Paint the Night Blue Bayou packages

[wanderlust7]

How is this new area for those using scooters?

I am interested to hearing about this area for scooters as well!

Sorry, but I didn't happen to notice any scooters. The reserved area was pretty big, so I don't think it would be a problem for the parade. I think it would be tough to move to a good spot for the fireworks though. We had a stroller and that was hard enough moving through the sea of people. I imagine a scooter would be harder.

Hope someone with actual experience can report back for you. It seems I'm the only one on here who's done the package since the change. Maybe everyone else has been scared away.

 

[DoubleDown7]

Wanderlust7 or anyone from that matter...even with the change in location we will still keep our reservation. This may be a once in a lifetime or more appropriately "once while the kids are still young" trip to DL so we were planning on splurging at BB anyway so a reserved spot for the parade is just icing on the cake.

Anyway my question is more about a game plan for the fireworks after. How far should we try to get up Main Street after the parade passes by? We have two kids with the youngest being 48.5 inches (yay...she can experience all the attractions!) so we have to try to get a spot where they can see without staring into the back of an adult standing directly in front of them. Where should we go so that the kids can experience the fireworks? I'm not looking to flame but do people at DL throw their younger kids on their shoulders?

And...I just thought of a question regarding the parade itself. Where, inside the reserved spot, is the best place to view the parade? Is there a spot where there is more character interaction or maybe better sight lines?

AND...one LAST question...I promise. We have a 5:10 reservation at BB on a Friday. What time should we arrive to request a water side table? In general how long do we have to wait? And would the cast members ever say that we cannot wait for one of those tables?

Thanks all!

 

[Nermel9]

The train station is right as you enter the parks, you pass under the track to enter town square. It's basically the open area at the base of Main Street and the castle hub is the open area at the top of Main Street.

Oh, for some reason I was thinking it was another train station lol.

So if you watch the first parade from that area, is that basically the last place the parade goes? Like doesn't it start way down at the other side of the park so you just have to stand there and wait even longer?

And basically it's impossible to go up Main Street after and get a decent spot for the fireworks? I don't need to be all the way in the front but I would like to be towards the middle of Main Street at least...

This is so stressful lol. All for a parade and fireworks. That's why I'm trying to get them both out of the way our first night, so I can relax the next few days!

 

[ElenaJane]

I have made a BB PTN package, but reading all of this, I am just not sure now. It is not until the end of the month, so who knows if they won't move the viewing place back!

The reason I went for the BB PTN instead of Aladdin's was because I thought the parade viewing spot for BB also worked well for fireworks. It is our first DL trip and I was willing to pay for the BB spot because of this.

Is the general consensus now that the Aladdin spot is good for the parade and good for fireworks, while the BB spot may be better for the parade but not good for fireworks? I hear ya @Nermel9 so stressful! lol!

 

[wanderlust7]

Wanderlust7 or anyone from that matter...even with the change in location we will still keep our reservation. This may be a once in a lifetime or more appropriately "once while the kids are still young" trip to DL so we were planning on splurging at BB anyway so a reserved spot for the parade is just icing on the cake.

Anyway my question is more about a game plan for the fireworks after. How far should we try to get up Main Street after the parade passes by? We have two kids with the youngest being 48.5 inches (yay...she can experience all the attractions!) so we have to try to get a spot where they can see without staring into the back of an adult standing directly in front of them. Where should we go so that the kids can experience the fireworks? I'm not looking to flame but do people at DL throw their younger kids on their shoulders?

And...I just thought of a question regarding the parade itself. Where, inside the reserved spot, is the best place to view the parade? Is there a spot where there is more character interaction or maybe better sight lines?

AND...one LAST question...I promise. We have a 5:10 reservation at BB on a Friday. What time should we arrive to request a water side table? In general how long do we have to wait? And would the cast members ever say that we cannot wait for one of those tables?

Thanks all!

