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Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland Review

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It took five trips, but I finally got to eat at the Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland last month! I thought I would do a review to help you determine if it’s worth the hype.

Blue Bayou Restaurant

Blue Bayou Restaurant

For those who don’t know, this is a classic restaurant at Disneyland. In fact, it opened in 1967 and Walt Disney himself was involved in the planning of the restaurant! The restaurant is located inside of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride! In fact, people in the boats ride by the restaurant! If you are lucky enough to get a riverside table, you can see the people and wave. It’s this immersive theming and ties to Walt Disney himself that makes the restaurant so popular.

The Ambiance

I believe the best part of this restaurant is the ambiance. It is next level themed to the Louisiana Bayou! You feel like you are dining at night on the bayou. There’s a big tree and balloon lanterns hang above you. Watching the boats on the ride go by adds to the feeling that you are somewhere else. I will also note that there’s something to be said for going into the cool, dark room of this restaurant when it’s hot and sunny outside.

While I didn’t get a riverside table, I still enjoyed the ambiance here. It was a relaxing meal that was much welcomed after running around a theme park that morning. Plus, it was much calmer than a Disneyland character meal.

The Food

I booked this restaurant specifically for lunch (instead of dinner) so that I could get the Monte Cristo. I have a bit of a tradition of enjoying a Monte Cristo during my solo Disneyland trips. Previously, I enjoyed it at Cafe Orleans. So, I didn’t want to give up this tradition and instead was happy to try it at Blue Bayou. I’m happy to say the sandwich tasted the same. Although, I did appreciate a cast member brining me a small plate and dumping the strawberry preserves on it to demonstrate how much easier it is to enjoy versus cramming my sandwich into the tiny container. No one had ever shown me that at Cafe Orleans.

Additionally, instead of the lovely fries that I get at Cafe Orleans, there are other sides here. At Blue Bayou, it comes with truffle potato chips and roasted fruit salad. The chips seemed like regular house-made chips to me. They reminded me of a restaurant back home that makes their own chips. The roasted fruit salad seemed like a regular salad to me too. So, I definitely prefer the fries at Cafe Orleans over these sides.

The real star of this meal was the seasonal Doberge Cake! It had thin layers of pumpkin cake, with caramel buttercream, and chocolate whipped ganache! If you happen to eat here while this cake is available, I highly recommend getting it. It was one of my favorite things I ate on this entire trip! Yummy! The combination of the flavors was the best! I can’t decide if I’m sad it’s seasonal and I won’t get it again or if I’m happy that I won’t have to resist the pull of the cake to eat here again.

Tips for Getting a Reservation

This is probably one of the most popular restaurants at Disneyland and it can be difficult to get a reservation. In fact, I’ve tried on previous trips to get a reservation and came up empty handed. This time, I was able to grab one exactly 60 days out. So, make sure you check right when reservations open up. Also, keep checking back and you can also look into a waiting list on the day you want to dine here. Who knows, you might get lucky!

Is Blue Bayou Restaurant worth it?

I am so glad I was able to finally eat at Blue Bayou Restaurant. It’s a classic for a reason. However, I will probably stick to enjoying my Monte Cristo at Cafe Orleans. It’s cheaper ($26 vs $34) and comes with those tasty fries I haven’t had anywhere else. Although, if that cake is there, that does make it harder to decide. I think this restaurant is perfect for any Disney fans or if you want somewhere more romantic or with an immersive indoor theme to eat. However, you can enjoy some of the same foods elsewhere in the park for cheaper.

Westin Anaheim Resort Review

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On my most recent trip to Disneyland, I had the pleasure of staying at the Westin Anaheim Resort! Here’s a review of that experience.

Westin Anaheim Resort

Westin Anaheim Resort

Last year, I stayed at the Candy Cane Inn and enjoyed the close proximity to the park. This year, I opted to stay at the Westin Anaheim Resort due to the hotel‘s location and wonderful amenities! Having stayed here 3 nights, I think I can give a fair review of the experience.

The Location

I had read a few reviews mentioning the walk being a little long. However, the map made it look straight forward. Plus, I liked that most of the walk was on Disney’s property, so it felt safer. I walked over via Disneyland Dr versus taking Harbor Boulevard to avoid dealing with the unhoused. Most of the time, I was able to cut through the Grand Californian Hotel to make the walk shorter. However, you can’t do that during park opening. Additionally, one afternoon of my trip, there was a security guard who wouldn’t let me on property since I didn’t have a hotel or dining reservation at the hotel. So, just something to keep in mind if you stay here.

The Resort

I will say, this was a really nice place to stay. Everything felt luxurious and comfy. In fact, I noticed immediately how cushiony the carpet was! I feel most of the time, it’s just carpet over concrete. This was soft and plush!

The bed was very relaxing and the pillows didn’t go flat! The shower even had good pressure! I can see why this is a highly rated resort with all of the deluxe amenities.

The room also features some high tech fancy light switches. It was neat on the first day, but lost a little something by the last day. Also, I couldn’t get the light on the mirror to go out completely, so it lit up the room at night.

