Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Blue Bayou

Banjo strumming fills the night as flickering fireflies flit by. The rickety swamp shack is the last vestige of civilization, and the Spanish-style long boats sail silently into the misty blackness.

"Dead men tell no tales," the ghastly grim cairn warns, as the vessels crash one by one down into the sea cave below.

Of course, one can witness this spectacle from the safe and cozy confines of a candlelit bistro called the Blue Bayou. It's where my parents ate on their honeymoon. It is where I always wanted to eat every time I rode the Pirates of the Caribbean as a kid.

I never got to eat there, though I was taunted several times a year until I eventually moved away.

It's been nearly 10 years since my last visit to the Mouse. Odd, considering the frequency of my former visits. I suspect some has changed, but I am certain that I still know my way around.

I have been waiting, I suppose, until my kids can go. And now, that time may be here. The girl is up to her pigtails in princess paraphernalia. She knows their names, she knows their lines, she knows their songs.

She has started making the request.

So, perhaps, the next trip to California will include a trip to the park. She is three, however, and I must contain my expectations. After all, it is her turn now, and the visit will be all about her.

That probably means no nice dinner among the fireflies, no "yo ho ho," and no banjo music. Again, my dining desire will have to wait. It's worth it, to be sure, but perhaps, maybe, possibly someday, if I'm lucky and I hold my tongue just-so, then there might be a chance that I'll get to eat at the Blue Bayou. Hopefully, it won't suck.

29 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:10 AM

    The Blue Bayou is the best place to eat in the park by far. I never skip it. The girl will enjoy it fine. They have special chilrens menus that are also pirate hats.

    Their Monte Cristo is second to none.

    With your family, and her age, a single park day at 3 should be good.

    You can go twice a year, now until 9 or 10 and it wont get old, not for her.

    And it is more fun with kids than it was as a kid.

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  2. Anonymous6:42 AM

    I have to disagree with Inog here. I don't mean to piss in your cheerios but I had a slightly different experience. I also wondered about the legend that is the "blue bayou". My sister worked in the New Orleans square for some 8 years. I had the chance eat there and maybe just caught it on an off night.
    Have to admit though, never have eaten in such a cool atmosphere. Its fun watching the people on the ride looking at you with great envy as well. I sat as close the the boats as I could and exaggerated my "yums" and "oh, this is wonderful food" But, like I said, I'm an asshole like that.

    Go ahead and check it out for yourself. The kiddies will love your for it.

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  3. Anonymous7:20 AM

    I'm curious, does Mrs. G&T remember her dining experience at Blue Bayou? We were being English that day.

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  4. We're big Mouse fans. We've had passes for 13 years. Please let us know when you plan on going ... my big girls would love to spend the day with your little girl. There's something very special about seeing a "real" princess for the first time.

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  5. Anonymous8:16 AM

    Thanks, now I'm craving a Monte Cristo!!

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  6. Your girl sounds just like mine...she's constantly asking to go to "Cinderella's Castle" and tends to remind me that her great aunt lives very close, so we need to go visit....I suppose we'll have to give in soon, pack the stroller for the boy and hit it. "It's a small world after all." That's going to be the worst part, I think.

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  7. You HAVE to hit California Adventure while you're at it! We went there last year, not expecting much, and were amazed by how much we enjoyed it! We liked it even better than Disneyland, and I think Allan and I had more fun than Todd did-- it really brought out the inner kids in us :-)

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  8. Yes, the hubby and I went to California Adventure land in the yeas before kids and it was quite fun. They have a virtual reality ride that is awesome and the water ride is really cool too...

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  9. Anonymous9:16 AM

    Don't forget about me!!!

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  10. Anonymous9:18 AM

    Or me... ever talked live with a 150-year-old sea turtle? Duuuuuude...

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  11. Anonymous9:22 AM

    We will be hosting many upcoming weddings. About 75% of our employees(cast members)are gay. That's why we are the "happiest place on Earth"

    Taste the rainbow.

