Blue Bayou First Time

[CourtFool]

I am planning a solo visit to Disneyland in December 2016. I have never dined at the Blue Bayou but I have always wanted to. Pirates of the Caribbean is one of my favorite attractions and every time I drift by the restaurant, I wonder what it is like to sit a spell and enjoy the ambiance.

• Am I crazy to go solo?
• How early should I make a reservation?
• How early should I show up before my reservation?
• Can I insist on a riverside table? Especially if I am all by my lonesome.
• What should I try? I am a terribly finicky eater.
• Are there any other tips you veteran Blue Bayouians can offer me?

 

[goldmay]

You should go! I've dined at a few DL restaurants solo before and I've never felt weird about it. You can make reservations up to 60 days in advance, and since December's one of the park's busiest months book sooner rather than later. You can request a riverside table but you have to wait for one, so get there 15-20 mins before your reservation.

 

[Girimama33]

You are not crazy to go solo...Well, if you are, then I am because I ate there by myself last month. I was on my first solo trip and wanted to do the F! dining.
I typically do not mind dining by myself, so that was not an issue for me.
How early you want to make a reservation depends on how early you want to eat.
Whatever your reservation time, I would show up 30 minutes early and would request a waterside table at that time. They accommodated me with my request last month, so they will give those tables to solo diners.
Personally, I like the filet and their crab cakes.
I can't think of any particular tips at this time.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

You are not crazy to go solo! I think it would be a lovely place to dine solo, as there is the beautiful ambiance and the POTC riders to keep you company.

I think you can't go wrong any time of day, but I personally suggest making a reservation at the earliest time, 11:30am. You are almost guaranteed a waterside table (the CM working actually told us all who were waiting "don't worry about requesting a waterside table, if you have an 11:30 reservation you will get one!" That may have been a slower day, I don't know, but I do know your chances are much better at that time! I arrived about 15 minutes before my reservation.

If you are a picky eater like I can be, you can't go wrong with the chicken dish. Chicken is always nice and safe! Thankfully their menu is posted on the DLR website, so just let us know if you have any questions about it. Keep in mind lunch and dinner menu are slightly different. I also suggest having the gumbo with your meal. I believe it contains either chicken and/or sausage. I don't typically like sausage, but I didn't notice it in the gumbo and I thought the whole thing tasted great.

My other suggestion...the mint julep with glow cube tastes great and is really pretty in the dark lighting.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Am I crazy to go solo?

NO

How early should I make a reservation?

Usually ADR open up 60 days before arrival date

How early should I show up before my reservation?

If you dont mind where you are seated, about 10 minutes before your reservation. If you want to get a premium seating table beside the water, about 30 minutes before your reservation

Can I insist on a riverside table? Especially if I am all by my lonesome.

You can request a riverside / water table but you may have to wait anything up to 40 minutes

What should I try? I am a terribly finicky eater.

This is the menu https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/blue-bayou-restaurant/menus/dinner/

Are there any other tips you veteran Blue Bayouians can offer me?

Wave to the people in the boats

 

[figment_jii]

How early should I show up before my reservation?

In terms of showing up for your reservation it can hit-or-miss if they'll let you check in much before your ADR time. You may be allowed to check in early, but you may also be told that you have to come back closer to your ADR time (I've been there when someone tried to check-in an hour early and they were not allowed to). As mentioned, I would make a reservation for the first lunch time seating (usually 11:30 am) because you'll most likely get a waterside table with minimal wait (I've had pretty good luck). Otherwise, when you check-in you can request a waterside table, but the CMs will often say the wait will be 45 minutes or more. Sometimes it's much less, sometimes it's about that. I would still request the waterside table, just know that you might be waiting a bit for one.

Can I insist on a riverside table?

Just to clarify, you can request a waterside table, but it is, in the end, up to the CM at check-in whether or not they can/will accommodate requests.

What should I try?

In terms of what to eat, at this point, it's hard to recommend anything in particular because restaurant menus do change. The best thing to do is to check back much closer to the date of your reservation and see what folks recommend.

 

[Gisele]

I am planning a solo visit to Disneyland in December 2016. I have never dined at the Blue Bayou but I have always wanted to. Pirates of the Caribbean is one of my favorite attractions and every time I drift by the restaurant, I wonder what it is like to sit a spell and enjoy the ambiance.

• Am I crazy to go solo?
• How early should I make a reservation?
• How early should I show up before my reservation?
• Can I insist on a riverside table? Especially if I am all by my lonesome.
• What should I try? I am a terribly finicky eater.
• Are there any other tips you veteran Blue Bayouians can offer me?

* No!