Upon arrival, I noticed that there wasn’t any soap at the sink. I notified the front desk on the way to the parks and when I returned to my room that night there were two bars of soap! So, I was pleased with their speed and ability to handle this issue.

Pros

  • Luxe accommodations – This felt like a deluxe resort without the pricetag. It was several hundred dollars cheaper per night than the Disney resorts but was a really nice hotel.
  • Wonderful bed – The bed was so comfy! The bedding was soft and the pillows didn’t go flat!
  • Good water pressure – Not every hotel (particularly in California) has great water pressure. I was pleased to discover the water pressure here was great.
  • Has several restaurants – I like staying somewhere that has at least one restaurant on property for arrival and departure days. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to try out all of the restaurants here. However, I did grab a Chicken Biscuit Sandwich from the Blossoms Market and Cafe before my departure to the airport. It was tasty!
  • Most of the walk to the parks is on Disney property – I appreciated how safe the walk to and from the park felt since this was a solo trip.

Cons

  • More expensive than some closer hotels – This hotel is nicer than most found on Harbor Blvd. However, it’s also more expensive than most of them.
  • Longer walk – The first day or two didn’t seem so bad. However, I was starting to drag by the third day. It’s about 1.0 to 1.1 miles each way.

Is the Westin Anaheim Resort worth it?

I truly enjoyed my stay at the Westin Anaheim Resort. The amenities were amazing. However, I might pick somewhere closer to the parks next time just for convenience. If you don’t mind a longer walk to/from the parks, this is a top pick!

Tam O’Shanter Walt Disney Table 31 Review

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While in southern California last month, I had the pleasure of doing the Tam O’Shanter Walt’s Table 31 Experience! Since I didn’t see many reviews on it, I thought I would post one.

Tam O'Shanter

Tam O’Shanter

For those who don’t know, Tam O’Shanter is one of Los Angeles’s oldest family owned restaurants! Having been a local favorite for over 100 years, many famous folks have dined here. In fact, Walt Disney was known to eat here with animators and Imagineers prior the the studios having a commissary! Knowing that many Disney fans eat here, a special Walt’s Table 31 Experience was created! Booking this experience is the only way to guarantee you will be able to eat at the specially designated table that Walt Disney supposedly ate at! Plus, you get to eat from a special menu and get a few special keepsakes.

The Ambiance

The Tam is a Scottish themed steakhouse! If you enjoy themed dining, this is a great place to check out in LA. Just eating here, you know you are surrounded by history. Supposedly, the cottage exterior inspired the Disney animators when working on Snow White’s cottage! Not only that, many TV shows have been filmed here! The restaurant appears in The Office’s series finale and in the show Mad Men!

To add to the atmosphere, the restaurant got napkins from the Disney Company with drawings and notes taken at the Tam. Then, they had those messages and pictures etched into this table! So, it was nice to look at the various images and messages while thinking what discussions may have taken place in this very restaurant! For instance, they claim Imagineers worked on the dinosaurs for the Disneyland Railroad here!

The Food

A restaurant wouldn’t stay in business for 100 years if it wasn’t good! Just for the experience, they have created a special menu! Everyone starts out with Deviled Eggs & Pickled Vegetables plus Bacon-Wrapped Dates! The deviled eggs were good, but pickled vegetables aren’t my thing. I don’t even like regular pickles though. Ha! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the bacon-wrapped dates! I enjoyed the combinations of flavors (salty and sweet).

For my first course, I went with The Tam’s Famous Chili. Even though it had been in the 80’s that day, I had to try it. I would say it’s a pretty good chili. The addition of the cheese and onions took it up a notch. Had I had more stomach space and had it been a cooler day, I would have eaten way more of it.

As for the entree, I had to get the Prime Rib! I’d never had prime rib, so I can’t say that I’m a good judge of such things. However, I will admit that it was good. A little salty, but really tasty. Then again, I typically eat turkey or chicken for my protein. I also enjoyed the accompanying mashed potatoes and creamed corn. The Yorkshire pudding was ok. A little dry, but good.

Lastly, for dessert, I ordered the English Trifle. It reminded me of a fancy strawberry shortcake. It was sweet and a great way to end the meal!

The Experience

Throughout the meal, my waiter shared lots of little tidbits about the restaurant as well as stories about Walt Disney. It was surreal to hear stories that had taken place in this very space. It really felt like I was eating in a place of history.

Additionally, at the end of the meal, my waiter brought me some special keepsakes! I got a Tam pin, a re-print of the special drawing from the Disney Company of the restaurant, and a postcard! I also received a punch card for the experience and was told that the gifts change each time you do it. So, I guess that increases repeatability for the experience.

Is the Tam O’Shanter Walt’s Table 31 Experience worth it?

