PTN Dining Packages

[ColoradoMom!!]

Thanks for the update. That is a bit of a bummer as we are going Friday night - and since it won't have shown all week, I imagine it will be crowded. At least we are doing the 10:30 pm. I will report back, but again, for the not too much $$, dinner and getting my hubby a little less stressful experience, I think it will be worth it!

 

[hsmamato2]

Here's a photo from the Blue Bayou viewing area just a few minutes before the parade arrived for the first showing of PTN's return. We got lucky being at that first showing. The CM in the area said they normally have around 200, but I counted less than 15. They had not saved back inventory to sell the packages. It made for an incredible experience.

Paint the Night Blue Bayou Viewing Area by mom2rtk, on Flickr

so this is a photo of the Aladdin space? The one across the street with more people in it?

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

so this is a photo of the Aladdin space? The one across the street with more people in it?

No, the Alladin viewing area is down by Small World. There is a picture posted earlier in this thread by Disney Dad ADL of the viewing area for the Alladin package.

 

[mom2rtk]

so this is a photo of the Aladdin space? The one across the street with more people in it?

No, this was our viewing area in Town Square for the Blue Bayou package. We did Aladdin's Oasis the next night, but I didn't take any photos of that spot.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

Is the Aladdin food cold? I still don't understand eating cold chicken or lasagna?
Or do you pretty much need to eat it right away when you pick it up?


ETA: looks like Disney Dad addressed my question partially on the first page. Thanks!

 

[mom2rtk]

Is the Aladdin food cold? I still don't understand eating cold chicken or lasagna?
Or do you pretty much need to eat it right away when you pick it up?

No, it was warm. They ask when you pick it up if you want to eat it in the Oasis area or if you want it "to go". They gave us a number for our table and they brought it to us after we sat down. I thought it was pretty good for what it was. And the Oasis was a welcome change of pace from the packed crowds right outside. It was just us and 1 or 2 other groups at the time (We did a 3:45 pick up time). It was remarkably uncomplicated and pleasant. The viewing area later was pretty cramped that night, but there might have been more room further back. We never scoped it out further once we sat down.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

I am way excited about it! I just look forward to less stress! I hate waiting for parades!

 

[cptmemo]

I am way excited about it! I just look forward to less stress! I hate waiting for parades!

this is why we're doing it too. I get stressed out trying to find a "good enough" space. This time I can just show up 15-30 mins before our ticket says, and find a spot and relax. No second guessing things!

 

[lorijohnhill]

What is the rest of the parade route like crowd-wise? Is it a mess like it was early last summer?

 

[cptmemo]

This was a total Cluster. Disney did NOT have it figured out. Long line to the entry rope, but in the area of the parade so it became a huge mob. CMs didn't do anything. It was frustrating then the cm taking the fps didn't even look at them. There had to be a few hundred people?

The food was not bad tho, and only 2 other groups eating at the same time as us. They also let my 12 yr old get a kids meal (mac and cheese) and only charged kid price. I was prepared to pay the adult price.

Also, a random guy who stepped up to ask a question while we were paying insisted on using his AP to get us a discount. Didn't think they do that. It even turned into a hassle, because the lady working had to void and re-charge me after refunding. Saved $16! As long as the refund goes through, I'm happy!

Overall I'm glad we did it.

 

[BirdyGirl85]

Is the Blue Bayou dinning package worth it? My husband and I are going to Disneyland January 4 through January 6. We were thinking of eating at the Blue Bayou restaurant one of the nights anyways, and we haven't seen PTN yet, so you think it would make sense to do the dinning package. I know the dinning package includes dessert, but the only dessert I see on the Blue Bayou menu is the Pumpkin Crème Brûlée, which I'm not sure I would like. They don't have any other desserts to choose from? Also, my husband and I were thinking of seeing one of the later night shows of PTN (at 10:30 pm). I wonder if the reserved spots really make it worth it. I assume the later night showing has less people waiting to see the parade then the earlier showing.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

I have been meaning to update with our experience since I so appreciate all the feedback on here before we went.

We were there on Friday, Dec. 2nd and did the Aladdin package. We checked in for our dinner at 6pm and sat in the area to eat it - they brought it to our table. My husband and I both had the lasagna, and I thought it was good - not great, but not bad at all. I appreciated the bottled Diet Coke since I could take it with me. It was a bit chilly that night, and the seating area is covered, but not exactly heated.

