2boysmel
05-23-2012, 09:32 AM
It's impossible to find details about this, so I'm going to write a lot!
Travel: We ended up taking a boat from MK. The boat line was very long, as I think the Hoop De Doo was seating around the same time. We left MK at about 5:15-5:30 and were in line at the BBQ by 6 PM. Apparently, you can walk from the Wilderness Lodge, where we were staying, but we were strongly discouraged - I guess it's about 2 miles and not particularly scenic. I would have been fine with 2 miles, but no one could really tell us where the path started. Catching a boat home was not problem.
Pre BBQ: The line, at 6 PM (30 min before start) was very long. They do have some drums and chalk and a few other toys for kids that are near the front of the line. Apparently Chip and Dale were out and about too, but were gone by 6 PM. There are bathrooms that are accessible when you get there. There is also water and maybe lemonade in jugs. Even though we were near the "back" of the line, I don't think I'd get there any earlier just to wait in line.
Seating: Once the line started moving, they got everyone seated very quickly. If you have allergies, you go in one side, if not you go in the other. Even though we were in the back 25% of the line, we had great seats. I would say there are really no bad seats- plus people are up and about at all times. Even if you're not in front of the main stage, there are two "smaller" dance areas (marked on the floor) to the sides. Whenever they open up the floor for dancing, characters will come to the side dance areas, which are actually a little less mobbed than the main dance floor. The line you wait in to get seated goes right by the beer and wine counter, so it's easy to grab one on the way to your seat. The picnic tables are like 3-4 tables put together, so you share space with others, but you're not crowded in.
Space: The space is an outdoor pavilon with long picnic tables. Even though it was a warm (85-90) day, it was good temperature wise in the pavilon. In general, the space is very shady.
Food: We thought the food was good...nothing fancy, but filling and everything was fine temperature wise. They had big roasted chicken pieces, ribs (my husband loved these, I'd assume they are the same ribs available elsewhere at Disney), hot dogs, and hamburgers (they looked a little weird color-wise, so they could have been veggie burgers). They had a creamy potato salad, which I don't typically like, but it didn't taste excessively mayonnaise-y and it had some nice herbs in it. There was also a basic iceberge lettuce salad with a basic italian dressing (kids enjoyed). The baked beans are thick with pieces of shredded meat in them - really savory, I really liked them. Cornbread has a slightly sweet taste and was nicely moist - not too crumbly. I think there was coleslaw too. They also have big watermelon wedges and corn on the cob (half-pieces). And there is mac and cheese - similar to what they have elsewhere in the parks. Condiments are on the table, as well as papertowel rolls - perfect! For drinks they have lemonade and water, and maybe iced tea as well. They were serving wine and Bud Light. There was plenty of food and drinks, as well as probably 10+ buffet lines so there was no waiting for food and it was easy to go up and get more. My kids both at big plates of food. They have coolers filled to the brim with Mickey Ice Cream bars, striped popsicles, and Edy's fruit bars.
Entertainment: The characters come out and do a little intro about 15 minutes in - then they split up with some going to the side dance floors. Goofy was on our side and made a point to dance with each one of the kids. They don't sign autographs though and don't come around to the individual tables. The dancing period lasted about 15 minutes. Then, they have the band do some songs and have a guy come up and do rope tricks. The show looked really cool, but my kids (2 and 4.5) weren't terribly into it - I think at this point they just wanted to run around and explore (the drums and stuff from the pre-dinner waiting were still outside). While the rope show was going on, Minne and Mickey were taking pictures with guests outside the pavilion for short periods of time - I'd say the line was about 10-12 deep. The music is loud. We ended up only staying about 80 minutes, as the kids were starting to get tired (we did this arrival day), but I've heard the "show" lasts a full 2 hours. I noticed lots of others with young kids leaving about the same time, so if you don't like where you're sitting, I'm sure it's easy to move around.
Overall: I've heard others complain it's expensive given the food and the lack of one on one character interaction. However, the food was great for the kids and my husband and I each felt satisfied. For little kids, the dancing was a nice way to start our Disney vacation - a nice way to ease into the characters. It would be an awesome place to go with a big group (they do announce birthdays and such). I think once your kids get to 10+ or so, other dinner shows are probably better, but for younger kids, this really seems perfect. If we return to Disney in the next few years, we'll definitely go again.
