Blue Bayou with a 3 year old

[CandMmommy]

lat time I visited Disney I had a 3 year old and this time I will have a 3 year old! We didn't do BB thinking it might not be ok for 3 year old with others trying to enjoy dinner.
What do you think?
My older kids are 6 and 9

 

[figment_jii]

I think it depends a lot on the three year old. Does he/she normally do okay at table service restaurants? The average meal at Blue Bayou takes about 60 to 75 minutes. I don't think other guests would really mind if there are children there unless the child is doing something disruptive (e.g., throwing a temper tantrum, throwing food, doing jumping jacks (I've seen it happen), etc.). The only other caveat I'd add is that it's meant to be dark inside the restaurant, so screen (like those of phones and video game players) tend to stand out and can be annoying to guests at nearby tables. I know one child that would have done fine at BB at three, but her brother would not have, so it really depends on the child.

 

[CandMmommy]

She's the kid that gets dragged along to gym meets and soccer tourneys of her big sisters. She's pretty go with the flow, but can get bored waiting at a table. I'm curious if the scenery would keep her entertained. She's high energy, but I've never had to leave a restaurant b/c she's obnoxious or crying.

 

[figment_jii]

There are only a limited number of tables that can see the boats go by (basically the tables along the waterside railing and maybe the ones in the next row). So, if you do opt to go, I would make sure to request a waterside table when you check in (it will probably add to the wait time). Otherwise, if you're at one of the inner tables, I don't know if there is really much scenery. The photo on the Disneyland.com Blue Bayou webpage gives you a pretty good sense of what the restaurant looks like away from the waterside tables.

 

[VandVsmama]

I agree with the other posters...it really depends on the child. When my kids were 3, generally speaking, this is what we'd do when we were going out to eat at a sit-down/table service restaurant:

1. Go at a less-busy time of day. So if you're going for dinner, maybe do a seating at 5pm instead of 6pm or 6:30pm. If you're eating there at lunchtime, go for an 11:30 am lunch time. Of course, your mileage may vary, so if the 3 yr old always eats lunch at 1, then pick a reservation for 12:30 pm...assume a few minutes to get seated, a few minutes to look at the menu and order, and a few minutes for the food to arrive.
2. Bring something for the 3 yr old to do. Don't assume that the restaurant will supply coloring pages & crayons for you.
3. Since you'll be at DL, bring out a couple of cheap Dollar Store toys or kid items that will keep her occupied. If you want, reserve these for times when the 3 yr old is starting to get cranky.
4. Bring snacks - something for the kid to nosh on - while he/she waits for the food to arrive.
5. Don't pick vacation as the time to introduce the kid to new foods - but your mileage may vary on this.
6. Be prepared to have 1 of the adults take the 3 yr old outside to calm down if he/she is having a temper tantrum. Don't ruin other people's dining experience. It's inconvenient for you & your spouse/traveling partner, but the other guests will thank you for it. Plus, it teaches the 3 yr old that he/she can't have his/her way all the time. But if this is kid #3, you already knew that. ;-)

 

[mom2rtk]

I personally would not take a 3 year old to Blue Bayou. The things you might do to distract them just won't work in such a dark atmosphere. I recall having trouble reading the menu and seeing what I was actually eating. But maybe that's because we were waterside and were further from the few lanterns there are in there. But as a PP said, I really would not recommend anything electronic for distraction as that would be distracting to the other diners as well.

 

[geergirl]

We took our twins to Blue Bayou when they were almost 3 and they did wonderfully. The boats weren't going by because the ride was down but we were sitting by the water. They liked looking at everything and talking about the things we had done. It was their first Disney trip so everything was new and exciting. They typically do quite well in restaurants as we've been taking them regularly since they were tiny. Colouring if the place provides stuff is acceptable but we don't do electronics. If they're colouring and getting bored we practice writing/identifying/sounding out letters.

 

[VandVsmama]

I second geergirl's suggestion about no electronics. Go "old school" and keep the screens off.

 

[sherilaine]

You know your kid. Everyone else here can only go on personal experience. Do what you want. Bring a toys, crayons, electronics, extra snacks, whatever works for you. Who cares what others think! If you think it will be too stressful and you won't enjoy yourself then don't go but table service is table service so you need to eat somewhere, might as well be where you want. The irony would be rich if anyone thinks a 3 year old doesn't belong at a Dinsny restaurant! I have seen lots of kids behave badly in restaurants and there is no age unrepresented.

