Blue Bayou dining & seating questions

[LLS]

We've never been to Blue Bayou but I sure noticed it when we rode POTC a gazillion times last summer! We're going back this summer and I'd love to take my family there. Two questions:

I'd love to get a waterside table, but I read somewhere that parties of more than four can NOT sit waterside. Is this true? We have a family of five -- are we out of luck? Also, when you request a waterside table when arranging PS and you don't get waterside, can you opt to wait for the next available waterside table instead of taking the table they're offering?

Next question: I know my kids won't be thrilled with the kid's menu (and my teen won't be thrilled with the regular menu), so I'm thinking perhaps going just for dessert. Is this frowned upon? Do they even let you do this?

Thanks so much for your expert advice!

 

[trodrigue]

I had lunch there two weeks ago. I do not see how a group larger than 4 could be waterside. It is very tight quarters. The larger groups were just one row in from waterside though, and you would be able to see out okay. If your heart is set on waterside, maybe break into two groups, make to PS right at 11:30, then arrive 15 minutes early and ask to be seated next to each other water side. You will feel like you are dining together, as the tables are that close. I believe it is acceptable to just order desert, as I have heard of many people doing so. I ended up alone with my 5 year old, and did not order him anything (our other half was ill), I ordered the Monte Cristo. My son had a dinner roll and a soda, wore the pirate hat and said, "Argh. Beware of Pirates" to each of the boats passing by. It was worth it for that alone. By the way, he went on the POTC for the first time just an hour earlier with his head in my sweatshirt the entire trip, so I am not sure where he learned about pirates!

 

[bumbershoot]

By the way, he went on the POTC for the first time just an hour earlier with his head in my sweatshirt the entire trip, so I am not sure where he learned about pirates!

Oh man that's hilarious. Head in your sweatshirt...when DS was 2 he rode, peeking out from my side with one eye, with my shirt in his mouth. Guess he needed some comfort and my shirt was IT!


I have mainly heard that it's 4-tops at waterside, but I've also occasionally read that there are a couple bigger tables. Not sure if it's accurate, but it's what I read.

We made PS at 60 days out for the 11:30am seating. I was the first to make that reservation for that day. Checked in 15 minutes ahead, waterside no problem. But we were only 4.

And although I read ONE person's story of what they overheard at another table (being told to leave b/c they were only ordering dessert), I have never heard that anywhere else. We were going to go just for that reason, but the 3 year old was in a mood and I didn't want to inflict the mood on others, so we canceled last minute. It's just a restaurant, there's no minimum, so I can't quite see how they would have a problem. Well, maybe if you order ONE dessert for the 5 of you, maybe then they would have a problem...

 

[silence]

We are a party of 5 and all three times we have been we have had water side seating. The table is actually set for 6, but they seat just the 5 of us so we have an extra chair.

All three times we also had the earliest lunch reservation time and checked in right when they opened (11:15, but arrived just around 11) and we were one of the first parties seated right where we wanted to be.

We found we had plenty of room. My 4 y/o kept getting up to stand near the gate and wave at people going by on the ride.

 

[oscarkitty1]

I was there a week and a half ago with DH and his family. There were 6 of us, and we got a waterside table with an 11:30 reservation I'd made about 3 weeks prior to arriving.

The way the seating was arranged around the table, two of the seats actually had their back turned toward the water, facing into the restaurant. This last trip was our 4th time this year to DL and BB, so DH and I took those seats and let the others have the true waterside view.

Still the experience was fabulous as always!!

 

[Golfing Goofy]

We love the Blue Bayou! We also try to get the first reservation at 11:30 and always arrive about 20 minutes earlier. I just call vacation planning, since we are staying at the resort, and they take care of the reservation. Never had a problem with it. The only time we did not get a waterside table was when we had a group of 8. We were in the next row of tables.

 

[audrabolster]

I went with a party of 5 and had great waterside seats. Of course, 2 of us had our backs to the water! lol/

 

[mystic_path]

I went with my parents the last time we went to the BB and it was only the 3 of us and we had waterside seating and it was just perfect. It would get a bit more cramped if there were a larger party cause its not very spacious around that area as I agree with everyone else.

 

[kkheburn]

AHHH! I have not made my reservation for my trip on Feb. 9th! Will I still be able to get a reservation for lunch or do you think it will be full? I need the number to call, please.

 

[mystic_path]

AHHH! I have not made my reservation for my trip on Feb. 9th! Will I still be able to get a reservation for lunch or do you think it will be full? I need the number to call, please.

