Blue Bayou or Aladdin's Oasis for MSEP

[StarlitNight05]

Sounds like I'd rather just sit on the steps over near It's a Small World like I have been. Thanks for the info.

How early do you usually get to the area to snag the spot?

I keep going back and forth on whether the Aladdin package is worth it. I'm fine with the mediocre food aspect, but I just don't want to feel double-ripped off by not even getting a good "reserved" area.

 

[cruisehopeful]

How early do you usually get to the area to snag the spot?

I have watched 2 parades from the stairs and got there 30 minutes early both times. Hardly anyone is there when I first take my spot, but it completely fills in by about 10 minutes before the parade. It looks like you can't sit there and I think that is why it doesn't fill in for a while. Once other people see that people are sitting there and not being told to move, they join in. It's a really good spot because there are lots of snacks and things for sale all around there. Easy to grab something and eat it while waiting and there's a trash can right there, too.

I'm the same as you with the food package. I don't mind overpaying for food that isn't the greatest because I feel like I am only paying for the parade viewing. If the parade viewing isn't fantastic, then I'd rather eat whatever I want and find my own spot.

 

[Gisele]

I have watched 2 parades from the stairs and got there 30 minutes early both times. Hardly anyone is there when I first take my spot, but it completely fills in by about 10 minutes before the parade. It looks like you can't sit there and I think that is why it doesn't fill in for a while. Once other people see that people are sitting there and not being told to move, they join in. It's a really good spot because there are lots of snacks and things for sale all around there. Easy to grab something and eat it while waiting and there's a trash can right there, too.

I'm the same as you with the food package. I don't mind overpaying for food that isn't the greatest because I feel like I am only paying for the parade viewing. If the parade viewing isn't fantastic, then I'd rather eat whatever I want and find my own spot.

O.k. I don't mean to sound dumb, lol....but .....what stairs are we talking about? tia

 

[sgrap]

So if you do the BB dining package, can you stay in your seats/area for Remember fireworks? Also, are there seats in either area? I thought the whole deal was that you got a seat, but sounds like that might not be correct. Thanks!

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

How early do you usually get to the area to snag the spot?

I keep going back and forth on whether the Aladdin package is worth it. I'm fine with the mediocre food aspect, but I just don't want to feel double-ripped off by not even getting a good "reserved" area.

My understanding is that if there are 2 showings of the parade, the second showing is usually pretty easy to find a good place to see the parade, while the first is more difficult. I've never been to the late show, but this is just based on other comments I have seen. So if there are 2 shows and you are willing to see the late show, you might be able to chance it.

Regarding the stairs near IASW, I'm not sure if I am thinking of the same stairs as cruisehopeful. However, there is a set of stairs sort of across the "street" from IASW. The first time I saw PTN, the reserved area was much bigger and encompassed that set of stairs, so sitting there would have required Aladdins Oasis tickets. The second time, the spot was smaller and did not reach there, so the stairs may have been available to sit.

 

[goooof1]

Yeah, the stairs are right across from IASW....2 sets of stairs that go up to a "patio" like area with raised planter-type sections. When we went to PTN, the Aladdin's folks were on one half of the stairs/patio area and the other half was open to anyone. We also did not wait for a long time (~30 minutes or so) and sat along those sections that were enclosed by railings and had plantings in them. ...lol...hard to describe!
From what I understand, no seats....just on the curb and then everyone else stands...

 

[MillauFr]

I would be interested to hear how crowded the parade route is this week. Was planning on doing the Aladdin's on Feb. 1. I would rather drop it if I can show up to the non-reserved area 30 minutes before the parade starts and still see it.

 

[Laur0406]

I've booked the Aladdin's Oasis package for when we go, for a Sunday night...now I'm wondering if we should either book a different night during the week, or just skip the reserved viewing area altogether. Not sure we can carry our 3 year old the whole time for him to be able to see....

 

[cruisehopeful]

O.k. I don't mean to sound dumb, lol....but .....what stairs are we talking about? tia

It will be hard for me to describe. I wish I had a picture, but I don't. It is the area between Storybook Canal and It's a Small World. It is on the side of the "street" that Matterhorn is. There are stairs with a good sized area on top for people to stand around and the top gets full early. The street spots in front of the stairs get full early. I saw someone sitting/blocking the steps one time and I asked if we are allowed to sit there for the parade. They said CMs were back and forth the whole time and never told them to leave. I grabbed a spot and we all sat through the parade.

The next time I used that spot, everyone stood the entire time. The front row (street row of people) can block some of the view if you decide to sit through the whole thing. For me, it's near the start of the parade and I don't have to camp out for a couple hours before, so it works for me.

 

[SeiterClan]

I would be interested to hear how crowded the parade route is this week. Was planning on doing the Aladdin's on Feb. 1. I would rather drop it if I can show up to the non-reserved area 30 minutes before the parade starts and still see it.

I'm wondering the same thing! We have reservations on Friday, Feb. 3rd because I thought with MSEP still being so new PLUS it's the first night of Remember fireworks I figured it would be super crowded, but I'm disappointed to hear that the reserved viewing space for AO by IASW is a smaller area than it was for PTN. :/

 

[Satye1]

i think your best bet to try & see parade in non cramped quarters would be to view it on week night. Otherwise weekend crowds will be crazy. We had a double whammy, 1st weekend of parade, sat, and also only sunny day in 4 days. It ended up being CRAZY CROWDED. But still glad we saw it. Saw reports of people waiting up to 4 hours for spots that night.

