New BBQ anything like old Big Thunder Ranch BBQ?

[jojo&goliath]

I was so disappointed when I found out that the awesome Big Thunder Ranch BBQ of the mid 80s-90s had been scrapped. It was my absolute favorite place to eat in DL and I was so disappointed that it was gone when we went in 2006. I remember it being about $9 a plate (crazy how cheap it used to be)and you got half a chicken, corn on the cob, delicious cornbread, and something else I can't recall (probably beans, which I don't eat). That was some good eatin'!

Has anyone been to the new Celebration BBQ who is also familiar with the old? Does it compare? I am excited about the chance to have good BBQ in DL when we go next month, but I don't want to get my hopes up too much either. Not sure I want to spend $20-30 on BBQ that's only OK, ya know?

 

[FairyDust2008]

My family and I did the Celebration Roundup and BBQ on our recent June 13th-20th 1st Disneyland Vacation and we LOVED it! It was one of the many highlights from our trip. The service was top notch! It was a different character type meal as you get your picture taken with either Jesse or Woody. We had ours taken with Jesse. I think they take turns trading while the other is interacting on stage. Jesse is too cute! It is picnic style with covered picnic tables so you are outside but shaded. There is a wonderful piano player and then a guy on the guitar who was AWESOME! My husband got a kick out of him. He made up rhymes when he went to different tables using the persons name, etc. The lady that sang onstage was good too. Then you see Woody and Bullseye. We didn't have any of them personally come to our table for autographs or anything but that was ok. Our waitress was sweet. She always came back to make sure we had refills of anything, etc and any other staffer was quick to come by to see if we needed anything. The food consisted of all you can eat family style brought to the table. BBQ ribs, grilled chicken, coleslaw, cornbread, corn wagon wheels, ( which was just like little corn cobs but looked like little wagon wheels), baked beans and then the dessert was your choice of either chocolate, vanilla or red velvet cupcake cones. They were sooooooooooooooooooooo good! Hubby, son and I chose the red velvet, YUMMO! and daughter had the vanilla. It was also good. They had cream cheese and berries with like rasberry filling. Just really a nice way to top off the meal. Again, it was one of our FAV meals of our trip. I would definitely recommend it. I think Chip n Dale were off to the side for pics but I couldn't tell if they were part of the Roundup or not. We had already had pictures with them at another character meal so we didn't bother to stop and find out. Overall, it was a WONDERFUL experience and the food was plenty. You won't leave hungry. I think the refills we had were our drinks and the corn. There was plenty of the other stuff. If you go, HAVE FUN! You won't regret it! I'll try and post some pics soon. We just returned from our trip on June 20th so I'll be getting to them.

 

[pixiewings71]

I agree with FairyDust, it's delicious!!!!! Food was great, entertainment was fun, well worth it IMO. Chip & Dale are not part of the BBQ, but you can meet them off to the side in the petting zoo area.

 

[jojo&goliath]

Thanks a bunch! The info about the BBQ is great to know and the info about Chip & Dale being close by is a nice bonus, too! My dd LOVES Chip & Dale and was super bummed that we missed them last time. Might have to consider splurging a bit on this meal after all!

 

[InLikeSin]

When we ate here in May the castmembers all made sure we knew that it was okay to ask for extra portions of everything at the end and then ask for to go boxes. We were full up to our ears and were going to be staying in the parks for a few more hours so it didn't make sense for us to take anything along but it might make sense to someone with kids to take some back to the room for later. We loved the food here everything was really good. We weren't crazy about paying $65 for BBQ and it was also deserted when we were there which makes it a little uncomfortable. But we will probably come back again.

 

[bronko78]

Honestly, I preferred the old style bbq better. I'm not a fan of the chili powder seasoning they use on the ribs or the spice they use on the chicken. The service was terrible when we went, and the character interaction was non-existant. It just wasn't worth the price at all.

 

[pixiewings71]

We got to go boxes too, that was great for us as we were heading home not long after and it gave us something to eat on the drive home. I loved the BBQ sauce, it was one of the best I've had, the characters were great, Woody kept coming to our table and messing with DBF's hat, it was hilarious. And our server....OMG, she was amazing....she kept us full with everything and was just so sweet!! In our experience it was worth it...in fact, if DBF and I go solo this weekend I want to see if we can eat there, just the 2 of us. It will be the ONLY meal we would need all of Saturday! LOL

 

[FairyDust2008]

We got to go boxes too, that was great for us as we were heading home not long after and it gave us something to eat on the drive home. I loved the BBQ sauce, it was one of the best I've had, the characters were great, Woody kept coming to our table and messing with DBF's hat, it was hilarious. And our server....OMG, she was amazing....she kept us full with everything and was just so sweet!! In our experience it was worth it...in fact, if DBF and I go solo this weekend I want to see if we can eat there, just the 2 of us. It will be the ONLY meal we would need all of Saturday! LOL

I so totally agree that it was worth it I'm sorry the one poster had a bad experience with service and wasn't impressed. This was not our experience at all. The BBQ was DELISH! I didn't care about character interaction at the table. That is what set it apart from the other character type meals. The characters were there, they just didn't happen to come to our table or anyone elses for that matter but they were posing for pics and doing skits on stage so it didn't bother me at all. There was plenty to eat and they were more than willing to bring you whatever you happened to run out of with no problems. It is a nice addition I think and I'm glad we decided to do it. Great memories

 

[disneynerd420]

Well I'm glad to hear some good things about this place. I want to go, but I didn't want to feel like I threw away my money on mediocre BBQ.

