Thoughts on Blue Bayou

[RRAR2007]

Hi all! My daughter turns 3 August 30th, and we have lunch and dinner reservations for Blue Bayou. Looking over the menu, my wife and I aren’t sure if it’s something we’d all, especially DD, would enjoy. So my wife suggested doing dessert there instead and going to Plaza Inn for breakfast as my daughter’s special meal.

wanted to see everyone’s thoughts on which route to go. This is our first vacation to Disneyland and it’s be cool to do something that Disney World doesn’t have.

 

[Henwen88]

We were there for birthday trip in July. Honestly, Blue Bayou was the low point in our whole trip experience - which was very unexpected based on some of the prior reviews. My daughter was told that she was not allowed to order just the gumbo as her meal (it is listed as an appetizer) and that it could only be ordered if she splits her entree with someone. Huh? No bread service, very slow service ( took about 40 minutes to receive food) - but I know they are short staffed. I would confirm that they will allow a dessert only reservation first.

We went to Napa Rose the next night, and were not disappointed - all excellent!!!!

What about Carnation Cafe? - thats on Main Street and is not at WDW. I'm not sure about menu since we didn't eat there.

 

[imahistorygeek]

We ate here a couple of times on our first trip. The ambiance is nice, but the food was mediocre at best. If you want to do a full meal, just do one or go the dessert-only route. This was a one and done for us.

 

[PRomano]

If the characters are back at Plaza Inn go there. My kids love it there! It would be a fun birthday meal.

 

[brentm77]

We visited a few weeks ago. I don't think we will go back for some time. No bread service just seemed cheap and not fitting of fine dinning, even during covid times. And the monte cristo sandwiches seemed like they had been cooked long ago and sitting under a heat lamp (soft crust, not crispy like it just came out of a fryer). Ambiance always rocks, but the for the price, the food needs to be better than it currently is. Service was slow with a change of our waiter mid-meal so the other could go on break (in 40+ years of dining, I have never had that happen). It just didn't feel like the fine dining experience it used to be.

 

[Linkura]

We were there for birthday trip in July. Honestly, Blue Bayou was the low point in our whole trip experience - which was very unexpected based on some of the prior reviews. My daughter was told that she was not allowed to order just the gumbo as her meal (it is listed as an appetizer) and that it could only be ordered if she splits her entree with someone. Huh? No bread service, very slow service ( took about 40 minutes to receive food) - but I know they are short staffed. I would confirm that they will allow a dessert only reservation first.

We went to Napa Rose the next night, and were not disappointed - all excellent!!!!

What about Carnation Cafe? - thats on Main Street and is not at WDW. I'm not sure about menu since we didn't eat there.

Carnation Cafe isn't open right now.

 

[smartlabelprint]

We’ve really enjoyed our meal there in the past. It was mostly due to the ambiance. If you want to try it, suck it up and pay for potentially mediocre food.

Don’t bother for dessert only, it’s not *that* special. It would be a waste of time. Their desserts are just ok. Probably to avoid people coming just for dessert! I’ve also gone for just dessert before and it was embarrassing. I have a thick backbone and still wished we hadn’t.

 

[DLgal]

Its banquet food at Napa Rose prices. Do yourself a favor and skip it. The desserts are not nearly worth it. There are so many excellent desserts on property.

 

[TikiTikiFan]

I'll be the one to defend Blue Bayou- it has so much history and the ambiance is wonderful because you're essentially eating inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. I would absolutely recommend it if you're not too worried about cost and more focused on experience. My son loves it and we eat there every visit- one of his favorite rides is Pirates so it's a big deal for him. The no bread definitely sucks though, hopefully they amend that soon.

 

[DLRExpert]

Avoid Lunch and go for Dinner.

 

[Chickinvic]

I love Blue Bayou and have never had a bad meal there, except I don't care for the Monte Cristo. Everything else I've had is good. The atmosphere can't be beat. I will say, I haven't had it in about 5 years, so maybe it has gone downhill?

 

[CommanderCanuck]

We have reservations for our upcoming trip in September and very excited for the experience of where we are but understand potential food/service questions I have seen from people. Still, as part of our honeymoon and our first trip, we couldn't say no to the experience

 

[Mike_M]

Blue Bayou has never truly been a 5 star dining experience. The draw for me has always been the ambiance over the cuisine. I haven’t been since COVID, but it sounds like this is more the case now.

If you are a serious foodie, you will be disappointed for sure.

I’ve always felt the food was decent, yet overpriced. Even so, I’ll still go back on my next trip. I’ve never had bad service there and my expectations I believe are properly set.

 

[vacay77]

I love Blue Bayou. It’s the one restaurant I will splurge at inside the park. However, due to your daughter’s age, and if you are thinking about just getting dessert, you might be better off going to a different restaurant.

How is everyone scoring reservations to Blue Bayou? I have a visit in October to DL and I check every day, and nothing shows up for availability.

 

[FabDisneyFan]

We love Blue Bayou and have dined there several times. However, with a 3 year old, I suggest doing Storytellers character dining instead. The character interaction is modified due to COVID, but still so fun.

Edited to add: characters available during breakfast only.

 

[Carrie in AZ]

Not sure you can even go to BB just for dessert, does anyone know for sure? If they don't allow you to order an appetizer for a meal, then I doubt ordering dessert only is allowed but I do not know for sure.

We love it there and try to eat there every trip. We were there last month and could not get a reservation and could not do walk up either. A major disappointment for our family. Is the food amazingly wonderful? No. But we love it and felt sad we could not eat there during our trip. For us, it is a Must Do.

 

[ComeToSocialize]

Echoing what others have said - I really enjoy going to Blue Bayou, but the food is overpriced and not great. If you go, request a table on the water both in advance and in person when you check in. It really makes all the difference to be able to watch the boats go by, and sometimes even wave or interact with the riders. Your daughter may be a little young to appreciate it though... maybe in a few years when you can ride Pirates beforehand and then surprise her by taking her to eat there right after.

 

[mich311e]

She's only 3, I'd go with the character meal. I enjoyed breakfast at Plaza Inn the times we've eaten there.

 

[whoever]

I refuse to NOT be riverside. I'll wait till it is available. The food has never been good, much less great. The experience it not to be missed however.

 

[whoever]

She's only 3, I'd go with the character meal. I enjoyed breakfast at Plaza Inn the times we've eaten there.

At 3, they won't remember it anyway. You do you, heck with them.