Paint the Night Blue Bayou packages

[PSofiasMama]

Wanted to update everyone on our experience with BB PTN package. We did this on Saturday 1/30.
For us: dinner was okay but the service was lacking - especially for the amount of $ we paid for this meal.
The parade was at 7 - we tried to get into the reserved section at 6:10 and were told to come back at 6:30. So we went into Starbucks (right behind the reserved section) and while we were in line they started letting people into the section. We rushed out at and were allowed in at 6:25 and were able to get the remaining section of the curb for sitting.
They did their best to keep others out (and if successful we would have had lots of space) but could not keep up with the rush of folks coming under the rope as the parade started.
In the end, our girls loved the parade, we had great seats on the curb and were not as cramped as if we were in a regular sidewalk spot.

 

[monorailrabbit]

This is probably a very silly question, but this will be our first DL trip and I am clueless - if we want to watch fireworks with the castle in front is there a way to do this with the Paint the Night reserved seating as well? I'm not familiar with the layout and timings. Thanks!

 

[texasgingerbread]

This is probably a very silly question, but this will be our first DL trip and I am clueless - if we want to watch fireworks with the castle in front is there a way to do this with the Paint the Night reserved seating as well? I'm not familiar with the layout and timings. Thanks!

go look at DLR Pre School's facebook page. She posted pictures of her experience at BB.

 

[monorailrabbit]

go look at DLR Pre School's facebook page. She posted pictures of her experience at BB.

I did, and it looks awesome, I just don't know where her place is in relation to the castle and also if there is time to move places if need be fore the fireworks start. Sorry if that is a dumb question.

 

[tlovesdis]

This is probably a very silly question, but this will be our first DL trip and I am clueless - if we want to watch fireworks with the castle in front is there a way to do this with the Paint the Night reserved seating as well? I'm not familiar with the layout and timings. Thanks!

If you do the PTN package you will be watching the parade from Main Street near Carnation Cafe or Starbucks. After everyone will be stepping out onto Main Street to see the fireworks. You will have a hard time getting near the castle. You will have a view of it, but I don't think you will get anywhere near it. People will already have staked out their spots and it will be hard to move around. The fireworks usually start right after the first parade.

 

[cinder-ellah]

From what I understand, if doing the BB PTN package, right after the parade.... Move to the middle of Main Street for fireworks viewing.

 

[lozzypop]

Are wheelchairs and ECV's allowed to use the BB reserved section? We want to do the PTN package for my birthday in May, but my mom will be using a scooter and I am not sure if they will put her in a different section. In which case, it doesn't seem fair that she would pay the price for a dining package and not be allowed to use that area.

 

[Symon]

Yes - ECV's are allowed in the reserved section - but we weren't exactly happy with our experience with ECV in the reserved section. The parade was scheduled for 8pm the night we were there, and we were instructed to be to the reserved section at 7:30. I knew to get there earlier, but because of crowds and inexperienced ECV drivers (my mom and dad) we made it to the section later than I wanted to - approx. 7:20 (still 10 mins before they told us to be there.) We had 2 ECV in our party and there were already 2 others in the section when we arrived. The cast member acted nervous when we asked where to go with the ECVs and she called her supervisor over. The 2 ECVs that were already there were at the end of the section closest to the castle (and right next to the ramp onto Main street.) Then there were several parties filling in the space next to the ECV away from the castle. They found a spot for us just past a tree that was there. I saw no problems with this location yet. Our view of the parade was OK, except the tree blocked some of the view for my parents since they were sitting on their ECV. But the real problem came after the parade was over. Everyone moves into the street for the fireworks, but since there was no ramp there, my parents couldn't move to the street. They were ok with just watching from where they were at, but the cast members were trying to clear the sidewalk for the mass exodus after the fireworks and insisted that they move to the street. It took 3 cast members to hold back the crowd while my parents attempted to drive the 20 feet upstream to make it to the ramp. This was very frustrating and somewhat embarrassing for them and they left with a bad taste in their mouth.

So be warned - if you are using an ECV in the reserved section, arrive plenty early to ensure a spot by the ramp!

