Newbie at DL......Is this plan possible?

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

I have reservations at Blue Bayou at 7:30p which would be for the 10:45 fantasmic. Could I make the paint the night parade at 8:45? And where would be the best place for me to watch the parade from there?
Thanks

 

[SMD]

It will take at least an hour to eat at Blue Bayou, and for what you're paying, why rush?

 

[tlovesdis]

Probably not! You won't be done with dinner until at least 830 and then trying to find a spot with only 15 minutes to spare would probably not happen. It would be better to see the later parade!

 

[BadPinkTink]

Blue Bayou is a table service restaurant, so no matter how quick you eat, your time there is dependant on the service. I have done the BB Fantasmic package in June, we had a 6.30pm reservation for the 9pm Fantasmic show. We were there just over the hour. Blue Bayou is an experience restaurant, meaning its not just about the food but the whole experience of being IN Pirates ride.

Also for Paint The Night people are generally in place at least 1 hour before.

Taking into consideration the walk from BB to Main Street, and the fact that you will be at the back of the crowd and wont have a good view, I would not attempt to leave New Orleans Square after your meal.

The tickets say go to the Fantasmic viewing area 15 minutes before the show, but if you do that you might not get a good spot. We went to the Fantasmic viewing area about 1 hour before the show. Don't forget people from River Belle Terrace are also in the viewing area, so the spaces can fill pretty quick.

 

[grnflash]

Please don't try this. You risk ruining your dinner experience and still not seeing the parade.

 

[BadPinkTink]

a much better plan would be

1. Be at Blue Bayou for 7pm, ask for a water table
2. The host will put your name on a list and give you a pager
3. Be prepared to wait until your actual reservation time of 7.30pm
4. Have a relaxed meal at Blue Bayou, enjoy the atmosphere
5. Leave Blue Bayou approx 8.30pm
6. Stroll around Pirates shop
7. Stay in New Orleans Square and when the 9pm Fantasmic show starts, go to Pirates ride. It will basically be a walk on
8. If Fantasmic is still on when you exit Pirates ride, head straight for Haunted Mansion, this too will be a walkon
9. Be at Haunted Mansion gate for about 10pm, This is where the entrance to the viewing area is, just infront, at the water edge.
10. Get a good spot for Fantasmic

 

[goldmay]

Even if you were able to get to the parade on time, you most likely wouldn't get a good view. You can always ask if you can check in/dine earlier. If you're able to do that you can do the 9:00 Fantasmic and the 10:45 show later.

 

[Canuck16]

As the OP have said do not rush through dinner at BB....it is an amazing place.

We had a waterside table on our trip in March which was awesome. We took our time eating our meal and it was well worth it!

Enjoy!

 

[taniahappy]

No.

 

[ADLFAN]

Is this your only chance to see the parade? We saw so much of it coming and going through the area that we never felt the need to stake out a spot! But Blue Bayou is not exactly around the parade route. I would also suggest enjoying the attractions in Frontierland and Adventureland while you wait for F! to start, and avoiding the parade route all together.

We loved Blue Bayou and the preferred seating spot! It was a bit painful to sit on the concrete even with the cushions provided. Front row viewing though, and we did not find it to be too crowded at all, plenty more space and we went on the Friday of Labor Day weekend. The food was SO GOOD, too! I had the Chicken breast and substituted the risotto for the delicious Blue Bayou potatoes. I tried the chocolate hazelnut cake for dessert and it was awesome, but I had to take most of it to go! Hint: do not line up your Indiana Jones FP for directly after dinner! Splash Mountain would have been better...!

Have fun planning!

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Maybe I should forego the Fantasmic package. I was really eating there just to get the viewing spot. I'd rather eat at lunch and have the Monte cristo. I REALLY want to see the parade. My other chance to see the parade is during the MHP. I don't really feel like I have to see Fantasmic. I've seen it several times at WDW. I was just curious since everyone says it's better than WDW. I don't know what the difference would be.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

I would stick with F! because it's such a good show at DL. It should be easier to see the parade at the party because even a crowded party is less crowded than a really busy day at DL. Keep checking to see if a BB reservation opens up for the earlier show so you could see the later parade.

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

If you want a Monte Cristo, they also serve them at Cafe Orleans.

I think if you HAVE to choose between the parade and F!, go with the parade, but if you can possibly do both, I would. F! is really great at DL. However I don't think it's necessary to get the BB dining package just to see F!, if you don't really care much about dining at BB. You could go with the Riverbelle Terrace package, which puts you in the same seating area as the BB package (though without the cushion), or just get a regular FP. I have had great views with a regular FP, you just have to show up at least an hour ahead of time for a spot.

 

[ktlm]

Fantasmic is much better at DL. There is a great Peter Pan section instead of the Pochahontas section. If you are not in the dining area, it is standing only now though. Blue Bayou package gets to sit on the ground, so being short that is a must for me. If I had to pick one though, it would be PTN hands down. It is amazing. we have never been seated on time at Blue Bayou. It is usually 20 or 30 minutes after the reservation, even when we arrive early.we prefer Cafe Orleans for the monte Cristo. If there are 2 PTN, I would try to move or pick up a cancellation to get your Fantasmic dining package earlier for the first show. Then you stay in place for the fireworks in that area and then go find a spot for PTN. This Summer the 2nd PTN was late enough, that we even rode pirates right after the fireworks(no line) to get out of the bottleneck crowd that leaves the area and then went and watched the parade.

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

Thanks for all of your comments. You all have been great

 

[JadeDarkstar]

can you move your dinning reservation back to like 6:30? Then still have time to find a standing seating for the parade. or just do fp for F. an have lunch at bb? Then get good view for parade?

 

[MickeyMinnieMelanie]

There are no more reservations for that evening. I'm going to keep looking every day until my trip. I'll probably just get a FP for fantasmic and then can watch fireworks and then get a good view for parade. Fantasmic FP are separate from the rest of the fp aren't they? What do you all think?

 

[grnflash]

yes excellent plan!

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Yes, F! FPs are off the grid so they won't count against your getting a ride FP next. Also, I've read reports from people who've been able to get a F! package reservation at BB the day of their visit. Just go to the restaurant podium right when they open (maybe be there a little beforehand) and ask. That can be a backup in case you don't get a reservation by the time of your visit.

 

[bearette]

I have been there on really busy days and over the phone or in person there is no availability but there is availability on line. Got a reservation within an hour twice that way. Check on line the day of.