Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Assessment


Roundup Rodeo BBQ is the latest restaurant at Walt Disney World, situated in Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios. This WDW eating assessment shares meals pictures, professionals & cons of this family-style meal, whether or not it’s well worth the cash & time, and easy methods to rating a reservation.

The animating thought behind this restaurant is that Andy has constructed a restaurant consisting of Woody’s Roundup toys and different playthings. To create the restaurant, he reduce and taped cardboard packing containers collectively to create a brand new rodeo area. Inside, it’s a broad assortment of toys assembled to create a enjoyable, colourful mashup-atmosphere–just about no matter Andy had laying round.

Now that the creation is full, Andy and all of his toys are inviting friends to take part within the enjoyable of a yard barbecue at Roundup Rodeo restaurant. That is how Walt Disney World has described Roundup Rodeo, leading to some (comprehensible) confusion amongst Walt Disney World followers.

To that time, let’s begin with what Roundup Rodeo BBQ is NOT: a personality eating expertise. Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Jessie, and friends proceed doing meet & greets round Toy Story Land and NOT at Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant. Because the ‘BBQ’ within the title ought to implies, Roundup Rodeo is also NOT Pizza Planet from the Toy Story films.

So what IS Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant? In sensible phrases, it’s a much-needed growth to Toy Story Land that helps to spherical out the slate of choices that have been initially meant for the doorway to this land–together with Al’s Toy Barn and Woody’s Western Village–however fell sufferer to price range cuts previous to building. Roundup Rodeo BBQ is situated precisely the place that village would’ve been.

Talking of sensible, there’s excellent news for the Walt Disney World trip planners on the market: Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant is getting a lot simpler to enter. For just a few months after opening, this was one of the vital elusive Advance Eating Reservations (ADRs) in all of Walt Disney World.

It was typically booked greater than 60 days upfront, and rarely had final minute availability. (See our Information to Advance Eating Reservations at Walt Disney World for suggestions & methods to attain elusive ADRs, data in regards to the 60+10 rule, and extra.) Fortunately, that has modified within the final couple of months. Not less than, for now–all bets are off come Christmas.

I used to be in a position to rating ADRs for Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant only some days upfront. In checking for reservation availability proper now, there are alternatives for many days (lunch, dinner, or each) within the subsequent two weeks. I’ve additionally seen Roundup Rodeo on the last-minute because of cancellations or Stroll-Up Waitlist. It’s nonetheless not an simple ADR, however it’s getting simpler.

The unhealthy information in regards to the elevated ADR availability is that Walt Disney World is being fairly ‘aggressive’ in terms of distributing Roundup Rodeo BBQ reservations. The results of that is that there are enormous crowds of individuals loitering round ready for his or her ADR time, and it’s frequent to attend 15-Half-hour after checking in earlier than being seated. (This was not unhealthy luck on my half–at any time when I’ve handed by way of Toy Story Land in the previous few months, there’s an enormous crowd ready right here.)

This truly will not be tremendous unusual. Since loosening cancellation insurance policies, we’ve seen that increasingly Walt Disney World eating places are working this manner, not wanting tables to go unfilled. It may well make for a chaotic expertise ready to be seated, however it’s one which additionally occurs with regularity at Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater and Minnie’s Seasonal Dine. However, figured it was price a ‘warning’ in case you’re anticipating to be seated instantly with ADRs, or get out and in of Roundup Rodeo BBQ shortly. That in all probability received’t occur.

Turning again to excellent news, as Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ is a taking part restaurant on the the 2024 Disney Eating Plan. Nicely, no less than that’s excellent news in concept. In contrast to numerous character eating areas (bear in mind, that is not a personality meal), Roundup Rodeo doesn’t make our record of the High 10 Desk Service Credit score Makes use of on the 2024 Disney Eating Plan.

In contrast to Minnie’s Seasonal Dine–its kinda, sorta counterpart in Disney’s Hollywood Studios–Roundup Rodeo is a fairly poor worth on the Disney Eating Plan. That’s as a result of Roundup Rodeo BBQ is comparatively cheap by Walt Disney World desk service restaurant requirements, so the flip facet to it being a poor worth on the Disney Eating Plan is that it’s a powerful worth when paying out of pocket. Silver lining!

Stylistically, Roundup Rodeo BBQ is mainly if Slinky Canine Sprint and Toy Story Mania had a child, and it was a BBQ restaurant. That makes excellent sense…proper?!

