Advice on which restaurant please?

[Logan]

Hi folks

We are going to Disneyland for 3 days during our main holiday to France in August and are looking a bit of advice on somewhere special/nice to eat.

In the past we have tried to keep costs down by largely eating a good breakfast and using counter service restaurants like the Cowboy Cookout (which is very good) during the day. Evening time might have been Annette's Diner, New York Style Sandwiches or McDonalds. We did the buffet at the Plaza Gardens once and thought it was excellent value.

However this time we've decided that we should splash out a bit and eat somewhere special on at least one or more occasions, but I'm getting mixed signals from reviews. Here's a few places that I've picked out and my impressions from reviews:

Cafe Mickey - great character interaction, no matter what the age of your party (we have 4 adults, 18, 17 and 12 year olds). Food nothing special, considering the price. Even with reservations, may have to wait for some time. Noisy and hot, service depends on how busy they are.

Walts - lovely relaxed setting, wonderful service and terrific food, if perhaps not as plentiful portions as elsewhere (Nouvelle cuisine). Choice a bit limited for kids/teenagers, since they have gone 'healthy'. Great benefit of being 'in the heart of things'.

Inventions - lovely looking restaurant, again very convenient and wonderful service, with characters. Can't see any reviews of the actual food, though I've read that some rate it very highly.

Plaza Gardens - as I've said, had the buffet here before and thought it good food and value for money at E20. Gets a bit noisy and busy, but again convenient.

Lucky Nugget Saloon - often thought of trying this but it never seems to be open when I'm there! Like the sound of the buffet in a Western setting, but haven't read any reviews yet.

Blue Lagoon - now the setting of this cannot fail to impress while riding by on the POTC! However I have certainly seen mixed reviews, with some saying the food is excellent, while others have had a bad experience. Some even had unhelpful CMs and were put in corners away from the lovely setting (I suppose you could ask to be seated). Like the teenager menu option though.

Rainforest Cafe - again, a special place for atmosphere, if it is anything like the one in Downtown Disney, Orlando. But I have read that the food is pretty ordinary and certainly does not live up to its inflated price. (The food was excellent in Orlando).

Planet Hollywood - have never eaten in one but the setting sounds fantastic. Food reviews sound good on the whole, though I can't help feeling that what I'm paying for is little more than a glorified burger, etc! Incidentally, the Brit's Guide, which I'm sure most are familiar with, claims 20% discount on production of their book, yet I read that someone tried this and eventually got it after much head scratching and a visit from the manager!

Your ideas, impressions, suggestions are very welcome!

 

[SandraVB79]

Cafe Mickey - great character interaction, no matter what the age of your party (we have 4 adults, 18, 17 and 12 year olds). Food nothing special, considering the price. Even with reservations, may have to wait for some time. Noisy and hot, service depends on how busy they are.

I really do like this restaurant. Every time I had dinner there, I loved the food a lot, and in the mean while, I have learned not to order a menu, but just a main course, it's more than enough, and I am a big eater (just look at all my food pictures, lol!)
I think you do have to wait sometimes, because people tend to stay longer because of the character visits. Which are great fun by the way!

Walts - lovely relaxed setting, wonderful service and terrific food, if perhaps not as plentiful portions as elsewhere (Nouvelle cuisine). Choice a bit limited for kids/teenagers, since they have gone 'healthy'. Great benefit of being 'in the heart of things'.

My favourite restaurant in the park. What van I say, it's beautiful in there, the food is good, the service... depends. However, it's more important that the food is good

Inventions - lovely looking restaurant, again very convenient and wonderful service, with characters. Can't see any reviews of the actual food, though I've read that some rate it very highly

Plaza Gardens - as I've said, had the buffet here before and thought it good food and value for money at E20. Gets a bit noisy and busy, but again convenient

Lucky Nugget Saloon - often thought of trying this but it never seems to be open when I'm there! Like the sound of the buffet in a Western setting, but haven't read any reviews yet...

Never been

Blue Lagoon - now the setting of this cannot fail to impress while riding by on the POTC! However I have certainly seen mixed reviews, with some saying the food is excellent, while others have had a bad experience. Some even had unhelpful CMs and were put in corners away from the lovely setting (I suppose you could ask to be seated). Like the teenager menu option though.

I was put in a corner away, although we asked to get seated at a nicer table. I know the food is good, but it'll take a while before I return.

[/quote]Rainforest Cafe - again, a special place for atmosphere, if it is anything like the one in Downtown Disney, Orlando. But I have read that the food is pretty ordinary and certainly does not live up to its inflated price. (The food was excellent in Orlando).[/quote]

I have bene here a couple of times, and I liked it every time. I don't know the ones at Orlando, but the one at DTD in California is way bigger and prettier. But the one at DLP is nice too.

