Disneyland fans will be able to get an even more authentic taste of New Orleans when the park's famed Blue Bayou Restaurant reopens later this year. Disney announced today that the Blue Bayou will be putting alcoholic beverages on its menu for the first time.
The Blue Bayou will not reopen with the rest of the park on April 30, due in part to state-mandated capacity restrictions on indoor attractions. But when the restaurant reopens on the banks of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, its menu will feature beer, wine, and a New Orleans favorite - the Hurricane cocktail.
The Blue Bayou also will offer a celebration package featuring sparkling wine. And for non-drinkers, Disneyland is plussing the New Orleans Square restaurant's drink menu with seasonal takes on the non-alcoholic Mint Julep.
For decades, the only place to buy alcohol inside Disneyland was at Club 33, a private club located above New Orleans Square. But Disneyland started serving with Oga's Cantina in Star Wars Galaxy's Edge in 2019, creating the precedent for alcohol sales in Disney's original theme park.
Update: Let's not overlook this additional item from Disney's April food-and-drink press dump. Behold the "Pickle Corn Dog" - a hot dog, wrapped in a dill pickle, dipped in corn dog batter and then fried with a Panko crust. And then served with a side of peanut butter... because, why not?
It's coming to the Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs Cart in Downtown Disney. Perhaps this is thing for guests after they imbibe that Hurricane at the Blue Bayou?
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But it is what Walt would have drank. :-)
Called it!
Expect beer carts on Main Street by 2025.
So Blue Bayou is considered part of POTC when attraction capacity is calculated? Wait, What???? POTC boats don't get closer than 15 feet from the tables on the edge of the dining room, and they could easily erect plexiglass to definitively separate the dining room from the ride.
One could argue that the ventilation within Blue Bayou is probably better than 90% of the indoor restaurants in California because it shares its HVAC (and air exchange rates) with POTC. So eating/drinking in the cramped and tight Oga's Cantina or smallish Café Orleans = OK, but the open, and downright "breezy" Blue Bayou = No.
Pickle corn-dog? The thought of it makes me sick.
Absolutely not surprised by the addition of booze to the Blue Bayou. I whole heartily agree with TH Creative that more will follow, I think sooner than he indicates unless he knows of some specific reason 2025 is a date that matters for some legal reason. Mickey needs to make up for lost time and folks will throw a lot of money at libations. I believe Walt would have changed his mind and had the F&B team create a special drink called 'The Marceline, MO Mule' in his honor. Bottom(-line)s UP!
Blue Bayou is... complicated, from what I have heard. And with park capacity limited, I suspect that Disney's number-crunchers say that it's easier to just leave that indoor full-service dining location closed than to mess around with running it right now.
Not gonna lie folks that Dill Corndog looks just weird enough to be amazing. I mean, fried pickles? Check. Corndog? Check. Peanut butter? Check on its own, but not sure about its inclusion here. I think I might prefer a tangy remoulade or Cajun ranch as an accompaniment. But hey, who am I to judge? The future is now people, and it’s delicious! (Or possibly disgusting)
I don't have a problem with alcohol in a sit down restaurant particularly a relaxed setting like the Blue Bayou where people celebrate special occasions. In fact its a natural fit. However it is a slippery slope to alcohol across the park.
As for the Pickle Dog, I think its a Keto Friendly food option.
Years of experience have caused me to doubt any announcements so close to April Fool's Day. This one included. What's next - Disney will start serving weed at its new Jungle Cruise cafe?
No there will not be weed in the Jungle Cruise cafe. But I have heard about shots being served again in the hippo pool.
See what I did there?
I can only see mixed drinks being watered down in Dland. I still believe Carthay has a better menu and most likely better drinks.
If Disneyland were to start offering weed, Alice in Wonderland would be a good start for a dispensary...
If Disneyland were to start offering weed, then Space Mountain would be renamed Spaced Mountain, every showing at Mickey's PhilharMagic would be packed, and the busiest food cart would be selling Minnie-Oreos.
I like what Beacher and James did there, but I think legal acid would work better than weed for Alice in Wonderland (though weed would probably be good too -- and I'm not advocating the use of either).
And Robert's comment of "But it is what Walt would have drank. :-)" made me laugh. The man did drink, and my first thought when seeing the headline was "but will they have Hurricanes?" having been to Mardi Gras once. I was glad to see that the answer was yes (as long as they don't overserve people).
Also, Walt died in December of 1966. Just over 54 years ago. The world has changed a LOT since then. Would walt have changed with it? Probably, but none of us know for sure. All we know is that he created a company and a park (and his brother Roy worked his tail off to finish a second park) that still makes people happy today.
So when I see people talking about Walt liking or not liking something, I blow it off. And if anyone says he's "rolling over in his grave," I wonder how cremated remains manage to roll over.
Also, I may or may not skip the peanut butter dip on the panko-crusted pickle dog thing, but I WOULD try it (but I cannot, as I live in Nevada and will not be allowed to visit when Disneyland reopens).
Maybe Disneyland should now introduce this amazing concept from the Efteling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htPOIqQYZ6E
Well now instead of shouting from a Pirates boat "Hey, can you pass me some bread?" I'll be ordering cocktails.
Its understandable Disney has gradually changed over time, including changes that directly go against Walt himself. But I do think the principle that Disneyland should never be a place for people to get drunk needs to remain intact. Serve alcohol in a few sit down locations, but nowhere else. I don’t know if that should be the case in other parks, but Disneyland for sure needs to remain alcohol free, besides some sit down restaurants and the Cantina.
I like the idea.... If it's anything like Club33's Hurricane, it's gonna be awesome!
I do believe Walts drink of choice was a Scotch Mist
Don't believe serving alcohol at Blue Bayou is the best move Disney is making. Watching people walking around with a beer or wine in their hand half drunk on the California side takes away from the family atmosphere. Alcohol has no place in Disneyland. And the editors response to one comment, But it is what Walt would have drank" is comical. Why not allow smoking everywhere in the park afterall Walt used to smoke. Come on people have some common sense. Anything for the ole mighty buck.
I certainly respect the reality that having overly intoxicated people stumbling about can cause the magical bubble of fantasy to burst- so I ask, doesn’t Disney keep a pretty decent eye on folks who may pose a nuisance to other guests? Asking in earnest here. I’ve been to Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Epcot (especially Epcot) and California Adventure many, many times where people were drinking and have never experienced any problems with feeling like the magic was shattered. My opinion of course, and formed only from my own personal experience. Has anyone in this thread ever had any run-ins or confrontations with drunken park guests? Curious to hear any stories if anyone is willing to share...
Peanut butter and Pickles? Is Disney going for the Pregnancy crowd or something?
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“THiS is NoT whaT WAlt wOuLD hAve wANtEd.”