Review: Fantasmic Blue Bayou Dining Package June 2018

[BadPinkTink]

On Wednesday 20 June I did a solo Fantasmic Blue Bayou Dining Package.

Adults cost $69 plus tax
Children aged 3 to 9 cost $29 plus tax

It is a set menu and you choose 1 stater, 1 entree and 1 desert
Soda and water are included

I booked online on Sunday 22 April 2018 and received an email confirmation. I had downloaded the Disneyland App to my phone and when I logged in, my reservation appeared on the AP in the My Dining Section.

At the time of booking you have to give credit card details. This is because Disneyland California has a NO SHOW charge.

Email Confirmation
Thank you, XXXXXX! Your dining reservation has been added to your account.

Blue Bayou Restaurant Fantasmic! Dinner Dining Package 1st Show
Wednesday Jun 20, 2018 (4:40 PM, Special)
Confirmation Number: xxxxxxxxx
Cancel Reservation
Reservation
Date: Wednesday Jun 20, 2018
Time: 4:40 PM, Special
Dining Party: 1 Guests
Location: Disneyland Park

Primary Guest
First Name Last Name
(Me) Email Address
Phone Number

Credit Card Guarantee
Your Visa ending in xxxx is being used to guarantee your reservation. It will only be charged in the event that your party does not arrive as scheduled. To keep from being charged, please cancel your reservation within the allotted cancellation period.

Guest Policies
click here to Cancel
- You must cancel at least one day prior to your reservation to avoid a per person cancellation fee. If you fail to cancel or are a no show, the credit card provided at the time of reservation will be charged $10.00 per person.
Restriction / Requirement
- Menu Items, Pricing, and Hours are subject to change without notice.
- If applicable, 18% gratuity will be automatically added for parties of 8 or more.
-Fantasmic! is subject to change. Hours can change as well as show can be cancelled due to technical issue or weather, without notice. Refunds WILL NOT be issued.
-This Fantasmic! Dining Package includes one reserved viewing area voucher per person to the First Fantasmic! Show on the date of the package reservation.
-In order to participate in this experience, park admission is required.
-If applicable, advise Guests that due to overwhelming demand, special seating (ex: outdoor seating or fireworks viewing) requests cannot be taken, but can be requested at the podium.
-PTY of 13 or more: Can not be accommodated.
-Children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the experience.
-Fantasmic! Ticket information - each person in the party that orders the prix-fixe meal will obtain one admission to the Fantasmic! viewing. Guests will receive their ticket to Fantasmic! viewing after payment of their dining experience. Your ticket lists the location of your viewing area, the time you should arrive at your viewing location and the performance time.

On The Day
My reservation was for 4.40pm but I checked in at the Blue Bayou host stand just after 4pm to request a waterside table.

I was told there would be a wait and I agreed to the wait. I sat down in the waiting area. There are limited seats here, so if you have a large party, most people will have to stand.

After about a 20 minute wait, a server from the restaurant called my name and brought me to my table. As requested I was given a 4 top table by the waterside, almost at the centre of the row.

A menu was handed to me and I was asked for my drink order.





On the reverse side of the starters page there was a nice information piece about the resturant




After ordering my meal, my soda was brought to my table, along with the bread service.

This was the meal I had


N’awlins Gumbo
Chicken, Andouille Sausage, Tasso Ham, Rice



Roasted Chicken Maison
Blue Bayou Au Gratin Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetable, Vermouth Jus



Crème Brulee
Berries, Madeleine Cookie

After the main, when I paid I was given my Fantasmic ticket and cushin





CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO MY MAIN JUNE 2018 TRIP REPORT

 

[grannyminnie]

Thanks for the review. I'm considering doing this in November with my sister. I just did the Hungry Bear version a couple of weeks ago, and brought my own seat cushion (thank goodness!). I've sat on the hard ground for the show and it is NOT fun! Love the cushion, by the way. And your "food porn" pics....
Was that gumbo very spicy?

 

[BadPinkTink]

@grannyminnie
thanks
Blue Bayou is my go to restaurant, even when Fantasmic was off I ate there

The gumbo is not that spicy. I would say Im in the medium tastes of spicyness, if that makes sense. I dont eat very spicy food but I dont eat the non spicy versions. This gumbo to me was just about right, tasty but not burn the mouth, watery eyes spicy

The cushion was great, its quite firm and thick, which is why I did a sideways view. Im used to sitting on the hard ground for concerts etc so this was really nice to have. Also as it has the handle, its easy to carry around afterwards.

After my meal I went on rides and sat on it in Haunted Mansion and Indiana Jones

 

[wishusluck]

Great review. Thanks so much : )
Can I ask...what time did you start lining up for Fantasmic, and where did you end up sitting?

 

[BadPinkTink]

Great review. Thanks so much : )
Can I ask...what time did you start lining up for Fantasmic, and where did you end up sitting?

thanks
I was down at Winnie The Pooh ride and I came back up to Haunted Mansion about 7. 10pm to find the Fantasmic entrance. There were alot of people hanging around so I sat on the wall outside Haunted Mansion.

At about 7.20pm I saw a big group heading over to the line up area so I went over to the CM to ask.

