On the fence about Blue Bayou...

[Skiton]

I keep reading that BB is a must do, and we've never done it. I would like to make lunch reservations for one day, but then I look at the menu and I'm so turned off. Is the menu on DL's website the entirety of it? Because I really don't want a deep-fried sandwich or a steak for lunch, I just don't. The fare they list is all so heavy. I'd like some soup and a salad, maybe, even an appetizer to go with it, but all they list are entrees that are much better suited to dinner, IMO. And we don't want to do dinner there because after a day at the parks, we're really ready for a beer or a glass of wine, which DL doesn't serve.

Are there menu sections which aren't listed on the website? Is the experience worth paying for even if you aren't crazy about the food? I feel like we'll be missing out by not eating there, but I'm not sure I want to spend a bunch of money on a meal we aren't going to enjoy.

 

[whitneyebz]

Well, I love the blue bayou. The atmosphere is neat and the food ios very good...but if you dont see anything on the m,enu you would like, I would go somewhere else. I hear DCA has som,e great sit down restaurants!

 

[disneychrista]

It is the same menu for lunch, as for dinner. Not much "light" on it.

Honestly, it is only a "must do" for the atmosphere, the food is only okay.

 

[Skiton]

I believe you that it's good, everyone says so. It's just not the sort of food we're accustomed to eating at 11:30 a.m, if you know what I mean. It there a salad or appetizer section in addition to the entrees that are listed?

 

[Gisele]

Once upon a time ago, appetizers were offered, but not for sometime now.
How about the Tesoro Island Chicken? With the entrees you may choose either the salad or a bowl of gumbo.
Maybe just go for dessert.
Or make an early reservation for dinner. Dinner begins at 4:00 p.m. Ask for a waterside table, away from the kitchen preferably.

 

[wench]

I think you can make a reservation & just have desert if that option works for you. Then you could make it more of a luxurious snack than a full meal. I'm a rather picky eater myself. So, although I eat there at least once every trip, there is usually only one meal I'm interested in on the menu. But to me, Blue Bayou is not about the food...it's all about the atmosphere.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Another option is to share or split an entree. Sharing gets you an extra plate and you divide the food yourself. Splitting adds on a $12 fee, each person gets a gumbo or salad, and the kitchen plates the food. The food at BB is richer than we're used to, so we usually split or share.

 

[ADLFAN]

Yum - I loved the Tesoro Island Chicken! That would be a good one to share! I asked to substitute their potatoes for the risotto as it's accompaniment and it was a delicious meal.

 

[SuperRob]

It is the same menu for lunch, as for dinner. Not much "light" on it.

Honestly, it is only a "must do" for the atmosphere, the food is only okay.

Exactly what Christa said. The allure of the Blue Bayou is eating inside an attraction. It's all about the ambience. The food is just OK.

 

[Skiton]

Thanks for the thoughts. Much as I'd love to eat inside POTC, I think we'll skip it and put the money towards dinner at Carthay Circle instead.

 

[Indiana Scott]

We feel exactly the same way. We've eaten there (meh) and it was the surroundings that impressed us the most.
Every time we think about going back we check the menu and aren't inspired so we end up just skipping it.

 

[ShaunaM]

I agree ..food is OK ...but we have always found it unmemorable. ..for us it is the calm inside the storm...the rejuvenation after sitting listening to the sounds. ..the subdued lighting.

 

[TalkDisnerdytome]

I like the Blue Bayou but won't go again until my kids are older. I wasn't a fan of the food but I would love to go again just to sit right next to POC love sitting there in the quiet with the banjo playing and then the random screams when the people drop.

 

[tlovesdis]

I agree that the atmosphere is great but the food is not that good. I would rather save the money and eat else where.

 

[CruzTerri]

I've eaten at the BB twice, not a lot of selection on the menu, the food wasn't all that great and while the atmosphere makes it, I don't like not being able to see what color my food is or not being able to tell what item is what. Just a little too dark for me.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Upfront here: I love BB. I love the atmosphere and I love the food. But since you aren't interested in the food I'd skip it. It's a very expensive meal if all you want is the atmosphere- which is hit or miss in all honesty. If you end up waterside or in the middle of the dining area it's almost magical, but on the outskirts of the dining area you lose a lot of the atmosphere and then all you have going for you is the food. You can request waterside but everyone does and it can be an extra long wait. Maybe just ride POTC an extra time and dine somewhere more suited to your tastes. Ignore people saying "you have to". You're already paying a pretty penny for your vacation and all "you have to" do is whatever YOU want. I get that your worried you're missing out on a magical opportunity but IMHO this might not be as "magical" for you as it is for others. The menu changes a little every few years, maybe on another trip it will be more to your liking.

Are you going to DCA by chance? If so I recommend the Alfresco Tasting Terrace for wine/beer in the evening. (I think they have beer, double check the menu.) There are light bites if you're interested there as well- I LOVE the bruschetta! It's away from the hustle and bustle of DCA because it's higher up on Grizzly Mountain and yet it's at the center of the park so you can see Cars Land and TOT from there while relaxing away from the crowds. We discovered it 2 trips back and fell in love!

 

[planningjollyholiday]

I am a vegetarian who hates mushrooms so there is literally nothing on the menu for me to eat. My son really wanted to try it out for his birthday one year though so we compromised and went just for drinks and desserts. The kids got glow cubes in their drinks which was a big hit and we all had yummy desserts. It was definitely a memorable time and like everyone says the atmosphere was amazing, so maybe a mid afternoon desert fest would be an option for you.

 

[ShaunaM]

I am a vegetarian who hates mushrooms so there is literally nothing on the menu for me to eat..

My oldest DD (16) is in the same boat...she orders an adult sized portion of Mickey Mac' N cheese, not very exciting but she is happy.

 

[GatorChris]

It's all about the ambiance. I had a steak there, thinking I just wouldn't eat dinner later and it worked out fine. The steak was good, not great. The bread and gumbo were excellent. But just being there along the water...a cool feeling if you're lucky enough to get a table on that side. As for a must do, we only did it because we knew it would be a long time before we returned to DL and we had the AP discount.

 

[Skiton]

Well, you've all given me something to think about. Maybe we will try a drink and dessert visit, that could be fun. And thanks to whoever mentioned the Alfresco Tasting Terrace, I'm not familiar with it and will definitely add it to our list!