Please tell me what is so great about Blue Bayou?

[toni1227]

I keep hearing people say to go there. Is the experience REALLY great???
I looked at the menu and I do not eat seafood or much red meat and I do not really want to spend $30 on chicken. But at the same time I want to know more about the actual experience and atmosphere and why it is something I should not miss.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

I keep hearing people say to go there. Is the experience REALLY great???
I looked at the menu and I do not eat seafood or much red meat and I do not really want to spend $30 on chicken. But at the same time I want to know more about the actual experience and atmosphere and why it is something I should not miss.

I feel the same way that you do. We haven't been there yet, but a lot of people go there just for dessert and coffee. That's what we plan to do on our next trip. My DS is very eager to try the cookie boat!

 

[SmoothDisneyH2O]

You go more for the atmosphere than the food. I believe every true DL fanatic has to dine there at least once just to say they've experienced it. Or just look at it while riding POTC, that counts to.

 

[lulubelle]

While the food is good (not great), it is WAY overpriced, even for DL. The meals are large enough to split and then it's not too bad price-wise. But you really pay for the atmosphere. It's like a character meal. You cannot duplicate that dining experience anywhere else. I just ate there last week and it was very pleasant, so relaxing and being inside the ride makes it so special. Make it a treat.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

The food isn't what makes the place..it's the atmosphere. We went two years in a row for lunch. First year I had the monte cristo, it was ok but sickening after a few bites. Last year I had the Tesoro Chicken, it was dry and blah. This year we went for dessert only and had the Flying Dutchman...NOW that is worth it right there. yummmmmy

 

[amyamya]

For us it's the coolest theme restaurant ever. Designed to look like you are eating outside at night by candle and lantern light next to a bayou with fireflies and trees dripping with moss! The food is OK, and priced high, but you are dining in a ride! That is why we do it every time. Plus, in the heat of the day, when you are sweaty and tired, it is dark and cool and relaxing. We usually do the first seating of lunch for that reason.

 

[Dis-Ted]

After a long day in the park it's nice to (a) get out of the noise and (b) not have to trek out of the park to do so. BB has a unique atmosphere and if you're lucky enough to eat there when everyone's well behaved (that means both kids and adults) it doesn't feel like the park at all. The food isn't the best you'll ever have but it's good and the service feels like an actual restaurant instead of a self-service option.

Not something I chose for most trips but now and then it's different and fun.

 

[katy621]

I wasn't impressed with the salad - 1/4 wedge of lettuce and runny salad dressing. But I thought it was pretty cool inside, kind of romantic.

 

[toni1227]

Thank you! So maybe we should try to go for dessert then...hmmmm.
Are they open all the way from lunch through dinner? Or just specific times.
If I have to cancel for any reason (timing does not end up working out) is this a problem? Do we just call? I am just trying to think what might be a good time to go. I have NO idea if we will have to go back to the hotel for a nap or whatever with my kids etc...or at what time we will be in that part of the park. (and that is even if they still have seating available for that day since it is only a few days away). If I do the PS how long is the wait usually? Are all seats in view of the ride? Do you have to request them etc.?

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

It's a good idea to cancel your PSs when you can. But they have a lot each day who do not.

Best chance of a water view is coming when they first open and having an early lunch. You request it when you arrive and if you are lucky, after you wait in the front room, you might get it. Some people don't like being by the water as some riders can get a little rude.

BB is best appreciated on a hot summer day, or if you're with someone you love.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Can one person eat the cookie boat alone or is it too big? Assume the cookie boat was your lunch.

 

[amyamya]

Can one person eat the cookie boat alone or is it too big? Assume the cookie boat was your lunch.

You are funny! I think it is pretty big from the pictures I've seen.

 

[Captain Redbeard]

I keep hearing people say to go there. Is the experience REALLY great???
I looked at the menu and I do not eat seafood or much red meat and I do not really want to spend $30 on chicken. But at the same time I want to know more about the actual experience and atmosphere and why it is something I should not miss.

