A Review of Mickey’s Backyard BBQ
Howdy folks! If you came a lookin’ for a whip slappin’, country singin’, beer sippin’ good time, then ya’ll are in the right place! Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip n’ Dale, and all their cowboy and cowgirl friends invited me to mosey on down to Mickey’s Backyard BBQ for a little dancing and singin’ and lots of food and drinkin’, and I’m raring to share my backcountry, backyard adventures with ya’ll. Saddle up, because this is going to be one wild ride through the wilderness!
Take a Trip to the Backyard
It’s somewhat of a rarity for my family and I to sit down for a character meal when we visit Walt Disney World, but the BBQ seemed like so much more than a simple character dinner, so we went ahead and booked our reservations- 180 days in advance- and crossed our fingers that we’d have fun.
Fast forward a half of a year; it’s near sundown on a picturesque December evening last month, and my family and I saddled up our horses (read: resort bus) and followed the winding dirt road all the way out to the Settlement at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Camp Grounds. Our destination? Mickey’s Backyard BBQ.
Tip: For those unfamiliar with set up of Fort Wilderness, you’ll have to take a bus or a boat to reach the site of the BBQ, as no cars can pass down the tiny, winding roads, so plan extra travel time.
When we arrived at the site, we checked in at the desk and joined a forming queue. Luckily, our wait wasn’t long, and in true Disney fashion, the dinner show kicked off right at 5:30! We were led inside, escorted to a table, and invited to help ourselves to food and drink…and that was all the instruction we needed. There is so much to cover, so I’ll start with the one thing I know everyone’s here to read about: the food and drinks.
Limits? Not in Mickey’s Backyard!
This dinner show is served all you care to enjoy buffet-style, drinks included! Yeah sure you can fill up cup after cup of sodas and lemonade, but the unlimited drinks I was after came in the form of wine, beer, and sangria all unlimited.
For a buffet, I was very pleased with the quality and selection of the foods. A slew of salads, slaws, burgers, hot dogs, slow roasted pork, grilled chicken, corn on the cob, mac and cheese, bbq ribs, and cornbread were among the highlights. One thing I love about a buffet is the endless options for customization! My dad joined me at the BBQ and made himself a burger with pulled pork, and all the fixings. I enjoyed the chicken- it was nicely seasoned- and loved the kale/apple salad as a side. The cornbread was out of this world, and if anyone asks, I had 1 slice…not 3, ok?
The food was truly unlimited, as cast members were constantly watching the buffet and were quick to refill whatever was running low. I think one cast member must have been assigned to the ribs specifically, because they were flying off the line, and after tasting one I knew why!
After all that food, I was stuffed. But when a warm apple dessert with a crumble topping served with homemade whipped cream came out, do you think I could resist? Heck no! And something else I couldn’t resist was the unlimited (have I mentioned everything is unlimited?) access to a heavenly freezer chock full of Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bars!!!! Definitely don’t overindulge at dinner, because the dessert is just as much a star of the show.
On With the Show
Now, onto the show! I expected some singing and dancing, but I certainly did not expect a full, live band! Cyclone Sally and Tumbleweed Will served as the MC’s of the evening and introduced the band in a big opening number. As soon as the applause reached its peak, the true stars of the show came out to the rodeo! Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Chip n’ Dale got the party started by inviting everyone out onto the dance floor.
I was more than a little excited to join in the dance party, so I hopped and bopped my way around the floor until I found myself dancing first with Minnie, and then Mickey Mouse himself! If you know me, you’ll know that Mickey is my favorite, and long interactions with him are few and far between. For any Mickey and friends fans in your party, I absolutely recommend taking them to Mickey’s Backyard BBQ where they can not only take a photo with their favorite character, but dance with them too!
Keep in mind, the show happens synonymously with dinner, so pick and choose which songs you want to dance to and which you want to tap your toes to while enjoying your meal. My favorite to dance to was definitely “Man!- I Feel Like a Woman”! All the women in the pavilion banded together for an all out belt-session, singing at the top of our voices and clapping and dancing along with the band. It was so much fun!
After a few dance numbers, Mickey and his pals left the dance floor and greeted their guests for photos and autographs. Next, Cowboy Trevor was introduced (I think this is when I went in for the second piece of cornbread) and he performed a whip-cracking routine that frightened a few of the children in the crowd. His performance was the only one that didn’t seem to truly bring the house down.
Don’t get me wrong, the line dancing had me smiling from ear to ear the whole time! I loved the camaraderie it created as we all joined arms and danced together. If I had to pick one thing to complain about, it is definitely the mess that the dance floor turned into once everyone had finished eating.
The Verdict?
After I’d had more than my fill of the great BBQ food and abused my access to unlimited Mickey bars, it was time to wrap up the evening. I left with a head full of tunes and when I think back now, I find that my toes still tap as if I were still throwing down with Mickey and the gang.
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ is by far my favorite character dining experience thus far, and it holds that honor for the multi-generation party I brought along with me. Everyone had a great time, and even if you’re not the dancing and singing type, you’re sure to enjoy your time at the BBQ with your family simply for the awesome food, drinks, and show. So what do you think, will you be joining Mickey and his friends at Mickey’s Backyard BBQ on your next vacation? Let me know how your experience rates in the comments! Yeeeehaw!
Watch Your Kids on the Dance Floor
Finally, it was time for the line dance. My mom and I jumped up to join the already crowded dance floor and awaited our instructions. Everyone linked arms to hips, and we all moseyed around the dance floor in a very real line. The dancing during dinner was great, and the floor was never overly crowded as everyone seemed to turn in and out, but when it came time for the organized line dancing, it was chaotic. The floor was absolutely packed with people, and some small children’s toes got crushed in the massive sea of adult bodies.
Don’t get me wrong, the line dancing had me smiling from ear to ear the whole time! I loved the camaraderie it created as we all joined arms and danced together. If I had to pick one thing to complain about, it is definitely the mess that the dance floor turned into once everyone had finished eating.
The Verdict?
After I’d had more than my fill of the great BBQ food and abused my access to unlimited Mickey bars, it was time to wrap up the evening. I left with a head full of tunes and when I think back now, I find that my toes still tap as if I were still throwing down with Mickey and the gang.
Mickey’s Backyard BBQ is by far my favorite character dining experience thus far, and it holds that honor for the multi-generation party I brought along with me. Everyone had a great time, and even if you’re not the dancing and singing type, you’re sure to enjoy your time at the BBQ with your family simply for the awesome food, drinks, and show. So what do you think, will you be joining Mickey and his friends at Mickey’s Backyard BBQ on your next vacation? Let me know how your experience rates in the comments! Yeeeehaw!
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Special thanks to Maria Salerno for writing this article: Hiya pal! I am a NYC-based writer/musician thrilled to be bringing you all things Disney! I’m a WDW Annual Passholder, so you can find me in the parks regularly throughout the year. In addition to being a Disney Parks loving girl, I’m also a Disney toy and merchandise collector, a runDisney enthusiast, and Disney music and movie aficionado. You can follow me on Instagram: NYCtoAP and find me on YouTube: NYCtoAP. Thanks for reading, hope to see ya real soon!
Do you remember what time it finished?
Hi Shannon, Mickey’s Backyard BBQ lasts approximately 2 hours…hope that helps!