Mickey's Backyard BBQ - Walt Disney World Dinner Show
Written: May 22 '07 (Updated Aug 06 '07)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fort Wilderness grounds are amazing, nice ambiance
Cons: Food is sub-par overall, barn band is too loud
The Bottom Line: I think it's much too expensive to ignore the food quality, yet with some subtle changes it could be very enjoyable.
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| scapp70's Full Review: Mickey's Backyard BBQ |
Where is Mickey's Backyard BBQ?
This seasonal event is located in Orlando's Walt Disney World Resort. Disney World's property holds four theme parks, and twenty-four different themed Resort Hotels. Mickey's Backyard BBQ is located in Disney's Fort Wilderness in The Outdoor Pavilion.
What is Mickey's Backyard BBQ?
Well, the name of the dinner show beckons just about every Disney World fan, and this is exactly what the title suggests. It's a BBQ with Mickey Mouse, with many long picnic checker-covered tables in a tremendous open structure shaped like a big barn. With your hosts Sarsaparilla Sal and Tumbleweed, you and yours will be entertained with good-old country-flavored entertainment. This includes a country band, a cowboy doing impressive lasso tricks, and visits from familiar Disney faces; Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy and Chip n' Dale.
How Do You Get There?
Well, The Fort Wilderness Resort is kinda special. This is the one resort that welcomes RVs, you have families walking around and enjoying the outdoorsy environment, and the woody area promotes hiking from the guests, so no automobiles are allowed passed the parking lot on the side of The Reception Post near the entrance. If you take a little walk of about thirty feet or so, there is a bus stop where you can catch a (free) ride to the other end of the property near the Pavilion. They suggest getting to the bus stop about an hour before show time, which starts at 6:30pm.
I didn't want to schlep it on a crowded bus, especially when The Fort Wilderness Resort allows Golf Cart rentals. I rented one the night before and we drove it all around the grounds the day before, and then dropped it off after the dinner show. We drove that thing through every nook and cranny of the resort, and we left no stone uncovered. Anyway, either way is an option. You could walk, but I wouldn't recommend it. It's probably a little over a mile, but you could easily get lost in the trails.
What's To Eat?
Well, like the title says, this is a barbeque so you'd expect some of the usual grilled food. Their is no table service, you get up and go to the food area and help yourself to the grand buffet. They have off the grill:
Smoked BBQ Chicken
BBQ Pork Ribs
Steamed Hot Dogs
Cheeseburgers
And as for the Side Dishes you have your choice of:
Beans
Macaroni and Cheese
Corn on the Cob
Cole Slaw
Cornbread
Fresh Herb Potato Salad
Tossed Garden Salad
Also, for dessert they serve the following:
Watermelon
Strawberry Bars
Ice Cream Bars (Mickey shaped)
Itzadadoozie Bars
To drink they only have these options:
Iced Tea (unsweetened)
Beer
Wine
Lemonade
Kool-Aid
Well, me and mine went to Mickey's BBQ with empty bellies. I remember nine years ago during a visit to The Hoop-Dee Doo Review, the eats there - ribs, chicken and the like and it was very tasty. To say the least, I was let down at Mickey's BBQ. The cheeseburgers tasted, well..wrong. The people there claim that the meat was beef, but it was the color of the bottom of a work boot, and it tasted like sausage gravy you'd eat at breakfast. Speaking of that flavor, that same flavoring was on the chicken legs, in a word - yuck. The BBQ ribs were quite good though, I suggest stacking your plate with enough ribs, don't worry they have enough. The corn on the cob was very good too. My son gobbled up the Mac and cheese, so he was happy with that.
My biggest gripe with the menu was the choice of beverages. I tried the unsweetened iced tea, but my Yankee tongue couldn't stand the taste. I settled on nursing a draft beer, and choking down the kool-aid. I needed some soda pop with my meal, even water - but these were unavailable. Even root beer would have sufficed.
The Show
There is a Country and Western band taking center stage riling up the crowd into a hokey frenzy, they welcome young old to the front of the stage to dance and stomp it up. In my opinion, the band is way too loud especially the microphone and every announcement made was deafening. The best part of the show was the cowboy doing insane lasso tricks. Who knew you can do so much with a rope? Well, this guy obviously - he takes what it seems like 40 minutes doing his many tricks.
Of course when Mickey and Minnie Mouse come around to each table along with Goofy and the friendly chipmunk duo Chip 'n Dale our faces light up with joy. They will take pictures with you and interact with you as long as time allows, but for you kids out there waiting for autographs, you should have left those books home because the characters aren't going to sign autographs tonight at the BBQ.
Availability and Price
You can reserve your picnic table seat every Thursday and Saturday night from March 1st through to December 29th. The winter months can get a little too cold at night. I went in late November and the weather was a little cold, we brought a light jacket and that sufficed. In the Summer months, I heard it could get stifling hot due to the Florida humidity and the huge crowd of people.
The Dinner Show lasts from 6:30pm until 9:30pm. The price is $44.99 for an adult guest (that's 10 years old and up), and the child ticket is $26.99. It is up to you if you think those prices are worth it. My opinion, is that I don't believe it's worth it, and I've experienced it once and I feel I won't have to do that again.
The ambiance was very folksy, and home-like in the way that they make you feel welcome. The black night sky in the woods, inside a much lit up barn like structure would be a great way to spend the night if it weren't for the ear-shattering announcements and the undesirable dishes offered.
*Thank you SurgRN911 for listing this so quickly*
~~~~~~~~~~Some More Disney-Related Epinions From Scapp70~~~~~~~~~~
The Music:
Disney’s Music From the Park
Disney’s Greatest - Volume One
Disney’s Greatest - Volume Two
Classic Disney Volume One
Classic Disney Volume Two
Classic Disney Volume Three
Classic Disney Volume Four
Classic Disney Volume Five
Disney's Christmas Favorites Vol. 1
Mannheim Steamroller Meets the Mouse
Disney: The Music Behind the Magic: 50 Songs Celebrating 50 Years of Walt Disney Records
The Parks:
Soarin’
Haunted Mansion
Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside
Mickey's Backyard BBQ
Families First Vacation Homes
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 1) – 50 - 41
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 2) – 40 - 31
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 3) – 30 - 21
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 4) – 20 - 11
Scapp70’s 50 Favorite Things To Do In Walt Disney World (part 5) – 10 - 1
The Books:
The Haunted Mansion – From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
Popping Up Around Walt Disney World
The Movies
Scapp70’s Top 10 Favorite Disney Animated Movies
Toy Story (3-Disc Ultimate Toy Box DVD Set
Recommended:
No
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Sep - Nov
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scapp70
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Member: Michael Scapp
Location: NYC
Reviews written: 467
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