While the food is good (not great), it is WAY overpriced, even for DL. The meals are large enough to split and then it's not too bad price-wise. But you really pay for the atmosphere. It's like a character meal. You cannot duplicate that dining experience anywhere else. I just ate there last week and it was very pleasant, so relaxing and being inside the ride makes it so special. Make it a treat.

I disagree that the food is only good...IT IS FANTASTIC!!! It is not overpriced...yes it's pricey, but your paying for really great food AND amazing atmosphere. IT'S NOT COUNTER SERVICE!!!! The chicken there IS AMAZING!!! My wife and I had the best salmon we have EVER had at BB. You can't beat sitting by the water at lunch and splitting a delicious, huge meal with your spouse! I don't understand how people can say anything less than BB is spectacular...price, food, or anything!!! Anyway, thats my 2cents!

 

[mechurchlady]

Long ago Blue Bayou was the elite 4 star super deluxe place to eat. Normal folks ate at Tony's, Tahitian Terrace, the Pancake house or whatever it is now called, Plaza Inn and the restaurant across the way, and Carnation. Those restaurants were for families and the Blue Bayou was the adult place to eat.

Disney has got rid of every sit down table service place except for Blue Bayou. Blue Bayou also has been demoted down to a run of the mill tourist trap. It once was nice to set there and hear the themed sounds while dining like in a fancy restaurant fine foods. this past weekend I tried twice to get in but they were not taking guests and thus I figure that I am not diva enough for them and they are not good enough for me.

I can get me tri tip at Ariels, chicken at plaza inn, and pizza and the YUMMY Taste Pilot Grill cheddar burgers with them criss cross fries. I am a guest there and treated just as well if not better than that janky old Blue Bayou. This past week I was spoiled rotten, had servers carry my tray, one server cleared a path for me, they treated me like I was family and special. I saved a lot of money and had more fun eating outside of the Blue Bayou.

I see the blue bayou as nothing but a tourist trap and over rated. I burn my food and do not like overly spiced food except for mexican and thai. I hate blackened food.

I need 4 aspirin, a dole whip and some criss cross fries please. Blue Bayou is my bain and hated spot of all of DLR. I HATE AND ABHOR IT. I am not good enough to belong there. I am good enough everywhere else like oom mow mow where they really worried about me getting sick on the pizza, they cared about me.

 

[Belle Ella]

For me, eating at BB is all about the experience. I could care less if they fed me shredded paper. It's a totally different environment and atmosphere than you'll find anywhere in the park and I can't imagine spending time at DLR and not eating there. It's almost criminal in my book.

 

[avalon451]

Long ago Blue Bayou was the elite 4 star super deluxe place to eat. Normal folks ate at Tony's, Tahitian Terrace, the Pancake house or whatever it is now called, Plaza Inn and the restaurant across the way, and Carnation. Those restaurants were for families and the Blue Bayou was the adult place to eat.

Disney has got rid of every sit down table service place except for Blue Bayou. Blue Bayou also has been demoted down to a run of the mill tourist trap. It once was nice to set there and hear the themed sounds while dining like in a fancy restaurant fine foods. this past weekend I tried twice to get in but they were not taking guests and thus I figure that I am not diva enough for them and they are not good enough for me.

I can get me tri tip at Ariels, chicken at plaza inn, and pizza and the YUMMY Taste Pilot Grill cheddar burgers with them criss cross fries. I am a guest there and treated just as well if not better than that janky old Blue Bayou. This past week I was spoiled rotten, had servers carry my tray, one server cleared a path for me, they treated me like I was family and special. I saved a lot of money and had more fun eating outside of the Blue Bayou.

I see the blue bayou as nothing but a tourist trap and over rated. I burn my food and do not like overly spiced food except for mexican and thai. I hate blackened food.

I need 4 aspirin, a dole whip and some criss cross fries please. Blue Bayou is my bain and hated spot of all of DLR. I HATE AND ABHOR IT. I am not good enough to belong there. I am good enough everywhere else like oom mow mow where they really worried about me getting sick on the pizza, they cared about me.

Wow. Sorry to hear you have had such bad experiences there. BTW, Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe are still table service. We really enjoyed our dinner at Cafe Orleans last time.

