Blue Bayou dessert only question.....

[toyota]

Do they charge a split plate fee for a shared dessert?
I think I really want to go for the ambiance (and I've heard good things about the cookie boat). I'm thinking we (husband, dd4, me) would share 1 boat. I looked at the menu and I think it was $9 (+ $4 split plate charge). Maybe this would be a good end of the day before returning to the hotel kind of thing to do.
I've heard it is relatively easy to get a waterside table around 11:30 am, but how about 7:30pm. We are going in early May, arriving on a thursday (first day in park friday), up to the next tuesday. A weekday probably would be best for getting waterside table in evening.
Any tips or thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[bumbershoot]

I have not heard anyone from here come back and said there was a split plate fee for dessert.

As for waterside, if you want one for the earliest seating, just be one of the first to book that time, and then be there 20-30 minutes before it opens so you're one of the first seated. That's easy for me.

As for the evening, since you can't *book* a waterside table, you'll just have to wait until one opens after your PS time.

The split plate for the entrees is what enables each sharing person to take part in the bread, and for each person to have their own pretty plate, and their own sides and wedge salad. Those things don't come with a dessert, and therefore I personally for my own personal self am 100% sure we will not be hit with a split plate fee for dessert, when we do that in late May.

 

[GBShorts]

We split the cookie boat there and were not charged extra...

We got to sit waterside too-Yay!

We were celebrating our anniversary and told the lady at the check in podium we'd like a waterside table.

We had to wait 10-15 or so (we were early) but had arrived 45 minutes ahead of time so not only did we get the seats we wanted but got to eat a half hour earlier than expected (1pm)!

 

[keishashadow]

Since it's seems to be so popular very surprised they don't have a minimum $ requirement per guest

I'm not thrilled with much on the menu (heresey perhaps but the Monte Cristo just sounds so heavy ) would like to either just do the desert only for lunch or split plate...just seems to be "cheating" the server out of bigger tip (guess we'll just have to make it up to them )

ps, everything else in DL seems more expensive, is tipping % the same (depending on service, 15-20%)

 

[ballarinamom]

We've eaten there about 5 or 6 times. We ALWAYS book at the first moment they will accept our reservations. We always ask for waterfront tables. We even check in early and request a waterfront at that time. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN WATERSIDE. It isn't that easy as it is a very popular place to go and every one wants to sit water front. We've been there a few times at first seating and once the very last lunch seating, 3:30. Still no luck. I hope you have better luck

 

[DevilDuckie]

The experience of people I have spoken with is that dessert only is much less likely to get waterside seating. 3 people with a $13 bill are simply not as high a priority in a restaurant as a group that is spending many times more. The server's income is based largely on what they sell and the tendency is to keep the people who are more likely to give a larger tip happy.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well the Monte Cristo is one my faves, not too heavy IMO. But everyone has their own tastes so I can't speak for anyone but me.
When we have eaten there we've actually eaten a whole meal there, not just dessert. We've always had a waterside table, we check in 20-30 min early and the CM's look at us like we are nutcases. LOL We have split a cookie boat and never been charged but again, we always buy full meals for all 4 of us.

 

[MaiynaMouse]

We are going in early May, arriving on a thursday (first day in park friday), up to the next tuesday. A weekday probably would be best for getting waterside table in evening.
Any tips or thoughts would be appreciated!

I don't have any tips or an answer for you but it sounds like we will be there the exact same time. We will be arriving early Thursday morning, May 1st and leaving on Tuesday May 6th. We can't wait.

 

[DoomBugger]

The desert at Blue Bayou is kinda neat but it really is not that great. A better combo than BB for desert is getting a Gibson Girl sunday on Main Street and then riding Pirates!

 

[fairycat]

The desert at Blue Bayou is kinda neat but it really is not that great. A better combo than BB for desert is getting a Gibson Girl sunday on Main Street and then riding Pirates!

Oh I disagree (I think a first time with you Doombuggie ) I think the cookie boat is worth it!!!

Personally I think its a lot to expect to take a waterside table and split a $10 dessert.

When my sister and I last we had a slight issue that got us close to the waterside (their choice we told them we did not care where we sat). We knew we could not eat two desserts but felt bad taking up a table from diners so we got the ice cream on the side and that way we could take the brownie cookies home to snack on later. We also both got drinks, since we did not want the server to lose money serving us. We also tipped very well.

We used to do BB a lot but took a break for a while now we go there about every third trip and since we rarely do PS we do walk up or walk and wait as we call it (we are AP's not tourists we can take the time to wait and won't be bummed if a seating doesn't happen I do not suggest this system for everyone), sometimes we have gotten waterfront by asking with no extra wait PS or walk up, sometimes we got it without asking and sometimes we ask and don't get it, it really depends on the people leaving and who requested the area before you.

 

[NicoleDisneyFan]

We ate there one time. Waited forever for a seat and was told that we would get a waterfront seat and didnt. We didnt look at the menu since i am a picky eater and I didnt like anything and the prices were high for us. We had one dessert and left and never went back. A lot of hype but not what I expected at all.

 

[bumbershoot]

The experience of people I have spoken with is that dessert only is much less likely to get waterside seating. 3 people with a $13 bill are simply not as high a priority in a restaurant as a group that is spending many times more. The server's income is based largely on what they sell and the tendency is to keep the people who are more likely to give a larger tip happy.

How would that work? They don't take your order before you sit down. They would have no way of knowing, unless you were talking about it, before they sat you and took your order, what you were planning on ordering.


If I'm ordering something small, I don't feel bad at all. You are ordering what you want, paying for what you ordered, and if it's something small and shared, you are more than likely going to be out of their hair much faster than if ordering an entree for each person with bread, salads, big plates of food, and dessert and coffee. Thereby very likely leaving the table much quicker, which will allow another group of people to sit at that table quicker than they would have done if you were ordering a full meal.