 

[SeiterClan]

i think your best bet to try & see parade in non cramped quarters would be to view it on week night. Otherwise weekend crowds will be crazy. We had a double whammy, 1st weekend of parade, sat, and also only sunny day in 4 days. It ended up being CRAZY CROWDED. But still glad we saw it. Saw reports of people waiting up to 4 hours for spots that night.

Darn! The problem is we really don't have a weeknight to see it. :/ We will be there Thursday Feb. 2nd-4th but was planning on seeing WOC on Thursday night because it's showing at 8:15pm vs. 9:45pm which is way too late for my kids. My only other option would be to do MSEP via AO reserved viewing & fireworks on Sat. instead of Friday??? Wanted to try to ensure we could see the fireworks & thought it we just stayed in the reserved viewing area then we wouldn't have to fight crowds...Not sure which day would be less crowded? Thoughts!?!

 

[Satye1]

Darn! The problem is we really don't have a weeknight to see it. :/ We will be there Thursday Feb. 2nd-4th but was planning on seeing WOC on Thursday night because it's showing at 8:15pm vs. 9:45pm which is way too late for my kids. My only other option would be to do MSEP via AO reserved viewing & fireworks on Sat. instead of Friday??? Wanted to try to ensure we could see the fireworks & thought it we just stayed in the reserved viewing area then we wouldn't have to fight crowds...Not sure which day would be less crowded? Thoughts!?!

I would choose Friday over sat. Both days you will see an increase in crowds, but sat for sure more busy. You will be able to view fireworks from IASW. We did so and it was wonderful. I would show up to spot no later than 1.5 hours prior if doing A.O. We showed up 1 hour prior and it was already crowded in designated spot.

 

[SeiterClan]

I would choose Friday over sat. Both days you will see an increase in crowds, but sat for sure more busy. You will be able to view fireworks from IASW. We did so and it was wonderful. I would show up to spot no later than 1.5 hours prior if doing A.O. We showed up 1 hour prior and it was already crowded in designated spot.

Thanks for the advice! Guess we will stick with Friday. What time do they let you into the reserved area? Somewhere I read you can line up as early as you want but that they don't let you in until 30 mins before the parade starts...also having a hard time visualizing the area you are talking about! Haven't been back to DL for over 4 years!

 

[Satye1]

Thanks for the advice! Guess we will stick with Friday. What time do they let you into the reserved area? Somewhere I read you can line up as early as you want but that they don't let you in until 30 mins before the parade starts...also having a hard time visualizing the area you are talking about! Haven't been back to DL for over 4 years!

I think our tickets said to show up 30 min prior, but I'm glad we showed up earlier because there was no room for people showing up 30 min prior. There were some frustrated people as they tried to cram some more in to our shoulder to shoulder space & some got upset & left.

 

[SeiterClan]

I think our tickets said to show up 30 min prior, but I'm glad we showed up earlier because there was no room for people showing up 30 min prior. There were some frustrated people as they tried to cram some more in to our shoulder to shoulder space & some got upset & left.

So they let people in earlier than the 30 mins prior ? Also I'm attaching a pic from dlrprepschool's site...is this what the viewing area looked like?

 

[Satye1]

So they let people in earlier than the 30 mins prior ? Also I'm attaching a pic from dlrprepschool's site...is this what the viewing area looked like?View attachment 216987

It was further down left of that. And did not see any curb side-sitting. It was behind fence (standing only) that you see in left side of pic. & yes when we got there 1 hour early, it was already full, we were lucky to find a spot.

 

[SeiterClan]

It was further down left of that. And did not see any curb side-sitting. It was behind fence (standing only) that you see in left side of pic. & yes when we got there 1 hour early, it was already full, we were lucky to find a spot.

Ok We will plan to get there early to get spots. :/ Thanks again!

 

[Denise0362]

We reserved the Blue Bayou MSEP package for Friday January 20. Thankfully the rain stopped around 2:30 pm and we had a wonderful evening for the parade. This was the first time we had ever eaten Blue Bayou. We couldn't have been more pleased. You order off the regular menu and for $65 you get a starter, a main entree and a dessert. My husband ordered the surf and turf and I ordered the filet mignon. We both ordered our steaks medium rare and they were perfect! Both entrees we ordered came with au gratin potatoes, my husband liked them but I did not care for them. I am not much of a potato person. We reserved an early seating and received a ticket for the parade to arrive at 8:15. When we arrived at 8:15 all the curb seating was taken.
We stood first row back and had a awesome view. The reserved area was in the central plaza facing the train depot. The area was large and it wasn't fully packed. Plenty of room, enough room that people who had not reserved were trying to get into the area. We couldn't have been more pleased. Will do this again in a heartbeat! I just took a screen shot of our video to show how close we were to the parade and our great view!

 

[redman96]

Did Aladdins for MSEP last night. Food was good, dining part great-however parade section...Standing room only really-maybe a few lucky ones were able to sit. Showed up 1 hour early. Shoulder to shoulder packed like sardines. DH was not happy. All in all we were fortunate to get a front rail view but claustrophobic experience was not to be desired. DH said if he had to do it again, he would rather camp out on curb for free, they had a lot more room than we did.

Bummed for you - but appreciate you letting us know about your experience. Helped make my mind up. Just going to fins a spot on my own! Thanks.