The closer to the hub you can get, the better. There's a good diagram on another thread:
http://www.disboards.com/threads/parade-fireworks-location-question.3498162/

But being so far away, it's going to be hard. The first parade (this is the one we saw) ends near the train station, so in the reserved area, you're one of the last people to see it. Once the parade moves past, people can move into Main Street, so by the time you've seen the parade, other people will already have had time to move in.

Yes, people do put kids on their shoulders. Not sure what the etiquette is, but we saw people doing it.

Probably curb seating would be best for character interaction. I did notice those kids got more attention, but then they were yelling the character's names too - I think that really helped. Get there earlier, even though the ticket says 30 minutes before. It seems they are letting people line up earlier now since there is space in the new spot. If you can get curb, I'm not sure it matters where on the curb...since the parade is moving.

The package is actually not a bad deal for adults if you were going to order everything included anyways. DH and I both had surf and turf, mint julep, plus dessert, it would come out to about the same price if we added it all up vs the package. It's a lot of food though. Without the package, we probably wouldn't have ordered drinks or dessert (the chocolate cake was good though, so I'm glad I had that). It's a bad deal for kids since most of the kids' meals are $9 or $10, the package is $25, the only extra thing they get is a Mickey chocolate cake. But of course you're paying for the privilege of the reserved area.

Anyways, have a great time. Who knows, maybe they'll have changed it back by the time you go.

 

[wanderlust7]

Oh, for some reason I was thinking it was another train station lol.

So if you watch the first parade from that area, is that basically the last place the parade goes? Like doesn't it start way down at the other side of the park so you just have to stand there and wait even longer?

And basically it's impossible to go up Main Street after and get a decent spot for the fireworks? I don't need to be all the way in the front but I would like to be towards the middle of Main Street at least...

This is so stressful lol. All for a parade and fireworks. That's why I'm trying to get them both out of the way our first night, so I can relax the next few days!

Yes, the reserved area is the last place the parade goes. You do have to wait longer, but we bought a blanket to put on the ground and sat.

Just looked on Google maps and we made it to the Fortuosity Shop, which looks about 1/4 into Main Street. We were slow though, maybe if you move faster or don't have a stroller, you can squeeze in further. Everyone else will have had more time to move though since the parade passes them earlier, I think that's what makes it hard.

 

[katejc]

Well, after following this for the past couple weeks, we've decided to cancel our reservations as well. We'll still eat at the BB but skip the dining package. We're going to try to catch the late show on Sunday night and find a good spot ourselves.

Thanks for sharing your stories everyone! It's been very helpful.

We have the same plan. We enjoy the atmosphere so much at BB that it's just fun to eat there, and if we don't buy the package we can split our meals, making it slightly more affordable. Appreciated all the input here in helping to make our decision!

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm not looking to flame but do people at DL throw their younger kids on their shoulders?

Please don't do that.

where they can see without staring into the back of an adult standing directly in front of them.

You are concerned about the kids staring into the back of an adult. Putting a child on the shoulders means that the person behind that duo is staring at the butt of a child. Come on now. You have now created a giant (it's always the dads carrying the kids like that).

If you MUST get the child up off the ground, put them on your hip or back. That way they are no taller than you.

 

[corinne76]

Sorry, but I didn't happen to notice any scooters. The reserved area was pretty big, so I don't think it would be a problem for the parade. I think it would be tough to move to a good spot for the fireworks though. We had a stroller and that was hard enough moving through the sea of people. I imagine a scooter would be harder.

Hope someone with actual experience can report back for you. It seems I'm the only one on here who's done the package since the change. Maybe everyone else has been scared away.

we did it last week. I didn't see any scooters, but I can't see why it would be a problem. the area is large and so is the walkway to access it.

My kids were so tired after the parade (actually every night) that the fireworks was a moot point for us. But i can see why people hoping to catch both wouldn't like the new area. For us, it was fine. We were in the 2nd row, but close enough that my son still sat in his stroller and my daughter sat on the ground, kind of behind but in between 2 ladies. We all had wonderful views.