 

[DevilDuckie]

How would that work? They don't take your order before you sit down. They would have no way of knowing, unless you were talking about it, before they sat you and took your order, what you were planning on ordering.

I assumed the diner would be following the standard etiquette of informing the host at a nicer restaurant that they were there for "dessert only".

 

[DoomBugger]

Oh I disagree (I think a first time with you Doombuggie ) I think the cookie boat is worth it!!!

I do indeed think the cookie boat and the treasure chests are way neat, it is just when we have tried those deserts the ice cream just had a funky taste. It was probably just a fluke thing but I never tasted the funk anywhere else in the parks I have had ice cream, and I do like my ice cream!

I love the creativity of the desert items in Blue Bayou and I would recommend trying them as they are unique and themed and it is really exciting when they bring them to your table.

I have in my office an edible treasure chest and a sail from a cookie boat gallion, they are way fun and I think part of the whole BB experience.

I'll have to give their ice cream another look as I do think they are fun and a part of the BB visit but I would recommend this; don't get a desert for every person eating, even if everyone wants more ice cream just split one for every two or three people and have fun with it!

 

[tortugaverde]

I assumed the diner would be following the standard etiquette of informing the host at a nicer restaurant that they were there for "dessert only".

Wow... I had no idea there was a standard etiquette rule for that! I am surprised!

I am with bumbershoot.... I don't feel bad ordering something small anywhere. I worked as a waitress for a while.... I personally welcomed smaller orders! It gave me a slight break when things were busy! Sure, tips are important... but I found those who ordered small meals still tipped.... and were generally WAY more laid back than those ordering larger meals, worth it for me

 

[bumbershoot]

Wow... I had no idea there was a standard etiquette rule for that! I am surprised!

I am with bumbershoot.... I don't feel bad ordering something small anywhere. I worked as a waitress for a while.... I personally welcomed smaller orders! It gave me a slight break when things were busy! Sure, tips are important... but I found those who ordered small meals still tipped.... and were generally WAY more laid back than those ordering larger meals, worth it for me

I agree. I too have been a server (and barmaid!) and IMO the smaller the order the better. The bigger the check, the smaller the tip, in my experience, b/c the customers get freaked out by the big numbers on the bill!

I would never even think the host/ess would care in any way, shape, or form about what I might be ordering.

 

[pixiewings71]

I assumed the diner would be following the standard etiquette of informing the host at a nicer restaurant that they were there for "dessert only".

Wow, apparently I don't eat at *nice* restaurants because I've never heard of this. Nor has my sister (who I just asked via text) and she has been a server in many restaurants, both nice and not so nice. And she's been a bartender. She said what Molly said, that she liked smaller checks better because they tipped better.

 

[fairycat]

Weird not only have I heard of this rule but practiced it when we did dessert only at BB. Part of the reason is because I wanted to know if they did seatings like this. Some places have a minimum order per person so I always assumed that you mention it just in case.

I also have been a server and hostess in several classes of places and I always thought servers liked medium sized orders the best As a hostess I had every coffee, dessert and coffee, salad and water order dumped on me because "those kinds of people never tip". I also had people cry over certain types of large tables because they make you work like a dog and give you 10% when they see the huge tab (yes we also know the big spender who tips well especially after all the bottles of wine they ordered, but sadly these people are few and far between).

These are generalities but its what I heard servers say over and over. I never have heard any of them say they liked small orders. I only did as a hostess not a server.

PS- The only reason I also say not to push it by ordering too cheap is I do worry if the BB sees more and more people doing this, that they might start requring a minimum order per person. With how busy BB is, with the new cuteness of their desserts and so many people turned off by menu prices, I am hearing (and seeing) more and more Dessert Only seatings. I also found dessert was not any shorter of a meal over dinner especially with coffee refills. I don't set out to make Disney more money but I worry if too many people take advantage of this that Disney might see a loss and cut out the option. One person doing it won't change things but if more and more people see this board and think hey lets go split a dessert and Disney sees 10 of 40 tables ordering $10 a table they are going to do some rule changing.

 

[ballarinamom]

Did they reduce the number of kid's meals? Or change the kid's meal options? Is bread offered? I know the menu has been on the pirate hats and I thought they had chicken nuggets. Dh always gets his prime rib fix and I love the monte christo, but nothing on there appeals to dd. I also don't remember the soup or salad being included. Anyone ever bring in nuggets and fries from a nearby place and order the adult meals. Of course we would tip extra. Just want to make sure dd gets fed

 

[keishashadow]

I agree. I too have been a server (and barmaid!) and IMO the smaller the order the better. The bigger the check, the smaller the tip, in my experience, b/c the customers get freaked out by the big numbers on the bill!

I would never even think the host/ess would care in any way, shape, or form about what I might be ordering.

While I know they don't offer the same Dining Plan @ DL as WDW, during last trip, WDW restaurants began automatically adding a 18% gratuity to check (whether paying OOP or on DP).

At the Hollywood & Vine when seated I informed the waitress that i'd be charging the package to room account but; wanted to pay the tip OOP. She got huffy & proceeded to give us slow service/refills on drinks; while the table beside us got great service. Evidently, she thought she'd get a smaller tip; which wasn't my intent .DH & I both moonlighted in service industry for years & always tip generously. At the end of the meal, out came the charge slip; with the gratuity added. I sent her back to redo it & she did wind up with a smaller tip @ that point.

The next day when i tried to use the DP again, all the credits (4 days worth) were erased...redeemed @ H&V the night before. I called hotel desk & was transferred to customer service who apologized profusely & reinstated all our credits.