I booked this meal about 2 months in advance. I prepaid $89 for the meal plus tax and a 20% gratuity. So, it ended up being a really expensive meal. However, I reasoned that it’s more than just a meal. It’s an experience. You are getting to dine at a table in a restaurant filled with history! It’s a unique event that you can’t do anywhere else. Plus, the food is plentiful and tasty! I would say this is worth it for any Disney fan. However, if you aren’t a big Disney fan or don’t enjoy history, you can probably just book a regular table here and enjoy the good food!

Have you ever eaten at Tam O’Shanter? What about Walt’s table?

Goofy’s Kitchen Halloween Breakfast at Disneyland Review

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On my recent visit to Disneyland, I was able to try Goofy’s Kitchen Halloween Breakfast! Here’s a look at that experience!

Goofy's Kitchen Halloween Breakfast

Goofy’s Kitchen Halloween Breakfast

Last year, I was able to do the Fall Brunch at this restaurant. So, this trip, I opted to book a breakfast time slot. Breakfast is a few dollars cheaper ($69 vs $74). Plus, I thought this would give everyone a good idea of the differences between the two meals.

The Characters

Even though I technically ate here last year, I got to see the characters in different costumes! Disney is continuing to use last year’s Halloween costumes at this meal. That’s great for anyone who didn’t visit last year or for anyone (like me) who didn’t get to see everyone in their costumes last year. Once again, I got to meet Goofy, Minnie, Chip, and Dale in last year’s costumes! Unfortunately, I missed out on seeing Pluto.

You get a picture with Goofy when you first arrive and it’s uploaded to your Disney account. Then, you see the other characters during the meal. I had several great interactions with the characters at this meal. In fact, I wore last year’s Disneyland Halloween shirt to this meal, which matched this meal’s vibe and costumes! Minnie actually noticed my shirt and was excited about it!

The Food

As I stated above, I booked a breakfast time slot. However, I have to admit I was a touch disappointed with the food this time. The waffles were as hard as a rock! I tried to cut an ear off and it was almost too hard to cut! The pizza was also tough and hard to cut or bite. I don’t remember what it was called, but there’s also a Mickey shaped egg thing. It tasted ok enough but was also tough. I’m guessing the food was left sitting out too long and got hard/tough.

The dessert spread was plentiful. Although, it’s still odd to me that they serve dessert at breakfast. The beignets/donuts were pretty good. I also liked the cinnamon roll.

Is Goofy’s Kitchen Halloween Breakfast worth it?

At $69, it’s a pretty pricey meal! Personally, given the quality of the food, I was disappointed in this meal. I think from now on I will just stick with brunch as I prefer those types of foods. Plus, it seems like that food might be fresher.

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Tour Review

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On my recent solo trip, I got to take the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Tour! Here’s a review of that experience to help you decide if it’s worth it.

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Tour

Disneyland 70th Anniversary Tour

Given how much I enjoyed Walt’s Main Street Story Tour last year, I decided to book the new Disneyland 70th Anniversary Guided Tour for this trip. Unlike last time though, I booked this tour in advance. In fact, I booked it 60 days out when I booked my dining reservations as I was sure that I wanted to do it. Unlike the other tour, it’s 2 hours (versus 90 minutes) and slightly cheaper ($120 vs $160).

The Walking Tour

At the start of the tour, everyone is given an ear piece, a lanyard, and a pin with your name on it to wear. The ear piece helps you hear the tour guide better and they play some old clips of Disneyland promotional things from 70 years ago. The walking tour is basically a walk around the park with a brief look at each land and facts about opening day attractions in each land. We rode the Disneyland Railroad from Tomorrowland to New Orleans Square. Then, we rode the Main Twain Riverboat. Both rides opened with the park.

We also received a Lightning Lane Entry for Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. I rode this right after the tour since the tour ends outside Toontown.

Each of us also received a special pin. You can see the keepsake pin in the 3rd image in my Instagram post. I like that it features the Mark Twain since we rode it on the tour. I also liked the nod to Autopia since I met Bob Gurr while in California on this trip!

I will admit, the tour itself is kind of dry. We didn’t really do much that you couldn’t do on your own. It wasn’t special access to a hidden area of the park or anything. In fact, I’m not sure I learned many new facts on the tour. So, I wouldn’t book this tour solely for the tour itself…

Paint the Night Viewing

The real reason I wanted to book this tour was that it came with reserved viewing of the new Paint the Night parade! I didn’t feel like dealing with people squishing me since I was by myself. So, a reserved area to view the parade from with less people sounded great to me! Plus, they gave us some popcorn to munch on while we waited for the parade! It was so nice to be able to spread out while viewing the parade. Plus, it made for a great way to end the day at the park.

Is the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Tour worth it?

A two hour tour probably isn’t ideal for a first time visitor. $120 isn’t exactly cheap either. While I really enjoyed the reserved viewing for the parade, I think it’s harder to recommend this tour for most folks. While I don’t regret taking the tour, I just think it’s harder to justify this one. It’s interesting to be guided around the park and to hear stories about its opening. However, the vast majority of the information shared is already online. This is mostly for people are interested in the park history but just starting to learn about it. It’s also great for people wanting a reserved space for the parade. Everyone else probably won’t find it worth the time and money.