Mickey's Backyard BBQ?

[MinniesYooHoo]

Who here has gone and what did you think? Any advice?

 

[PoohGal05]

My mom, son and I went on our last trip, in June 2014. It's buffet of picnic foods ~ ribs, smoked chicken, hot dogs, potato salad, mac and cheese, baked beans. There was more they had, but I don't remember. They had soda, beer and wine for adults. They had popsicles and Mickey bars for dessert. I thought the food was good. The band played country music and some stuff you hear on the radio. The characters danced with the kids on the dance floor. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale. We all had fun!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

ur Ratings of Mickey's BBQ: (*rev 3/10/16*)
. . . food price value: D ("F" is using DDP)
. . . food quality: C
. . . food quantity per serving: A
. . . food prep speed: B
. . . food selection: C
. . . seating quantity: C
. . . seating comfort: D
. . . eatery atmosphere: C
. . . eatery convenience: D
. . . staff friendliness: B
. . . staff attentiveness: B
. . . character interaction: B
.
NOTE1: Tables are long picnic tables of about 40 people per table, so you sit with
others. 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, the 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
characters. Also noted the sides are open to the weather. They put up plastic diverters
for winter and simple fans for summer, but it does get VERY hot/humid or cold. This is
not a well heated or air conditioned pavilion. "Dancing" characters interact well with
kids in front of the stage, and younger kids love it.
.
NOTE2: Mickey BBQ was always about one-half the price of the Hoop Dee Do Review. With
the popularity of DDP, they jumped the price double, including 2-TS coupons. WITH NO
CHANGE IN MENUS; NO CHANGE IN CHARACTERS; NO CHANGES AT ALL. Cost was barely
justified at lower prices, and not worth the current price for ribs-chicken-burgers.
.
NOTE3: The characters "dance" in front of the stage, and children come up to dance with
them. This creates a lot of pushing by the kids as they try to get next to their favorite
character. There are no lines like in the park for Meet & Greet, and no handlers to keep
the kids in a line or heaving.

 

[Funfire240]

We enjoyed it when we went. When we were there, CM's were seating people - only thing they wanted to seat our family of 4 in a spot fit for about 2 people! We were able to get moved and then DH and I took turns at the buffet so we wouldn't end up sitting on top of each other. The kids - then 5 and 7 - had fun. DS5 never left his seat - he's a little shy about things. DD7 is my dancer and she was out there the whole time and didn't really care about being by the characters - which was good because they were mobbed. As soon as they came out it was a made dash to the dance floor with parents close behind pushing their children up front and if they weren't right there with the kids, they were standing in front of the tables so sitting you couldn't see anything on the dance floor. We were at the end of a table and even had people set cups and things down right by us and standing literally right in front of us. My DD did dance with Minnie at one point when she came off the stage and was dancing to the side not far from our table. All in all the kids loved it. To sit back and eat bbq, have a beer and listen to country music was nice although quite expensive.

 

[Duckiedee]

If you have young kids who love characters, it is worth it just for that! We found it to be the best character interaction in Disney.

I found it fairly open the night we went, not overly crowded. It was in late October.

The food was great and there are so many buffet lines there is really no wait and there is a ton of room around the buffets.

Watch the sangria though... I didn't drink a ton, but this was the only time I think I ever ended up with a buzz on in Disney! LOL.

 

[Barbydoll8]

It was a one and done for me and my family. Did we enjoy it? yes but it was not worth the $ in my personal opinion. The food is from Trails End so if you like their food, you'll be fine on that front. If you have kids and they are over the age of 10, they probably will be bored. This is really geared towards smaller children but the characters DO NOT come to your table. You must get up and engage with them so if you or anyone in your party is a bit shy, they will miss out.
Entertainment is good but I think for the money there are much better character experiences out there. If you want a show with BBQ, I'd do HDDR instead for the $$.

 

[Tonberry]

Our kids loved it. The food is good but not wonderful, although there is plenty of it. In December, there was hotdogs, hamburgers (with all the fixings), sausage links, grilled chicken legs and thighs, mashed potatoes, baked beans, corn on the cob, cajun rice, cornbread, caesar salad, and ribs. Dessert is all you can eat popsicles and Mickey bars.

Thankfully, they've changed how they let people in, so it's not a mad rush for tables anymore. They now bring in groups of people at a time and help you find a table for you and your family. Still, the closer you are to the front on the lines is how quicker they bring you in.

My tip is not to sit too closely to the stage.
First, it's loud.
Second, if you are at a table right next to the stage, parents gather around to watch their kids and to take pictures. I went up for more food and when I came back, some lady was sitting in my seat clapping to the music. My drink and old plate in front of them didn't seem to bother her. The fact that I had to tap her on the shoulder to get her attention really bothered me.

 

[bsj1701]

My family has done it and liked it a lot. I thought the food and entertainment were both great - I hope you like country music!

