This new version of the old Big Thunder Barbecue's been open since April 2, and is already packing in... almost no one.
Seriously, it's as if Disney was trying to keep people away. Celebration Roundup & Barbecue is not listed among the Frontierland dining options in the Disneyland guide map. Nor is it listed on the show schedule, despite its character appearances and musical performers. (It is mentioned on the flap of the guidemap, along with other new and upcoming attractions and events, but that's not where folks look when deciding what to eat.)
Disney's hawking Celebration Roundup & Barbecue as part of a media day on Friday, so perhaps the promotions will begin after that. But for now, this is the best place at Disneyland to hog some characters all to yourself.
The barbecue is an all-you-can-eat meal, served family-style at the table (no buffet line!), with Jessie, Woody and Bullseye from "Toy Story" hosting. The price is $28.99 for adults and $12.99 for kids 9 and under, plus tax and an automatic 15% tip. But for some reason, Disney seems loathe to tell you any of this.
Hosts and hostesses out front will ask you if you understand how the menu works - that this is a "fixed-price meal, served family style at the table." Then they will ask you at the check-in desk. And when you are seated. When she was asked for the third time if she understood the menu, Laurie blurted out, "We pay you and you keep bringing us food, right?"
Perhaps the cast members are wired with shock collars that will send 10,000 volts through their bodies if they volunteer the phrase "all you can eat" or "character dinner." One wonders how badly Disney managers overestimated the popularity of a premium-priced character meal during the worst recession in Disneyland's existence, and wanted to keep expectations low and the tables turning. But given the sparse turn-out to date, I'm giving Disney two weeks before we see a giant banner out front of Big Thunder Ranch, proclaiming "An All-You-Can-Eat, Family-Style Barbecue! With Woody and Jessie!"
Jessie's there to greet you as you enter, with a Disney photographer there to capture the moment, like you were entering at a luau or boarding a cruise.
A cast member will come by your table later, with three prints of your photos in a commemorative cardboard frame, for an extra $29.99.
While we were waiting for our food, "Tex Tumbleweed" and "Miss Chris" worked the three occupied tables in the "crowd," with an admirable set of singing, strumming, soft shoe and whistling.
Then, the star of the show arrived, the spread.
Lunch included beans, cornbread, a bucket of barbecue chicken and ribs, corn on the cob (sliced into easy-to-handle rounds) and cole slaw. Drinks are included, and Laurie and I both went with the obvious choice and selected lemonade.
The barbecue was good, not great, tasting like baked meats well-simmered in sauce, rather than pit-cooked or smoked barbecue. The meat was moist and not at all tough, though it lacked the smoky tang that distinguishes "real" barbecue. Laurie and I loved the corn, though, if for no other reason that the unusual cut made this the easiest corn on the cob to actually eat.
While we ate, Woody and Bullseye came on stage to perform their short show...
...then Woody came down to wander the tables and pose for photos.
Finally, once we threw in the towel and ripped open the Wet Wipes on lunch, our server brought around dessert - two cupcakes in waffle cones, topped with whipped cream and presented on an ostentatious metal ribboned birthday box.
I ordered the strawberry shortcake, with a yellow cupcake and strawberries. Laurie went for the red velvet cupcake, with cream cheese frosting. A chocolate mousse with raspberries is also available, and I'd try that if I had another chance, rather than getting the rather dry strawberry option again.
Celebration Roundup & Barbecue is in an awkward place. If it remains unpopular, it's a great deal, with fawning service, attentive characters and unlimited good food. But if it were ever packed to the fences, I don't know that it would remain as good a deal. But I supposed that would have to happen before anyone could tell.
And given the state of the economy, I don't see that happening anytime soon.
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LA's different, though, with no meal plan and mostly locals in attendance. The lack of a crowd is probably the worst thing hurting it now - it just seems too unpopular, not special enough, to merit the special occasion price.
I think its awesome that you guys went without kids! Good for you!
Even with the adjustment though, the prices do still seem to be a bit high, but then, Disney is not known for being inexpensive. Honestly, though, is it better to serve three families at the current prices, or 100 families at half the price? I am not sure where the Laffer Curve is on this type of deal, but my guess is that more people means more profit.
Anyway, love the pictures and the report. Thanks!
When you consider that kids' meals at counter service places run $7, for an extra $6 here you get all-you-can-eat, plus the characters, so I think the current price is a good deal for them.
The adult price is still cheaper than the Blue Bayou, making this the number-two choice for a special occasion meal at Disneyland, in my book. It's still $15 cheaper than the Mickey's BBQ at WDW's Fort Wilderness and about the same as the Play 'n' Dine character lunch at DHS.
If Disney wants to shave a couple bucks off the adult price by going with a cheaper dessert, I'd be all over that. The "cowboy cones" were okay, but looked better than they tasted. Personally, I'd vote to cut the adult price by $5 at lunch and skip dessert. Then leave the price where it is now for dinner, but bring back the fire pit and do s'mores for dessert at that meal.
Mostly, though, Disney just needs to put up my sign and start promoting this place.
Especially in LA and with Disney trying to provide more healthy food options, this would be a great place to up the veggies!!
Of course, even with our AP 10% off food, we don't eat inside the park (or at Downtown Disney) except for Dole Whip.
If memory serves me well ( which it doesn't always do lately ) it wasn't particularly well advertised even back then ( c 1995 ). I'll have to dig out the park map from that visit and let you know.
Anyway..........it had a great atmosphere and there's always something pleasant about proper al fresco dining. I don't mean having the odd table or two outside the diner. I mean getting that outdoor in the open kind of eating.
I'm really pleased to see the Ranch BBQ back in harness.
Great photos by the way Robert.
Also, Laffer curves FTW.
Back to the topic at hand, you make a good point about the dessert being a separate (added price) and most of the "less hungry" folks saving a buck or two. I hear that is the approach Disney will take if more folks don't come.
One more question from someone who has not set foot in California for over a decade: aren't there flies and gnats around? I loathe picnics here in God's Country, just cause of the bugs, but maybe Disney uses Pixie dust to keep them away?
Also, did you have to eat at set times (like a dinner show) or open seating. I am wondering due to the show!
I've never been to Disney, if the disney-goers are suggesting that this is actually a good price there, I guess it shows that I've never been there because the price shocked me.
I did eat at Grandma's in Dollywood, I felt like that was a very pricy meal but it was very good -- and it was only $17 dollars. Otherwise, I like to keep our family meals under $10 per person.
We aren't at the park to stuff ourselves, so even if we don't fill up on a meal, we can always hit a McDonalds at the end of the day, or just lose a little weight, which we all can use.
I always found Busch Gardens Williamsburg was my favorite eating park, you could get decent food for around 5-6 bucks. When you could get the sausage on a roll for $2.50 at the Festhous, that's about all I ate (that and slices of pizza for under $5 there).
This is an example of why I tend to think of Disney as overrated. They simply charge too much money for a lot of things. It may be considered a deal by those in California, but charging somebody from the midwest $30 for a plate of BBQ is like the Olive Garden charging Italians $30 for a plate of spaghetti.
Going to the park without kids...priceless
Hoop de doo and the Luau at Disney World are like $60.
I know, I know, my Disney Bias is showing! For the most part, it seemed that Robert enjoyed his experience for the most part, but mentions that the guests at Disneyland are not the same as the guests at Disney World.
I fully believe that this would be a cash cow at WDW
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I, personally, could do without the characters. There is something awkward about talking to an inanimate, unresponsive face.
I always enjoy your Tuesday trip reports. You and Laurie make a great couple to follow.