Thunder BBQ - A must try?

[DWLA]

We are working on our trip plan for a December trip out to Disneyland, the Wife and I are bringing our almost 3 and almost 3 year old with us.

Originally, Thunder BBQ was not on our list, since the description is basically just a buffet. We've been trying to hit all the must-try places, from corndogs to blue bayou.

But I've been reading a lot of posts that rave about Thunder BBQ. So, is Thunder BBQ just decent all you can eat food? Or is it a must-try disneyland meal?

Thanks!

 

[pettey9173]

It was our favorite place to eat in Disneyland. Great ribs and lots of fun we had our kids there 2 and 5 at the time and they loved it.

 

[Lights_Out]

If you love BBQ ribs and grilled food in general, I guess it's a must try?

I haven't been there, but I can give you an overview since we'll be trying them out for the first time on our next trip and I've done a little bit of research.

A lot of people here love BTRBBQ... not only for the food, but the atmosphere (they're usually playing live music... I think country versions of Disney songs), but personally I wouldn't say it's a "must-do" (depends on what you like though). We loved the ribs at Taste Pilots Grill, but they got rid of that and BTRBBQ is the only place in the parks that serves bbq ribs... so that's pretty much the only reason we're trying it out... other than that the picnic setting isn't really that interesting for us.

It definitely seems like a fun dining experience for big families... especially if you have kids because sometimes they pick kids to go up on stage and dance

 

[tarheelalum]

All you can eat places like BTMR and walking around all day just don't mix for me. If I don't eat until I'm stuffed, I feel like I wasted money, so I eat until I'm stuffed and then I feel like taking a nap. Its also kind of pricey there. YMMV

 

[TheSpooph]

I will start with a little background. My family likes to have a TS reservation for lunch to sit and relax for a while. With 7 of us including a 6 month old and 4 year old, we wanted a reservation to make sure we had a place to eat that wouldn't take forever to seat us. So enough about me...

Our family went for lunch and we enjoyed the ribs and chicken. Was it the best BBQ I've ever had? No. Was it good BBQ? Yes.

We are from KC and so we eat lots of BBQ. My brother has even turned into a bit of a BBQ-snob/historian over the years. He enjoyed the lunch and commented that the ribs were pretty good.

Would we go back again? Probably. This was our first trip and even though I had heard about the good CS options, I wanted to have TS reservations for lunch. If we would do another trip, I think I would stick more with CS places. The kids would be older, it would save us money and give us the flexibility of no reservation.

So... What's my overall feeling - since I seemed to have rambled? Is it on my must do list? Not really. Did we enjoy the food and atmosphere? Yep. Would I describe the food as the best BBQ I've ever had? No way. But, it was very good, the ambiance was fun and my family really enjoyed it. I would say to try it once if it sounds fun for your family. And, don't forget that you can bring in food for those family members who wouldn't eat enough to justify the cost - like my picky 4 year old. I bought a lunch at a nearby CS restaurant and brought the food into BTRBBQ without any problems.

Have a great trip!

 

[wenrob]

It's not a buffet, it's Family Style serving. They bring out a bucket of chicken, ribs and sausages, a bucket of corn, bucket of beans, bucket of coleslaw and a basket of really awesome corn bread. They will bring more food and refill drinks often. We're a family of five, two adults, a teen and two eight year olds and one round was more than enough for us all to be pleasantly full. The family sized baked cookie with ice cream (a separate charge) for desert was well worth the visit. Is it amazing BBQ? No, but it's really good, especially for park food and was a highlight of our trip. I felt the price was decent for what you get and we didn't even ask for more food. We'll definitely do it again.

 

[clydeisme]

We went in June and it was our first time trying BTRBBQ, and we are planning on dinning there on our next trip! We loved the atmosphere and loved when the performers invited the kids on stage (we have a 3 year old daughter). We liked the food, my husband enjoyed the ribs but said the chicken was pretty dry so next time we're going to ask for extra sauce. I ordered the veggie skewers and they were very yummy! The side dishes were also tasty, my son loved the baked beans and cornbread! We were so full that we didn't order dessert but wish we had since so many people recommend them. Overall we enjoyed it and would recommend it, especially if you keep going back-n-forth on the decision.

 

[Zbugz]

It is one of the tastier places to eat at in DL, but not "incredible" compared to BBQ places elsewhere. While it is very enjoyable and delicious, it is a chunk of change for one meal, especially if you don't have a large appetite. With small children, I'd spend the money on a character meal instead.

 

[kirstie101]

We went there for dinner for the first time last year and then we went again this year. Its becoming a favorite of ours! The BBQ is actually pretty good BBQ. Is it the best BBQ ever? No. But is it comparable or better than the BBQ places where I live? Absolutely. For Disneyland Park food I'd say its one of the best meals around. But we like BBQ. If you don't like BBQ then its not worth it. As others have stated the entertainment adds to the enjoyment of the meal as well. We would definitely recommend it.

 

[GatorChris]

I loved this place on our trip. So did my wife. The kids were ok with it. To them, BBQ is just a messy meal. But the ribs and chicken were good, and I really liked the cornbread. Come hungry because you'll want to eat a lot.