Planet Hollywood - have never eaten in one but the setting sounds fantastic. Food reviews sound good on the whole, though I can't help feeling that what I'm paying for is little more than a glorified burger, etc! Incidentally, the Brit's Guide, which I'm sure most are familiar with, claims 20% discount on production of their book, yet I read that someone tried this and eventually got it after much head scratching and a visit from the manager!

Been there once, and going back! They have more than glorified burgers (as opposed to Annette's)



Have you considered the buffet at Cape Cod (NPB)? It's one of our favourites!

 

[A Small World]

We ate at Walts and would certainly go again. The food was delicious and the setting lovely especially if you can look out onto mainstreet.

We have also eaten at Planet Hollywood and as Sandra says it is more than glorified burgers. The portions are huge. We used the coupon from the Brits guide and had no problem at all. We had cut it out rather than carry the whole book around, they signed it and then gave it back to us so Im not sure what will happen if we try to use it again. theres nothing to say it cant be used again but because it is signed we'll have to see. Saying that I'll have to find it first.

 

[lily73]

I have just returned (late last night) and will add my restaurant reviews to the appropriate threads as soon as I can, but in the meantime I will say that we had a fantastic meal in the Blue Lagoon, though the deserts were a little disappointing (2 kids had creme brulee which was flambeed with brandy and was a little too alcoholic tasting for them, my daughter asked for her sundae with no bananas but the cream tasted of banana and she couldn't eat it and my desert was served with pomegranate seeds which were dried out and inedible). The starters and mains were wonderful though and the setting is lovely.

We also really enjoyed Walt's, though I found it had to find something I really wanted from the menu and the service was rather slow.

Rainforest Cafe - I had a burger which was very disappointing. Hubby had curry which was delicious. Overall the experience was OK but not fantastic.

We also ate in King Ludwigs which was excellent. Everyone really enjoyed it.

In our party we ordered steak at Walt's, Blue Lagoon, and King Ludwigs and all 4 steaks were cooked perfectly which was pretty impressive.

 

[princess_tigerlily86]

i would definitely recommend Cafe Mickey, in my opinion its a must. the food is lovely and its just a great atmosphere with all the characters coming out. its great fun!
i wouldn't agree that the food at rainforest cafe doesn't live up to the prices, i really enjoyed the food and the experience there and would happily go again
hope this helps
xxx

 

[RockMouse]

My family and I have tried the Cafe Mickey and the kids (7yrs and 3 yrs) really enjoyed it as well as my teenage nephews. The service was good, so was the food and the characters and show they put on really topped it off.

Planet Hollywood, well ....... good too, but they stuck us in the "bottom" part of the reastaurant which is not as appealing as the "top" where all the memriobilia is. Food was also enjoyable.

Enjoy it!!!

 

[Cyrano]

Out of your choices I'm probably the one dissenting voice on Inventions. Whilst there was an interesting choice of food we felt the character interaction was very poor. It is the one restaurant that we will probably not go back to as value for money is poor IMHO

 

[AaronUK]

The both times we've been to DLP we went to the Rainforest cafe and love it!

Not only was the food great but the atmosphere is fantastic! There’s some great visual effects that make your meal very special (but I wont spoil it for you just in case you go!)

 

[TotallyAngelic]

We have just returned and had some lovely meals - in order of the best food I would say

1. Cafe Mickey - gorgeous food - the pinicchio pasta is divine! Brilliant character interactions, but expensive (180 euros for 6 of us and thats with 10% off.)
2. the tex mex buffet at Billy Bobs - fantastic value for money, an incredible choice of food, gorgeous chilli and lovely desserts.
3. Annettes Diner - again a great meal, good entertainment.
4. Planet Hollywood - nice food but experience spoiled by a miserable server.

We didn't go to Blue Lagoon on this occasion but when they had the colonial chicken curry on the menu it was my favourite by far!

 

[Orion33]

Seems like it depends what kind of food and experience you want,

dlp food guide is very useful for this (i have found places i would love to have eaten at, but wouldn't eat half the stuff on the menu!)

soo i reckon walts, blue lagoon or l'auberdge de Cendrillon for posh nosh nice atmosphere.

for something different cafe mickey or Buffalo Bill Show food and fun (but no deep meaningful conversations to be held at either!!)

rainforest cafe I loved the experience there, it was a good one off.

Now I love Planet Hollywood, never had a bad meal in there and the cocktails are great, but then so is annettes!

but then for a nice romantic disney dinner it wouldn't be there.

I would def suggest checking out menus for all places

 

[davewasbaloo]

The finest dining in DLP is the California Grill (one of Disney's best restaurants in the world). The Steakhouse, Silver Spur and Walt's are also excellent choices (though we have had mixed service at Walt's). Manhatten Grill and the Yacht Club are also very good.

