Help me decide between Blue Bayou and River Belle Terrace dinner pkg!

[lvdis]

I still have a couple months to think about it before I can even make reservations, but I keep going back and forth and need help deciding! We will only have one night to see Fantasmic! so I decided we should get a dinner package that allows front and center seating. I was originally sold on BB, but then I discovered you can get a 10% discount on the RBT package with your Disney visa card making it a bigger savings over BB. There will be 3 adults at this meal, so the savings can add up. But I don't want to settle for it based just on price if the meals aren't good.

I've read mixed reviews about both places so I'm getting confused! So, I'm looking for your personal experiences to help me decide. In one review on trip advisor, I read that RBT's Fantasmic meals are all pre-made and just served up. Some people reporting that theirs was luke warm at best and the steaks were varying degrees of doneness. Is it true that the meals are all precooked at River Belle Terrace? And the meals made-to-order at Blue Bayou?

Which location do you prefer and what's your favorite entree? Do you get bread service at both locations as part of the Fantasmic package? And what about soft drinks, are they included at both?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

 

[czmom]

We just did the BB package a few nights ago Keep in mind both restaurants now sit in the same section for Fantasmic. However, the BB folks get a cushion to sit on.

We love BB and were planning to eat there anyways, so I figured it was worth a little extra to get the F! package. You do get bread, as well as an appetizer, entree, dessert and drink. Look on allears for the menus.

 

[Sith]

Well, I have not yet been to River Belle Terrace. But, I have done the Fantasmic package at Blue Bayou, and I highly recommend it.

Here is a link to a previous thread that has more info: http://www.disboards.com/threads/fantasmic-blue-bayou-dining-package-questions.3376111.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I did the BB package in June. BB get this cushion, Riverbelle dont

This is the menu from BB

The meals at BB were all made to order, except the deserts which were pre made. We got a bread service at BB and soft drinks were included

 

[Sith]

Now that BadPinkTink posted the menu I remember what I had. It was the Slow-roasted Beef Strip Loin. I knew it was an awesome steak with peppercorn sauce, but I just couldn't remember what it was actually called.

I'm definitely going back to Blue Bayou during our Halloween trip.

 

[BadPinkTink]

here are photos I took of our BB meal

Apps

New Orleans Gumbo

Blue Bayou Salad

ENTREES

Portabello Mushroom and Louisiana Long-grain Rice

Slow Rosted Beef Strip Loin

DESSERTS

Strawberry Rhubarb Gallette

8 Layer Chocolate Hazelnut Cake

 

[PinkBudgie]

We did the BB package in July. At first you might think "for that much extra who needs a seat cushion" and just eat at RBT. I went back and forth but here what I decided. I'm not paying more for a cushion, I'm paying more to have a nicer meal in a fun, relaxing atmosphere. On the face of it, the RBT package seems rather expensive for what it is. So why not pay some extra and really enjoy your meal?

This was the first time we had eaten in BB for about 20 years. I had heard the service and meals had gone down but we ended up enjoying it. I would only say that I was not offered an allergy menu to compare it to the F! menu so I could see what was safe for me. They should have offered it and I should have asked for it. I didn't really realize that until I was offered the allergy menu at Carthay Circle with the WOC package. My meal was safe but it would have helped me to feel more reassured that they were constantly aware of allergies. Turned out fine and I would eat there again, but probably not for a while due to cost. I think we probably won't do any F! dinner package for at least a year or two. I'm glad we chose it over RBT.
Oh, the cushion was actually more comfortable than I would have thought. We sat through F! and the fireworks on it. Then used them again when we waited for the second showing of PTN. (we went over by the Alice bathrooms at 10:45pm).

 

[Avery's mom]

I agree with what everyone else has already said. At BB, you get a good dining experience PLUS the cushions (which saved our backsides waiting for PTN). While I considered going to RBT for our upcoming trip, I decided to go back to BB even though we already have the cushions because of how much we enjoy BB. While there is a cost savings with RBT, I don't hear many people who would choose to dine there(for dinner at those prices) if they didn't have a FP package.

 

[g-dad66]

We chose River Belle Terrace solely to save money.

Food was fine, though portions were surprisingly small for a Disney restaurant. But I'm not the least bit particular about food, and our whole group was satisfied that we didn't spend any more than we did. And we took a blanket to sit on (at the show, not at the restaurant...)

Front and center view was great, and probably about 75% of the space in our viewing area was completely empty. So everyone had plenty of room to spread out. (Seemed a shame, however, that so much prime viewing area was going unused.)

 

[AddictedtoDoleWhip]

I loved BB, the food was fantastic and I liked the cushions.

 

[whistlinmickey]

We’ve done the Blue Bayou package two times this year, and have enjoyed it. But because our next trip to Disneyland Resort will be with a larger party, we’re planning on going to River Belle Terrace for their Fantasmic! dining package.

We love Blue Bayou. And the seat cushions were nice. But the price is quite a bit higher. And, frankly, the seat cushions are a bit bulky and awkward to carry around the park between dinner and the show.

If you do go to Blue Bayou, I recommend asking for a large bag to carry the cushions. Or, if you go to River Belle Terrace, one option worth considering is an inexpensive inflatable camp pillow. We took one on our last visit to sit on while we waited for one of the parades. It wasn’t quite as comfy as the Fantasmic! cushions. But it deflated to a very small size to easily fit in my pack.

 

[Sorcerer Jody]

I would like to do the BB package, but I'm a vegetarian who doesn't like mushrooms! Am I out of luck, or can they change the Portobello mushroom/rice dish somehow, or...?

 

[NiceOneSimba]

Another Blue Bayou satisfied customer! I went in January, when the dining packages were still pretty new, and the seating areas were separate. I was going to go to Blue Bayou anyway, so it was kind of a no-brainer for me to just to the dining package. My meal was delicious (granted, I ran a half marathon that morning and was ravenous), the service was good, the atmosphere was great, and the seating for the show was amazing. I'd do it again, for sure!

 

[HopLow1968]

I was originally planning on doing the BB. But when I heard that RBT and BB share the seating area I decided to go with the RBT for the dining package. That saves me enough money that it almost covers the cost of a BB lunch. Which we decided to do. So, in effect, we're doing both - for only a bit more than that BB dining package would've cost.

 

[McNs]

I was going to book RBT but asked my family where they wanted to go and unanomously said BB, so BB it is. One thing I have heard is service is better at BB due to RBT being counter service during the rest of the day.

 

[madzach]

Where can I find the prices of these packages?

 

[BadPinkTink]

@madzach here https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/#/dine-events/

 

[Aladora]

Where can I find the prices of these packages?

Here you go!

Just click where it says "Read More" under Distinctive Dining, Electrifying Entertainment.

 

[czmom]

I would like to do the BB package, but I'm a vegetarian who doesn't like mushrooms! Am I out of luck, or can they change the Portobello mushroom/rice dish somehow, or...?

I am also a vegetarian. They made me a delicious pasta primavera I am gluten free so they had that option as well. Yummy!!!

 

[8lovesmickey]

We enjoyed BB. It was very dark, as mentioned, and even though we purchased the package way ahead of time we were seated as far away from the water as possible. However, our service was wonderful! We also enjoyed the bread (there was a lot of it) and I had the salad and the jambalaya, which was great. My friend had the steak and loved it. The seat cushions might seem silly, but that one inch of padding was very welcome and the seats for F! were the best I've ever had (including years ago when we paid for the dessert package).