Fantastic Dining with a Toddler

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I'm thinking about booking a Fantasmic dining package so I can get reserved seating/standing for the show. It will just be my 2.5 year old and myself. I usually don't do table service with him, but the Hungry Bear to go menu options are really unappealing to me. So now I'm considering Blue Bayou or Cafe Orleans. What do you think would be my best bet with a toddler? I haven't eaten at Cafe Orleans before, but I am guessing it is somewhat more casual? I usually wouldn't dream of taking him to BB but maybe the ambiance would keep him entertained? I can't seem to find the Fantasmic menus for either restaurant.


Ugh.... stupid autocorrect on the title!

 

[Disneyplannergirl]

I think either would be fine. I've taken my kids to BB at that age and they did fine there. If you get a table by the water that is entertaining for little kids. And my kids seemed most excited my the glow cubes there. Extra cost but you won't have to pay for a kids meal if your kid will eat off your plate. My kids loved the free rolls there. And I would recommend doing BB as the view is best and you really need to be in a seated area at that age. No fun holding your kid up for 30 minutes!

I think the kids menus are the same as the regular dining options. You just get crudités and chocolate cake too. But if you can get away with not buying a meal for your kid I would. You won't need a Fantasmic pass for 2 year old.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I think either would be fine. I've taken my kids to BB at that age and they did fine there. If you get a table by the water that is entertaining for little kids. And my kids seemed most excited my the glow cubes there. Extra cost but you won't have to pay for a kids meal if your kid will eat off your plate. My kids loved the free rolls there. And I would recommend doing BB as the view is best and you really need to be in a seated area at that age. No fun holding your kid up for 30 minutes!

I think the kids menus are the same as the regular dining options. You just get crudités and chocolate cake too. But if you can get away with not buying a meal for your kid I would. You won't need a Fantasmic pass for 2 year old.

Thank you so much! I forgot to mention that he will just eat off my plate. So BB viewing area is seated (on the ground?) and CO viewing area is standing? Hmmmmm sitting down would be nice but at the same time will he be able to see if he's sitting down and adults are sitting in front of him?

 

[tnzzz]

We just did Cafe Orleans with a 4yo and 22mo and it didn't go too well. We had to get the check before dessert because my 22mo was done.
However I was prepared for that and knew we would leave before he got too cranky and disruptive. He typically just does ok when we eat out, usually the longer it takes the more likelihood he will get cranky. And it was very busy at CO so our wait between meal and then waiting for dessert was probably longer than usual.
I knew it wasn't worth paying for BB because of this. So I would say that it depends on how your child does typically, and if they tend to get distributive I wouldn't count out CO but plan on cutting it short if needed.
Also we did sit a good 45 minutes waiting for F! but my son also had a lollipop that entire time and I ended up a sticky mess. It was worth it to see my son's excitement during the show though!

 

[tnzzz]

Thank you so much! I forgot to mention that he will just eat off my plate. So BB viewing area is seated (on the ground?) and CO viewing area is standing? Hmmmmm sitting down would be nice but at the same time will he be able to see if he's sitting down and adults are sitting in front of him?

We sat for F! with Cafe Orleans. Even the HB reserve viewing was seated.

 

[Disneyplannergirl]

Thank you so much! I forgot to mention that he will just eat off my plate. So BB viewing area is seated (on the ground?) and CO viewing area is standing? Hmmmmm sitting down would be nice but at the same time will he be able to see if he's sitting down and adults are sitting in front of him?

Glad to hear CO is seated. Someone said a CM said it would be standing during weekend only performances. I had my 3yo sit on my lap and we were staggered between heads and seemed like she could see well. Having the BB cushion did help with the extra weight on your lap

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

We just did Cafe Orleans with a 4yo and 22mo and it didn't go too well. We had to get the check before dessert because my 22mo was done.
However I was prepared for that and knew we would leave before he got too cranky and disruptive. He typically just does ok when we eat out, usually the longer it takes the more likelihood he will get cranky. And it was very busy at CO so our wait between meal and then waiting for dessert was probably longer than usual.
I knew it wasn't worth paying for BB because of this. So I would say that it depends on how your child does typically, and if they tend to get distributive I wouldn't count out CO but plan on cutting it short if needed.
Also we did sit a good 45 minutes waiting for F! but my son also had a lollipop that entire time and I ended up a sticky mess. It was worth it to see my son's excitement during the show though!

That could definitely be us especially if there is a lot of delay between courses. Were you able to get your dessert to go or did you just forego it?

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

We just did Cafe Orleans with a 4yo and 22mo and it didn't go too well. We had to get the check before dessert because my 22mo was done.
However I was prepared for that and knew we would leave before he got too cranky and disruptive. He typically just does ok when we eat out, usually the longer it takes the more likelihood he will get cranky. And it was very busy at CO so our wait between meal and then waiting for dessert was probably longer than usual.
I knew it wasn't worth paying for BB because of this. So I would say that it depends on how your child does typically, and if they tend to get distributive I wouldn't count out CO but plan on cutting it short if needed.
Also we did sit a good 45 minutes waiting for F! but my son also had a lollipop that entire time and I ended up a sticky mess. It was worth it to see my son's excitement during the show though!

I forgot to ask, what was on the menu?

 

[tnzzz]

That could definitely be us especially if there is a lot of delay between courses. Were you able to get your dessert to go or did you just forego it?

It wasn't even ready when I asked for the check. And we had been waiting a good 15 minutes after finishing our meal so we just skipped it and the kids were happy with churros.

I can't fully recall the menu, but we did steak and potatoes, and the monte cristo. There was also a chicken dish, fish dish, and a lobster (maybe salad) dish.

My daughter got the sustainable fish off the kids menu, and I know they also had baked chicken, and a mac and cheese dish. She wasn't crazy about it, and I tried some of the fish and rice and it was pretty bland.

For dessert it was the dragon or coconut cake and a Mickey beignet for kids.

 

[l4dyj8]

The tricky part about BB is that it's indoors and dark. Ambience is great but really depends on the child and their attention span. Last time we were there we had a long wait. BB is so popular that there's a delay. Granted we were 2 families and a table of 8. Our kids did fine because there was the welcome of finally getting seated. But they normally are fine at restaurants. We also had 2 babies.

CO there is also the distraction of being outside that can help.

I would just go with a menu you like and think your child would eat.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

The tricky part about BB is that it's indoors and dark. Ambience is great but really depends on the child and their attention span. Last time we were there we had a long wait. BB is so popular that there's a delay. Granted we were 2 families and a table of 8. Our kids did fine because there was the welcome of finally getting seated. But they normally are fine at restaurants. We also had 2 babies.

CO there is also the distraction of being outside that can help.

I would just go with a menu you like and think your child would eat.

That is very true. He is generally good *as long as he doesn't have to wait overly long* by it sounds like waiting if a common theme with these two restaurants. The menu is no problem for him, he will basically eat anything. I wish I could find the actual CO menu somewhere. I found the BB menu online.