BB - Can we order appetizers and Dessert only?

[Catgyrl]

Wow - I noticed more people replying to my thread and came back hoping to see some positive things. Now I seriously feel like cancelling my reservation. We leave in 6 days, and were planning our dessert ressy for our last afternoon in the park on 10/23. I'll have to speak with the rest of my friends to see if it's worth it to them to even try going. Kind of a bummer...

 

[Sherry E]

Wow - I noticed more people replying to my thread and came back hoping to see some positive things. Now I seriously feel like cancelling my reservation. We leave in 6 days, and were planning our dessert ressy for our last afternoon in the park on 10/23. I'll have to speak with the rest of my friends to see if it's worth it to them to even try going. Kind of a bummer...

I thought I was the only one who was not that impressed with BB, so I was relieved to see some other disenchanted customers coming out of hiding! But, since you are only going for dessert, like I did, then it won't be too expensive to just try it out. If you were planning on having a full meal there, it may be a lot of money to waste if you ended up not liking it, but trying BB just for dessert, just to see if you like it, is worth doing just once! You may love it! Many people do!

 

[Hollyster2]

We went just for dessert! No problems! It was great by the way! LOL It was awhile ago though, when they had the chocolate chip cookie pirate ship desserts with the edible sails! They were adorable.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

The best observation I've noticed when people comment on the BB is that the attitude toward it is extremely similar to Cinderella's Royal Table in WDW (eating in the castle). You can see a direct comparison here on the DL forum when folks talk about Ariel's Grotto.

People either

• love it for the atmosphere and don't care about anything else
• don't know or understand what bad service is (yes they do exist)
• don't know or understand what lower quality food is (yes they do exist)
• choose to refuse to acknowledge the other problems it has
• remember what it used to be and now really dislike the whole experience

When any restaurant rests on it's laurels, it goes downhill. Watch a few episodes of Gordon Ramsey's BBC shows and you'll see it in action!

 

[disney 1999]

Wow, sounds like some of you are a little harsh!! We just love the BB. I ate there the end of Sept, I was on a solo trip so I too was worried about being treated different as I was a party of one. I had a great experiance, I walked up 1:30 asked if they had a reservation for one for dinner, the man told me no they were full for dinner, but they could get me in right now if I would like lunch!! I got a table on the water ordered my lunch which was specatacular!!! I had the Wedge salad, Mahi-Mahi, the BB potatoes and asparagus. Of course I had to get the Mint Julep!! My server could have cared less about how many were in my party, and the service was wonderful. I must say the table by the water was a very nice treat!! I think somtimes peoples expectations of BB are more than what can be filled by a restaraunt at a theme park. Yes, I agree that for what you pay for a meal there the food had better be good, and I have never left disapointed!!!

 

[Sherry E]

Wow, sounds like some of you are a little harsh!! We just love the BB. I ate there the end of Sept, I was on a solo trip so I too was worried about being treated different as I was a party of one. I had a great experiance, I walked up 1:30 asked if they had a reservation for one for dinner, the man told me no they were full for dinner, but they could get me in right now if I would like lunch!! I got a table on the water ordered my lunch which was specatacular!!! I had the Wedge salad, Mahi-Mahi, the BB potatoes and asparagus. Of course I had to get the Mint Julep!! My server could have cared less about how many were in my party, and the service was wonderful. I must say the table by the water was a very nice treat!! I think somtimes peoples expectations of BB are more than what can be filled by a restaraunt at a theme park. Yes, I agree that for what you pay for a meal there the food had better be good, and I have never left disapointed!!!

I didn't have an expectation about the BB one way or the other because I didn't care about going there in the least bit. I only made the PS for my friend's sake. I had been there decades ago and never had any desire to go back. Just too much money for what I feel is not worth it. It is very pretty inside, but I am happy with a hamburger or pizza. I don't need filet mignon and all that. So I was only hoping my friend would be satisfied since she wanted to see it. She did not like waiting an hour to be seated in an over-crowded parlor. She did not like her dessert.

I don't think any of who don't care that much for the BB are being "harsh." In fact, I have said I think everyone should try it once because so many folks do love it. I think we are simply relating our experiences with it and thus, our opinions, which may not mirror your experience with and opinions of BB! Different times, different days, different service. It doesn't make any of our experiences and opinions (your included) the absolute, final word on the issue because it is subjective to a point! We are all just sharing our experiences at DLR, even they are 180 degrees different from someone else's.

 

[Katiebell]

Took DSD and DGD to the BB in February. We had eaten a big lunch and weren't starving, so we shared the chicken entree (they plated it separately, and charged us about $5 for the split plate fee), and we each ordered dessert. I had the creme brulee trio which was fabulous, and it was garnished with a cookie treasure chest (the waitress said, yes, technically it's edible, but she advised against it because it was rock hard! ) filled with gold doubloons. The server was gracious (even when 3 year old DGD got loud and we had to shush her), the atmosphere was wonderful, the food was very good albeit overpriced. DH and I are thinking of dinner there in December. But I'm irritated that the lunch menu is just as expensive as dinner now, and why is the Monte Cristo there 21.99 when you can get the same sandwich across the street at Cafe Orleans for 15.99???