I would give them a call as soon as possible to make sure you get your reservations. Here is the number to disney dining:

(714) 781-DINE

 

[LLS]

Thanks for all the great info! I'm so excited to hear that a party of five CAN sit waterside! I think we'll do lunch instead of dessert and ask for the first reservation.

So is this what I need to do? . . .

Exactly 60 days before the date we want to dine, I call PS. I should tell them we want the first seating of the day for a party of five at a waterside table. Anything else? I don't want to leave out a detail that will result in us not getting the table we want!

Also, we'll be staying at the DLH, so should I do this through vacation planning? One more question -- it sounds like it's important to call first thing on the magic day (60 days prior). Is 8:00 am pacific time the earliest time to call?

Thanks again, everyone! I'm SO excited!

 

[DevilDuckie]

We were going to go just for that reason, but the 3 year old was in a mood and I didn't want to inflict the mood on others, so we canceled last minute.

Thank you for that. We're big on not letting our kid ruin anyone else's good time and it is often frustrating to sit through tantrums because someone *just had to* do whatever regardless of their child having hit their limit.

: Major Good Parent kudos to you!

 

[blackjackdelta]

Thanks for all the great info! I'm so excited to hear that a party of five CAN sit waterside! I think we'll do lunch instead of dessert and ask for the first reservation.

So is this what I need to do? . . .

Exactly 60 days before the date we want to dine, I call PS. I should tell them we want the first seating of the day for a party of five at a waterside table. Anything else? I don't want to leave out a detail that will result in us not getting the table we want!

Also, we'll be staying at the DLH, so should I do this through vacation planning? One more question -- it sounds like it's important to call first thing on the magic day (60 days prior). Is 8:00 am pacific time the earliest time to call?

Thanks again, everyone! I'm SO excited!

We have 6 in our family and have always had waterside except for 1 trip. We always make 1130 ressies and show up about twenty minutes early to check in. There are two tables that will accomadate a group of six along the waterside. We have never been disappointed with their food or service even though some diser's have reported so.

Good luck.


Jack

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks for all the great info! I'm so excited to hear that a party of five CAN sit waterside! I think we'll do lunch instead of dessert and ask for the first reservation.

So is this what I need to do? . . .

Exactly 60 days before the date we want to dine, I call PS. I should tell them we want the first seating of the day for a party of five at a waterside table. Anything else? I don't want to leave out a detail that will result in us not getting the table we want!

Also, we'll be staying at the DLH, so should I do this through vacation planning? One more question -- it sounds like it's important to call first thing on the magic day (60 days prior). Is 8:00 am pacific time the earliest time to call?

Thanks again, everyone! I'm SO excited!

You can do it directly or through vacation planning. I personally would do it on my own, and actually, did, in Sept when we were staying at PP and had access to VP.

They won't care if you want waterside, though, that comes down to checking in early. They won't even come close to guaranteeing waterside, though the guy told me that I was the very first PS of that day, and as long as I checked in early, he coudln't see how I wouldn't get waterside.


DevilDuckie...we aren't perfect, though, I mean what would have been BEST at that point would have been to go back to the hotel, but instead we just canceled the PS. I learned in December that I have to have some solo trips so I can go-go-go on MY trips, and then just slow down for DS. at self.

 

[silence]

I too would just make the call myself to get the reservations.

Interesting note.....on our Sept. trip, I called the day before we left (Friday) and got reservations for the time I wanted on Tuesday. We checked in early and got the waterside table. So again, the line for check in usually starts just before 11, though they won't check you in until 11:15 and seating begins promptly at 11:30 I believe.

OH...and just another tidbit.....there isn't a lot of seating in the "waiting" area of the restaurant. They seem to open the doors to that area before the line is checked in, so have one person check in and if needed, the rest of your party can go in and find a place to sit. We usually can't stand long, so having a place to sit while we wait for the table is important for our group.

 

[DevilDuckie]

DevilDuckie...we aren't perfect, though, I mean what would have been BEST at that point would have been to go back to the hotel, but instead we just canceled the PS. I learned in December that I have to have some solo trips so I can go-go-go on MY trips, and then just slow down for DS. at self.

When DS was small we had designated "adults only" trips. This also helped us enjoy the slower/different pacing on trips with him more and I highly recommend it. We did a week for our honeymoon and 4 days at New Years 2004/2005 without him. Last year he was old enough that the people who plan the NYE trip invited him to join us.