 

[FairyDust2008]

I would definitely put in on your list to try because then you can form your own opinion too you know? I hope you try it and like it. With cost, I always factor just the whole Disney experience and for me, we got it on the day we went and the food was definitely good. DS and myself LOVED the bbq ribs. DD and hubby LOVED the chicken. My DD especially loved the chicken. I couldn't believe how much she ate. The guy with the guitar was pretty funny and entertaining. Service was great. I was sorry the other poster didn't have a great experience but for me and my family, it was worth it. If you go, HAVE FUN

 

[disneynerd420]

The other thing I'm concerned about is... and this is the grumpy in me talking, but I don't want to be any where near the little show they put on, and I sure don't want them interacting with me while they are performing.

I love Disney, but I just can't handle some of these shows and character interactions that are so sweet they can turn you diabetic. Turtle Talk with Crush was just tiptoing the line. If I was not so impressed with how it is done, I probably would like it less.

I don't mind character interaction, I love it. In the traditional "they come and give you a hug and take a picture" kind. Essentially, I just want to enjoy my meal and not have an enormous amount of attention drawn to me.

Is that wrong?

 

[InLikeSin]

The other thing I'm concerned about is... and this is the grumpy in me talking, but I don't want to be any where near the little show they put on, and I sure don't want them interacting with me while they are performing.

I love Disney, but I just can't handle some of these shows and character interactions that are so sweet they can turn you diabetic. Turtle Talk with Crush was just tiptoing the line. If I was not so impressed with how it is done, I probably would like it less.

I don't mind character interaction, I love it. In the traditional "they come and give you a hug and take a picture" kind. Essentially, I just want to enjoy my meal and not have an enormous amount of attention drawn to me.

Is that wrong?

I felt the same way exactly! I was hesitant when I saw how empty the place was because if there are only us and 3 other tables the preformers are even more likely to annoy us while we were trying to eat.... and they did! It wasn't too over bearing though, a couple of 'where are you from's and 'what are you celebrating's but they mostly stay on stage and stick to their script.

 

[FairyDust2008]

We had ressies for 5pm and it filled up quickly and by the time we started eating, the tables were getting packed and when we left there were people waiting to go to their tables. I guess it all depends on the day and maybe the time you go I guess if you aren't into characters of any kind, you are better to stick with places like Blue Bayou from what I hear from people where it is a non-character meal or the in park places to eat, quickserve like The Pizza Port which we did eat at twice and enjoyed it both times. I also love the Farmer's thing over in Disney'a California Adventure, the place that had those CORNDOGS-YUMMO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean any of the character meals are going to me MAJOR interaction as we experienced with Goofy's Kitchen, Minnie & Friends and Storyteller's and the BBQ was the least interactive of them all but good & fun.

 

[blackjackdelta]

I know this has been posted before and I feel like being lazy today, so, does anyone remember what the price(s) were.

Jack

 

[pixiewings71]

Jack prices were about $33 for adults and $15 for kids, APers get a discount and so do AAA members and Disney Visa holders I think, I can't remember for sure, we just flash our AP for our discounts now. Our total was just over $100 for 3 adults and 1 child, iirc.

How this works is, you check in at the counter, they take you to the character that is doing photos, we had Jessie but it's also Woody sometimes, then they take you to your table. We were seated and our server took our drink order (sodas & tea are included in the price so don't feel you have to go with water) and brought out food. Tons and tons of food.....we also got extras because DD12 loved the ribs! Woody was on stage doing a skit with a piano player, then he went to do the photo op and Jessie came out on stage, Bullseye also came out. Miss Kris wandered around and the piano guy took a break so the guitar player came out. He wandered around to and from tables and sang little songs for those who had birthdays or were celebrating something. He did not come to our table, nor did Miss Kris, but a manger did to make sure we were doing well, we complimented the server, the food, the show, everything. We never felt rushed, we felt as if we were important guests and that was nice. I'm sure if you let your server know you're not interested in interaction they will pass the word along, and if the CM's/character can tell you're not interested they will usually leave you alone. We kept saying HI to Woody and waving so he kept coming to our table to mess with DBF, the kids loved it, they thought it was hilarious. I watched him wander tho and if it appeared someone wasn't interested he would tip his hat and wander away.

 

[jojo&goliath]

Do you happen to know the AAA discounted rate? I also have no idea how character breakfasts work since we've never done one...

 

[QueenDoOver]

If I had to hazard a guess, and if it followed suit, then it would be 10% off.