There certainly are a lot of opinions about the place. Guess everybody has their own perceptions!

We ate there twice; once for dinner with the whole family. We had made PS's 60 days out. It was a very busy time in the parks. I think we waited maybe 10 mins past our PS time, which was fine. We had a table in the middle of the restaurant; it was kind of noisy and busy around us. The food was so-so. I enjoyed the atmosphere, but my DD5 thought it was "too dark and creepy." Part of my perception of that experience is that DD12 was not feeling well, so we were all a little anxious.

When DD13 and I went back on our do-over trip, I took the advice of the DIS-boarders here. I made PS's a month out for the first lunch seating, which is at 11:30 a.m. and requested a waterside table. Then I showed up at the restaurant podium at 11:15 a.m, and reminded them nicely of my waterside table request. They seated us right away at a lovely table right on the water, and because we knew pretty much what we wanted (thank you, Allears.net menus!) we ordered quickly and got fast service. It was so fun to sit there and watch the boatloads of people float by on the PotC ride and enjoy our food. The food seemed better to me, this time. If you'd like to see some pictures of our experience, there's some on my trip report, page 6, linked in my signature below.

Expensive? Yup. Food not great? Well, some of it is unremarkable, some I thought very good, and the cookie boat was yummy. As others have said, it's all about the ambiance. I would definitely do it every time.

 

[fairycat]

I wasn't impressed with the salad - 1/4 wedge of lettuce and runny salad dressing. But I thought it was pretty cool inside, kind of romantic.

That salad is gone and has been replaced with a real salad with more romaine and less of that awful iceberg stuff, it was much better when we had it last week.

I have to say I love the atmosphere and agree its something everyone should try at least once. The food can be good, it can be ok and I had my first terrible food last week (they burnt my mushrooms to inedible ) but over all we have been very happy.

If you are nervous have dessert!!!! I think almost everyone agrees the cookie boat is worth it, its cute and its delicious!!!!!!!! It is big enough to split between two fairly hungry adults or 4-5 mostly full people who should have known better then to get dessert but really wanted it Sometimes we even get the sauces and the ice cream on the side so we can eat the cookie later I heard the other desserts are good as well, but I just can't get anything else but the cookie boat

 

[SilentFeline]

If you are nervous have dessert!!!! I think almost everyone agrees the cookie boat is worth it, its cute and its delicious!!!!!!!! It is big enough to split between two fairly hungry adults or 4-5 mostly full people who should have known better then to get dessert but really wanted it Sometimes we even get the sauces and the ice cream on the side so we can eat the cookie later I heard the other desserts are good as well, but I just can't get anything else but the cookie boat

I have read in other threads that Blue Bayou charges a split plate fee. Would this also apply if we were only getting dessert?

I'm glad you mentioned that you got the sauces on the side because I had read about the cookie boat on the online menu and the caramel sauce really turned me off to the whole dish. We'll just get it on the side and my bf can have all of it. As long as I'm not eating it I'll be happy.

 

[swimrsal]

We took our oldest ds there when he was 21 months for lunch and really enjoyed it. DH and I shared an appetizer (can't even remember what it was, but I do remember thinking at the time we could have done without it)! We also shared the Monte Cristo and we each felt we had gotten plenty to eat. It was yummy but there is no way I could have eaten the whole thing and not felt ill. DS had a kids meal that had mini corndogs... he was excited for his food. They also gave him a little paper pirate hat which was pretty cute.

I do think the key is to share your meal if you are concerned about prices... if you feel you might not get enough food you can always grab a snack somewhere later or there is always dessert!

 

[firefly87]

DH and I ate there back in 2003 for our anniversary dinner. It was something we both said we always wanted to do (as we were loading onto the boats for POTC!). The food was okay......I can't even remember what we had now. We had PS and had to wait about 25 mins to be seated. DH wished he could have had a glass of wine with dinner (no alcohol in DL). Other than that, we are glad we did it so we can say we did! Maybe when our kids are a little older, we may take them there for dessert or something.

I would say make a PS for a dessert if you're unsure of the food and the $$$. Go there at least once so you can always say you did it!