Anyone want to add their .02 to my PS bookings?

[geekypeach]

I have sifted through the Menus database a ZILLION times and just cannot make heads or tails of it!

We ate in the park ONE time our last trip, and I will not do that again! We want dinner plans for each night that we are there, lunch I more okay with winging.

In our party, we have: easy to please, long-time vegetarian (me), take it or leave it carnivore (DH), a picky 6 yo, and a garbage disposal 2 yo. We prefer early dinners for a variety of reasons. We will be there for 3 nights, Fri, Sat, and Sun., which leads me to worry that I have missed the PS boat!

On our list, I have:
Plaza Inn
House of Blues
Tortilla Joe's (and isn't there another yummy mexican place I'm missing?)
Carnation Cafe
...and perhaps something inside DCA

Thanks for playing!

 

[Kayla's Mom]

We always eat at Rainforest Cafe in DTD.

At DL we go to Cafe Orleans, Rancho Del Zocalo, Pizza Port and Carnation Cafe.

At DCA, Taste Pilot's Grill or Wine Country Trattoria.

 

[spacemermaid]

The other Mexican food place is Rancho del Zocalo in Frontierland; IMO, the food there is way better that the food at Tortilla Jo's...less expensive, too Plus the patio dining area has such a great atmosphere, especially at night.

I noticed that you're not eating at Cafe' Orleans...it gets pretty high ratings here on Disboards, and along with the meat dishes, there are some really good veggie options!

 

[geekypeach]

Although I personally would love to do Cafe Orleans, my children are quite immature (they are 2 and 6 on vacation, after all), and I would be simply mortified disturbing others' nice meals. IF the grandparents end up going, we will definitely go though. Besides my kids' personality, I'm not in the mood to throw away that kind of cash on mac and cheese they won't touch!! LOL I also considered Cafe Orleans, but with the River drained, I think I might be able to do better on atmosphere. But, maybe not. Who knows?

Thanks for the comment on the Mexican. Good to know!! We are hounds for it, seriously.

 

[spacemermaid]

Although I personally would love to do Cafe Orleans, my children are quite immature (they are 2 and 6 on vacation, after all), and I would be simply mortified disturbing others' nice meals. IF the grandparents end up going, we will definitely go though. Besides my kids' personality, I'm not in the mood to throw away that kind of cash on mac and cheese they won't touch!! LOL I also considered Cafe Orleans, but with the River drained, I think I might be able to do better on atmosphere. But, maybe not. Who knows?

Thanks for the comment on the Mexican. Good to know!! We are hounds for it, seriously.

Forgot to take into account that ROA is drained now, oops!

IMO, the food at Tortilla Jo's was pretty gross. Haven't eaten there in a couple of years, so it may have improved since then. I just remember thinking that for how much $ they charged, it totally was not worth it, but I'm spoilt, growing up in CA & now living in AZ where good Mexican food is easy to find (and not $20 for a combo plate, unless you go somehwere super fancy! ) I'm sure you'll enjoy Rancho del Zocalo...the cheese enchilada plate is really yummy! If you eat there at night, try to get a table on the patio where all the metal star lanterns are hanging from the ceiling...so pretty!

 

[geekypeach]

We sure will, thanks again! Do you find it cool out when you do that this time of year (we'll be there in little less than 2 weeks!). I know cool is relative, and AZ sounds mighty nice right now.

 

[Disney Dreams]

Although I personally would love to do Cafe Orleans, my children are quite immature (they are 2 and 6 on vacation, after all), and I would be simply mortified disturbing others' nice meals....

Eh, it's not like it's the Blue Bayou. And it's Disneyland. If you want it, eat there.

We LOVE Rancho del Zocalo

 

[geekypeach]

Gosh, I was THINKING BB, and typing CO! I'm a tired nut, for sure!

 

[dleyel]

My mom and I had lunch at Cafe Orleans on Monday and there were lots of people with small children. One small child was even eating a Lunchable. We were out on the patio, which I thought was nice despite ROA being closed, although a little bit cool. When we went to BB for a late lunch on Mother's Day a couple years ago, I fed DD chicken tenders ahead of time since I knew she wouldn't eat anything on the menu. She was 5 at the time. She loved the atmosphere there and enjoyed just drinking a glass of milk, a roll and dessert. So you can always feed the kids separately if you and DH really want to eat somewhere that they won't. Maybe bring coloring books or travel games to keep them occupied. Have a great trip!

 

[princessnicchia]

Okay, I ate there after hearing raves about it on the boards and it was horrible. Downright horrible. I don't know if it was an off day, if my taste buds are weird, or what the deal is, but I actually felt sick it was so bad.

On the other hand, two trips ago I ate at Tortilla Joes and loved it. I grew up in Douglas Az and am a lover of all things Mexican, but I'm not saying I'm right. That was just my experience. (NO throwing tomatoes please, even if they have garlic and cilantro in them!)

 

[geekypeach]

LOL, I guess everyones idea of Mexican is different. Most vegetarians know that there isn't a ton of authentic mexican food that is super-veggie friendly. I myself prefer more tex-mex type while DH could go for the lard in everything kind.

 

[PrincessSitka]

I have eaten at the tortilla twice I was not bad.

 

[Heymy]

You'll be fine at Cafe Orleans. My 4 & 2 yr olds are notorious for mealtime outbursts and they've done really well there. They love the fries and mac n cheese. The Carnation Cafe is our favorite with the Peanut Butter Pallettes for the kiddos, talk about keeping them entertained! We're always begging them to leave and not the usual other way around. We also like Rainforest Cafe and Tortilla Jo's (food must taste good cuz I can have a margarita ). Good luck! Hoping for cool dry weather ourselves!

 

[spacemermaid]

We sure will, thanks again! Do you find it cool out when you do that this time of year (we'll be there in little less than 2 weeks!). I know cool is relative, and AZ sounds mighty nice right now.

Nope; not to cold to eat outdoors in the Park at night (unless it's, say, pouring rain as it was on one of the days of my Spring trip last year, but then, the outdoor seating areas are generally closed anyways ). Actually, it's been pretty cold here in AZ at night lately...can't complain, though, as family & friends in CA have told me how (relatively) bad the weather's been there lately.

Saw that you prefer the "Tex-Mex" style of Mexican food...that's definitely what Rancho serves.

And now, I'm hungry for cheese enchiladas!

 

[daneenm]

Cafe Orleans is a good choice even with the children. We brought in an uncrustable kids meal for DS and they had no issue with it. Other places you might consider...

• Storyteller's Cafe at the GCH
• Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (our picky 8 year old found something he was happy with)
• ESPN

Personally, we avoid RFC due to an absolutely horrible meal experience on a past visit.

 

[geekypeach]

Just to clarify, I meant Blue Bayou and not Cafe Orleans with the kids. With the River being drained, I want to do the best I can with atmosphere, and wouldn't be as worried about the kids at CO (in fact, I'm not at all worried).

I have House of Blues and Carnation Cafe booked... just need to decide that last meal! With not having to make PS's at Rancho, I think that is the route we'll go!!

To make up for not doing a dinner in DCA, I think we'll do Pizza Oow Mow Mow for lunch one day. I hear they are surprisingly good! I AM SO EXCITED!!

Thanks for all the suggestions, I will be sure to include pics and reviews in my trip report.

 

[spacemermaid]

Have fun! And, yes, please take food pics & share them!