Originally Posted By davewasbaloo >>>...prime rib was indeed gone & in it's place a very inferior steak, <<< Bummer, normally I prefer steak, but the prime rib at BB was very good.
Originally Posted By monorailblue <<I grew up at the BB and Tahitian Terrace, to me a nice meal in a highly themed setting is as much of a key Disney experience as any e-ticket.>> Can't say that was my experience. I grew up bringing coolers with lunch to put in a locker, and getting only a burrito, rice and beans at Casa Mexicana, and splitting chili fries from the Village Haus, and often driving down Harbor to Taco Bell for the 59-79-99 menu (gives you my approximate age, I guess). I think the disconnect is that many people in my "world" (the el-cheap-o world) find a chance to splurge when they are on a Disney vacation, and Blue Bayou was (is??) the epitome of "fine" Disney Dining. But they don't quite know what to do when they get there. I think Disney has done what they reasonably can to limit the impact--prices so high, it is a joke; charge to split plates, which otherwise would be much more common; advance reservations and no real promoting the restaurant within the park--and I don't think they can do anything else. If you are an epicurean diner, you must accept that at BB, families who are not epicurean populate the place. That's just the way it is going to be. Imagine how much more boisterous the ambiance would be without the outrageous pricing, advance reservations and a plate splitting fee! Just my 2¢.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Funny, I find the prices are pretty good value (though a Whopper meal cost me $15 the other day), given they give you double veg and starters, I don't find the platage fee outrageous either.
Originally Posted By cinderella143also >>Funny, I find the prices are pretty good value (though a Whopper meal cost me $15 the other day), given they give you double veg and starters, I don't find the platage fee outrageous either.<< Where in the heck did you pay that much for a Whopper? Even in our airport it's not that much!!!! Holy Cow! I am sorry but we did the split plate. We got 2 carrots each and they gave us one starter salad. We both got a tiny and I mean tiny portion (about 2 small bites each) of potatoes. $5 for two carrots? Not worth it to me!
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Really, when we did it we got 2 gumbos and huge portions of veg. I have heard BB is inconsistant.
Originally Posted By monorailblue <<Funny, I find the prices are pretty good value>> <<we did the split plate. We got 2 carrots each>> That's what I was trying to demonstrate. Many (most) people do not find a $30+ stake to ever be a "good value". It is more like a "treat". A good value is when chicken is less than $2/lb or name-brand Macaroni 'n' Cheese is less than 50¢/box. Getting Tillamook cheddar for less than $3/lb is also a good deal, as are almost all lower end items at Taco Bell and Wendy's. The Costco churro is a good deal; the Disneyland churro is not. A fresh head a cauliflower for less than $2, or bananas for less than 35¢/pound--those are good deals. A haircut for around $10 = good deal. That is, for many (most) people, the normal state of the world. So, Blue Bayou is full of people who feel like they are splurging--often for the first time in their lives. Their children are outfitted at Target, Mervyn's, Kohls and JC Penney sales, and they never, ever think about eating at the Napa Rose. Their ability to contain the exuberance at dining in a place that, often, has been a lifelong dream, may be incomplete. Don't mistake my meaning--I'm not insulting haute cuisine or fine dining. I think the nice things in life are laudable and enjoyable. (At least, I've heard that they are.) Yet the Blue Bayou patrons often have no practical experience--indeed, no way to get practical experience--with higher-end dining--hence the appeal of balloons and paper hats. So you have to take the experience for what it always will be: a mixed patronage of those who feel it is a good deal, and those who a thrilled to be splurging, just this once, for that extra special meal that they'll possibly never splurge for again. Again, I think Disney has made reasonable efforts to make the experience high-end. My spouse and I enjoyed our one visit. And I doubt we'll ever go back again.
Originally Posted By dlkozy >>>"Again, I think Disney has made reasonable efforts to make the experience high-end...z"<<< I disagree with you on this statement. True high-end restaurants are consistent in both quality and service-this is not the case at the BB. As previously stated the BB would never survive in the "real" world as a high-end restaurant because it is not. BB is a fun experience (some times) with a atmosphere that is different from just about any other restaurant. But high end? Only for a theme park.
Originally Posted By mater4 I have been to nicer places than BB but for a theme park it is considered nice. It would be a place we go on every trip if they were more consistent with the quality of food. My kids are outfitted in nice clothes that we buy on sale at the stores monorailblue mentioned. Our "fine" dining at home consists of Red Robin, Chili's or Mimi's. Our kids are expected to behave properly at these lower end establishments as well. So when they get to a place like BB they know how to behave. I am proud to say my children have never embarrased me in public with bad behavior.
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo Indeed I would never really consider the BB high end, not in the slightest. Nice and a great theme? Definately.
Originally Posted By cinderella143also My mom taught us well and we too went to restaurants at home and knew how to behave. Because I was raised this way, I always appreciate when I see well behaved children. Thanks mater4!
Originally Posted By Kathi K We were told that they took away the prime rib and replaced it with roast for a leaner cut of meat. Mine was dry and not good. We wrote to DLR and complained. We won't go back till the prime rib comes back. If I am going to spend that kind of money I want to splurge and don't worry about the leanness(sp?) of the meat.
Originally Posted By barboy ///True high-end restaurants are consistent in both quality and service-/// I don't know about that.... high end joints are not really based on food quality, service or consistency. Now those features are commonly found in high end places but they are not a necessary attribute. The most defining feature to high end dining is the restaurant's physical surroundings like: location--- such as waterfront, city views, yacht dining, hotels, golf courses ambiance, decor--- such as plates/silverware/linens, furnishings, piano playing, overall elegance
Originally Posted By ecdc >>I grew up at the BB and Tahitian Terrace, to me a nice meal in a highly themed setting is as much of a key Disney experience as any e-ticket.<< I couldn't agree more, Dave. We stay off-site and drive from Utah to save some money. But we eat every meal in the park or in Downtown Disney. It's a huge part of the experience for us. The convenience and the ambience are a big part of it. Sure, it's not exactly fine dining at the French Market. But it's a southern theme in New Orleans Square and that's part of what I'm paying for. I can't wait to go to DLP someday. BTW, I also agree with dlkozy about BB surviving in the fine dining experience. It's unique because of its locale. There's no place else in DL like it. But take the food and put it outside the park at those prices and that's all she wrote. Someday my wife and I will make it to Napa Rose. I don't think my kids are ready for it yet though
Originally Posted By davewasbaloo yep, as a kid we would sometimes set off at 4am and drive home that night or stay in a motel to save money, but bb, tt and plaza gardens was always high up on the list.
Originally Posted By fkurucz <<Where in the heck did you pay that much for a Whopper?>> Prices in the UK are sky high. I was watching Top Gear (a UK car TV show) the other day. They were highlighting the Vauxhall/Holden Monaro (which was sold as the 2004-2006 Pontiac GTO in the US). In the UK they list at close to $70,000 US, more than twice what the GTO sold for in the US.
Originally Posted By barboy ///Prices in the UK are sky high./// For economies like ours here in the US but not for Limeys, Nordics or Slavics. $15 for a whopper meal combo seems fairly commensurate with incomes over there as proven by how those Euros come here and live high on the hog during their vacations.