Our fast pass was for the 10:30 showing. We wandered down there earlier than I thought we would. I didn't want to waste time waiting/steaking out a spot, but we were pretty worn out by about 9:45 anyway. We sat down across from Small World in the area shown in the picture up thread by Disney Dad ADL. Here is where I was surprised. We could have stayed where we were without the fast pass because for this showing, on this night, the 10:30 only had about 25 people who purchased the package. Therefore, the roped off area for us was downsized to the area at street level (to the left as you look at the pic by Disney Dad). I commented to the CM - "Wow, the reserved viewing area shrunk...." trying to sound lighthearted, but curious. He said they didn't have many reservations so they downsized like to 25 % of normal I would guess. We got right along the rope at street level, and ended up standing....great view, but ONLY because the numbers of people viewing the 10:30 that night down by small world, it probably wasn't necessary. BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW???

cptmemo who posted above must have gone to the early show that same night - and it was a WHOLE different story. It was very busy in the park that day, and PTN had not shown all week.

Price wise I don't think it was a huge loss. If you are going to go to BB anyway, I would do the package. The WOC dessert party was way more money - but the payoff was well worth it - so that panned out exactly as it should have.

Bottom line is you just never know. BUT again, down by Small World at 10:30 - you may have done just as well chancing it - on this particular night.

 

[hsmamato2]

What is the rest of the parade route like crowd-wise? Is it a mess like it was early last summer?

what kind of mess?

 

[lorijohnhill]

what kind of mess?

I was referring to the insane crowds and people camping out for many hours. That and it being downright dangerous trying to get through the hub area.

We are home now. I had decided to not even try to see PTN. The crowds and anxiety weren't worth it. Thursday evening my daughter was purposely shoved by a grown woman while we were trying to exit the park before fireworks. I wasn't going to mess with it. Friday night we stayed in DCA until closing and then headed over to DL, totally forgetting about the parade. We entered at about 10:15 pm and found spots in front of the train station right behind a bench. My daughter probably could have sat on the curb, but we didn't want to get separated (I'm on an ECV). We had a perfect view! It was great.

 

[hsmamato2]

Sharing our experience. I think the weather changed a lot of things for us. We were going to do the ptn Aladdin package. On Friday the 16th. (6:30 parade) On Thursday night,the rain began. And it rained a lot. It stopped by 10 am on Friday but This combined with chilly weather kept crowds lower than normal. We canceled our res. For Aladdin,and glad we did. At 6, we arrived near small world area. There were many people sitting and waiting at ropes,but plenty of space to watch. The small raised patio up the steps was almost empty,we stood right at the rail,and watched the iasw light show off to our right. A vendor I talked to said she was amazed at how few crowds were there.as the parade progressed more people joined us, but it was fine,plenty of room. My sis entered main st from entrance just as parade hit there,and enjoyed a great view just like that,no problem. So I am happy about the rain and chill,since we had a relatively crowd free visit,with lines that were manageable everywhere.(we didn't let the weather stop us,we had a lot of fun!
On Saturday we tried to get to toon town at about 5, not realizing there was stuff going on backnthere( some kind if parade and iasw lighting) it was WALL TO WALL people. We turned and left the area.(roger rabbit can wait for another visit) so we got lucky,crowd wise.ifvwechad wanted to see ptn on Saturday,the package would have been great.

 

[cmpeter]

We have the Aladdin PTN reservations for 1/1. The pick up time is 6:45...I assume that means we watch the parade at 10:30?

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Yes - our reservation was for 6:00 and we had the later (in our case 10:30) showing of the parade.

 

[mom2rtk]

We have the Aladdin PTN reservations for 1/1. The pick up time is 6:45...I assume that means we watch the parade at 10:30?

Check your reservation confirmation. I'm thinking mine specified which parade it was for.

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

We have the Aladdin PTN reservations for 1/1. The pick up time is 6:45...I assume that means we watch the parade at 10:30?

Yes, as mentioned above it says on your reservation:



4:45 PM appears to be the last reservation for the earlier show:

 

[texasgingerbread]

Any word on current pricing for 2016 PTN packages returning for holiday 2016? No sign on the DL website. I was looking at the available dates to book and they seem to stretch to Jan 8th, so I assume that's how long the parade will stay? Also, while the park/event hours are not fully out it appears some nights the parade will be at 6:30 and 10:30, with the fireworks at 9:30 in the middle? I find that odd? Is that likely to change?

If you book the Blue Bayou, how do you determine what to tip off of? Any thoughts on the main street viewing area compare to the one by Small World?

Most important, is there a discount for AP holders?

Thanks and any random thoughts on this dining package are greatly appreciated!

We were first time DL this past Spring and did both viewing. Because I was so used to being at WDW and seeing the castle there I would highly recommend IASW. I liked both (we did BB Reserved Viewing) and it was fun but the same projections were on IASW and it was so magical and different than WDW so that's my preference for DL.

Also, as soon as the last character/float has gone past IASW (it starts there), the rope will be dropped. Quickly move to the FAR right where no one was allowed (you'll see the trash cans against the IASW railing...go right of this) and your kids will have front row viewing for IASW because they'll be up against the rail. They can even sit and watch it!! Loved that location. It was really hard to see everything on Main Street reserved viewing...same tall heads blocking and people crowding you every which way.