Hello Mike!
Thanks for stopping by planDisney to ask a great question. The
Blue Bayou Restaurant at Disneyland Park is a popular and highly sought-after Advanced Dining Reservation.
It is often difficult to find availability at this fantastic restaurant before your Disneyland vacation begins. I had this experience before my November 2021 Disneyland Resort vacation. I would look for reservation openings for the Blue Bayou every day, but I couldn't find any available. I would recommend trying for a walk-up reservation for the Blue Bayou on the day you are in Disneyland Park. The Blue Bayou typically opens for lunch at 11:00 am every day, even on the weekdays. If you head to New Orleans Square in the morning and go to the Blue Bayou Restaurant check-in podium to put your name on the waitlist for a meal that day, you have a great chance of eating there sometime that day. The Blue Bayou Restaurant check-in podium generally opens 30 to 60 minutes before the restaurant is open for lunch.
My son, his wife, and I were able to get a Blue Bayou lunch reservation for that day we were in Disneyland Park by going to the check-in podium before the restaurant was open for lunch. My tip is to go to the Blue Bayou check-in podium at least 30 to 60 minutes before the Blue Bayou is scheduled to open for lunch on that particular day because walk-up reservations are limited and go quickly.
I hope you get the opportunity to dine at the Blue Bayou Restaurant on your Disneyland vacation!
Marc L.