For me, I'd say the $200 dinner is not worth it, if you're talking about the BB itself. But for the experience and not having to camp out for hours to get the view we did, it was worth it for us

 

[Minniekins]

Thank you @wanderlust7 and @corinne76!

@corinne76 Do you know how much the package is per person at BB? I thought it was like $62 per person maybe, then plus tax so that'd be like almost $140 for two of us for dinner and maybe or maybe not a way to use the reserved spot. Plus, as wanderlust7 pointed out, if we wanna go towards the castle for the fireworks, which we do, that probably wouldn't work too well I imagine, especially with a scooter and with being at the end of the parade everyone else will have filled in up front already. Hmm. Wondering, if we wait along the parade route on Main St, how early do you have to do that now these days? Is it still hours ahead of time? How would an hour work? Anyone know if there is are spots on Main St where you could get a position near/next to a ramp that you could then go down and get onto the street quickly after the parade passes by?
I was just looking at a pic of the main st area (not a real pic, but a map like pic), and it has this circle around, well I think it's the partners statue maybe?, labeled main st, can you watch the parade from there then stay for the fireworks there?

Too bad they moved that reserved section, that would have been better for doing both probably I think. But, this might save us some money, at least a little, as we'll still eat there. But it's getting stressful trying to plan where we'll be able to watch the parade and the fireworks!

 

[corinne76]

Yes, $62 per adult. I forget how much for kids, but I have 2 kids so that definitely raised the price. I did see people (and blankets) lined up 2-3 hours ahead of time. But this is during Spring Break, so other times may not be as bad

 

[Minniekins]

Yes, $62 per adult. I forget how much for kids, but I have 2 kids so that definitely raised the price. I did see people (and blankets) lined up 2-3 hours ahead of time. But this is during Spring Break, so other times may not be as bad

thanks, corinne76! Yes we'll be going for the week of May 7-14. But, we'll be trying to see these show that first Sat and Sun nights! So, that'll probably be pretty busy. 2 hours might not be too bad, but three seems a bit long, lol. I just hope I can find a spot right next to a ramp off the curb if there are spots like that. Otherwise, if we do the dining pkg, just not sure that would go very well for us, especially with the ecv now.

 

[Travis B]

Does anyone know if they are offering an alternative package during the week BB is being refurbished (starting 5/9)? Or is Alladian's the only other option?

 

[lorijohnhill]

Thank you @wanderlust7 and @corinne76!

@corinne76 Do you know how much the package is per person at BB? I thought it was like $62 per person maybe, then plus tax so that'd be like almost $140 for two of us for dinner and maybe or maybe not a way to use the reserved spot. Plus, as wanderlust7 pointed out, if we wanna go towards the castle for the fireworks, which we do, that probably wouldn't work too well I imagine, especially with a scooter and with being at the end of the parade everyone else will have filled in up front already. Hmm. Wondering, if we wait along the parade route on Main St, how early do you have to do that now these days? Is it still hours ahead of time? How would an hour work? Anyone know if there is are spots on Main St where you could get a position near/next to a ramp that you could then go down and get onto the street quickly after the parade passes by?
I was just looking at a pic of the main st area (not a real pic, but a map like pic), and it has this circle around, well I think it's the partners statue maybe?, labeled main st, can you watch the parade from there then stay for the fireworks there?

Too bad they moved that reserved section, that would have been better for doing both probably I think. But, this might save us some money, at least a little, as we'll still eat there. But it's getting stressful trying to plan where we'll be able to watch the parade and the fireworks!

I don't know if you have visited DL with an ECV before, but just in case you haven't I wanted to warn you that you will not be able to go anywhere (on or near Main St. at parade/fireworks time) QUICKLY with a scooter, even if you are next to a ramp. As soon as the parade goes by, the crowds on the sidewalk will surge into the street to get the "best" spot to view the fireworks. They will rush in front of you, climb over you, and do whatever they think is necessary to get where they want to go. Many people have a blind spot where scooters are concerned and will not see you or know that you are there. Once the crowd gets moving, you will have to proceed carefully so that you don't hit anyone. If you have members of your party that can help direct you and let those around you know your plans, that might help. If you can enlist the aid of a CM or security guard, that's even better. It's amazing how security can part a crowd!

