For those of you that have never been to Disneyland or have never heard of the Blue Bayou ... the restaurant, as I mentioned, is actually inside Pirates of the Caribbean. Guests enjoy their meal "outdoors" alongside the Louisiana bayou that leads passing boats to a certain Carribbean adventure. The "skies" are lit by starlight and fireflies as guests hear crickets chirping in the background. The menu is full of Cajun and Creole style offerings.
There are so many things I love about this restaurant. I love the fact that the setting, the theming, and the menu all work together to support a unique dining experience. The sights...the sounds...the flavors...all working in unison. THAT'S what Disney dining should be about.
The other thing that I absolutely love....the thing that really draws many guests in initially...is the fact that you get to dine right in the middle of a classic Disney attraction. You essentially become part of the attraction....YOU help set the theme for the guests just beginning their Pirates journey.
Walt Disney World does have a couple restaurants that flirt with this concept. The first one that comes to mind is the San Angel Inn, inside the Mexico Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase. It sits near the Gran Fiesta Tour and has a beautiful Mexican backdrop. And much like the Blue Bayou, it offers the ambiance of starlight dining no matter what time of day. Yet...in my book...it fails to match what the Blue Bayou offers. Maybe because Gran Fiesta Tour isn't quite the classic attraction that Pirates of the Caribbean is.
Another option (again in Epcot, though this time in Future World) is Coral Reef....inside The Seas with Nemo and Friends pavilion. But...while you are surrounded by an aquarium, you aren't exactly IN the attraction. And, you could also make the case for Cinderella's Royal Table in the castle.
So...the question I pose is, what attraction would also double as a great table service meal option? Here's my pitch (which is bound to turn some off).... The Haunted Mansion. Yes...this may be a bit of a stretch (no pun intended)....but here's what I have in mind. Expand the Ballroom and offer a signature dining experience. Maybe...Master Gracey's Feast?!?! The story would be that you've been invited to the mansion for an "other worldly" dinner party. Little would you know that the 999 inhabitants of the mansion would also be making an appearance.
I would enhance many of the "scenes" in the ballroom...in order to prevent diners from seeing the same ghosts perform the same actions over and over and over again. In addition to the haunts that currently reside within the mansion, other guests would serve as ghosts. This would need a little help from modern (or future) technology. I picture some sort of seamless (and invisible) two-way mirror between the guests riding the attraction and the guests dining in the Ballroom. This two-way mirror causes guests one side of the mirror to appear faded and "ghostly" to guests on the other side of the mirror. So the diners appear to be ghosts themselves to the attraction riders...and vice versa....all in addition to both sets of guests seeing the haunts that permanently inhabit the Haunted Mansion.
The servers would have to be some of the finest Cast Members in WDW... much like many of the current Haunted Mansion cast members. Each member of the wait staff would need to speak with the monotone creepiness that they are so well known for. The hosts and hostess would have to be almost Lurch (from the Addams Family) like. The food would mirror that of a "typical" upper class feast of Colonial times.
The capacity would have to be somewhat limited....(think Le Cellier). If the Ballroom would expanded by too much, it would take away from the existing attraction. So it would have to be done in a manner that complimented it. That remains the whole point....this needs to enhance the current attraction...not reduce it.
So...what are your thoughts on combining dining with attractions? What attraction do YOU think would best incorporate a restaurant?
Josh, I LOVE this idea! I've said it before, Disneyland has Disney World beat in in park dining. This is just what the "world" needs!
ReplyDeleteI would suggest a sit-down dining establishment that allows you to appear to be dining on the outdoor patio of an African hunting lodge which would have you look over the savanna or some other portion of the Kilimanjaro Safari. The diners would be visible by guest on the attraction and vice versa
ReplyDeleteWhat about the tea cups? First try and eat your meal while spinning and then try and keep it down? Ok no? How about TOT meal kinda in lines with your Haunted Mansion idea would be fun to eat in the hotel then take a drop :-)
ReplyDeleteAlong the lines of a HM restaurant how about a TOT restaurant in the well themed courtyard in the front of the hotel?
ReplyDeleteNothing like eating with the screams above....
I think the music in the queue would be great dining music too.
Or perhaps a restaurant inside with the cobwebs, old furniture, etc...?
Very cool ideas Josh!
I thought about the TOT restaurant as well. I pictured another ballroom time feast...partially inspired by the Gold Room from The Shining.
ReplyDeleteLove all these ideas...except maybe Doug's tea cups. :-)