Memorial Day is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to start prepping for your cookout. This year we’re bringing the Disney magic to our BBQ. A splash of Route 66 from Cars Land, a dash of Frontierland Americana, and a big helping of tasty eats inspired by the Hungry Bear Restaurant. Jump into our guide to the ultimate Disney Memorial BBQ that will deliver a great day for folks young and old alike! 

START WITH THE TUNES

For us, any good party starts with music! We’ve built you the ultimate Disney Memorial Day playlist packed with hits from the Cars movies, a whole lot of Randy Newman, and even some gems we dug up from The Princess and the Frog. Let’s get this BBQ started!

THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB

Time for you to dress the part, grillmaster! And who wouldn’t trust a Mandalorian to pilot their grill? We’re head over heels for this apron from Etsy. We encourage wearing this one for the day and liberally shouting, “I have spoken!” when the occasion calls for it.

We often don’t invest in Disney homeware, but it comes to these snack-inspired wine glasses we’re willing to make an exception. We love the clean design and clever homage to our favorite park snacks these cups provide. Add these to your place settings to lead with the Disney fun BBQ theme!

Got kids? Set them a festive spot with these Disney coloring placemats. They do double duty as an activity to keep kiddos entertained and also catch any rogue ketchup spills.

AND FOR THE FOOD!

Turning a regular cookout into a magical Disney BBQ is easy when it comes to the food. Take your favorite burger recipe (here’s ours) and add on a hidden Mickey! Do this by simply cutting the cheese slices into the mouse’s iconic silhouette before tossing them over the grill to melt.

No party is complete without a great strong cocktail. You can’t go wrong with bourbon on a hot summer day. We’re shaking up these Trader Sam’s Shipwreck on the Rocks with the official recipe from the Disney Family Youtube channel!

And for dessert? There can only be one sweet that will satisfy! Bring the beloved Mickey Ice Cream Bar from the parks home and straight to your Disney cookout. We don’t care if you’re 8 or 80, these things are just straight delicious. Find them at Target or your local grocery store.

AND THE ENTERTAINMENT

Heads Up! is one of our go-to waiting in lines at the park games. Keep it on theme for the evening and select the Disney Parks deck for your entertainment. This one never fails to deliver a ton of laughs and wild arm flailing as guesses fly across the table. The app is available for Android or iOS.  

How are you celebrating Memorial Day? Let us know your plans in the comments below! And be sure to tag your Disney cookout photos with #disneyperfection to share your photos!