I'm not trying to sound harsh, or start the great scooter debate, just trying to give you a realistic view of what can happen based on personal experience.

The very best/easiest way to view both is to try to find a spot for the parade where you can also see the fireworks without moving, or moving very little. I was recently advised (by a disabled CM on the phone) to try to get a spot near the street over by the Plaza Inn/Little Red Wagon/Photoshop area.

Or, maybe you could do the parade one night and fireworks the next? Parade viewing by Small World, or where the path starts to curve to go to Small World, is great and there are lots of spots with no curb to worry about.

One day, I hope Disney comes to the realization that they need to have plans in place, for those of us who can't tour the parks without the aid of wheels, to be able to enjoy the fireworks like everyone else. They do have a few spots for the parade, but no HC reserved spots for the fireworks (as of my last chat with a CM).

 

[theluckyrabbit]

... I'm not looking to flame but do people at DL throw their younger kids on their shoulders?..

People do this at DLR, but it is considered to be rather rude (although I understand that most people who do it don't intend to be rude). The preferred option is to put the child on your hip so that their head is pretty much level with yours. If you can see, they can see.
For a waterside table at BB, arrive about half an hour earlier than your reservation time. We've never had a CM tell us that we couldn't wait for a waterside table, only warn us if the wait would be very long (45 minutes or longer).

 

[DoubleDown7]

People do this at DLR, but it is considered to be rather rude (although I understand that most people who do it don't intend to be rude). The preferred option is to put the child on your hip so that their head is pretty much level with yours. If you can see, they can see.
For a waterside table at BB, arrive about half an hour earlier than your reservation time. We've never had a CM tell us that we couldn't wait for a waterside table, only warn us if the wait would be very long (45 minutes or longer).

Thanks LuckyRabbit.

We'll do the hip and/or piggy back instead of the shoulders then.

Half an hour is not bad so I think we'll do that.

 

[Minniekins]

@lorijohnhill Thank you! No, this will be our first visit to DL! (I was actually there when I was 7, a lonnnngg time ago, lol). But, I've been to WDW with a scooter during the fireworks and after, and it's definitely hard to move there, so I guess I know what to expect. Thanks for the heads up on the spot by the Plaza Inn/Red Wagon area, I'll have to check that out when I find where the Plaza Inn is, lol. Did she say how long ahead of time to get there? Do you know the area and what do you think of that spot, if you do? I'm thinking it may be more left of the front of the Castle? Wonder if there's a similar spot more towards the right side of the Castle. Hmm. Is there a spot close to hub area on the right side that wouldn't require moving too far? Like maybe as close to that side but still on mainstreet curb area or something? A little frustrating because I don't know the area or what it really looks like, lol. We will probably watch the fireworks and parade several times over the week we are there, so hopefully we'll find something that works well! Maybe we'll even try to the IASW area one night.

 

[vellamint]

Does anyone know if they are offering an alternative package during the week BB is being refurbished (starting 5/9)? Or is Alladian's the only other option?

I'm wondering this also because of COURSE BB (and Pirates ) are down when we are going.....

 

[Travis B]

I'm wondering this also because of COURSE BB (and Pirates ) are down when we are going.....

Luckily we'll be there on Sunday the 8th so instead of starting the parks on Monday like I planned initially we'll start Sunday so I can get a couple rides on POTC in. I really wanted to do the dinner package though! I've booked an Aladdin's Oasis package in the meantime just in case - so I know we have reserved spots at least one night. Maybe since it's only a week or so long refurb they're skipping it without replacing it with anything?

 

[lorijohnhill]

@Minniekins That spot is on the right side of the hub and Castle, just at the end of Main Street. You can scope it out earlier in the day to see how the sight lines will work for you. I don't know how far ahead you need to be there.

Maybe someone else can chime in and help with that?