Principally, which means that there are loads colourful cardboard cutouts and tons of visuals from Andy’s toy collections. But it surely’s not simply cardboard cutouts affixed to reveal partitions or in an open seating space; you’re additionally surrounded by dimensional objects and there’s decor in actually each path. This provides the eating room loads of depth and texture, making it really feel substantial.

You truly really feel such as you’re immersed in one in every of Andy’s playsets, and I’d argue that Roundup Rodeo BBQ accomplishes this higher than anyplace else in Toy Story Land. It’s like the sport portion of Toy Story Mania in tactile, dimensional kind.

Coming into the principle eating space at Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ, we first discover the Jessie and Trixie room. The opposite facet options Bo Peep and her sheep, which is a pleasant method of subdividing the eating room.

These aren’t technically distinct eating rooms–it’s all one large area–however it’s damaged up fairly properly with limitations and the seating association.

Not solely are there these giant icons with hooked up cubicles, however there’s loads happening in the course of the room and across the periphery.

All issues thought-about, the eating rooms in Roundup Rodeo BBQ are far nicer than what I had anticipated. Nothing is on par with the large three of themed eating at DHS (Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, 50’s Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood Brown Derby), however it’s surprisingly good for what it’s–and under no circumstances what I feared.

My large concern, knowledgeable by previous experiences with very mediocre Toy Story “themed” eating areas, was that this may really feel like a windowless warehouse with decorations affixed to the partitions. If you wish to cut back this to its lowest kind, that is kind of what it’s. However you possibly can additionally diminish different DHS eating in related methods, when you have been so inclined.

What separates Roundup Rodeo BBQ from different Toy Story choices is the way in which its area is crammed with a mix of flats and dimensional objects. Every little thing is brimming with element, and no floor is wasted. It’s not the head of themed design, however it completely nails the Toy Story aesthetic. For what it’s, that is about nearly as good because it will get.

There’s additionally a quasi-show side to Roundup Rodeo BBQ, with a wide range of prompts performed as overhead bulletins. The principle one in every of these is certain to be the warning that everybody must freeze as a result of “Andy’s Coming!”

I believed perhaps the novelty of this may put on off, and Solid Members would cease taking part within the ‘play’ components just a few months after opening, however it’s all nonetheless intact. Youngsters are clearly having numerous enjoyable with these prompts, they usually’re not too frequent to turn into tedious or annoying. You probably have a protracted meal, you would possibly hear a few repeats throughout dessert and whereas ready for the examine, however it’s in any other case positive and enjoyable.

Regardless that it’s NOT character eating (yet one more reminder for anybody nonetheless confused on this level), Roundup Rodeo BBQ entertains youngsters whereas providing hilarity and hijinks.

I’d liken it to a “gentle” model of Whispering Canyon Cafe. Personally, I choose the strategy of Whispering Canyon Cafe, which I believe does interactivity higher, and advantages from the servers being extra answerable for creating magic and reminiscences. Similar goes with 50’s Prime Time Cafe, for that matter.

With that stated, there are many individuals who assume Whispering Canyon Cafe is “an excessive amount of” each with its over-the-top antics and decibel stage. Whereas I vehemently disagree with that sentiment, I can perceive the place individuals are coming from with it.

Roundup Rodeo BBQ is completely not for these individuals. This restaurant is loud. It’s chaotic. It’s a bit claustrophobic. Though it’s not the windowless warehouse that I feared, that is nonetheless an area with little or no to soak up and dampen sound, and that area is filled with youngsters.

That’s not a criticism–the restaurant is what it’s. However when you’re searching for a pleasant and relaxed meal, this in all probability will not be it. In order for you a darkish place the place you may go to chill down and never fear about your youngsters being a bit, uh, stressed, this suits the invoice completely.

If you happen to enjoyment of disarray and discord, this truly could be excellent for you–there’s a very good probability you received’t have the ability to hear the dialog at your individual desk, so it might be a pleasant probability to disconnect in plain sight. (I dined right here alone, which was awkward and under no circumstances really helpful, however the quantity didn’t actually trouble me. There was sufficient noise that all of it sorta light into the background. To every their very own on that, although.)

With all of that out of the way in which, let’s flip to the meals, beginning with a take a look at the menu for Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ…

As famous above, Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant is an all-you-care-to-enjoy, family-style restaurant. It’s priced at $45 for adults and $25 for teenagers, and (say the road, Bart!) it does NOT have roaming costumed characters from Toy Story.

