Blue Bayou - thoughts?

[TiggerTrigger]

DD17 recently informed us that she want's Disneyland (vs Yosemite) for her graduation celebration mini trip. She also informed me that she wanted to eat at Blue Bayou, so it really would have been nice to know this a month ago so I could really plan. We're inside the 60 day window, so naturally nothing is now available. We've only been to BB once. They seated us 45 minutes after our ADR time, they weren't taking any requests to wait for tables with views, we were seated in the very last row with zero view of the water, the food was not good, and the service was slow. Obviously, the fond kid memories of this visit for DD were quite different from mine! I'm currently in reservation stalking mode since that's the only way I'm going to snag something. We're super flexible and I'm sure something may open up closer to trip time. I'm just wondering if it's worth it...like should I just talk DD out of it?

I have Cafe Orleans currently booked as my backup plan. To be perfectly honest, I'd be just fine with that since we had a a really great experience with that one. Going in last time, I knew BB had a reputation for being overrated. Is it still as iffy as it was before? Unless something has changed with seating practices, would I be correct in assuming that we still have the same risk level of being seated at a table with a subpar view? Her other wish was breakfast at Plaza Inn, which is easy enough, but just wondering if it's worth the hassle with BB. Thoughts?

 

[gmi3804]

CO is a much better bang for your buck. I actually prefer it to BB. The people watching and Orleans Place vibe is much more compelling.

 

[LKing]

When is your trip?
Fantasmic just re-opened and BB is one of the three restaurants offering a dining package. Fantasmic seating with a BB dining package is better than any other dining package. As such, reservations are booking much more quickly and there isn't as much movement with last minute changes.

 

[AstroBlasters]

DD17 recently informed us that she want's Disneyland (vs Yosemite) for her graduation celebration mini trip. She also informed me that she wanted to eat at Blue Bayou, so it really would have been nice to know this a month ago so I could really plan. We're inside the 60 day window, so naturally nothing is now available. We've only been to BB once. They seated us 45 minutes after our ADR time, they weren't taking any requests to wait for tables with views, we were seated in the very last row with zero view of the water, the food was not good, and the service was slow. Obviously, the fond kid memories of this visit for DD were quite different from mine! I'm currently in reservation stalking mode since that's the only way I'm going to snag something. We're super flexible and I'm sure something may open up closer to trip time. I'm just wondering if it's worth it...like should I just talk DD out of it?

I have Cafe Orleans currently booked as my backup plan. To be perfectly honest, I'd be just fine with that since we had a a really great experience with that one. Going in last time, I knew BB had a reputation for being overrated. Is it still as iffy as it was before? Unless something has changed with seating practices, would I be correct in assuming that we still have the same risk level of being seated at a table with a subpar view? Her other wish was breakfast at Plaza Inn, which is easy enough, but just wondering if it's worth the hassle with BB. Thoughts?

I’m going to completely disagree that BB is overrated or that Cafe Orleans is an equivalent.

Our family loves going to BB, always get the 1st seating of the day so have never had a problem getting delayed, and usually have a wonderful experience whether we are by the water or not.

The menu went through a weird period for a while, but they seemed to really up their game when they started serving alcohol.

 

[geargrinder]

BB is always my first choice.

Was there at the end of Feb for my 13th "birthday". Arrived a bit early and asked for a water side table and that we were ok waiting for one. Less than 15 minutes waiting and we were seated front and center along the water.

Food was good, service was great, and the ambiance is unbeatable. 10/10.

 

[DizMe]

I also love Blue Bayou. I've had a couple of poor experiences at Cafe Orleans and so I haven't been in a while, but I have to agree that it's nothing like being in Blue Bayou. However, that really depends on your servers and where you sit. If you get a BB reservation, show up early and let them know you're willing to wait for a waterside table. They'll likely tell you it'll be a 45 min wait or something, but I think that's to scare people off. I've almost always been seated within 15 min of my reservation time, but with Fantasmic packages now part of the mix, I don't know.

If you want to, you can sign up for a dining alert if someone cancels. One option is called Mouse Dining, and they'll send you an alert right away but you have to be quick to grab it.

 

[LKing]

If you haven't been to Disneyland in a while, the area around Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans is a little different. Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain and Critter Country are closed. Pirates has been added to the list of rides available on Genie Plus, making the standby line very long. Below is a picture of the ropes for the Pirates standby line. It stretches over the bridge and out to the far end of Cafe Orleans. There is a walkway in between the restaurant and the Pirates queue.




When it is busy, the line can look like this:



My point is that, personally, I don't think Cafe Orleans has the same ambiance that it used to have.

Did you check to see if Napa Rose or Carthay Circle have openings on the day you are visiting?

 

[Sjwillia]

I ate at the BB on Sunday. My filet with crab was delicious and my son said his rib-eye was great. Our service was excellent. My only disappointment was we asked for and were seated by a "water-side" table. Unfortunately, the table was the end by the kitchen and not really close to the water. The food was much better at BB than our experience at Carthay Circle on Wednesday.

