In the world of Disney dining, sometimes the reservations you don't get lead to meals you're so glad you did. Such was the case when we could not get reservations at Disneyland's iconic Blue Bayou in New Orleans Square. But let me go back a few steps.
In a fortunate turn of events, my sister and I were out visiting our parents at the same time. (My wife was set to visit her mother during the same time but in a different part of the state. We couldn't both see all our parents, so we split up.) We decided to ask our Mom to join us for a day at Disneyland, knowing it had been three decades plus since her last visit. (Full trip report here.) We did not take the trip lightly as when your mother is 81 years old - even if she is in great shape- you plan to rest when you need to and stop for long casual meals to talk and regroup. All said, we knew at least one sit down meal would be on our agenda. Getting on a handful of "must see" attractions, including Rise of the Resistance, was a priority, but it was still second to making sure she had a great time.
Given this is 2022 and with Disney parks being under the leadership of Bob Chapek, I was actually surprised the offerings were not much more expensive than they were. We decided to order a Monte Cristo to share as well as a Caesar salad. My sister ordered a bowl of Chicken Gumbo soup. We all ordered drinks but threw in a Mint Julep for the three of us to taste.
Our server was great, relaxed, friendly, and she had just the right balance of checking in on us and letting us sit and relax. Great service is a hallmark at the Disneyland Resort. Cast members there seem to take even greater pride working in the park Walt Disney himself actually created and walked in. This isn't to say that Walt Disney World has lower quality cast members. It just feels different in Anaheim. You have to experience it to understand it.
Safe to say Mom enjoyed her lunch with her favorite and only son (and daughter too!)
I was needlessly worried that we hadn't ordered enough to eat. The portions were quite large. The Parmesan fries were so addicting, perfectly seasoned and cooked. The sandwich was filling and rich- and very tasty. Half of it was more than enough to satisfy our memories and our sweet tooth. Surprisingly, the hearty portion of salad was easily shared among the three of us. The Gumbo was apparently excellent as well, and we certainly all enjoyed the Mint Julep- even without the alcohol.
All this for less than half the price of what we'd have spent at the Blue Bayou.
From arriving at our table until the time we left, it was about an hour. It was time well spent and without the feeling of being rushed by our server. A very, very enjoyable experience! We were left ready to continue our day, refreshed by being off our feet, and happy to sit and talk about the day's events while sitting in the shade during a perfect California day.
So... is Disneyland's Cafe Orleans a Dine or Ditch?
When you want something more than hamburgers and nachos, there are not a lot of options in Disneyland proper. Cafe Orleans gives you the high quality food, something different than the ordinary, with terrific service, all at about a 30% increase in price over a theme park hamburger. Maybe best of all, you can get into the restaurant without having to maker reservations months in advance. All of this makes it well worth it. Cafe Orleans is a definite Dine.
There's one main reason you'd be tempted to Ditch. If you're needing the iconic experience of dining waterside, under a moonlit bayou night with fireflies and the sounds of Pirates of the Caribbean off in the distance, you'll only have that at Blue Bayou. But you'll pay big bucks for similar quality food... and as of this post, that famous Monte Cristo sandwich is no longer on the menu there.
No comments:
Post a Comment