Howdy, Howdy, Howdy!
Hey Traveler! This is Katie Heck with Minnie’s Travel Boutique. And thanks for stopping by. My husband, Brad, and I, along with our two wonderful daughters recently visited a new Toy Story-themed dining location at Walt Disney World®—on its second day of operation—and it was a rootin’ tootin’ good time! But is it right for you on your next Walt Disney World® trip? Saddle up partner and read on to find out what we think.
Disney’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ is a dining experience located in Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World® Resort in Orlando, Fla. It’s one of the most unique dining experiences you’ll find inside any Disney Theme Park, and here’s why.
First, let’s talk about the atmosphere. Disney’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ is designed to look like a rodeo arena that Andy made in his back yard using his toys, his games, and his pure childhood imagination. The attention to detail is impressive! From the moment you step foot into this lively restaurant you truly feel like you’ve shrunk down to the size of Woody and Jesse, Buzz Lightyear, Rex, even Emperor Zurg, and you’re joining in on all the fun with Andy, and his other favorite toys.
Now let’s talk about the food. The menu is packed with mouth-watering dishes that are sure to satisfy even the hungriest cowpokes. It features classic barbecue dishes, including brisket, ribs, chicken, and sausage, as well as sides like plant-based baked beans and a homestyle potato salad. The food is served family-style and is all-you-care-to-enjoy, so come hungry! There are also vegetarian, vegan, and allergy-friendly options available, so there’s something for everyone.
We tried almost everything on the menu, and it was some mighty fine grub in our opinion! Here’s a closer look at each of the options we tried.
A Tasty Fare
We started off with The Prospector’s Homemade Cheddar Biscuits with Sweet Pepper Jelly, which were warm, buttery, and downright delicious. We were simultaneously served three salad options to enjoy: Wheezy’s Watermelon Salad, Rootin’ Tootin’ Tomato Salad, and Rex’s Romaine and Kale Salad.
Wheezy’s Watermelon Salad was freshly chopped watermelon with a touch of mint for a sweet start. Nothing really to write home about, just refreshing. The Rootin’ Tootin Tomato Salad was the perfect combination of juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumber, and tangy dressing. Rex’s Romaine and Kale Salad was also sweet and fresh, and we liked the addition of the cranberries and pumpkin seeds. As a personal preference, having dressing on the side would have helped keep everything crunchy and less soft. The flavors were all there and it was so close to being great, if only the lettuce and kale had the expected salad crunch.
Next, we moseyed on to the entrée portion of our meal. We were served a large basket of barbequed meats. The meats offered were the Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs, Buttercup’s Beef Brisket, There’s a Sausage in my Boot – Fire-grilled Pork Sausage, and BBQ Chicken – with Style!
The brisket was the crowd pleaser! We all really enjoyed this one. The meat was moist and tender and was easily cut with a butter knife, and it wasn’t chewy at all. The ribs were also delicious. The meat was perfectly tender, with a strong smoky flavor. They had some barbeque sauce on top but wasn’t too much. The chicken we were served was all dark meat and cooked well, with the skin as the best part. It had a delicious flavorful rub on it too. The pork sausage was good, but we didn’t find it to be anything special. Everyone at the table had a bite or two, but ultimately decided that the other meats were more worthy of the stomach space.
Along with the meats, the entrée potion of the meal also included four sharable sides for the table. We decided to try The Married Spuds, Force Field Fried Pickles, Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese, and the Cowpoke Corn on the Cob. However, our server was kind enough to offer up an extra side, so we also added on the Camp-Fire Roasted Vegetables.
The married spuds were my personal favorite of the side options. The crunchy potato barrels were seasoned wonderfully with a special blend of spices, but they were not spicy by any means. I was hesitant about how the combination of cheese sauce and green goddess dressing was going to work, but let me tell you, it made for a combination that was downright addicting! These are a MUST for each and every visit.
