Rating: DDDD, very good food but a little expensive and requires reservations
Special:
This is the one restaurant in the park that reservations are required. I would suggest making your reservations right after park opening at the entrance to the Blue Bayou. You can walk-in when you want to eat but the wait may be fifteen to thirty minutes and you will not be able to get a seat by the water.

Vegetarian Selection, for guests who are vegetarians this restaurant location offers a vegetarian selection. For more information, ask a host or hostess to assist you with your order.

Kosher meals are also available for $11.35. You can choose from the following items: Chicken Fiesta, Oriental Chicken, Radiatore Bolognese, Salisbury Steak, and Linguini. This is one of two restaurants in the park that offers Kosher meals and because they are special request will take about ten minutes to prepare. If you have a Magic Kingdom Club Card a 10% discount is given between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on all orders $10 or more.

Description:
The Blue Bayou sits hidden away in the shops of New Orleans Square. Just follow the first road back and watch for the signs that are on your left, it is pretty hard to miss. Every wonder what it is like to dine on the edge of a Louisiana Bayou, without the heat and humidity, well the Blue Bayou features just that experience. Guest leave the outside New Orleans and enter and enter the eternal darkness of the Bayou side restaurant. You can choose from a variety of New Orleans specialties. Note: The Blue Bayou is one of two remaining table service restaurants and requires reservations if you would like to sit waters edge. You can arrive at any time during the day, if you like, but you will have to wait for a seat. To make reservations visit the Blue Bayou at park opening and you can reserve a time for your party later in the day.

Reviews:
I agree that it is one of two sit-down restaurants in Disneyland, and that it is very popular. However, I do not agree with your assumption that reservations are necessary. I believe that it depends on the time of year, and the time of day. In the peak hours, I would agree that reservations are necessary. However, it has been my personal experience that a couple of two can be seated in the Blue Bayou in 15 minutes or less, either next to the water, or one table away, from January to May.

I am basing my review on three dinners that I had at the Blue Bayou restaurant with one other guest. One was in January, one was in February, and one was in May. On all three occasions, (well, assumed on the first, but known on the last two, the first was just our first experience at this restaurant) we went to the Blue Bayou knowing the food was much better, and a little more expensive than elsewhere in the park. On all three occasions we walked into the restaurant with no reservation, and were seated and ordering food within 15 minutes. There was no line outside the main entrance to the restaurant, and our waiting comprised of announcing our presence, and then sitting on the seats inside the main entrance for a few minutes (on the first visit, in January, we didn't need to wait at all).

The times of these dinners were between 5:00PM and 6:30PM. I wish I could be more exact on the time, but I never really thought it would matter. I do know that it was light outside every time we entered.

As a last comment, I would like to re-state that I do agree with you that a reservation is necessary during peak days at Disneyland. However, I am afraid that you might frighten some guests from even attempting to buy one of the few decent meals offered in Disneyland (especially the prime rib, for the non-jewish) by misleading them into thinking they can never get inside.

My recommendation? If you know it is where you want to go, make a reservation. If you happen to be in the area in the early evening and want better than a hot dog, don't be afraid to ask about the wait, and accept a long one if adamant about the quality of food.

Bottom line... On a crowded day in late July, I waited longer for a Tomorrowland Terrace Charbroiled Double Cheeseburger than I waited for a Blue Bayou "gourmet" meal in January, February, or May. (I am assuming that March and April would have been the same, but I was unfortunately out of the country!) During the summer, forget it. Make a reservation, or eat popcorn.
Daniel Hess

I would just like to add something about the use of reservations at the Blue Bayou. I just enjoyed our annual trip back in the beginning of September (right before Labor Day weekend). And even though some of the CM's said that it was really slow, the line was out the door and people were being given wait times of about an hour for seating. So I must agree with the reviewers final statement of making very sure of getting a reservation if you want to eat at the Bayou.

Also, if you are lucky to have a hotel room with a refrigerator, don't be afraid to ask your server for a "to go" container. Our server went through alot to make our half eaten dishes look like they had hardly been touched.

Bon Apetit!
Trev

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