 

[wabbott]

bookmark.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I ate at the BB on Sunday. My filet with crab was delicious and my son said his rib-eye was great. Our service was excellent. My only disappointment was we asked for and were seated by a "water-side" table. Unfortunately, the table was the end by the kitchen and not really close to the water. The food was much better at BB than our experience at Carthay Circle on Wednesday.

Did you get the Pork Chop? I always love the pork chop @ CC….

 

[BriannaRuth]

I ate at the BB on Sunday. My filet with crab was delicious and my son said his rib-eye was great. Our service was excellent. My only disappointment was we asked for and were seated by a "water-side" table. Unfortunately, the table was the end by the kitchen and not really close to the water. The food was much better at BB than our experience at Carthay Circle on Wednesday.

They put us at that "waterside" table by the kitchen once. It's an awful table! But glad you enjoyed your meal.

 

[BriannaRuth]

Well, for us it's always BB or bust, so I'm on the BB side

11 AM reservations are best since it's right when they're open and all the waterside tables are open, although I know you won't be able to be picky. Too bad about the change in the queues right in front of CO.

 

[SpaceMan5]

I have heard that BB has upped their game. We really thought about going there in Jan but opted for Wine Country in DCA. We had amazing Rib Eyes.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I have heard that BB has upped their game. We really thought about going there in Jan but opted for Wine Country in DCA. We had amazing Rib Eyes.

That’s good to know, I had given up on Wine Country because I never found their pasta to be very good and their wine list wasn’t as good as MK terrace, Carthay, or Napa Rose.

….but…ribeye…. I always love a good ribeye….

 

[gardenrooms]

You only graduate from High School once. I wouldn't try to talk her out of it, I'd try to make it happen. With the ridiculously short cancellation windows now - no penalty unless within 2 hours - something could show up right up until almost the last minute. Sadly, there seem to be a lot of people who hang on to reservations they have no intention of keeping "just in case".

 

[gardenrooms]

Sorry my internet seems to be wonky and I posted twice.

 

[LKing]

With the ridiculously short cancellation windows now - no penalty unless within 2 hours - something could show up right up until almost the last minute. Sadly, there seem to be a lot of people who hang on to reservations they have no intention of keeping "just in case".

Edit: This post is incorrect. I'll leave it here so that the following discussion makes sense to future readers.

BB Fantasmic lunch and dinner are both considered a premium package with respect to cancellations. That means you need to cancel at least one day prior or be charged a no show fee of $10/person.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/fantasmic-dinner-packages/

 

[twodogs]

BB Fantasmic lunch and dinner are both considered a premium package with respect to cancellations. That means you need to cancel at least one day prior or be charged a no show fee of $10/person.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/fantasmic-dinner-packages/

I think the BB is still only 2 hours; this is from the link above and also exactly what I got in my email confirmation for the BB package:

• Cancellation Policy
  • River Belle Terrace Fantasmic! Brunch and Dinner Dining Experience – Standard Package Cancellation Policy
    
    Blue Bayou Fantasmic! Lunch and Dinner Dining Experience – Premium Package Cancellation Policy
    
    Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante Lunch and Dinner Dining Experience – Standard Package Cancellation Policy
    You must cancel at least 2 hours prior to your reservation to avoid a per-person cancellation fee. If you fail to cancel by then or are a no-show, the credit card provided at the time of making your reservation will be charged $10 per person.
    
    
  • River Belle Terrace Fantasmic! Dinner Dining Experience – Premium Package Cancellation Policy
    You must cancel at least one day prior to your reservation to avoid a per-person cancellation fee. If you fail to cancel by then or are a no-show, the credit card provided at the time of making your reservation will be charged $10 per person.
  Cancellations and modifications to reservations can be made by visiting My Dining and Activity Reservationsor via the Disneyland mobile app by tapping “Future Plans.”

 

[gardenrooms]

Thanks for the clarification. 1 day is still pretty darned short, so I'd keep trying! Good luck.

 

[LKing]

I think the BB is still only 2 hours; this is from the link above and also exactly what I got in my email confirmation for the BB package:

• Cancellation Policy
  • River Belle Terrace Fantasmic! Brunch and Dinner Dining Experience – Standard Package Cancellation Policy
    
    Blue Bayou Fantasmic! Lunch and Dinner Dining Experience – Premium Package Cancellation Policy
    
    Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante Lunch and Dinner Dining Experience – Standard Package Cancellation Policy
    You must cancel at least 2 hours prior to your reservation to avoid a per-person cancellation fee. If you fail to cancel by then or are a no-show, the credit card provided at the time of making your reservation will be charged $10 per person.
    
    
  • River Belle Terrace Fantasmic! Dinner Dining Experience – Premium Package Cancellation Policy
    You must cancel at least one day prior to your reservation to avoid a per-person cancellation fee. If you fail to cancel by then or are a no-show, the credit card provided at the time of making your reservation will be charged $10 per person.
  Cancellations and modifications to reservations can be made by visiting My Dining and Activity Reservationsor via the Disneyland mobile app by tapping “Future Plans.”

Did your confirmation say 2 hours? Maybe the app confirmation is based on regular BB reservations and hasn't been updated with what is listed on the website.