Dinner Suggestions for 1st night

[tigergrad]

We will be arriving for our 1st trip to DL on Sunday June 8th around 1pm. After checknig in we want to head to DL. Since the park stays open til 12 and Fantasmic will be @ 10:30, we would like to have a sit-down family meal around 6:00. There will be 6 of us ages 11,17,23,27, & 2 40 somethings. We have an ADR at Blue Bayou the next day for lunch. We are not interested character buffets. We will be staying at the DLH. Any suggestions?

 

[MPHARJ]

You can always stop at one of the places in DTD. If you would rather eat later once you are already in the park, you could eat at the Plaza Inn, characters only at breakfast, Carnation Cafe, Cafe Orleans, and of course as I mentioned, all of the places in DTD. Good luck and have a great trip!

 

[disneyfaninaz]

You can wander over to the Grand Californian and have dinner at the Storyteller Cafe. You can order off a menu of they have a very nice dinner buffet. No characters at dinner.

 

[tigergrad]

Re: Storytellers Cafe - Do you think I will need an ADR?

 

[ScooterL]

You can probably get into Storyteller's without priority seating, but you'll get in faster if you have it.

The only restaurants in DL that accept priority seating reservations for dinner are Blue Bayou and Cafe Orleans - I'm not sure if Carnation Cafe is open for dinner or not. Other than that your choices are counter service. Though I think either Rancho del Zocalo or Plaza Inn would be nice choices for a family dinner - although they are "buffeterias" they have lots of seating available, and you eat off real plates with real silverware. You can find the menus on AllEars: http:allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.htm

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We usually do the Rainforest Cafe for the first night. There are a lot of neat places in DTD to eat though.

 

[avalon451]

You could head over to Cal. Adventure and do Wine Country Trattoria. There are some on the boards who swear it's the only good food inside the parks. Plus you can get a glass of wine or whatever if you're so inclined, which you can't do inside DL.

 

[noryglory]

We did Rainforest Cafe our first night a few weeks ago...make a reservation with them directly. Then when you get there, don't wait in the monster line, just walk up to the Elephant station right in the front of the restaurant and tell them you have a reservation and they'll get you all set up. We had a 6:30 reservation and got there early and checked in, and were seated 20 minutes early even though there was a line around the corner for walk ups.

Some people have "dissed" the RFC, but we loved it especially as a "kickoff" to our trip. The food and drinks arrive S-L-O-W-L-Y but the server we had was terrific (Nathan). People reminded me before we left on our trip that it is an "experience" there so you don't want to rush anyway--if you are in a big hurry you should eat somewhere else. The food was just fine for what it is. Not amazing but not bad.

Then, just take your tickets to the monorail right next to the restaurant and pop into Disneyland for your first evening. It will be terrific!

 

[tigergrad]

Re: RFC

Are all RFCs themed the same? We've been to the RFC in Nashville. Was not overly impressed. I'm game to try another if they are different.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I prefer the idea of leaving the parks for a break and then back since DL is open til midnight. Anybody been to Hook's Pointe? The possibility of a split plate charge appeals to me. We could share and each have a great meal for half the price.

 

[pixiewings71]

You can do split plate at Cafe Orleans too, but I would suggest a PS for dining there as there can be quite the wait.

RFC, the only I've been to is the DTD one so I have no idea if they are all the same. I'm pretty sure they are though, probably not exactly but close.

 

[Dobie]

I think Caranation Cafe takes PSs for dinner and it's a lovely spot. You can sit on the patio and if you plan it right you can watch the parade.

 

[marlower]

I think Caranation Cafe takes PSs for dinner and it's a lovely spot. You can sit on the patio and if you plan it right you can watch the parade.

Is this true? I had heard they do not take PS at all! That would be great if they do!

 

[honeymom]

The food in DTD is definitely better than in DL. Try Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (the upstairs dining room). It's great.

I haven't done Storytellers for dinner yet. I did do it for breakfast and it was excellent.

 

[BillyFan]

Is this true? I had heard they do not take PS at all! That would be great if they do!

We always make a PS for Carnation. Love the baked potato soup!

 

[marlower]

We always make a PS for Carnation. Love the baked potato soup!

So good to know, do you think it is necessary to make a PS?

 

[wwwosie]

Although a bit pricey, I recommend CATAL at DTD nice view of DTD if you get a table upstairs. You can make reservations through Open Table.
Plenty of walk up food at DTD if you just want to snack...

 

[avalon451]

Re: RFC

Are all RFCs themed the same? We've been to the RFC in Nashville. Was not overly impressed. I'm game to try another if they are different.

Thanks for all your suggestions. I prefer the idea of leaving the parks for a break and then back since DL is open til midnight. Anybody been to Hook's Pointe? The possibility of a split plate charge appeals to me. We could share and each have a great meal for half the price.

We did Hook's Point and were not impressed. It's just ok food, and very expensive. We thought the restaurant was going to be really cool pirate themed-- it's not. There's a metal ship sculpture over the kitchen, whoopee. Otherwise it's a rather blandly-decorated seafood restaurant. Also it's a long way to go out of the park for dinner. If you're going to leave the park anyway, I'd try to end up somewhere in Tomorrowland, take the monorail out, and go to DTD and Ralph Brennan's or RFC.

I haven't been to Ralph Brennan's but DH has, on a business trip, and said it was really very good. RFC would be more if you have kids who will enjoy the jungle atmosphere.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

So good to know, do you think it is necessary to make a PS?

It never hurts to make a PS at any DL/DCA sit down restaurant. There is no penalty if you don't keep it, but it will shorten your wait time during peak eating times.

 

[amyamya]

We did Hook's Point and were not impressed. It's just ok food, and very expensive. We thought the restaurant was going to be really cool pirate themed-- it's not. There's a metal ship sculpture over the kitchen, whoopee. Otherwise it's a rather blandly-decorated seafood restaurant. Also it's a long way to go out of the park for dinner. If you're going to leave the park anyway, I'd try to end up somewhere in Tomorrowland, take the monorail out, and go to DTD and Ralph Brennan's or RFC.

I have to agree with Hook's Pointe! We were surprised at the cost and the food was mediocre. Someone in our party ordered some marinara-sauced pasta and was especially disappointed. Try something in DTD. I've heard Brennan's is consistently good...Catal is amazing if you are the foodie type vs. big portions and a lot going on.

 

[Lou-Ann]

The last three times we went to Storyteller's we needed a PS. It never hurts to make one.