 

[crazybones27]

I'm in the same boat of wondering if we should keep the ADR we have in two weeks or not. I haven't cancelled it yet, but I'm not sure if we should keep it.

After looking at YouTube videos I am wondering if they do highchairs for children who need them, or do they have to sit on the parents lap? I see its picnic tables, and I knew this before viewing the videos but now I'm wondering how or where they'd put a highchair if needed. Anyone go with a child who needed one?

 

[Jadyreen1282]

Good for kids and adults with unlimited beer and Sangria.

 

[Tonberry]

After looking at YouTube videos I am wondering if they do highchairs for children who need them, or do they have to sit on the parents lap? I see its picnic tables, and I knew this before viewing the videos but now I'm wondering how or where they'd put a highchair if needed. Anyone go with a child who needed one?

They do have high chairs for anyone that needs them. They will be set up on either end of the picnic tables. Just tell the CM who is seating your group if you need one.

 

[Pkltm]

DH and I went and actually got a few comments about us not having kids lol

Food was okay, transportation at the end was trying to say least.

 

[Terra Nova guy]

My family did it once, but never again. The food was bland. If your kids enjoy loud music and pushing & shoving on the dance floor to get near the characters, then they might enjoy it. Mine did not. There was such a crowd that my DD didn't get near any character. Transportation at Fort Wilderness, especially the crowd at the end trying to get out, is somewhat problematic.

 

[momtotaryn]

We did it when we went to WDW for our first trip 5 years ago. My younger DD was 10 at the time, and I think she felt she was a little too "old". Most of the other kids were MUCH younger. That said, we did enjoy it as a "different" experience. We did like the food too, but it wasn't outstanding. I don't think we'll do it again. I didn't recommend it for our upcoming trip in June. We're traveling with my sister and her family (first time for them). They asked about it, but all our kids are high school or older. Perhaps one day, if I ever have grandchildren, and I'm able to take them to WDW, we'd consider it.

 

[Nancyg56]

My friend just returned from her WDW trip. This was her boys first visit, and we convinced her to switch SOA for BBQ. The boys had a blast, and in turn she and her DH did as well.

This event was not for us, my DGD was not comfortable at all dancing with the characters. It is a kind of controlled chaos, kind of like a huge family picnic. Fun for some and a nightmare for others.

I think you need to understand your family, and know if they like that kind of atmosphere. My friend's boys have no inhibitions and boundless energy so they were thrilled to be let loose at a BBQ that included dancing up a storm with ther favorite characters. My family would rather chew glass and die than ever go again. LOL!

 

[crazybones27]

They do have high chairs for anyone that needs them. They will be set up on either end of the picnic tables. Just tell the CM who is seating your group if you need one.

Thank you for the answer . We actually cancelled our reservation. After reading all the reviews it just might be to much on our 1yr old. She gets overwhelmed quickly. We've never had this problem with our other children at this age, but looking at the videos I don't see it going smoothly for us lol. Plus the reviews of the food sorta helped the decision too. Thank you again for answering my question.

 

[Tonberry]

It is a kind of controlled chaos, kind of like a huge family picnic. Fun for some and a nightmare for others.

Yep, that pretty much sums it up!
My kids love it and have a blast every time. They actually look forward to it on every trip, which is the only reason why we do it.
If it were a trip with just me and my wife, no thanks.

crazybones, glad you found a decision that works for you and your family. MBYBBQ is not for everyone.

 

[Nancyg56]

Thank you for the answer . We actually cancelled our reservation. After reading all the reviews it just might be to much on our 1yr old. She gets overwhelmed quickly. We've never had this problem with our other children at this age, but looking at the videos I don't see it going smoothly for us lol. Plus the reviews of the food sorta helped the decision too. Thank you again for answering my question.

That is how my DGD reacted when she was 4. It really was too much, and we ended up taking her out to play on the swingset. She tried so hard to have fun, but once we recognized this was not working we left.

 

[DopeyDame]

One of my absolute favorite memories is when we took my DS when he was 2. It was just amazing and exactly right for our family. I agree with pretty much all the other reviews - the food is fine/good, but nothing amazing. But there's endless mickey bars, wine, and beer, so that's cool. the character interaction and dancing was fantastic. My son is super-shy, so typical meet and greets never go well. Here, he was able to dance near Mickey, but not be forced into a one on one interaction. He thought dancing with goofy (a la the Hot Dog dance) was just about the best thing that ever happened to him.
For little kids who have lots of energy and love dancing and moving around, and for their parents who are comfortable with a bit of chaos, it's fantastic.
For families that prioritize the quality of the food or calm/organized experiences, I can easily see how it would be a nightmare.

 

[DopeyDame]

Also, don't stress about dancing immediately next to the characters in the beginning. As the night wears on, people start leaving and the pushing and shoving dies way down.

And the rope twirler cowboy guy is really amazing!