* When you know what will work out for your timing. Just don't wait until the last minute, because you probably will not get what it is exactly that you might be wanting. I like to make one several days before hand. Much easier to do so for a party of one, as opposed to a party of 10. You may make a reservation 60 days in advance.

* If you would like a waterside table, at least 15 to 20+ minutes before your reservation time, in my opinion, so as to politely request waterside seating.

* Don't insist upon a waterside table. It will make one sound entitled, in my opinion. Just request one, again, most politely.

* I love the Surf and Turf. Also the Tesoro Island Chicken. Both dishes are delicious, in the opinion of my taste buds.

* Try not to get the table nearest the kitchen. It is a bit annoying at times. Or the restrooms, in the event you do not sit near the bayou.


Hold on to your purse strings, because the pirates have been known to come ashore, especially during dinner time, for the surf and turf, amongst other things. And let me tell ya, me matey, it can make for one fun loving, swinging from the lights, rambunctious, riotous floor show of sorts, but a theiv'en experience it may make for too. Why when my Auntie Heraldy went dining with her BFF, they were enthralled with the robust, although rather stinky pirates, while they were galavanting with "their dinner guests" lol they were particularly entertained by Capt. Jack. He is partial to the more mature ladies. Probably because they have great pensions. And jewels too. My auntie wanted to give him her number, but he told her that he 'has no need for a stinkin cell phone, and there is zero reception in my realm" then proceeded with a very nice offer by saying "So sorry love, but maybe another time we may have tea together, just don't forget the rum" She blushed according to her friend, well they both did, apparently. ha.....
Well by the time the pirates were shooed away by security, my auntie and her friend realized that those cotton pickin scurvy scoundrel scalawag pirates picked their pockets. Not to mention, the Tinkerbell pin my Auntie was wearing on her lapel. Still tryin to figure that one out. Another dinner guest some how lost his dentures. And the barefoot pirate that is always a loosin his shoe, sometimes both of them, omg! Well he collected a number of shoes from said dinner guests. Yes, he struck again. That makes for at least the 4th time he does this over the past several months. So by the time the pirates left, they had fine dinner, but no rum. A few wigs, several dishes, drinking glasses, no napkins though, they just use their or someone else's sleeve for wiping their mouths, well that is another story actually altogether. Some kindles, shoes, pins, several jackets, hats, dentures, eye glasses, and of course silver and gold. I hear even one guest lost his artificial eye. But I cannot verify that at this time, because the eye witness was not completely reliable or sober for that matter.

 

[lalasmama]

Am I crazy to go solo?

I've gone solo before, and loved it. Just sitting there watching the boats go by, looking for the shooting star every once and again. Okay, I'll admit it--I may have also read a book while I was there... Very relaxing!

How early should I make a reservation?

DH made my dinner reservations for me at the 2 month mark, but you can make them up to a few weeks before and get near the seating time you want.

How early should I show up before my reservation?

I show up about 15 minutes before my reservation.

Can I insist on a riverside table? Especially if I am all by my lonesome.

No, you can't insist on one. You can request one when you arrive for your reservation, and they will tell you it will be a 45 minute wait... then they will seat you water-side in about 30 minutes, even when dining alone.

What should I try? I am a terribly finicky eater.

I'm a big fan of their surf and turf. In fact, that's what I get each time I go!

Are there any other tips you veteran Blue Bayouians can offer me?

Enjoy! But be careful, it's kind of addicting!

 

[ADLFAN]

Yum, I loved the Tesoro Island Chicken and they will let you pair it with whatever side sounds appealing. All the desserts were delicious!

Have fun and enjoy!

 

[pittypat]

Blue Bayou is our favorite Disney restaurant. We've always made an 11:30 reservation, arrived 10 or so minutes early and have always been lucky enough to get a waterside table. When we were there in December, the menu was slightly different (no Tesoro Island Chicken, my favorite). They seem to have increased the spiciness on everything. Still good, but different.

 

[Kiwigirls]

One option could be to go just for dessert. When we went last time I wanted to experience BB- but I knew that neither myself nor the kids that were with me would really enjoy any of the meals. So we booked for around 3pm - outside of the lunch or dinner busy times, and just had dessert.
We did check in about 15 mins early, were told it would be a 45 min wait for the Riverside table; and we're seated by 3.05 pm.

Dessert was great - delicious, enough time to sit & experience the atmosphere but not too much time out of our day, and not too expensive!

 

[scrapperkimmydee]

When I called to make my reservation and asked for waterside, they told me to get one when they first open. That way there wouldn't be as long of a wait.

I'd go by myself.

They were very accommodating with our group who had finicky eaters.