 

[cinder-ellah]

Yes - ECV's are allowed in the reserved section - but we weren't exactly happy with our experience with ECV in the reserved section. The parade was scheduled for 8pm the night we were there, and we were instructed to be to the reserved section at 7:30. I knew to get there earlier, but because of crowds and inexperienced ECV drivers (my mom and dad) we made it to the section later than I wanted to - approx. 7:20 (still 10 mins before they told us to be there.) We had 2 ECV in our party and there were already 2 others in the section when we arrived. The cast member acted nervous when we asked where to go with the ECVs and she called her supervisor over. The 2 ECVs that were already there were at the end of the section closest to the castle (and right next to the ramp onto Main street.) Then there were several parties filling in the space next to the ECV away from the castle. They found a spot for us just past a tree that was there. I saw no problems with this location yet. Our view of the parade was OK, except the tree blocked some of the view for my parents since they were sitting on their ECV. But the real problem came after the parade was over. Everyone moves into the street for the fireworks, but since there was no ramp there, my parents couldn't move to the street. They were ok with just watching from where they were at, but the cast members were trying to clear the sidewalk for the mass exodus after the fireworks and insisted that they move to the street. It took 3 cast members to hold back the crowd while my parents attempted to drive the 20 feet upstream to make it to the ramp. This was very frustrating and somewhat embarrassing for them and they left with a bad taste in their mouth.

So be warned - if you are using an ECV in the reserved section, arrive plenty early to ensure a spot by the ramp!

Thank you commenting on that. We will have a couple of scooters in our group. Good to be aware of that.

 

[Team Yeah Buddy]

we've booked this for March 11th at 6:00pm, the crash in Aussie Dollar means for a party of 4 its going to cost $330aud+tip
Anyone think this is still worth it? I am considering canceling honestly we're not really foodies.

 

[lozzypop]

So be warned - if you are using an ECV in the reserved section, arrive plenty early to ensure a spot by the ramp!

Thank you Symon, that is very helpful. Exactly the kind of information I was looking for.

We will be in Disneyland for 9 days and while my parents only have five day passes, my daughter and I have AP's, so we will probably be able to scope out the reserved section beforehand. I just wanted to be sure that ECVs were allowed before I made the BB reservation.

 

[momsquad]

Greetings! I have also made my reservation for the PTN package at BB. My dinnertime is 6:30p. There are actually two parades that evening 8p & 10p. Would I be able to use my pass for the parade of my choice? Or is it an assigned time?

 

[AussieNSW]

We are also from Australia and with the exchange rate it cost us a fortune as well. We are also not foodies but loved every minute of it. The atmosphere, food and service at BB was brilliant. I loved not having to wait in crowds and fight for a spot. I loved being able to have the Paint the night show pass right in front of me. I loved being able to sit on the curb. I loved the shows. I loved the whole experience. My thoughts were when would we get a chance to get back and see this again if it was still running in any form. The answer was a few years. Would I be disappointed if I didn't get to see it properly. The answer is yes. How easy would it be for us to line up early and fight the crowds for a spot. The answer is very difficult. How many chances would I have to get to see it this trip. The answer to that was minimal. For us who were there on a marathon weekend and with a member of our group suffering from anxiety this was the best option.

 

[Minniekins]

Yes - ECV's are allowed in the reserved section - but we weren't exactly happy with our experience with ECV in the reserved section. The parade was scheduled for 8pm the night we were there, and we were instructed to be to the reserved section at 7:30. I knew to get there earlier, but because of crowds and inexperienced ECV drivers (my mom and dad) we made it to the section later than I wanted to - approx. 7:20 (still 10 mins before they told us to be there.) We had 2 ECV in our party and there were already 2 others in the section when we arrived. The cast member acted nervous when we asked where to go with the ECVs and she called her supervisor over. The 2 ECVs that were already there were at the end of the section closest to the castle (and right next to the ramp onto Main street.) Then there were several parties filling in the space next to the ECV away from the castle. They found a spot for us just past a tree that was there. I saw no problems with this location yet. Our view of the parade was OK, except the tree blocked some of the view for my parents since they were sitting on their ECV. But the real problem came after the parade was over. Everyone moves into the street for the fireworks, but since there was no ramp there, my parents couldn't move to the street. They were ok with just watching from where they were at, but the cast members were trying to clear the sidewalk for the mass exodus after the fireworks and insisted that they move to the street. It took 3 cast members to hold back the crowd while my parents attempted to drive the 20 feet upstream to make it to the ramp. This was very frustrating and somewhat embarrassing for them and they left with a bad taste in their mouth.

So be warned - if you are using an ECV in the reserved section, arrive plenty early to ensure a spot by the ramp!

