DL - Paint the Night Blue Bayou or Color Dessert Party?

[GatorGirl]

So I am debating between the Paint the Night Blue Bayou dinner or the WOC Dessert Party? Or do one Thursday evening, Friday night and/or the other one Saturday night. We will have 2 1/2 days (Thursday evening, Friday, Saturday) in July to conquer all things DL and DCA. Any thoughts on a tour plan would be helpful. Staying at the Embassy Suites South (using points!) We are WDW vets so DD is looking to experience DL for her first time - these might be our only ADRs.

 

[ktlm]

Having not done either yet--- but having done PTN twice and having done WOC with the dinner package multiple times (as well as the Fantasmic dessert package when it existed-so we have some type of dessert package experience)- I would say that if there is any way you can do the late parade for PTN that if you are only picking one, WOC would be the way to go. Last July, we had no trouble getting a great spot for the late parade for PTN without too long of a wait. The early parade, people staked out spots for hours. WOC is always a pain, even with the dinner package, especially if you are short or with kids. Everyone stands for WOC, so if you are short it really takes a lot of waiting and planning to get a spot where you see more than the back of the person in front of you. We always do the dinner package and then we still have to go get our spot about an hour ahead of time- 45 minutes at the absolute latest and that is taking a risk if you want to be down front. HOWEVER, with that amount of wait, what we go for is down in the wet zone (we would not be early enough to get the prime front dry spots). We take ponchos and a big plastic ziplock bag for my purse and we go right to the rail in the wet zone. We love not having anyone in front of us and deal with the getting wet- which depending on the wind direction can be very wet! Having an actual chair for the dessert package and a vantage point that from the reviews I've seen looks great to me- as well as having your wait in a chair with snacks and drinks! We would do the dessert package- and will do it on our next trip if they still have it and if we want to see WOC again. I will say though that if it is anything like the Fantasmic dessert package- the desserts themselves aren't that great (the cheese and grapes were always good though). It is definitely more about the experience than the food and there is a whole lot to say about having that chair and view!

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

I don't know about PTN but based on my one experience I wouldn't do WoC without the dessert party. The whole area is a giant mess starting about 2 hours before showtime. People and ropes everywhere but DCA staff doesn't have any of the signs up to direct people until about 45 minutes before showtime. It is mass confusion with CMs not knowing how to direct people.

 

[choomTOP]

I would choose WOC dessert party over the BB PTN package. I thought I disliked WOC because it was such a hassle to get a spot and then, as a short person who hates crowds, I was more focused on the people around me than what I could actually glimpse of the show (since I also wasn't willing to spend the couple of hours waiting ahead of time, making sure I was near the front of the queue).

The dessert party is amazing! You get a perfect view, plus you get to sit (worth the price just for that tbh), some yummy snacks to nibble on, and the CMs who work the party are so friendly that any stress about the crowds just evaporates. Plus it was soooooo nice just to hang out in the chair and comfortably watch the "kiss goodnight" while everyone else slowly shuffled out (this was the only showing of the night, so there wasn't anyone waiting to get in for the next show). It was the most fun I've ever had at WOC, and I realized that I actually enjoyed the show! (And I've even done dinner packages, which were definitely better than waiting in the main queues, but it doesn't change the fact that I'm still short and people taller than I am seem to stand in front of me no matter what).

PTN could be worth it if you're already planning to eat at BB (which you might be since it's a unique experience to DL that can't be found at WDW), but I personally prefer waiting until the second parade and watching down by IASW because there are always free spots available, even moments before the parade starts. If you want to watch the fireworks as well, the package might be useful, but the reserved seating is currently down by the flag pole so it doesn't give you the best view (unless you're willing to scurry to a spot further down Main Street after the last float passes by).

 

[gottalovepluto]

You mention doing both so if that's in the realm of affordability for you do both! Alternatively, do WOC desert party and save some money by dining at BB on your own (no package) and then hit up a late PTN as mentioned above. We loved seeing PTN late as we found the crowds much lighter than the earlier showing. If I were to pick just one from your choices I would vote BB package because I am one of those (I'm in the minority!) who doesn't find WOC all that interesting, and I love dining at BB (there is nothing like it at WDW). Have a great time!!

 

[ktlm]

I have to say that I don't agree that there is nothing like dining at BB at WDW. The San Angel Inn is pretty much the same feel- only with a Mexican feel and a Mexican boat ride instead of a New Orleans feel and POTC boats. We've eaten at BB several times and the atmosphere is really neat- definitely worth eating there once- but the food is very expensive and is pretty mediocre in our opinion. We like the food at Café Orleans a whole lot better. You can see BB by riding POTC if you decide not to eat there. Unlike San Angel, the restaurant is closed off and not open to a walking and shopping area, but like San Angel the boats travel right by the waterside tables.

 

[Terri_Berri]

Yeah, do both if you have the means for it and if the tix are available. Otherwise, like others have said, the second PTN is pretty easy to find a good spot and since it's a lot closer to you , I don't think you need to worry so much about he special seating like you do for WOC.

 

[GatorGirl]

Thank you all very much for the input! Based on these suggestions and all the other threads we are going to do the late parade either Thursday night or Friday night and WOC Dessert Party on Saturday......we have dinner ressie's at Blue Bayou although I need to let DH see the menu because we did a lovely foodie New Orleans trip back in March that probably can't be beat. Any other suggestions/reviews are very much welcome!

 

[cmph]

You won't regret the WOC dessert party! It was our family's first time seeing WOC in April (recent West coast transplants from the East coast, so only our 2nd DL trip, and the first was a while back). I would say it was our family's pick as the most magical experience of our trip. I obviously can't compare this version of WOC to the previous, but it was just so neat to see, and SO MUCH more enjoyable for having seats and delicious desserts and not fighting that crazy-pants standing-room-only crowd. I can't imagine getting my family to see WOC w/o it at this point. Totally spoiled. I had to talk DH into it b/c of the cost, but afterwards all he could say was that it was totally worth the cost. Especially with kids.

We ended up doing the Aladdin's PTN package and were happy with it. We all really enjoyed eating in Aladdin's Oasis; feels like Morocco in Epcot, if you're a fan of that area (we are!!). Very serene, quiet, nice respite from the insane crowds in that part of DL. We would do that again. The crowds in that PTN reserved area aren't so bad and places to sit were easy to find. We had it for lunch, so we saw the first PTN, and stayed for the small portion of fireworks that went off before the wind shut them down. We loved the projections on IASW.