 

[DisneyJessy]

I ate there last summer and the food was amazing. It was expensive but I think it's wroth it. You should at least try it once.

 

[Pastalady]

We loved it! It's not a buffet, but family style. I thought the food was awesome, the coleslaw was so good! Love the casual family atmosphere. They didn't charge us for DD who was 5 I don't know what the policy is on that but it made it pretty affordable for us. Plus we met Woody from toy story while waiting so that was a great memory!

 

[LorrieAnn5]

I'm planning to go to DLR in 2015. BTMRBBQ was on my ADR list, but it's getting moved to the bottom.

I was just at Hoop Dee Doo Revue last month in WDW. The menu is almost the same except sangria & dessert are included for HDDR where they are not at BTMRBBQ. Another "minus" for BTMRBBQ is that I read the live entertainment is only in 20 minute sets (not sure how long the breaks are) vs. HDDR was almost a continuous show.

Since we don't LOVE ribs and would probably eat mostly chicken I'm thinking it's not worth it for our family.

 

[Zbugz]

I'm planning to go to DLR in 2015. BTMRBBQ was on my ADR list, but it's getting moved to the bottom.

I was just at Hoop Dee Doo Revue last month in WDW. The menu is almost the same except sangria & dessert are included for HDDR where they are not at BTMRBBQ. Another "minus" for BTMRBBQ is that I read the live entertainment is only in 20 minute sets (not sure how long the breaks are) vs. HDDR was almost a continuous show.

Since we don't LOVE ribs and would probably eat mostly chicken I'm thinking it's not worth it for our family.

I personally think the food at the BTRBBQ was way better than the food at the HDDMR. Two of the best items at the BTRBBQ are the cornbread and the coleslaw, so I think you can still have a great meal even if you don't enjoy the ribs. Also I found the entertainment at the HDDMR to be the main feature (albeit painfully corny), whereas the entertainers at the BTRBBQ are more of a pleasant background thing, with the food being the main feature.

HTH

 

[samserena]

BTBBQ was never really on my radar before!

But it is now!

Officially on the list of Oct/Nov trip!

 

[NiceOneSimba]

Zbugz kind of beat me to it, but I'll chime in anyway.

BTRBBQ is a different beast than HoopDeDoo Revue. That venue is theater with dinner. BTRBBQ is an all-you-care-to-eat BBQ that happens to have limited live entertainment.

The real reason to go is the food, which we find to be delicious--especially the cornbread and the slaw, which are SO GOOD. We enjoy the ribs, and sausage (available at dinner only), and the veggie skewers are also good. The roasted chicken is also good, but we prefer the other meats. It's not the best BBQ ever, but it's better than many BBQ places I've been to outside of a theme park, and I would actually pay to eat there outside of Disneyland.

The entertainment is pleasant. It's a guy with a guitar who sings mostly folk songs, and Miss Chris, who sings with a pianist. My daughter loves going up on stage with Miss Chris, but honestly, if you aren't close to the stage (or don't pay much attention), it's background music that adds to the ambiance of the venue.

As for not including alcohol and dessert, you're not going to get alcohol in Disneyland proper unless you're at Club 33, and even if you ordered a dessert (and you should, because they're delicious), it's still one-half the price of HoopDeeDoo.

We find BTRBBQ to be one of the better values in terms of food quality and quantity for the table service restaurants in the park, and we also like the atmosphere very much. It's an relaxing break from the hustle and bustle, and a good meal that everyone in our family enjoys.

If you don't like the menu and don't think you'll get your money's worth, then by all means, choose another restaurant for your trip where your family would be happier. I just don't think it's fair to compare it to a WDW venue that really is very different (not to mention much more expensive) and express disappointment that you won't get the same experience. It's like many things at DLR--similar in some ways to WDW, but its own unique experience.

 

[Lights_Out]

"It's not a buffet" ... but it is "all you can eat" right?

 

[VicMom]

"It's not a buffet" ... but it is "all you can eat" right?

Yes that's right. The food is brought to you at your table so you are not getting up and down and standing in a buffet line to get more food if you want it.

I'm excited that it's on our list of places to go in a few weeks (eek!) as the menu is great with my son's allergies so he can eat what Mom and Dad are eating which greatly cuts down on his refusing to eat. And I enjoyed the food the last time I was there and my husband is happy to try it for the first time.

 

[kitayama]

Please let me start off by saying that I have yet to have amazing food in Disneyland (no, I have not been to Club 33, but I think I have eaten everywhere else in that park)... There is decent food, even good food, but not great food...
Now, having said that, I will go there again. I liked the atmosphere and entertainment, and the food wasn't bad. The location is also great!
You can get a better meal outside the park, but that wouldn't be nearly as fun...

 

[RSWA2]

I would recommend it, it's great food and a fun/neat atmosphere.

They do cancel it if weather is bad. We were there in December and they canceled it because it was raining too hard. The next day it was freezing, but they were open. So I think they only close if it's windy or rainy.