So, we will be going the second week of May, as well. Not sure about doing the dining packages, especially after reading this as I will have an ecv. I'll be there with my DD25, so just us two adults. So, to get to the reserved section early enough, would we go like a half hour earlier than the suggested time they tell you, even earlier? Will they let you in then? Seems like whats the point of paying extra for a dinner to get a pass into the reserved section if you still have to go super early, for one thing. Would we be able to find a spot without doing the dinner and finding a spot on the curb or something and then watching the fireworks, since we have to wait a while anyway? Or maybe better to do the PTN parade one night with a good reserved spot and then get a good spot on another night just for the fireworks? WDW vet, but we've never been to DL before and just not sure how to do things, especially with an ecv to consider when moving about and staking out a spot to watch things! What about doing the fireworks first, then the PTN parade after? Would a dining package still be a good idea? Still no idea about a schedule for May yet. I did see a post somewhere that with the 60th, maybe the parades and fireworks and woc would be shown nightly? Don't know if that was a valid post or not, that would help being able to choose any night, if things didn't go well you could try again on another night, lol

 

[VTOWERS]

Review from 2/18/2016. We went ahead and splurged on this for a birthday celebration. While the Blue Bayou food was excellent (several of us had either filet or the strip steak and they were done perfectly - which I know isn't always the case, per various forums), the 'reserved seating' wasn't really worth it. They allowed us into the reserved area an hour early so we could be sure the kids could sit on the curb with us standing immediately behind them. (If you show up at 8:30 per the fastpass instructions, there will be no curb space left.) However, at an hour early there was still curb space left along main street outside the reserved area - making the 'Reserved for Blue Bayou Dining' area moot. The reserved area starts right in front of the Carnation Cafe and heads down toward the CRYSTAL Arcade, not the Penny Arcade, in front of the Fortuosity Shop. We moved into the street and up toward the hub to stand in front of the Penny Arcade for the fireworks, which WAS a great view, but would have been available to us anyway. I suppose, theoretically, the PTN package might be more worthwhile on super crowded days when all the curb space is gone by 2 hours out, but for our moderate crowd day it was sort of silly. Oh well. Still a great meal.

 

[corinne76]

Review from 2/18/2016. We went ahead and splurged on this for a birthday celebration. While the Blue Bayou food was excellent (several of us had either filet or the strip steak and they were done perfectly - which I know isn't always the case, per various forums), the 'reserved seating' wasn't really worth it. They allowed us into the reserved area an hour early so we could be sure the kids could sit on the curb with us standing immediately behind them. (If you show up at 8:30 per the fastpass instructions, there will be no curb space left.) However, at an hour early there was still curb space left along main street outside the reserved area - making the 'Reserved for Blue Bayou Dining' area moot. The reserved area starts right in front of the Carnation Cafe and heads down toward the CRYSTAL Arcade, not the Penny Arcade, in front of the Fortuosity Shop. We moved into the street and up toward the hub to stand in front of the Penny Arcade for the fireworks, which WAS a great view, but would have been available to us anyway. I suppose, theoretically, the PTN package might be more worthwhile on super crowded days when all the curb space is gone by 2 hours out, but for our moderate crowd day it was sort of silly. Oh well. Still a great meal.

thanks for the review. I can see how the reserved area isn't going to be that big a deal during the slower times. For me, we're going in April when it will be much busier, so hoping the reserved space is well worth it!

 

[dragonflycurls]

Greetings! I have also made my reservation for the PTN package at BB. My dinnertime is 6:30p. There are actually two parades that evening 8p & 10p. Would I be able to use my pass for the parade of my choice? Or is it an assigned time?

They will ask if you want the 8 or the 10 show. Honestly, if you are eatting anytime past 6, I would go for the 10. We felt like we had to rush through dinner to get to the spot in time, and would have liked a more relaxing meal

 

[AZMermaid]

VToewers, did you have the same experience as a PP that non dining people entered the reserved area at parade time?

I get that at some point, it gets really difficult to keep people out and the CMs try their best.... But that's still pretty disappointing to hear.

 

[dragonflycurls]

VToewers, did you have the same experience as a PP that non dining people entered the reserved area at parade time?

I get that at some point, it gets really difficult to keep people out and the CMs try their best.... But that's still pretty disappointing to hear.

We had our reservations last Friday and they had at least 2 cast members and at some points even 3 watching the area, as soon as someone tried to swoop in they were asked to show their fast pass to be in the area. There were also people trying to stand against the store building and they were told to leave. It was actually a bit distracting from the parade to constantly have the CM's blocking people from the area, but was appreciated!

 

[smartlabelprint]

we've booked this for March 11th at 6:00pm, the crash in Aussie Dollar means for a party of 4 its going to cost $330aud+tip
Anyone think this is still worth it? I am considering canceling honestly we're not really foodies.

It's a Friday during spring break. If these two items are really important maybe this could be your once in a lifetime viewing this way.