Anemone
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- May 29, 2013
- Messages
- 1,110
Thanks Giulia and BadPinkTink. Glad you're enjoying it - going to try to finish day 1 now. 
So I went back to the park for my dinner reservation at Blue Bayou.
On my way I saw a photopass photographer at the castle and decided to ask for my first photos. I was a little self conscious at first but by the 3rd day I was asking every photographer I met for pictures - it grows on you! These are the photos after I added borders - an option we don't have with the DLP photopass. I'd bought the Minnie baseball cap in New Orleans Square earlier in the day.
I was really excited about Blue Bayou and had decided I'd wait for a water-side table no matter how long it took. I arrived at the restaurant at 4.15 and waited ages to have my details taken. They really need one line for reservations and a separate one for those who want to spend 10 minutes endlessly expressing their disappointment that there wasn't a table waiting for them when they happened to turn up wanting one. I know that sounds mean but it's frustrating to have to wait so long when you've gone to the trouble of pre-booking and others haven't. This happens at DLP as well - it's not unique to DLR.
I finally had my name taken at 4.45 and said I'd like to wait for a table by the water. The CM said it would be another 45 minutes and I said that was fine, I would wait. The waiting area was bunged but I found a seat and barely 10 minutes later my name was called so I went up to the CM who called me. He then looked at the piece of paper he was holding and said "oh, sorry - you wanted a water side table." I said yes I did and he asked me to wait a minute while he went to check. Thankfully he came back and said it was fine and led me to a table next to the water - yay! Like Blue Lagoon in DLP the restaurant is very dark and I didn't want to use flash on my camera. This is a very poor photo of a boat going past on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride - I waved too. #ShamelessinCalifornia.
Now for the food. Apologies - I tried to take photos of the menu and food but they were hopeless due to the low lighting.
My starter was New Orleans Gumbo - A rich flavorful Stew with Chicken, Andouille Sausage, and Tasso Ham served with Cajun-style Dirty Rice.
It didn't disappoint - full of spicy flavour and really filling so I was glad it wasn't a huge portion.
Mains was Herb Panko-Crusted Rack of Lamb - Pan-Seared, Cassoulet of Cannellini Beans, Feta Cheese and Rosemary Jus.
This was gorgeous - I'd asked for it to be cooked medium and it was perfect. I wanted to pick up the bones and suck the remaining meat from them. As an Irish girl I'm partial to potatoes with my meal so wasn't sure how the beans would be but they were lovely.
Dessert was Apple and Huckleberry Galette - a puff pastry and fruit dessert with a scoop of fresh cream. It was just ok - nothing special about it.
Included in the price of the meal was a fastpass ticket to the reserved seating area for Fantasmic at 9pm and a foam seat cushion to sit on - the viewing area is all seated so the cushion makes a big difference to comfort.
Did I say that the Disneyland park is alcohol free, even in the table service restaurants? Wine therefore wasn't an option with dinner so I drank iced water and dreamed of a Glowtini.
The cost of this meal was $61 before tax which was pretty pricey but the food was good and I decided it was worth it to me as it pretty much guaranteed me a good view for the show.
I had finished eating by 6pm and there was still 2 1/2 hours before I had to go to the viewing area for the show so off I went to have some more fun.
Mickey's Soundsational Parade was at 6.30 so I made my way back to Main Street to watch that. I was too late for a place on the kerb but was able to stand behind a family who were sitting on the kerb after I asked them if they would be staying sitting down which they were. By this stage my feet were telling me they would love a sit down too but I ignored them.
So I took lots of photos of the parade which was very good indeed. The parade was much longer than Magic on Parade so seemed really good value. As there was at Christmas in DLP, there was a frozen pre-parade then a short interval before the main parade started.
Anna was lovely.
Elsa had that weird white hair she had in DLP at Christmas.
Between Frozen and the main parade they sold balloons and snacks on the street.
First float was Mickey and his band.
Aladdin was next.
Then Ariel
Donald Duck and the 3 Caballeros
Princesses
Jungle Book / Lion King / Tarzan
So I went back to the park for my dinner reservation at Blue Bayou.
On my way I saw a photopass photographer at the castle and decided to ask for my first photos. I was a little self conscious at first but by the 3rd day I was asking every photographer I met for pictures - it grows on you! These are the photos after I added borders - an option we don't have with the DLP photopass. I'd bought the Minnie baseball cap in New Orleans Square earlier in the day.