One factor to notice right here is that you’re not truly restricted to the variety of sides you may order (as beforehand indicated by Walt Disney World). That’s solely true for spherical one–after that, you’re free to make extra or different choices.

All meals at Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant begin with the next salads:

  • Rootin’ Tootin Tomato Salad – Cucumbers, Pickled Pink Onion, White Balsamic French dressing (Plant-based)
  • Rex’s Romaine and Kale Salad – Apples, Dried Cranberries, Pumpkin Seeds, Inexperienced Goddess Dressing
  • Wheezy’s Watermelon Salad – Contemporary-torn Mint (Plant-based)

At an all-you-can-eat restaurant, it’s a waste of useful abdomen area to chow down on filler. That’s simply AYCE101–full frequent sense stuff. However, I ordered and examined these for the sake of crucial analysis.

All have been nice surprises. Just about what you’d anticipate, however elevated a bit. The watermelon, specifically, was actually refreshing on an extremely sizzling and humid day. I ended up consuming that whole salad on my own.

With that stated, the spotlight of the opening act at Roundup Rodeo BBQ is the The Prospector’s Home made Cheddar Biscuits with Candy Pepper Jelly. That is arguably the excessive level of the whole meal and it undoubtedly holds its personal with the perfect bread providers at Walt Disney World.

These cheddar biscuits are savory, candy, and ever-so-spicy combo that’s extremely prime quality and addictively scrumptious. Once more, I do know it’s AYCE101 that bread is filler and an egregious misuse of abdomen area…however I ate these all. (I additionally saved the leftover candy pepper jelly and used that on the meat. Extremely really helpful!)

For my first (and solely) spherical of sides, I chosen the next 4 menu choices:

  • Pressure Subject Fried Pickles
  • Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese
  • Cowpoke Corn on the Cob (Grilled Road Corn)
  • The Married Spuds (Loaded Potato Barrels)

Of those, Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese was the one one which was downright unhealthy. I get what they have been attempting to do with the noodles, however this mac & cheese was simply too dry, had a chalky texture that was finished no favors by the aforementioned dryness, and all of it tasted low-cost and low-quality. (And I’m usually no less than okay with Walt Disney World mac & cheese from buffets!)

Subsequent up are the fried pickles and loaded potato barrels. The latter are good for what they’re–tacky and creamy with the potatoes nicely-seasoned and withstanding the load of the toppings. That is in all probability the ‘excellent’ facet for a mid-tier picnic-style family-service restaurant.

With that stated, I favored the fried pickles much more. By the way, I had simply finished Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater just a few days prior, and ordered the fried pickles there. There’s an apparent high quality distinction between the 2, however I discovered the Roundup Rodeo BBQ model to be ‘ok.’ The breading was scrumptious and the pickles beneath nonetheless had a crunch, they have been simply decrease high quality.

For my last facet, I ordered the grilled road corn.

No complaints right here. The corn on the cob was good, as have been the toppings. As soon as once more, you’d discover a definite distinction between this and the road corn freshly grilled over at an EPCOT competition sales space. For an all-you-can-eat restaurant, it’s good, although.

Now, let’s flip to the feast of meats that’s the most important course, consisting of the next:

  • Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs: Fall-off-the-bone pork ribs, slow-cooked for hours in our onsite smokehouse
  • Buttercup’s Beef Brisket: Hand-sliced beef brisket, smoked then slow-cooked to juicy perfection
  • There’s a Sausage in My Boot: Spiced pork sausage fire-grilled over reside oak to offer it an added kick
  • BBQ Rooster – with Fashion! Rooster brined for 48 hours, rubbed with our secret yard BBQ spice and smoked to tender juiciness

Earlier than eating at Roundup Rodeo BBQ, our prediction was that the meats can be on par with or akin to a barely “elevated” model of Regal Eagle Smokehouse or perhaps on par with the Signature Skillets at Whispering Canyon Cafe.

In fact, it’s someplace between the 2–however nearer to elevated Regal Eagle.

I hesitate to even assessment the person meats, as they already appear inconsistent. (In evaluating notes with pals who beforehand dined at Roundup Rodeo BBQ, that was one takeaway–all of us had very totally different experiences with the meats.)