 

[PreLawDelt]

I can't believe some of the stories about the Blue Bayou. I go to BB everytime I frequent Disneyland with new comers, and have never had a bad experience. For those of you out there that simply order dessert for the table in order to get the ambience, and then wonder why the prices go up? It's because you're not ordering. They have food purchased for each table for each reservation thus each time you order a Creme Brulee for the table instead of 4 meals you're actually driving up the prices for the rest of us. Not to mention (though I will) taking up a table for people who are willing to pay the prices for the meals that are served. If you want to do a walk through of the BB...go early and ask. They will let you. Don't take up someone else's possible reservation. Did you notice that the people that admitted to ordering actual food had GREAT service, and those who ordered dessert DID NOT? Maybe thats because its a restaurant and not an ice cream parlor.

 

[Sherry E]

I can't believe some of the stories about the Blue Bayou. I go to BB everytime I frequent Disneyland with new comers, and have never had a bad experience. For those of you out there that simply order dessert for the table in order to get the ambience, and then wonder why the prices go up? It's because you're not ordering. They have food purchased for each table for each reservation thus each time you order a Creme Brulee for the table instead of 4 meals you're actually driving up the prices for the rest of us. Not to mention (though I will) taking up a table for people who are willing to pay the prices for the meals that are served. If you want to do a walk through of the BB...go early and ask. They will let you. Don't take up someone else's possible reservation. Did you notice that the people that admitted to ordering actual food had GREAT service, and those who ordered dessert DID NOT? Maybe thats because its a restaurant and not an ice cream parlor.

1) First of all, there ARE no "reservations" for Blue Bayou. They do not hold tables for ANYBODY like a restaurant that takes reservations does. They do Priority Seating, which basically means if you show up at a time when others show up who don't have a PS made, then you will be seated first, MAYBE. Nothing is RESERVED for anybody. Do you not know that?

2) I don't know your financial status (pre-law - must be doing okay!) but some of us are not doing well financially - some of us are even unemployed! And paying $30+ bucks for one plate is absurd to many people, and the best way to enjoy BB is to do dessert. How dare you come off with that attitude? And why do you care what we think? You are defending BB like it is your child or like you run the restaurant!! If BB allows dessert meals, then people should be entitled to them. They are done with the table faster so big spenders like YOU can sit down and plunk down all your cash!

Our service was fine as far as the waitress was concerned. She was as sweet as can be as soon as she realized we were dessert only. She had been initially prepared to deal with a regular meal but she was fine once she learned otherwise. And we tipped her well. You are making a lot of really offensive remarks!

 

[wvnative]

I can't believe some of the stories about the Blue Bayou. I go to BB everytime I frequent Disneyland with new comers, and have never had a bad experience. For those of you out there that simply order dessert for the table in order to get the ambience, and then wonder why the prices go up? It's because you're not ordering. They have food purchased for each table for each reservation thus each time you order a Creme Brulee for the table instead of 4 meals you're actually driving up the prices for the rest of us. Not to mention (though I will) taking up a table for people who are willing to pay the prices for the meals that are served. If you want to do a walk through of the BB...go early and ask. They will let you. Don't take up someone else's possible reservation. Did you notice that the people that admitted to ordering actual food had GREAT service, and those who ordered dessert DID NOT? Maybe thats because its a restaurant and not an ice cream parlor.

Ya know, I think that comment may be a little off base. I don't believe you'd get the same ambience with a tour as you will while sitting there enjoying the food. For us, at least, it's not about the cost of the food. At home we often go to restaurants just for dessert. It has never been an issue. Why should it be any different at DL?

I've been to the BB exactly once (my previous DL companion was a cheapskate, stick in the mud). During our last trip, the girls and I went for dessert only. We did have a table at the back, but that wasn't an issue. Our server was more than pleasant. Our service and food were both great. We were in and out within 30 minutes. I had made PS and waited just like everyone else. I also told them when I made the call that we would only be there for dessert as neither of the girls could find anything on their menu they thought they'd eat. They're both incredibly picky. We even ordered 3 desserts and shared. I also left her a tip that was bigger than normal for her wonderful service.

Maybe we're an exception to your rule, but we had a lovely experience.

I see no reason not to go just for dessert if that's what your budget (both time and monetary) allows.

 

[Sherry E]

Ya know, I think that comment may be a little off base. I don't believe you'd get the same ambience with a tour as you will while sitting there enjoying the food. For us, at least, it's not about the cost of the food. At home we often go to restaurants just for dessert. It has never been an issue. Why should it be any different at DL?

I've been to the BB exactly once (my previous DL companion was a cheapskate, stick in the mud). During our last trip, the girls and I went for dessert only. We did have a table at the back, but that wasn't an issue. Our server was more than pleasant. Our service and food were both great. We were in and out within 30 minutes. I had made PS and waited just like everyone else. I also told them when I made the call that we would only be there for dessert as neither of the girls could find anything on their menu they thought they'd eat. They're both incredibly picky. We even ordered 3 desserts and shared. I also left her a tip that was bigger than normal for her wonderful service.

Maybe we're an exception to your rule, but we had a lovely experience.

I see no reason not to go just for dessert if that's what your budget (both time and monetary) allows.