 

[Symon]

Also remember that your child may behave differently when they are on vacation and away from their normal routine. We took my son to the Blue bayou when he was 2 1/2 (He is 18 now, so this was a while ago ) He was the most easy-going kid, but sleeping in a strange place and being out of his routine got the best of him and when we got to our lunch at the BB, he was done! No amount of distraction would placate him and he began to cry and cry. I ended up taking him back to our hotel room for a nap and my husband brought my much anticipated Monte Cristo sandwich back for me. (FYI - cold Monte Cristos aren't very good.)

 

[mom2rtk]

Who cares what others think!

It's not about what others think. It's about whether your child will interrupt the expensive meal of other patrons. It's about common courtesy.

 

[CandMmommy]

It's not about what others think. It's about whether your child will interrupt the expensive meal of other patrons. It's about common courtesy.

This is why I asked. It is DL, but people pay a lot of $ ( just like we did) for this vacation. I know my older kids would enjoy it, but if we went it would be like an 1130 time, not dinner.
We do this now at nicer restaurants. Go early or for lunch as not to disturb with our " kid noise".
My life revolves around my kids. I'm a stay home mom and we save for these trips. I'd like to have the experience, but don't want the stink eye from others b/c my kids are singing or laughing while we wait for food.

 

[sherilaine]

It's not about what others think. It's about whether your child will interrupt the expensive meal of other patrons. It's about common courtesy.

Sorry - then I need to clarify: I was referring to not caring what other people think if you are resorting to using electronics to keep your child occupied not causing a temper tantrum - as a few have suggested she not resort to such tactics. Given it's 2016 and many dogs have smart phones now, electronics are pretty much a given. And most devices have brightness adjustments to not be disruptive.

 

[sherilaine]

This is why I asked. It is DL, but people pay a lot of $ ( just like we did) for this vacation. I know my older kids would enjoy it, but if we went it would be like an 1130 time, not dinner.
We do this now at nicer restaurants. Go early or for lunch as not to disturb with our " kid noise".
My life revolves around my kids. I'm a stay home mom and we save for these trips. I'd like to have the experience, but don't want the stink eye from others b/c my kids are singing or laughing while we wait for food.

Okay 'singing or laughing'? If people give you the stink eye for that then just smile as they are just going to be miserable people. I am serious, kids belong in Disneyland - that is WHY he built the park. But kids are going to make noise and be seen and heard - the only reason any parents should be upset about their kids in a restaurant is when they throw a temper tantrum or won't sit in their seat. It sounds like your kids are well behaved and used to eating out - so I don't think it would be a problem.

 

[CandMmommy]

Okay 'singing or laughing'? If people give you the stink eye for that then just smile as they are just going to be miserable people. I am serious, kids belong in Disneyland - that is WHY he built the park. But kids are going to make noise and be seen and heard - the only reason any parents should be upset about their kids in a restaurant is when they throw a temper tantrum or won't sit in their seat. It sounds like your kids are well behaved and used to eating out - so I don't think it would be a problem.

Yes. Singing and laughing. We had an older lady tell my 9 year old to " shut up" b/c she was singing to the little one. We were not at DL....
I'll admit I do let screen time keep the little entertained often and I wouldn't have dreamed of it with the other 2.

 

[VandVsmama]

There is a lot of ambient noise at the Blue Bayou, so your kids laughing & singing isn't going to bother anybody. In my book, the sort of behavior that requires removing the child from the restaurant is crying, screaming, and having a temper tantrum.

In my experience, each successive day we are at DL, we start the day a little more tired than we were the day before. So maybe do a BB lunch on your first day...when your 3 yr old is pretty well rested and fresh.

I once was at Roy's Kahana Grill in Hawaii (Maui) and saw a family of 4 who had 2 younger children. The parents brought their kids to this fancy restaurant dressed in their pajamas and the kids spent the whole dinner with their noses in their iPad screens.

**For my family **, and your mileage may vary, it is just not worth it to spend almost $200 on lunch or dinner only to have 1 or both of my kids looking at a tablet or smart phone the entire time. We can do that any day of the week at home if we wanted to. Disneyland is for interacting on a person-to-person basis with your family and friends, and if my child couldn't handle sitting quietly for 15 minutes coloring or playing a quiet game with Mom or Dad until the food arrived, then we would do a Counter Service place instead...and we'd do Blue Bayou or a similar sit down restaurant another time when the child was older.

*** Edited to add ***
The above statements are not meant to be a judgement against anyone here who might make such choices. It really is an individual thing. You can still have a lovely and magical time at Disneyland without a meal at the Blue Bayou.

 

[CandMmommy]

There is a lot of ambient noise at the Blue Bayou, so your kids laughing & singing isn't going to bother anybody. In my book, the sort of behavior that requires removing the child from the restaurant is crying, screaming, and having a temper tantrum.

