General Information

Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue is permanently closed. This page is retained here for historical interest.

Location: On the trail between Fantasyland and Frontierland, near the Big Thunder Petting Zoo.

Date Opened: April 2, 2009

Seating: Outdoor covered picnic tables

Service Type: Table service

Children's Meals: No

Vegetarian Options: Seasonal vegetable and tofu skewers with barbecue glaze

Annual Pass Discount: 15% with Premium pass; 10% for all other passholders.

Reservations: Reservations recommended. Call (714) 781-3463 or in person.

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Menu Information

Menu as of October 2015

All dishes are served family style and in quantities scaled to the size of your party. Adults are $19.99 for lunch, $24.99 for dinner, and children are $9.99. Your server will take your initial orders and you'll need to request any additional servings, though dessert and drinks are extra.

Main Items

Barbecue Chicken and Ribs
Vegetable Skewer - Vegetarian option
Smoked Sausage (dinner only)

Sides

Cole Slaw
Ranch Beans
Cornbread
Corn Cob Wheels (dinner only)

Dessert

Old Fashioned Ice Cream Floats - Root beer "sarsaparilla" or Fanta Orange "50/50" float made with Dreyer's vanilla bean ice cream. $5.99
Chocolate Flourless Mickey Cake - Mickey-shaped chocolate cake layered with chocolate mousse and served with whipped topping. $5.99
Ranch Hand Sundaes - Traditional Hot fudge sundae in a waffle cup served up "ranch-style" with your choice of Dreyer's vanilla bean or chocolate ice cream. $5.99
S'mores Bake - Warm chocolate brownie topped with roasted mashmallows, graham crackers, and hot fudge. $9.99
Chef Cookie's Deep Dish - Choose from a traditional chocolate chip cookie or our ranch hand seasonal cookie, each served with Dreyer's ice cream and drizzled with the Chef's favorite topping at your table. $9.99
Seasonal Fruit Cobbler - Featuring the freshest fruit of the season baked in our rustic skillet topped with Dreyer's vanilla bean ice cream. $9.99

Drinks

Soda - Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta Orange, Light Lemonade, Barq's Root Beer, Iced Tea. $3.79

If a menu is presented here it is for guidance purposes only. Menus can change without notice and at some restaurants daily. If you have specific dietary needs or questions it is best to contact the restaurant directly for information. If you'd like to notify us that a menu has changed, or you can provide the complete information, please let us know through our email form.

History and Trivia

  • At this location: Until 1986, this area was backstage and not open to the public. When Big Thunder Mountain Railroad opened in 1979 it opened up the back pathway connecting Frontierland and Fantasyland. For years the area remained unused but eventually it was decided to open a live petting zoo in the park, which eventually became Big Thunder Ranch. In conjunction with the new ranch was this space as a restaurant and Big Thunder Barbecue opened on December 14, 1986. When the Big Thunder Ranch was closed in 1996 to make way for the Hunchback of Notre Dame show, "Festival of Fools," the barbecue was rethemed and renamed Festival of Foods. The course was reversed again an on May 30, 1997, it returned to being Big Thunder Barbecue until finally closing for good on January 20, 2001. The location then remained vacant, used for private parties mostly, until the opening of Celebration Roundup & Barbecue. The name was changed back to Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue after the end of Disney's "What Will You Celebrate?" promotion.
  • The Restaurant's History: Initially opened as a character dining experience involving the cast of Toy Story. However, attendance did not meet expectations and within a few months, Woody and Bullseye were moved back out into the general walkways of Frontierland.
  • Restaurant will be closing permanently Jan 10, 2016