In a nutshell, I discovered the hen and sausage to be surprisingly good. The hen was juicy, smoky, and had an excellent texture because of the rub. The sausage had distinctive smoky taste, presumably because of being fire-grilled over reside oak. Usually talking, smoked sausage is my least favourite of those meats–however it was objectively the best choice on this unfold.

The smoked ribs have been roughly what you’d anticipate of pork ribs at Walt Disney World. Some have been tasty, some have been a tad too fatty. The upside to doing this AYCE is the choice for rib refills. As a sucker for WDW ribs, I favored that characteristic–and these ribs basically. However I’m not underneath the phantasm that these have been prime quality or the head of smoked ribs in the true world. They’re fairly mediocre by affordable metrics.

The meat brisket was the largest disappointment, however it was additionally about par with different brisket at Walt Disney World. It was too dry and missing in taste–undoubtedly needing the assistance of a sauce. If you happen to informed me that that is the very same brisket as at Regal Eagle Smokehouse, I’d consider you. It struck me as being very related.


For dessert, every visitor has the selection of the next:

  • Cupcake à la Forky: Forky is as much as one thing candy! A traditional chocolate cake with a gooey chocolate ganache middle topped with velvety graham cracker buttercream and a sugar cookie
  • Lemon and Blueberry Cheesecake: An iconic creamy dessert that balances the tanginess of the cheesecake with the pure sweetness of blueberries and lemon
  • Billy’s Chocolate Silk Pie: Layers of graham cracker crust and silky chocolate mousse topped with chantilly cream
  • Goat’s Apple Pie: A picnic traditional! Tart apples and heat pie spices steadiness completely with the creamy candy filling underneath a crumble crust
  • Gruff’s Peach-Strawberry Pie: With its silky candy peaches and tartness of strawberries, this dessert is a fruit-centric delight! (plant-based)

I ordered the chocolate silk pie, which was very one-note. There wasn’t essentially something improper with it, but when this have been a buffet, it’d be the one-and-done dessert that I handed over on subsequent journeys up in favor of extra bold and diverse options. Positively not one thing I’d purchase once more if this have been an a la carte restaurant.

In the end, there are professionals & cons to Toy Story Roundup Rodeo BBQ and it received’t be for everybody…similar to just about some other restaurant at Walt Disney World. The ambiance is loud and chaotic, however it presents a way of play and persona that make it enjoyable and comfy. I don’t personally just like the theme or ambiance at this Toy Story restaurant greater than Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater, 50’s Prime Time Cafe, and even Whispering Canyon Cafe, however I additionally understand I’m not the audience. For households with youngsters who love that movie franchise–which is a big demo–this might be the superior choice.

On the meals entrance, there’s each unhealthy and good at Roundup Rodeo BBQ. As anticipated, this slots in barely above Regal Eagle and beneath Whispering Canyon by way of high quality. That’s just about true throughout the board, and even with the great objects, you’ll seemingly discover that Roundup Rodeo BBQ is extra about amount than high quality. Regardless that there have been some dishes that upset, there have been nonetheless extra hits than there have been misses. This consists of the entire salads, bread service, just a few of the perimeters, and half the meats. Though I didn’t attempt Trixie’s Plant-based Trio for the principle course, if even half of that’s serviceable, Roundup Rodeo BBQ is an effective choice for vegetarians. In order that’s an surprising twist!

All in all, Roundup Rodeo BBQ fills an vital position in including an satisfying restaurant to Toy Story Land. Will probably be well worth the cash for households wanting a spot to eat limitless crowd-pleasing delicacies whereas immersed in characters from the flicks, and having enjoyable within the course of. As in comparison with different barbecue choices at Walt Disney World, the worth premium will not be that vital for an in-park restaurant with a extra expansive menu and mental property from a beloved Pixar movie (however not the walk-around characters!). Roundup Rodeo BBQ is healthier than I anticipated, and finally ends up being a simple-but-satisfying and worthy addition to the eating panorama at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Resorts Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To save cash on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the pieces that you must know!

Your Ideas

Have you ever dined at Roundup Rodeo BBQ? What was the great, unhealthy or ugly of your meal at this restaurant? What do you concentrate on the addition of a desk service restaurant to Toy Story Land? Excited to dine at Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant? Ideas on its themed design, particulars, or ambiance? How does it examine to different exquisitely Imagineered eating places at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Do you agree or disagree with our ideas? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!



Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Articles