My husband couldn’t get enough of the Camp-Fire Roasted Vegetables. I think he would have been happy with just a plate piled high of those and nothing else. They were roasted beautifully and seasoned with blend of BBQ spices that truly packed a kick. If you are looking for a way to get your kiddos to get in some veggies, this is probably not the way you want to go unless they enjoy spicy food.
The fried pickles were a crowd pleaser. Everyone enjoyed them. They were seasoned well, and the breading had a nice crunch. I think they would have been a bit better with a creamy dipping sauce such as ranch dressing. Overall, they were very good, and we would get them again.
The corn on the cob was a grilled sweet corn. We typically love this type of corn, but this one just missed the mark a little. The corn was grilled to perfection and had a little char which was nice. The corn itself was sweet just the way you want it; however, the addition of the toppings didn’t seem to do it any favors. The dry powdery texture of the cotija cheese and the artificial lime flavor from the spice blend was just off-putting. Not enough to stop eating it, but I wouldn’t order it again.
The last side we tried was the Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese. Named because of the spiral “slinky” shaped pasta, it was visually very on-theme. The flavor was average. My kiddos love mac & cheese and said it was “fine”. They ate it, but I think they would have enjoyed it more without the crushed goldfish crackers on top. Ours were pretty stale. We would order this again, but we would ask for it without the crackers on top.
A Playful Dessert
Let’s not forget about dessert. Just about the time you think you can’t eat one more bite, your server will come around and ask you which of the five dessert options you’d like to have. Even though you may feel stuffed, don’t pass up on trying one of these delicious offerings. Bo’s Lemon and Blueberry Cheesecake was a wonderful balance of tart and sweet. Gruff’s Peach-Strawberry Pie was so juicy and flavorful, it was like biting into a slice of heaven. You would never know that it was vegan. Goat’s Apple Pie had a classic flavor that was perfect for those who love traditional desserts. Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie was very rich, creamy, and indulgent. My kiddos loved this one, but it was a bit too rich and sweet for me to eat more than one bite.
Finally, we tried the Cupcake à la Forky, which unfortunately didn’t live up to our expectations. Despite its cute presentation, it lacked flavor. The cupcake was fine but needed more icing or for the icing to have a bit more flavor. The Forky cookie on top was very hard and didn’t have any flavor at all. We definitely recommend you stick with the pie offerings instead.
All throughout the meal, guests are entertained by messages from some of your favorite Toy Story characters over the restaurants’ speaker system. They really help you feel emersed in the land of the toys. Sometimes you may be concerned about other toys being sold in a yard sale. Other times you may need to freeze like a toy when we are alerted that “Andy is coming!”. It was a lot of fun to watch all the guests and cast members get so into the announcements. I have never heard a restaurant full of families get so silent and be so still (ha)! There are also interactive elements for children (or children at heart), including being able to ride a stick horse from the hostess stand to your table while getting seated. Our kiddos really loved their new horse friends named Beauty and Stan and wanted to keep them for the whole meal! We do wish they would add the addition of some characters that come around to visit the tables because that would just send this experience over the top. All in all, we truly appreciated the experience for what it is and had a wonderful family meal.
Disney barbeque doesn’t always have the best reputation and we honestly weren’t going into this meal with super high expectations. Let me tell you, we were certainly surprised with how much we enjoyed the Disney’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ experience! The combination of the atmosphere, food, and wonderful service from the amazing Disney Cast Members all worked together beautifully and magically.
Mosey On Over
Disney’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ is incredibly popular right now, so reservations are required. When you book your Disney Vacation with Minnie’s Travel Boutique, securing your Disney Dining reservations is a service that we provide as your vacation planners. And since this unique dining location is brand new, walk-up wait lists may not happen for a while, and getting your name down on the reservation list is important. At Minnie’s Travel Boutique, it’s our joy to help you reserve those must-eat-at locations for your Disney Vacation, which are done 60-days prior to your resort check-in.
In closing, thank you for taking a moment to read this detailed recap of a magical new dining location at Walt Disney World®. If you’re looking for a fun, lively, and downright delightful dining experience, head on down to Disney’s Roundup Rodeo BBQ. We don’t think you’ll be disappointed!