I was really excited about Blue Bayou and had decided I'd wait for a water-side table no matter how long it took. I arrived at the restaurant at 4.15 and waited ages to have my details taken. They really need one line for reservations and a separate one for those who want to spend 10 minutes endlessly expressing their disappointment that there wasn't a table waiting for them when they happened to turn up wanting one. I know that sounds mean but it's frustrating to have to wait so long when you've gone to the trouble of pre-booking and others haven't. This happens at DLP as well - it's not unique to DLR.
I finally had my name taken at 4.45 and said I'd like to wait for a table by the water. The CM said it would be another 45 minutes and I said that was fine, I would wait. The waiting area was bunged but I found a seat and barely 10 minutes later my name was called so I went up to the CM who called me. He then looked at the piece of paper he was holding and said "oh, sorry - you wanted a water side table." I said yes I did and he asked me to wait a minute while he went to check. Thankfully he came back and said it was fine and led me to a table next to the water - yay! Like Blue Lagoon in DLP the restaurant is very dark and I didn't want to use flash on my camera. This is a very poor photo of a boat going past on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride - I waved too. #ShamelessinCalifornia.
Now for the food. Apologies - I tried to take photos of the menu and food but they were hopeless due to the low lighting.
My starter was New Orleans Gumbo - A rich flavorful Stew with Chicken, Andouille Sausage, and Tasso Ham served with Cajun-style Dirty Rice.
It didn't disappoint - full of spicy flavour and really filling so I was glad it wasn't a huge portion.
Mains was Herb Panko-Crusted Rack of Lamb - Pan-Seared, Cassoulet of Cannellini Beans, Feta Cheese and Rosemary Jus.
This was gorgeous - I'd asked for it to be cooked medium and it was perfect. I wanted to pick up the bones and suck the remaining meat from them. As an Irish girl I'm partial to potatoes with my meal so wasn't sure how the beans would be but they were lovely.
Dessert was Apple and Huckleberry Galette - a puff pastry and fruit dessert with a scoop of fresh cream. It was just ok - nothing special about it.
Included in the price of the meal was a fastpass ticket to the reserved seating area for Fantasmic at 9pm and a foam seat cushion to sit on - the viewing area is all seated so the cushion makes a big difference to comfort.
Did I say that the Disneyland park is alcohol free, even in the table service restaurants? Wine therefore wasn't an option with dinner so I drank iced water and dreamed of a Glowtini.
The cost of this meal was $61 before tax which was pretty pricey but the food was good and I decided it was worth it to me as it pretty much guaranteed me a good view for the show.I had finished eating by 6pm and there was still 2 1/2 hours before I had to go to the viewing area for the show so off I went to have some more fun.
Mickey's Soundsational Parade was at 6.30 so I made my way back to Main Street to watch that. I was too late for a place on the kerb but was able to stand behind a family who were sitting on the kerb after I asked them if they would be staying sitting down which they were. By this stage my feet were telling me they would love a sit down too but I ignored them.
So I took lots of photos of the parade which was very good indeed. The parade was much longer than Magic on Parade so seemed really good value. As there was at Christmas in DLP, there was a frozen pre-parade then a short interval before the main parade started.
Anna was lovely.
Elsa had that weird white hair she had in DLP at Christmas.
Between Frozen and the main parade they sold balloons and snacks on the street.
First float was Mickey and his band.
Aladdin was next.
Then Ariel
Donald Duck and the 3 Caballeros
Princesses
Jungle Book / Lion King / Tarzan
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but somehow a boyfriend got me hooked on them a few years ago and I wanted to see this. They'd played throughout the day and their last performance was at 10pm. Having walked over there, like the good Irish girl I am, I got myself a much needed cup of tea, found a table and waited the few minutes until they started. The show was ok - the guys should have spent more time practising the songs than they had perfecting their fake Scouse accents - but it did finish off a great day in Disneyland Park and I walked back to the hotel happy and exhausted and really looking forward to Disney California Adventure the next day. 
The CMs said they were hoping it would open soon so I had a little wander about Cars Land and took some photos. I also was braver today about asking for photos from the photopass photographers so had loads of these.
In the queue there was a group of teenage girls already screaming before they'd even got inside. I so didn't want to be in their lift. Well as it turns out being a single rider has its benefits because I was filtered off to join another line of 2 while the girls all went on to a different queue. 
had to hold on to my hat to avoid losing it. I had seen the outside track and assumed it was all racing so was surprised by the underground bit. I really liked the ride - it's easy to see why it's so popular - but the number of breakdowns was pretty frustrating.
Glad it arrived safely. 
this afternoon. 
