending on where you are staying. Or you can let the kids play at the Ft Wilderness playground for a while until the crowd dies down.
It's not a board favorite, so expect the haters to come and tell you you're wasting credits and the food is not worth it, etc. etc. But we went the past 2 trips and my son (who is almost 4 now) really had a great time dancing with "his girl" Minnie and it was overall a fun night.
As long as you go knowing what to expect (outdoors, first come first serve tables, "picnic quality" food) I think you (and especially your kids) will have fun!

Sorry - I just re-read your post and realized you're staying at FW that night, so disregard my rambling about the boats - but maybe it'll help someone else.

 

[MousekaMaddi]

with two 4 yr olds and a 1 yr old, I thought food was fine but it is just basic dogs and burgers with salad and beans, nothing more, but we have been to the BBQ3 tmes now and have a fun nite! Be sure to be right with your kids as smaller non quick reacting kids get trampled a bit, dont leave them to just dance with the chara. alone We dressed our girls cowgirl style and they got LOTS MORE attention than others! Free mickey ice cream bars and itzakadoozie for dessert! Have a blast.

 

[bsusanmb]

Just return from there with our almost 3 year old DGD. I was disappointed. We tried to get there early by driving over, but forget it. You have to take a bus to get to it and that takes a while. I read to get there early to get a good seat...hummm I don't know that I agree. When you get there early and rush to get a seat at these LONG picnic tables, you miss the characters who greet you and any photo ops with the characters. The night we went in Sept was pretty empty, actually. There were plenty of tables left. If you have a little one, you need to go up on the dance floor with them anyway or they will get trampled. To me the best place to grab a seat would be on the sides where the dance floor is. you can just turn around and sit backwards for all the dancing and singing.

You are not permitted to have character signing. Disappointment. Food just ok. Ribs were very good. Hated dessert - Disney Ice cream bars.

Entertainment great if you enjoy country music at all. The problem is that all of these little ones want to hold the characters hands to dance, and there are too many little ones to do that. They get stepped on by the older kiddos and the characters who can't see real well. It wasn't one of my DGD's favorites. We left early. I think that the 5 and up crowd would favor well. But I have read reviews of parents who thought it was great for a little one. Not ours. She was overwhelmed by the huge crowd of kids and wanted to just hug the characters.

It was an experience but I don't think I will ever do it again.

 

[dreambound]

Thanks everyone! We don't have to worry about transportation because we are camping at FW. Our oldest loves to dance and will dance anywhere. Most recently at Kinko's. She's 6. She doesn't care if she has an audience or not, though it's always a perk if she does. She loves the characters, loves any kind of music, etc.

As for dessert, all-you-can-eat Mickey Bars would get us our money's worth for the entire trip. My family lives on Mickey Bars when at WDW.

Good to know that the kids don't get to dance individually with the characters. I can give my daughter the heads-up there.

Our youngest may not like it as much, but I think my daughter and I will have a blast.

Thanks!

Meg

 

[bsusanmb]

Meg, I am sure you are going to love it then. Don't get me wrong, the characters will hold hands with an individual child for a while. But with all of the kids there, they have to take turns or just dance in a big group with all of the kids. Your daughter will love it! And if you love Mickey bars, you will be in heaven - huge freezers full and all you want.

I am not a fan of country music so much, but it was really top notch. The kids there really had a great time. Maybe your husband could rush in to get a good seat and you can stay back with the kids to meet and greet.

If you picture a big square floor, stage at one end and then long picnic tables going straight back, I would grab a table on the side of the stage. Wish I had, but took one directly in front of the stage.

Have fun!

 

[dreambound]

Thanks! I appreciate the table tip. Good idea about sending husband ahead of us. I still don't know how the little one will react to characters this time, so he might want to go on in ahead too.

Freezers full of Mickey bars!!!!! I hope they don't bring them out until after dinner. I don't know how I'll get anyone in the family to eat. I like Mickey bars, but my family's interest in them is a bit overkill.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

Meg

Meg, I am sure you are going to love it then. Don't get me wrong, the characters will hold hands with an individual child for a while. But with all of the kids there, they have to take turns or just dance in a big group with all of the kids. Your daughter will love it! And if you love Mickey bars, you will be in heaven - huge freezers full and all you want.

I am not a fan of country music so much, but it was really top notch. The kids there really had a great time. Maybe your husband could rush in to get a good seat and you can stay back with the kids to meet and greet.

If you picture a big square floor, stage at one end and then long picnic tables going straight back, I would grab a table on the side of the stage. Wish I had, but took one directly in front of the stage.

Have fun!

 

[mom2aredhead]

I am not a fan of country music so much, but it was really top notch. The kids there really had a great time. Maybe your husband could rush in to get a good seat and you can stay back with the kids to meet and greet.

If you picture a big square floor, stage at one end and then long picnic tables going straight back, I would grab a table on the side of the stage. Wish I had, but took one directly in front of the stage.

Have fun!

I completely agree about her seat suggestion. And I'm not a fan of country music either. Not at all. Did I mention they have beer and wine there? Kinda kills the effects of the country twang a little.

Freezers full of Mickey bars!!!!! I hope they don't bring them out until after dinner. I don't know how I'll get anyone in the family to eat. I like Mickey bars, but my family's interest in them is a bit overkill.

The Mickey Bars are there all night long. They went really well with the wine.

 

[Shazzie B]

You'll love it, my kids were 'too old' for it really 12 & 14, but we still had a fun evening watching the dancing and character interactions with younger kids.

Have a great time.

 

[kkrisland]

My family and I went to the BBQ for the 1st time about a month ago. I have to say that despite my upset stomach (which I had before we went) we had a good time. My 4-year-old and my 2-year-old really liked it. My husband liked the food (especially the ribs) and the beer. If I were able to eat or drink, I would've loved the beer and wine as well! The kids loved the mac and cheese and ice cream. We got there around 6:05 for the 6:30 show. We didn't get the best seats b/c I didn't know that the seating was first come, first serve. I liked how informal everything was. My kids loved dancing and they were both able to hold hands with a character at least once during the evening to dance. The music and dancing does go on a little too long - we left, let the kids play on the playground and then went back because we were told the finale wasn't to be missed. It was ok and I was kind of glad we went back for it. I would totally agree with the suggestion that you should stay with your kids. It does get kind of crazy on the dance floor!

My thoughts on going back would be to go next year when we are with a big group of folks - friends and family. I think it is a perfect meal to have with a group since we can all sit together and really enjoy each other's company. The beer and wine help too!