Mickey's Backyard BBQ

[SharpMomOfTwo]

Has anyone does this - what is it like? There would be 8 of us including my 2 girls (2 & 3). We are staying at POFQ - how long does it take to get there/get back from there? Is it "kid friendly"? We are on the DDP - is it covered? Is it one or two points? Any thoughts are appreciated!!!!

TIA

 

[stmize]

it is 2 table services on the ddp. we haven't been there yet but we have heard it was great. We have adr's for November

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Do you like country music???

We had an okay time at the BYBBQ but 1) it's definately NOT worth two points on the DDP and 2) we wouldn't do it again. I should mention that we aren't country fans so the entertainment wasn't that exciting to us. The place is ABSOLUTELY packed so if you go, plan on very limited interaction with the characters. When the characters come out on the dance floor there is a mad rush of every child in the place. In fairness to the CMs playing the characters...it must be very overwhelming and they do a good job trying to dance with each child for a second.

The food was mediocre at best. It's cafeteria style lines and you have to get your own drinks and clean up after yourself. I'm not sure why you have to pay for a gratuity or who that gratuity goes to. You sit at long picnic tables. My daughter's favorite part was the ice cream for dessert. We couldn't get her to eat anything else and I don't blame her. The corn on the cob (which I was SURE she would eat) was at hard as a rock or really mushy depending the piece everyone in our party ended up throwing it away.

It does take awhile to get there. The quickest way is by boat from MK. The boat landing is a short walk from the pavilion. If you take the bus, it takes quite awhile. You have to go from your hotel, to MK. From MK, you have to take the FW bus. Once you get to FW, you have to take another bus AROUND FW (the place is MASSIVE) and then you have to walk from the bus station to the pavilion. All in all, it takes well over an hour to get there. The best part of the evening for us was the boat back to MK. It was dark and all the lights were on and it was really pretty.

 

[bkelly65us]

Definitely not worth it. When we went it was packed and my kids didn't really care for the show or the food. They all liked the ice cream, though.

Still, if you're going to spend the points, I'd recommend Hoop De Doo Revue. We sat right up front, in the middle against the stage, and my kids LOVED it! They still crack up over Six Bit Slocum...

 

[skdaz@cox.net]

Our family went in Sept of 2006. We had three kids at the time ages 6, 4, and 1 1/2, plus grandma and grandpa. We all thought it was one of the highlights of our trip. The other posts are correct and there was a lot of people dancing but we stayed to the end and our kids got plenty of time with the characters. If our kids were older it may not have been as much fun. The food was average, except the fact you can fill yourself up on icecream. We would go again.

 

[TinaLala]

Country music aside (which we hate) the food was what you would have at a BBQ. Corn, ribs, cornbread. It's a southern BBQ at it's best. It even poured the night we were there and it didn't bother the BBQ any, except when we had to run back to the bus!

Do it once and check it off your list - you never know you might love it and it might become a family tradition!

 

[fortheluvofpooh]

we went in 07 and really liked it, we also went during free dining. Had I had to pay for it, I don't think we would have went.

 

[mom2aredhead]

We were there in Oct, so lower crowds and temps. I do not think I would go in the heat of the summer since it is outdoors and it gets a little hot under the pavillion because of the lights and people.

My son was 4 the last time we went, and he really had fun dancing along side the characters. It kind of reminded me of the dance parties at the ticketed events at MK (like MNSSHP). The characters come out and are immediately surrounded by kids, which is fine, but then the kids are surrounded by adults trying to make sure THEIR kid is closest to Mickey, etc. It was a little annoying - but you know what - people are equally as rude on Main Street 10 minutes before Spectro starts, so it really didn't spoil anything for us. The shows in between the dancing were fun too - a roping cowboy and some line dancing - not something we see here in NY very often.

I watched some clips on You Tube and read about it before we went, so I knew what to expect, character and food wise. I think a lot of people that didn't like it it probably didn't know what to expect, or were unrealistic about what "dancing with the characters" really means. If it says "BBQ" then no one should be surprised that the menu is BBQ chicken, BBQ ribs and hot dogs. If it is an event with characters, no one should be surprised that there will be lots of kids there, all wanting attention from Mickey and the gang.

The food is fine...well, the burgers are gross, but the rest of the food is fine. It's picnic food served to the masses - not a gourmet meal. The unlimited wine and Mickey ice cream bars were a highlight for me - and surprisingly they do go really well together.

I'm a firm believer in trying (almost) everything once to form my own opinion. If you're going during the steamy summer months, I'd do HDDR for the a/c alone. But during another time of year, the BBQ is lots of fun, especially for the kids.