1st Trip to Disneyland...need dining suggestions!

[AlabamaPrincesses]

We are traveling to Disneyland for the first time in June. We've been to Disney World countless times and love to eat at Chef Mickey's, the Crystal Palace, the Castle, 1900 Park Fare and more.

We will be staying at the Disneyland Hotel under the 5 for 3 promotion. There are 5 of us in our family, me, DH and 3 girls ages 14, 9 and 7. We don't like to do fancy breakfasts, because we like to take advantage early morning admission to the parks. We'd much rather grab a blueberry muffin or something similar on the go.

Our first day in the park is my Birthday as well as Father's Day. I'd love to have a nice dinner at Disneyland since we're both celebrating!

When can you start booking reservations? I seem to recall something like 60 days out. Is this correct?

I can't wait hear your suggestions for great places to eat meals and snacks at DL and CA.

Thanks!

 

[Escape2Disney]

You can book reservations 60 days in advance. Our favorite restaurant in the park is Cafe Orleans. We particularly like sitting outside to people watch while we are eating. I haven't been to DW, so it is hard for me to make suggestions based on what you like there. Many people like Blue Bayou, but I personally think it is overpriced. The ambiance is nice, but you can get most of the same meals at Cafe Orleans.

Wine Country Trattoria (in DCA) is a very close second for us. It has a nice selection of Italian food, and it is much quieter than the restaurants in DL.

Though I've never been, many people rave about Napa Rose.

Hope you have a wonderful time!

 

[mechurchlady]

Best burgers are at Taste Pilot's Grill. With my AP i can get drink, fries or onion rings, and a cheddarburger for $10.

Best sit down restaurant is Ariel's Grotto with princesses. I have not recently eaten at the tratoria lately so no opinion.

Best hot dogs are Coke Corner and Award Weiners.

Weirdest popcorn is on the wharf at the beer truck. It is black pepper popcorn.

Bring cash or Disney dollars for the carts and balloon venders. currently ice cream, popcorn, balloons, glowing thingies, and cotton candy vendors do not have registers but most others do. Get a corn dog as those are yummy and I miss eating them. For a special dessert to share get the mamoth matterhorn mountain sunday as it is pretty and yummy and four scoops of ice cream.

 

[BecBennett]

IMO Blue Bayou is worth the extra, the ambience is awesome! Will be going back in May.

I loved Taste Pilot's grill and will be going back there again. I really liked Wine Trattoria, but DF didn't like it. So we'll probably skip it this time.

We'll also be heading to Carnation Cafe, Hooks Point, Steakhouse 55 and Red Rocket's Pizza Port. Haven't been to any of them before, but from what I've read should be really good...

 

[Minuet888]

I love Blue Bayou, went there my honeymoon night, very romantic.
I also loved Goofy's Kitchen, and Story tellers Cafe (I met actor Robert Patrick there)
For quick service I always ALWAYS eat at the Hungry Bear Restaurant. Great food, decent price and not a bad view of the water.

 

[nzdisneymom]

We'll be there around the same time. What is the 5 for 3 promo?

 

[Minuet888]

If you purcahse 3 nights at a DLR then you get an additional 2 nights for free.
It is what I am doing for my trip this May/June

 

[AlabamaPrincesses]

We'll be there around the same time. What is the 5 for 3 promo?

Check out the Disney website. You get 5 nights of hotel and 5 day park passes for the price of 3. You can stay on property or at a "good neighbor hotel". Our family of 5 is staying at the Disneyland Hotel for 5 nights for $1,915 in peak summer season.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Check out the Disney website. You get 5 nights of hotel and 5 day park passes for the price of 3. You can stay on property or at a "good neighbor hotel". Our family of 5 is staying at the Disneyland Hotel for 5 nights for $1,915 in peak summer season.

Thanks. We're staying at DLH by way of DVC ... but we haven't gotten any park tix yet.

 

[Lavender Mom]

There's a great little coffee shop in the DLH that's perfect for a quick magic morning breakfast. They had muffins, fruit, milk, juice, yogurt, etc. We ate there every morning and never had to wait in line. I can't remember exactly what it was called- something very normal like "The Coffee House." It was easy to find.

Blue Bayou is my favorite place to eat in the park. A trip to Disneyland doesn't feel complete if I don't make it to Blue Bayou.

 

[AlabamaPrincesses]

Blue Bayou is my favorite place to eat in the park. A trip to Disneyland doesn't feel complete if I don't make it to Blue Bayou

It seems like almost everyone loves Blue Bayou! What do you like to order there? What do they have on their kids menu?

 

[AndyLL]

It seems like almost everyone loves Blue Bayou! What do you like to order there? What do they have on their kids menu?

We don't.

For a real nice sit down we do carnation cafe on main street.

For a nice relaxed sit down we do white water cafe at the Grand Californian.

The character meal we always do is Minnies breakfast in the park. If you are at the 1st seatings you will be overwhelmed with characters.

 

[Lavender Mom]

It seems like almost everyone loves Blue Bayou! What do you like to order there? What do they have on their kids menu?

