So I'm here now, did River Belle this evening, as compared to Blue Bayou a couple weeks ago.
When I showed up at 6:20, they weren't accepting walk ups. There was a bit of a wait until I was seated but I also was eating at prime time. I ended up getting seated inside. I had the choice of 1st or 2nd show.
So people know, RBT and BB don't have 2-tops. So if you make a reservation for 1 and show up with 3 or 4 they don't have a problem seating you. Because I'm a party of 1 and end up sitting with at least 3 empty chairs! They always have extra FPs printed so don't care about that. So, for example, once I was searching for a BB reservation; no availability as party of 3 but when I changed to 1, it all opened up!
For started, I got corn chowder. Was definitely disappointed in it. Was lukewarm and potato chunks were too hard. I prefer the ones I get at French Market even though they appear to be the same recipe, so it could have just been an off-batch. I also had it back when RBT was more down-home cooking, not BBQ, and that was delicious. There was also bacon in this, but on top so they could remove it if asked.
View attachment 263279
For dinner I got ribs, with seasonal vegetables and tater tots. Seasonal vegetables were green beans with bacon. Tried those an another disappointment-way too crisp for my taste. Luckily everything else turned around. Tater tots were good and delicately spiced. Ribs were so yummy and so many of them! I could only eat 1/2 and they gave me a box to take everything else home.
View attachment 263280
For dessert I did strawberry shortcake. The dragon looked cool but I'm way too sensitive to spicy foods so didn't want to risk it. This was sooo good! Very sweet but not overpowering.
View attachment 263281
And the pixie dust-I had the amazing Martin for my server. Very great guy and super cheerful. When I got my bill I realized he only charged me for kids price vs adult (a $20 saving!). With my AP discount it was only $21! I ended up tipping him as if he hadn't though, but still walked out having paid $30 total!
View attachment 263282
Seating-I finished about 7:40ish. Made a detour down Main Street to drop off my leftovers in my locker. I also brought my BB cushion so picked it up. Made my way back to the dining package area by Harbor Galley and arrived 8:05-8:10ish just as they were starting to let people in. First they had all RBT on one side of a tape line and BB on the other. They let RBT file through (I was the last one), then BB followed with a CM at the lead, who veered off once they reached their entrance. When I arrived at the seating section it was maybe 75% full with about 7 rows of people sitting back from rails. The CM called it full around 8:30. At that point BB was about 40-50% full. The CM said they then would send any RBT people into that section. It is now 8:36 and BB is about 90% full, but CMs will probably have people squish together more soon.
Here is my view (from edge of RBT section closest to BB).
View attachment 263283