Getting a table on the water at Blue Bayou

[Kindermouse]

I have made my reservations for BB and I have ordered my birthday cake so, the only variable left to making this a perfect birthday dinner is finding a way to get a table by the water.

So does anyone have any tips or tricks to getting of those coveted tables? I figured I could check in early and let the cm at the podium know that we would like a table by the water and that we are celebrating a birthday but...we could still get stuck at that horrible table next to the kitchen door that I hear so much about in bad reviews (it seems like 80 percent of people who leave a bad review include complaints about being seated at a table next to the kitchen door and that sitting there spoils the illusion and ruins their meal).

Would it help to tip the host/hostess? Is there anything one can do to up their chances of getting a good table, preferably one by the water?

 

[hsmamato2]

most curious about this question... I would not want to pay mucho bucks for a meal to be stuck by the kitchen door

 

[SMD]

Not every table is by the water and not everyone can sit at a table by the water. If not getting one of those tables will ruin your meal, you may want to reconsider. Not getting your preferred table is always a risk with TS dining. Despite your willingness to wait, it is still a request that they may not be able to accommodate.

 

[Indiana Scott]

We did it at lunch by making the earliest lunch reservation possible and then showing up 15 minutes early and requesting a water side table.
In any other case you can wait until one is available but be ready to wait a while.

Good luck - a water side table is well worth it!!

 

[Laz]

We ate at BB as part of a Fantasmic package and we got a water side table without asking. Do those with a package deal get preference?

 

[SMD]

We ate at BB as part of a Fantasmic package and we got a water side table without asking. Do those with a package deal get preference?

It was probably the next available table for your party size.

 

[mom2rtk]

We did it at lunch by making the earliest lunch reservation possible and then showing up 15 minutes early and requesting a water side table.
In any other case you can wait until one is available but be ready to wait a while.

Good luck - a water side table is well worth it!!

We do the same thing and never had a problem being seated by the water.

 

[22Tink]

most curious about this question... I would not want to pay mucho bucks for a meal to be stuck by the kitchen door

I feel the same way! We have an ADR for our upcoming trip. I guess all we can do is ask for a waterside and hope for the best!!

 

[kathy040690]

when we checked in we requested a table by the water and we had to wait about an hour for it to become available
had we just taken a table with our reservation she said we could have been seated right away !!

 

[BriannaRuth]

We always go about 20 minutes early and just ask for a table by the water. We've had to wait but have never been turned down.

If you get the table by the kitchen, just let them know you would like to sit elsewhere. We once got a table by the water all the way to the left as you're facing the water, which was an awful table. We just asked to move and they accommodated us.

 

[Kindermouse]

I am seriously considering changing my ADR to lunch...being the first ADR of t5he day does sound like a good plan for getting a good table. I knew someone on here would have a good tip.

 

[Kindermouse]

ADR changed!

 

[tomato]

We have never even tried to get a table by the water before. But at our last visit when we were asked at check-in if we were celebrating a special occasion, my husband mentioned it was our 25th anniversary. We ended up at a water-side table. It was very nice and very unexpected. I would imagine that since you have ordered a birthday cake, this will already be on your reservation, but just be sure to mention it anyway.

 

[arichau]

I was just there on Thursday - 1:50 lunch reservation. I checked in about 10 minutes early and asked about a waterside table. I was told told it was a 30 minute wait and we got a pager. It was less than 15 minutes before that pager went off. Great chance to look at the nearby shops when you have the pager! They tell you how far you can roam with it in your hands.

Last year we had an early-ish lunch reservation and they said they had recently filled up the waterside tables so we would have to wait 45 minutes for one. We didn't wait that time. I also wonder if they might tell you long wait times to kind of discourage you a bit. I don't mean that in a bad way at all.

 

[choirboy501]

I was seated at a waterside table when I did the PTN dining package in June, and enjoyed it except for two things:

1) A couple times other diners decided to take photos of the POTC boats going by at my table without saying anything or excusing themselves, interrupting my meal.

2) Every few minutes, having a young person in one of the POTC boats going by yell out "Throw me a roll!"

Other than that, I enjoyed my meal there.

 

[Kittyskyfish]

What size is your dinner party? I think waterside tables are for parties of 2-4, with 6 a better possibility if you get there first thing and ask. I think there might be a 6-top table on waterside and waiting for it could get long if you don't get it first. So if you are a party of 2-4, waterside is more certain. Maybe someone with experience can answer this question.

 

[Turk February]

We did it at lunch by making the earliest lunch reservation possible and then showing up 15 minutes early and requesting a water side table.
In any other case you can wait until one is available but be ready to wait a while.

Good luck - a water side table is well worth it!!

This is what we're doing in 2 weeks. I have an 11:30 ADR and plan to show up around 11:15.

 

[ashley0139]

Last time I ate there we just asked and said we'd be willing to wait. We did have to wait a while, but we did get a waterside table.

 

[GeneralTso]

All you have to do is ask! Seriously, just tell them you would like a water table. They will respond with how long the wait will be and that's that.
We never eat there unless we are at a water table. It's what makes that restaurant. I see people seated in the middle or next to the bus station in the back and wonder "why bother?"
The entire cool experience is watching the Pirate boats float by.

I've also noticed the past few years that they never seat walk ups anymore. I see lots of disappointed families get turned away. Those walk up days are gone.
Reservations are a must, and truly, you will get a water table if you want one. Have a blast!

 

[BayouQueen]

There are some SERIOUSLY bad tables now in BB. I'm not real picky, but it's an expensive restaurant and I just won't pay good money for some of those tables. So we just look at the first offer and if it's unacceptable, we say we'd like to be "nearer" the water and are willing to wait for another table. That usually puts us at a decent table after about a half hour wait. Maybe not right next to the water, but not right next to the kitchen, either.