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  12. We went to a wedding of family members who met while working at Disneyland. Their wedding literally had a mickey mouse/minnie mouse theme, they both wore hats and everything. That's about all I remember of the wedding I got too drunk and danced a lot...

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  13. Ev should get married at Disneyland. Brian can dress as a pirate, the bridesmaids could be disney princesses and the reception could be at the Blue Bayou

    OK, so Evs not digging it but I'll work on her

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  14. The Blue Bayou is the only place in Disneyland that serves alcohol in the form of a mint julep, from what I understand.

    When you come down, we'll all go. It will be a big old day.

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  15. Anonymous10:31 AM

    Can I dress up like Pirate too?

    and say stuff like "shiver me timbers"...I've always wanted to say that.

    and no, not a butt pirate.

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  16. Actually - Club 33 is the only place to buy alcohol, which is the private dining club, located above the Blue Bayou.

    As for the Mouse - I'll just remind Brian that (I've heard) that the Mouse disapproves of jumping off the boats to try to get some of the treasure for yourself.
    The Mickey Mouse police carry 38's.

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  17. Anonymous11:24 AM

    Actually, I'm not a prop. I was a tourist back in 1967 who got a little too close to the treasure...

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  18. Anonymous11:24 AM

    Actually, I'm not a prop. I was a tourist back in 1967 who got a little too close to the treasure...

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  19. Anonymous11:32 AM

    Better get down here before the coastline is covered with Oil rigs.

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  20. Anonymous1:41 PM

    I am still one of Family Train's favorite artists!!!

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  21. Anonymous1:55 PM

    Hey, we accept everyone here. Even our lightning bugs are gay.

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  22. Anonymous2:50 PM

    Nothing like the lounge lizards to turn a good blog into something crappy.


    Taken the kiddos to Land and World. Believe it or not, they prefer Land. inog prefers Epcot (beer, beer and more beer). EuroLand may be added to the list this summer. I hear there's plenty of alcohol to be had there.


    Mouseland with your own children is a blast. Be the best daddy and arrange a sleep over in Cinderella's castle.

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  23. Anonymous3:03 PM

    [sigh...] Actually, it's MY castle. Cinderella always gets the credit though... That Bitch!

    And before you ask, yes, I do attend the sleep over, but no, I do not offer full-release massages.

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  24. Anonymous4:49 PM

    ...But Cinderella swallows!

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  25. Anonymous9:45 PM

    I do remember our English lunch at the Blue Bayou. I taunt Mr. G&T with it regularly.

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  26. Anonymous10:38 PM

    I've been de-disneyed from having to be married to a man that bowed at the alter of disney for over 10 years.

    So no Lisa - even though the thought of being a wench bride is tempting - I think I'll pass.

    Side note - I agree Monte Cristos rock and I think you can only get them on the lunch menu - so don't bother with dinner because the menu sucks.

    Also - the mint julep does have a familar cough syrup taste - but none of the yummy Nyquil kick.

    And the last side note - when I was little I used to call the pirates ride - the restaurant ride. It was all about the restaurant for me.

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  27. I've never been to Disneyland. Disneyworld when I was little. My sister flirted with the monorail driver, and we rode up front. And I've been to Tokyo Disney. Perhaps I should convince a German of the expensive fun inherent in crappo Euro Disney. Then I can have gone to all of them EXCEPT the original.

    On a sidenote, if you do go to Disneyland you're going to need to bring a spare suitcase for all the crap you're going to end up buying. Oh...and probably time to apply for another credit card. Best to be prepared.

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  28. Anonymous9:22 AM

    ...But Cinderella swallows!

    who doesn't?...

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  29. Amanda-- if you've done Disneyworld, you've seen Disneyland. Land is basically a subset of World. I definitely enjoyed both, but loved the "extras" that World provided, like Epcot and the little area where you could visit different "countries". I got a Helly Hansen shirt in "Norway"!

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