Great value restaurants are the Plaza Gardens, Billy Bob's and Annette's.

Chef Mickey is ok, as is Innoventions, but I have had better character experiences at the Lucky Nuggett (plus there is live music too).

Blue Lagoon is aweful - avoid at all costs, poor service, cold food and a rat problem. Not my idea of fun. A shame as it is a fantastic location and setting.

 

[wideeyes]

I would not recommend Inventions, I found it a bit of a let down, food lukewarm and not hot enough, very average and not worth the cost, lack of atmosphere, very poor character interaction ant the waiter seemed to be trying to rush us. We ended up only spending less than an hour in there.

I think Cafe Mickey is a great character meal. My DD loved it and it was much more fun than Inventions.

Walt's is my favorite restaurant, the whole family loves it. Great food, great calming atmosphere.

Planet Hollywood was very poor when we went last time. slow service, the plates and glasses were chipped. My DD meal was served on a very badly chipped plate which could of cut her. Our non smoking table was right next to the smoking area which completely ruined our meal. Other meals here have been great however our last visit has put us of going again.

Rain Forest Cafe - The themeing is great which is why my DD keeps asking to go, however the food is only okay, and it is very expensive. Service was not great ether, slow bring drinks.

 

[davewasbaloo]

Planet Hollywood is ok, but they have really dumbed down the menu, and the props are now largely replicas.

RFC is a lot of fun, and we have had good food there too. But with both of these restaurants being in London, I'd much rather go somewhere unique to DLP.

 

[Sarah Sarill]

I would not recommend Inventions, I found it a bit of a let down, food lukewarm and not hot enough, very average and not worth the cost, lack of atmosphere, very poor character interaction ant the waiter seemed to be trying to rush us. We ended up only spending less than an hour in there.

That was pretty much our experience last Christmas although the surroundings are fabulous. It is very pricey and IMHO not worth the expense - its all about personal choices though and I know many other Disers have had lovely experiences here.

We love The Lucky Nugget for CM interaction and for the sheer amount of food choices. Its a lovely setting and, although not the cheapest eating option in the parks, worth every penny. Mind you, we were lucky as our waiter was quick and friendly. We ate at 12 noon so all the food was fresh and warm. Its an all-you-can-eat buffet so we went away happy and full

 

[Logan]

Thanks for all the replies folks, very helpful - keep them coming! I'm sure this sort of thread is very useful to a lot of people.

I think we're steering towards Cafe Mickey or the Lucky Nugget Saloon, for character interaction and good fun.

Just a wee concern/question - do the characters tend to interact with your table just as much if you have no small children? The youngest in our group will be 12, while the other teenagers are 17 and 18 (all girls).

 

[scald]

Cafe Mickey is the best for interaction in my eyes. I saw characters interacting with adults and kids alike, with Captain Hook and my husband having a little sword/hook fight!! The service here was excellent and friendly and it doesn't have to cost a fortune. We had two courses each, wine and coffees and the kids both had the kids meals. All in all I think it came to about 110 Euro, which was not overpriced by any means considering we all left stuffed (and a bit squiffy from the wine!) It was also the only restaurant I managed to get a really tasty and well thought up vegetarian option.

 

[Ware Bears]

I think we're steering towards Cafe Mickey or the Lucky Nugget Saloon, for character interaction and good fun.

Great choices! To be honest, I've not had a bad meal yet at DLRP.

Just a wee concern/question - do the characters tend to interact with your table just as much if you have no small children? The youngest in our group will be 12, while the other teenagers are 17 and 18 (all girls).

Definitely!!! The characters very much read your mood ~ if you are up for a bit of fun so are they, if you just want a photo or an autograph they will oblige, and if you just want to observe from a distance with a wave then that's fine too!

 

[cleous]

can anyone tell me when you go to somewhere like walts/ cafe mickey is it okay not to have the whole 3 courses can you pick and choose or say just have the main course,

also the food at walts what is the vegetarian options at the moment we are going in oct will they still be the same then?, are most restaurants vege options always lasagne last time we went it seemed most we looked at were all pasta thats fine once but wouldn't want it every night!

thanks

 

[Bexx]

can anyone tell me when you go to somewhere like walts/ cafe mickey is it okay not to have the whole 3 courses can you pick and choose or say just have the main course,

No problem at all. I sometimes have a starter (at the same time as the others have their main course) and then a dessert.

Here is the current menu for Walt's. It was only changed in March, so it is unlikely it will be changed again before October.

 

[cleous]

thanks for the walts menu, do you know if you can mix and match any of the kids menus around as our vege son dosen't like eggs ,he likes the burger menu but wouldn't want the burger he'd rather have the ravioli

thanks again