In my experience, each successive day we are at DL, we start the day a little more tired than we were the day before. So maybe do a BB lunch on your first day...when your 3 yr old is pretty well rested and fresh.

I once was at Roy's Kahana Grill in Hawaii (Maui) and saw a family of 4 who had 2 younger children. The parents brought their kids to this fancy restaurant dressed in their pajamas and the kids spent the whole dinner with their noses in their iPad screens.

**For my family **, and your mileage may vary, it is just not worth it to spend almost $200 on lunch or dinner only to have 1 or both of my kids looking at a tablet or smart phone the entire time. We can do that any day of the week at home if we wanted to. Disneyland is for interacting on a person-to-person basis with your family and friends, and if my child couldn't handle sitting quietly for 15 minutes coloring or playing a quiet game with Mom or Dad until the food arrived, then we would do a Counter Service place instead...and we'd do Blue Bayou or a similar sit down restaurant another time when the child was older.

Excellent advice.
Thanks

 

[calilou]

Yes. Singing and laughing. We had an older lady tell my 9 year old to " shut up" b/c she was singing to the little one. We were not at DL....
I'll admit I do let screen time keep the little entertained often and I wouldn't have dreamed of it with the other 2.

That lady had the problem then, not your children. As long as the singing wasn't loud, I don't see a problem. Some people are just rude and insensitive and can never be pleased. Ignore them.

Children in any restaurant at Disneyland should be expected. It's Disneyland. It's a family centered place. Yes children should be expected to behave in restaurants and parents should be even more mindful at the more expensive/fancier places as a courtesy to others. I think allowing electronics after your child has eaten would be perfectly acceptable in BB. I would not be distracted by that at a neighboring table. Pay attention to your own party. I think you should most definitely enjoy lunch together at BB.

 

[calilou]

There is a lot of ambient noise at the Blue Bayou, so your kids laughing & singing isn't going to bother anybody. In my book, the sort of behavior that requires removing the child from the restaurant is crying, screaming, and having a temper tantrum.

In my experience, each successive day we are at DL, we start the day a little more tired than we were the day before. So maybe do a BB lunch on your first day...when your 3 yr old is pretty well rested and fresh.

I once was at Roy's Kahana Grill in Hawaii (Maui) and saw a family of 4 who had 2 younger children. The parents brought their kids to this fancy restaurant dressed in their pajamas and the kids spent the whole dinner with their noses in their iPad screens.

**For my family **, and your mileage may vary, it is just not worth it to spend almost $200 on lunch or dinner only to have 1 or both of my kids looking at a tablet or smart phone the entire time. We can do that any day of the week at home if we wanted to. Disneyland is for interacting on a person-to-person basis with your family and friends, and if my child couldn't handle sitting quietly for 15 minutes coloring or playing a quiet game with Mom or Dad until the food arrived, then we would do a Counter Service place instead...and we'd do Blue Bayou or a similar sit down restaurant another time when the child was older.

*** Edited to add ***
The above statements are not meant to be a judgement against anyone here who might make such choices. It really is an individual thing. You can still have a lovely and magical time at Disneyland without a meal at the Blue Bayou.

Couldn't agree more!

I look at sit down restaurant experiences as great opportunities to talk to my children (even when they were 3) about our day and highlights. Then by all means allow an electronic while adults are still enjoying their meal, but children have finished.

The kids in pajamas on their iPads in Maui share cracked me up! Yeah I think I'll choose to go out earlier and enjoy dinner together (and dressed!) or order room service in jammies.

 

[Angel Ariel]

lat time I visited Disney I had a 3 year old and this time I will have a 3 year old! We didn't do BB thinking it might not be ok for 3 year old with others trying to enjoy dinner.
What do you think?
My older kids are 6 and 9

Our 3 year old has always been fantastic about table service meals at home, so we had no worries about taking her to blue bayou. We also took her to Napa rose. She was a gem at both locations.

As figment said, I think it is more about the child's personality/ability to handle longer table service meals than age. There are 6 year olds I know who I wouldn't ever take to those restaurants because it just isn't a good fit for them, but our 3 y/o did just fine. If your 3 y/o does fine with table service restaurants at home, then they will likely be fine at BB also.

Eta: BB and NR both provided crayons and coloring pages for dd to use. Obviously I can't guarantee that is always the case, it was just our experience. We don't use screens to entertain dd, she did not mind the darkNess at BB at all. But she also did not have any issues with the dark rides as some 3 year olds do. If a 3 year old has issues with darkness, I wouldn't bring them to BB as it is quite dark. My parents both had a difficult time reading the menu it was so dark (we were at an inner table, not waterside).