It’s that time of year again. The sun is shining, the kids are all out of school, and the lines for Dole Whips at the Magic Kingdom are wrapping around all of Adventureland. Yes, it’s Summer time in America. And what is one of the first things you think of when you think of Summer? “Summer, Summer, Summertime…time to sit back and unwind!” Of course, that infectious poetry by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince is the first thing you think of! Okay, so what the second thing you think of when you think of Summer? Cookouts, of course! And who would you rather have come to your summer cookout than a few of your favorite Disney characters? Let’s take a look at the Best Disney Characters for a Summer Cookout!
Hades – What does a cookout need to get started? Fire, of course! And Hades has fire literally coming out of his hands so that is super convenient! Yes, he does tend to have a bit of a temper that is sometimes uncontrollable so I probably wouldn’t have him manning the grill (who wants completely overcooked burgers and hot dogs anyway?) I think the best bet with Hades is to ask him to get the grill going and then give him a nice cool drink and have him mingle around with the rest of the cookout attendees. And sure, you’d probably have to keep a close eye on him so he’s not making some kind of horrible deal with some poor neighbor that has no idea he or she is dealing with the god of the underworld…that goes without saying. He’s funny, sarcastic, and would make a great guest as long as you stay on his good side!
Chicken Little – There’s nothing better than some nice, fresh chicken right off the grill! I’m kidding, I’m kidding! I wouldn’t have him on the menu. It’s actually probably best if he just avoids cookouts altogether. I don’t want anything bad to happen to the little guy and with Hades around, I just couldn’t trust it!
Tiana – What makes Tiana completely awesome at a cookout is her versatility. Sure, she’s an amazing cook who’s looking to open up a New Orleans-themed restaurant, so she could make some pretty fantastic food for the cookout. If someone else is working the grill, though, she is also an experienced waitress so I’m sure she wouldn’t mind throwing on the apron and helping out a little bit. Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering what would happen if she showed up to the cookout in her frog form. Well guess what, one of the biggest problems with eating a meal outside are the flies. Frogs eat flies. See?! There’s that versatility I was talking about. If I’m having a cookout, no matter what shape she’s coming over in, I’m inviting Tiana!
Benny the Cab – What goes better with grilled burgers, chicken, & hot dogs than a nice, ice cold adult beverage? I’d say nothing! But the thing is, I don’t want anyone at my cookout having to worry about driving home at the end of the party. That’s where Benny comes in. The guy is a self-driving, talking taxi cab so I’m sure he won’t mind dropping a few folks off at home. Plus, he seems like he’d be a lot of fun to be around. I’m sure he has TONS of stories since he’s been driving around Toon Town for 37 years. Imagine the crazy celebrity toons he’s driven and what secrets he knows!
Bonkers D. Bobcat – I know you are reading this right now and probably saying to yourself, “I don’t remember a Bonkers D. Bobcat.” Trust me, he’s a real Disney character. Here’s the thing with Bonkers: after his career in the cartoon business fizzled out, he became a toon police officer. Just in case the cookout gets a little rowdy toward the end of the night, it would be nice to have a police officer in attendance. Sure, he’s not the smartest Disney cop character there’s ever been, but he’s much nicer and easier to get along with than someone like Chief Bogo from Zootopia.
And these characters are really only a few that would make wonderful cookout guests. I didn’t even mention Elsa (great just in case the fire on the grill gets a little high), Bing Bong from Inside Out (if he gets sad he cries candy…instant dessert!), or Pumba from The Lion King (delicious!) Okay, maybe Pumba should stay away and hang out with Chicken Little. So, if you’re having a big summer cookout soon, which Disney characters would you invite?
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Updated: June 2021