The CMs had the ropes up but were still allowing people to walk through. They had started 3 pre line up lines. Hungry Bear at the railings, Blue Bayou in the middle and RiverBelle at the far side. It was very confusing as there were no ropes up and families were bunched together. People from River Belle were in the Blue Bayou Line and people from Blue Bayou were in the River Belle line. It was only due to everyone talking and saying Im in the line for Blue Bayou that you could find the right line. This all happened between 7.15pm and 7.45pm.

At 7.45pm the CM's stopped people from walking through and started organising the lines. Hungry Bar were brought through first to a holding area, then us in the Blue Bayou line were brought through our holding area and then River Belle were brought through. Each viewing area was marked on the ground with tape and had a separate entrance area. At 8pm they let us through the viewing areas, at the entrance the CM took your Fantasmic ticket.

There was a big family group ahead of me and I just managed to get front row at the railings at the edge of the Blue Bayou viewing area. I would have been sitting next to a person who was in the Hungry Bear viewing area

This is a screencap from one of the videos I took. I would have been sitting on the ground and you can see the tops of the railings. This photo was not taken with any zoom I really was that close

 

[wishusluck]

Thanks! Very helpful info. Glad you had a good time.

 

[chickapin parterre]

.....so do you consider Blue Bayou your walk on the wild side of......of international cuisine?

 

[BadPinkTink]

.....so do you consider Blue Bayou your walk on the wild side of......of international cuisine?

lol, gosh no, its just something so far removed from anything here in Ireland, the whole theming, the restaurant in the ride, even the style of food. Its complete and utter fantasyland and escape from reality for me.

I know its mass produced and not fine dining and not what gourmet foodies would find appealing but for me its just part of my Disney experience.

 

[khaz]

The most frustrating part of this package is having to lug around the cushions throughout the day. I don't understand why they can't just hand them out when you arrive. We ended up with an 11:40am lunch for first show, and walking around with four cushions was a pain. Having to pay to store cushions if you don't want to walk around with them is also not a good option. They could make it less annoying for their paying customers.

 

[minnieralyks]

You are so wonderful @BadPinkTink!!!! We are planning our first dining reservation and your review is perfect! Thank you

 

[minnieralyks]

Also, where exactly is the line up area? I believe it's somewhere over by the Haunted Mansion/where the Columbia parks during offseason, but wanted to know exact location so we aren't wondering around aimlessly lol

 

[chickapin parterre]

.....so as you walk around Disneyland, hours before the show....do you see any those seat pads laying around on the ground or benches....long lost by the previous owner.....or do folks prey on the moment when someone leaves one by accident and another free souvenir?

 

[BadPinkTink]

Also, where exactly is the line up area? I believe it's somewhere over by the Haunted Mansion/where the Columbia parks during offseason, but wanted to know exact location so we aren't wondering around aimlessly lol

1 = the entrance and pre line areas.
2 = Blue Bayou Viewing area

.....so as you walk around Disneyland, hours before the show....do you see any those seat pads laying around on the ground or benches....long lost by the previous owner.....or do folks prey on the moment when someone leaves one by accident and another free souvenir?

No I didnt see any of them lying around. I did see people asking for take out bags in Blue Bayou, I saw other people taking them out of shopping bags and I did hear the family behind me talking about how it was a good idea to store them in the rented lockers.

 

[Butterfly123]

Great review! Thanks for including a picture of the cushion. That sure would make ground seating more comfortable!!

 

[skuttle]

We did the same package for dinner the night before you!

We found the lining up process extremely unorganized. I was shocked at how unorganized it was considering this has been going on a while!

We are a family of five and they brought our cushions to us in a bag. And I managed to squeeze all five in our luggage to bring home. They are great for gardening.

 

[grannyminnie]

We did the same package for dinner the night before you!

We found the lining up process extremely unorganized. I was shocked at how unorganized it was considering this has been going on a while!

We are a family of five and they brought our cushions to us in a bag. And I managed to squeeze all five in our luggage to bring home. They are great for gardening.

Totally agree with you on the unorganized lining up process! We arrived near to the time (8:00) that was on our voucher (arrive between 8 and 8:30) and found that there was no clear-cut signage or instructions as to who goes where. Perhaps we missed the announcement, but there should at least be someone nearby assisting folks who are not familiar with the process.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

if we do this in March, I plan to take a large bag that day to carry the cushions

 

[BadPinkTink]

if we do this in March, I plan to take a large bag that day to carry the cushions

You could but there is really no need to. The cushions have a carry handle. Also whey I did the exact same package in June 2019, the server put the cushion into a plastic bag, the one they use when you get a to box of your uneaten food.

You can also ask at any shop for a plastic bag. The cushions are very light and I have sat on them in Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones and Big Thunder Mountain.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

if we do this in March, I plan to take a large bag that day to carry the cushions

I agree with the poster below.

You could but there is really no need to. The cushions have a carry handle. Also whey I did the exact same package in June 2019, the server put the cushion into a plastic bag, the one they use when you get a to box of your uneaten food.

You can also ask at any shop for a plastic bag. The cushions are very light and I have sat on them in Haunted Mansion, Indiana Jones and Big Thunder Mountain.

They also come in handy on Matterhorn! And they fit easily in a locker if you don't want to carry them around all day.