Travel: We ended up taking a boat from MK. The boat line was very long, as I think the Hoop De Doo was seating around the same time. We left MK at about 5:15-5:30 and were in line at the BBQ by 6 PM. Apparently, you can walk from the Wilderness Lodge, where we were staying, but we were strongly discouraged - I guess it's about 2 miles and not particularly scenic. I would have been fine with 2 miles, but no one could really tell us where the path started. Catching a boat home was not problem.
Pre BBQ: The line, at 6 PM (30 min before start) was very long. They do have some drums and chalk and a few other toys for kids that are near the front of the line. Apparently Chip and Dale were out and about too, but were gone by 6 PM. There are bathrooms that are accessible when you get there. There is also water and maybe lemonade in jugs. Even though we were near the "back" of the line, I don't think I'd get there any earlier just to wait in line.
Seating: Once the line started moving, they got everyone seated very quickly. If you have allergies, you go in one side, if not you go in the other. Even though we were in the back 25% of the line, we had great seats. I would say there are really no bad seats- plus people are up and about at all times. Even if you're not in front of the main stage, there are two "smaller" dance areas (marked on the floor) to the sides. Whenever they open up the floor for dancing, characters will come to the side dance areas, which are actually a little less mobbed than the main dance floor. The line you wait in to get seated goes right by the beer and wine counter, so it's easy to grab one on the way to your seat. The picnic tables are like 3-4 tables put together, so you share space with others, but you're not crowded in.
Space: The space is an outdoor pavilon with long picnic tables. Even though it was a warm (85-90) day, it was good temperature wise in the pavilon. In general, the space is very shady.
Food: We thought the food was good...nothing fancy, but filling and everything was fine temperature wise. They had big roasted chicken pieces, ribs (my husband loved these, I'd assume they are the same ribs available elsewhere at Disney), hot dogs, and hamburgers (they looked a little weird color-wise, so they could have been veggie burgers). They had a creamy potato salad, which I don't typically like, but it didn't taste excessively mayonnaise-y and it had some nice herbs in it. There was also a basic iceberge lettuce salad with a basic italian dressing (kids enjoyed). The baked beans are thick with pieces of shredded meat in them - really savory, I really liked them. Cornbread has a slightly sweet taste and was nicely moist - not too crumbly. I think there was coleslaw too. They also have big watermelon wedges and corn on the cob (half-pieces). And there is mac and cheese - similar to what they have elsewhere in the parks. Condiments are on the table, as well as papertowel rolls - perfect! For drinks they have lemonade and water, and maybe iced tea as well. They were serving wine and Bud Light. There was plenty of food and drinks, as well as probably 10+ buffet lines so there was no waiting for food and it was easy to go up and get more. My kids both at big plates of food. They have coolers filled to the brim with Mickey Ice Cream bars, striped popsicles, and Edy's fruit bars.
Entertainment: The characters come out and do a little intro about 15 minutes in - then they split up with some going to the side dance floors. Goofy was on our side and made a point to dance with each one of the kids. They don't sign autographs though and don't come around to the individual tables. The dancing period lasted about 15 minutes. Then, they have the band do some songs and have a guy come up and do rope tricks. The show looked really cool, but my kids (2 and 4.5) weren't terribly into it - I think at this point they just wanted to run around and explore (the drums and stuff from the pre-dinner waiting were still outside). While the rope show was going on, Minne and Mickey were taking pictures with guests outside the pavilion for short periods of time - I'd say the line was about 10-12 deep. The music is loud. We ended up only staying about 80 minutes, as the kids were starting to get tired (we did this arrival day), but I've heard the "show" lasts a full 2 hours. I noticed lots of others with young kids leaving about the same time, so if you don't like where you're sitting, I'm sure it's easy to move around.
Overall: I've heard others complain it's expensive given the food and the lack of one on one character interaction. However, the food was great for the kids and my husband and I each felt satisfied. For little kids, the dancing was a nice way to start our Disney vacation - a nice way to ease into the characters. It would be an awesome place to go with a big group (they do announce birthdays and such). I think once your kids get to 10+ or so, other dinner shows are probably better, but for younger kids, this really seems perfect. If we return to Disney in the next few years, we'll definitely go again.