To me, dining at Blue Bayou is all about atmosphere. I can't even remember what they have on the menu besides the Monte Cristo sandwich. They do have a kids menu. I think both kids got Mac 'n' Cheese. I don't think they actually liked any of the choices, but they are really picky. Still even for them, it was all about the atmosphere. DS (6) thought it was better than Goofy's Kitchen. DD (4) put it above Goofy's (but below Ariel's) despite the fact that they didn't eat much. For some reason it's just fun to eat in the dark and watch the pirates ride go by.

 

[nannyz]

I've been going to DL every 2 or 3 years for the last 25 years. We eat every meal in the parks.
I've given up on the Blue Bayou. The food is OK but I don't like the way they rush you out.
Cafe Orleans is very nice. And lunch with the princesses at Ariel's Grotto is wonderful if you have little girls with you.
I agree that the burgers at Taste Pilot are excellent.
The spaghetti and salads at Pizza Port are good, and big enough for two adults to share.
The Mexican food at Zocalo is also very good and they also have a lovely fruit plate; and be sure to get the grilled asparagus if they are doing it when you visit.
If you want a quick breakfast, go to the bakery on Main Street.
I love to take one day and go into the park when it opens, go to the bakery and get a cinnamon roll and coffee and sit down and watch the people hurry by.

 

[disney4metoo]

If you want a really nice dinner Napa Rose in the Grand Californian Hotel. There is also Steak 55 in the Disneyland Hotel! Napa Rose being first, Steakhouse 55 being second! Have a great vacation!

 

[WonkaKid]

The Mexican food at Zocalo is also very good and they also have a lovely fruit plate; and be sure to get the grilled asparagus if they are doing it when you visit.

I love Zocalo. I'm a vegetarian and they make an excellent refried bean taco plate for around $10. Also, no reservations required ;-).

Did eat at Blue Bayou when I was at DL in January. The ambiance is great; food was good but, as others have pointed a out, a bit overpriced. Would I eat there again? Possibly.

As an aside, I live in Chicago but usually visit LA about once a year. When I/we drive down to DL I go to Real Food Daily, an excellent vegan, mostly organic restaurant in Santa Monica, and get food for my next day's DL lunch. I also grab a few ultra fresh organic oranges from the farmer's market. Makes for an outstanding, wholesome, healthy meal .

Cheers,

Rob

 

[dipity]

Being from the west coast we've been to disneyland more than disneyworld, but we're becoming addicted to wdw free dining.

Goofy's Kitchen at the disneyland hotel is great. It compares favorably to Crystal Palace, even though it's not in the park. The monorail station is very close and you can be in the park quickly after your meal, or you can get to goofy's quickly from the park. The monorail stop in the park is in tomorrowland. We always go for brunch.

allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_goof.htm

Blue Bayou is great, too. I'd compare the atmosphere to the Coral Reef, but WAY better. We've never swung it (too hungry to wait), but I'd recommend waiting for a table on the river. The food's not the best, but you can't beat watching the poc boats sail past through the swamp and hearing the screams as they go down the first drop. The atmosphere is sort of like it would be eating on the pirate ship as it fires at the fort - the dining room has similar lighting and sky effects. My dw LOVES the Monte Cristo.

allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_bay.htm

Oh yeah, don't miss the Mint Julep Bar. You can also get a mint julep at Blue Bayou. In my book it's the dole whip of disneyland.

(sorry about the links, I don't have enough posts yet)

 

[AlabamaPrincesses]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. Today I made our reservation for Blue Bayou on June 21st! It's my birthday dinner and Father's Day to boot! I booked the 3:30 lunch since it's our first day there and our body clocks will say it's 5:30...close to dinnertime! I asked about waterfront seating and she said I'd have to ask the hostess when we check in.

I am going to book a reservation for Ariel's in CA tomorrow. This 60 days out is a pain...

 

[Angel Ariel]

We went to the Blue Bayou for the first time in March, and we all loved it. DH had the Monte Cristo, my cousins had the Royal Street Seafood Jambalaya, and I had the Tesoro Island Chicken...all of us loved our meals. It was incredibly relaxing, the service was good, the food was even better...all in all we'd definitely go back!

Also, DH and I went by ourselves to Napa Rose. It's more pricey than a lot of restaurants, but it was WELL worth it. Everything was delicious, our server was amazing, the wine was fantastic...if you can afford to do it, go for it!

ETA: I'd also add that we in no way felt "rushed" out. We took our time, our servers never made us feel like we were taking too long or anything. We didn't wait for the waterside table b/c the wait was longer than we would have liked, but even sitting away from the water the atmosphere was great.

 

[DisneyMom92]

Thank you for all of the suggestions. Today I made our reservation for Blue Bayou on June 21st! It's my birthday dinner and Father's Day to boot! I booked the 3:30 lunch since it's our first day there and our body clocks will say it's 5:30...close to dinnertime! I asked about waterfront seating and she said I'd have to ask the hostess when we check in.

I am going to book a reservation for Ariel's in CA tomorrow. This 60 days out is a pain...

My dd's birthday is June 21 too and it will be our first day in the park as well. We are staying a Paradise Pier.