Mickeys Backyard BBQ

[letsgoagainsoon]

Is it really that bad?? Has anyone here actually enjoyed it?

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

I loved it. I thought it was fun. The character interaction was great and the food was good. We went last July and I am killing myself trying to get reservations for next month.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Our Ratings of Mickey's BBQ: (rev 1/5/11)
. . . food price value: D
. . . food quality: C-
. . . food quantity per serving: B
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C-
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: D
. . . eatery atmosphere: C
. . . eatery convenience: C
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff helpfulness: B
. . . Character interaction: C+

NOTE: Tables are long picnic tables of about 40 people
per table, so you sit with other families. No reserved seating,
so the "mad dash" for seats can be interesting. There is no
"front row", just the end of the picnic tables. Folks start lining up
about 1-hr prior to the 5:30pm seating. Also, characters are there
for dancing and front interaction, and *usually* do not go thru tables, so
sometimes there is a long line trying to get to the charcters. It
should also be noted that the sides are open to the weather. They
can put up some plastic wind diverters, but it does get cold.

 

[MamaJessie]

NOTE: Tables are long picnic tables of about 40 people
per table, so you sit with other families. No reserved seating,
so the "mad dash" for seats can be interesting. There is no
"front row", just the end of the picnic tables. Folks start lining up
about 1-hr prior to the 5:30pm seating. Also, characters are there
for dancing and front interaction, and *usually* do not go thru tables, so
sometimes there is a long line trying to get to the charcters. It
should also be noted that the sides are open to the weather. They
can put up some plastic wind diverters, but it does get cold.

Good to know!

 

[JJsmama]

I loved it. I thought it was fun. The character interaction was great and the food was good. We went last July and I am killing myself trying to get reservations for next month.

Seriously? All the dinner shows and even the Sig restaurants have LOTS of availability for June.

 

[JJsmama]

Mainly I didn't want to sit on a bench with no seat back for two hours. I looked into it, and looked at photos, but the picnic tables really deterred me.

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

Wow, this is really either a love or hate experience! LOL!

 

[littledreamer7]

We are going in May for first time. I've heard mixed
Responses to but we are generally easy to please and like to experience everything once. I don't care that it's picnic tables and I like the fact that the kids get to "dance" with the characters. Who knows, either way, I'm sure we will have fun.... It's Disney after all

 

[mjp12831]

We went in 09 and LOVED it - we're hoping to work it in again when we go this August.

It's tons of fun for the kids - the dancing and the walk up ice cream cooler where you can get all the same things like mickey bars that they sell in the parks. My youngest probably ate 5 of those on her own.

I'd disagree with pp rating of food quality. The ribs are very good imo, and I didn't find the buffet to be lacking at all in terms of quality or quantity. I wouldn't argue on it being overpriced, but it's not obscenely overpriced. It's pricy if you have kids 10+ because then you're paying for them as adults. I'd say it's worth the 2ts if using DDP because it's a very unique experience.

Character interaction is great - it's just different from the parks where you get an autograph and picture - the characters actually dance with the kids. Just don't go with the expectation of it being a meet and greet - it's not that.

The picnic seating seems to get panned here, but we liked it - we had a party of 11 and had no problem getting a table together and did not experience a mad rush for seats. It was nice to have a relaxed atmosphere being able to get up and down, move around (change seats) if you were talking to different people in your party.

Finally, there's a walk up beer tap which is quite nice for the adults. You don't need to rely on a waiter to come to you when you want another, you just get up and help yourself.

 

[katml14]

We loved it. I thought the food was really good, the show was fun, and my daughter LOVED being able to dance with Mickey and Minnie. I also agree with PP, it is really nice to be able to walk up to the cooler and grab your own ice cream or walk up to the bar area and grab a glass of wine. I think the only downfall is that you have to drive to Ft Wilderness, then take a bus to the restaurant.

 

[vinotinto]

Our Ratings of Mickey's BBQ: (rev 1/5/11)
. . . food price value: D
. . . food quality: C-
. . . food quantity per serving: B
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C-
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: D
. . . eatery atmosphere: C
. . . eatery convenience: C
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff helpfulness: B
. . . Character interaction: C+

NOTE: Tables are long picnic tables of about 40 people
per table, so you sit with other families. No reserved seating,
so the "mad dash" for seats can be interesting. There is no
"front row", just the end of the picnic tables. Folks start lining up
about 1-hr prior to the 5:30pm seating. Also, characters are there
for dancing and front interaction, and *usually* do not go thru tables, so
sometimes there is a long line trying to get to the charcters. It
should also be noted that the sides are open to the weather. They
can put up some plastic wind diverters, but it does get cold.

Thanks for the visual cue and ratings. I was wondering about this, it sounded fun for the kids, but based on that description, not even the open beer tap would make this enjoyable.