April 2010 ABD Backstage Magic : California Here We Come!!!

[Dodie]

The fireplace in the lobby is a fabulous cave of comfort. You're going to love it! Be sure to take some quiet time to enjoy the lobby.

OOOH! I completely agree with this. When Phillip and I were there before (shortly after it and DCA opened in 2001), we sat by that big fireplace several nights with a nice glass of California wine from the bar. Very relaxing.

Personally, I am a huge fan of Craftsman/Arts and Crafts architecture and furnishings, so I am in HEAVEN at the Grand Californian! Our DVC home is VWL and, with all of the wood and the huge lobby, it is reminiscent of that as well.

 

[corky441]

Heather & Dodie -

Since you have both stayed at the Grand Californian, I have a question????

Is there a guest laundry at the resort? I know the new DVC area would have one for the studio guests and the villas of course have one in the room.

We arrive in California on the 10th and I know that I am going to have to do at least one load of laundry when we arrive in Disneyland. Trying to pack for a 9-10 day vacation in only 2 suitcases is tough.

Ooooooooooo - wouldn't it be nice if we got upgraded to 1 bedroom villas while we were there?

 

[macman752]

Yes, there is a guest laundry. It is near the Napa Rose entrance on the 2nd floor of the hotel.

We spent some quality time there in September

Actually, we put our things in and then went to the Lobby while they washed and dried.

 

[corky441]

Yes, there is a guest laundry. It is near the Napa Rose entrance on the 2nd floor of the hotel.

We spent some quality time there in September

Actually, we put our things in and then went to the Lobby while they washed and dried.

great idea - go to the lobby, rest & relax with a little drinkie by the fireplace, try not to forgot to go back for the laundry

 

[corky441]

ok - now

Dodie, Dave and/or Heather - I know you've been there before - can you tell I haven't

If you had to choose 2 of these 3 restaurants which would you pick:

Napa Rose

Steakhouse 55

Catal

I would love to go to Napa Rose- but DH isn't really into "fru-fru" (his words) gourmet dining. So, would you think the other 2 would be good choices?

This feels so weird asking questions - I know so much about WDW-I usually give answers

Thanks guys

 

[Dodie]

I can't answer because I've never eaten at any of those places, but I seem to recall Pete really liking Steakhouse 55 when he and Walter reported on their most recent DL trip(?)

I'd love to go to Napa Rose too - but that's not likely to happen with my husband either.

By the way - 60 days until the official start of our adventure!!!!

 

[ImTooExcitedToSleep]

If you had to choose 2 of these 3 restaurants which would you pick:

Napa Rose

Steakhouse 55

Catal

I would love to go to Napa Rose- but DH isn't really into "fru-fru" (his words) gourmet dining. So, would you think the other 2 would be good choices?

I think "fru-fru" is the key word here (if that's even a word )--with those choices you have to pick Steakhouse 55 as first choice...both the others have "interesting" menus.

Have you checked out the menu for Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen? That might be a little less "fru-fru".

 

[Circusgirl]

ok - now

Dodie, Dave and/or Heather - I know you've been there before - can you tell I haven't

If you had to choose 2 of these 3 restaurants which would you pick:

Napa Rose

Steakhouse 55

Catal

I would love to go to Napa Rose- but DH isn't really into "fru-fru" (his words) gourmet dining. So, would you think the other 2 would be good choices?

This feels so weird asking questions - I know so much about WDW-I usually give answers

Thanks guys

Napa Rose and Steakhouse 55 would be my choices if I could only pick two. I haven't eaten at Catal, so can't offer any helpful advice there. I was most recently at Napa Rose in January, and there were several choices of more "regular" entrees that would suit the less adventuresome. Your DH could still get an awesome steak, and one of our party had the Short Rib entree which he is still raving about as one of the best things he's ever eaten.

 

[DisneyKevin]

ok - now

Dodie, Dave and/or Heather - I know you've been there before - can you tell I haven't

If you had to choose 2 of these 3 restaurants which would you pick:

Napa Rose

Steakhouse 55

Catal

I would love to go to Napa Rose- but DH isn't really into "fru-fru" (his words) gourmet dining. So, would you think the other 2 would be good choices?

This feels so weird asking questions - I know so much about WDW-I usually give answers

Thanks guys

As you know....I'm never afraid to give my opinion regarding restaurants.

Please keep in mind that these are my opinions....

I thought Napa Rose was over priced and pretentious....again...my opinion.

We had a ridiculously priced appetizer for two. It was $45 and consisted of two shrimp, two pieces of beef approximately the size of a stick of gum and two scallops. It came is a very fancy wooden box with a hot rock on which you were supposed to cook your own stuff.

That works out to $22.50 per person for a small shrimp, 1/2 ounce of beef and a scallop that we were supposed to cook OURSELVES.

On top of that....our rock wasnt hot. We had to have our rock re-heated....for $45.00.

The only thing we had that we found outstanding was a mushroom "cappuccino". It was a very thin mushroom soup, served in a cappuccino cup with a frothy mushroom "foam" on top. Once you got past the idea of mushroom "foam" it was delicious

Liked Steakhouse 55....but didnt get to order from the menu. We ate there as part of a seminar / training event and there was a set menu.

Havent been to Catal.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Jumping in here because I've eaten at Steakhouse 55 a few times. I thought the rubbed steak was delicious, as was the wine. I think I was there w/Kevin for the seminar, and the food was good, but I wasn't really impressed. The meal with Pete, Walter, et al, was absolutely delicious, and the service was exemplary. I then took my adult children there for Easter dinner, and again our meal and service were excellent. I really enjoyed the whole meal.

My son went back with his girlfriend, and their food was excellent, but the service was lacking. (Maybe because they were younger they didn't warrant the attention that our larger/older group got?) (Not on your list, but he was more impressed with Morton's down the street)

I'll be going to Napa Rose at the end of the month with a bunch of DIS gals from the DL board, and I'll be able to give my own 2 cents on that restaurant.

 

[tickledtink33]

I think "fru-fru" is the key word here (if that's even a word )--with those choices you have to pick Steakhouse 55 as first choice...both the others have "interesting" menus.

Have you checked out the menu for Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen? That might be a little less "fru-fru".

I ate at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen last June and really enjoyed it. I also ate at Hooke's Point which was not fru fru. My vote would be for Steakhouse 55.

 

[macman752]

We dined at Steakhouse 55 and really enjoyed the food and the service. We chose Steakhouse 55 over Napa Rose simply because of its history. It's just so neat to dine at one of the original restaurants (Granville's) in the Disneyland Hotel. The pictures on the walls of the Steakhouse 55 alone are worth the price of a meal.

We will be making a PS for Steakhouse 55 during our ABD trip.

 

[macman752]

I ate at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen last June and really enjoyed it. I also ate at Hooke's Point which was not fru fru. My vote would be for Steakhouse 55.

We ate there too. Ralph Brennan's had excellent food but it was terribly noisy. We had to shout at each other the entire meal.

Hook's Pointe was very nice. The evening we where there the place was empty. We received extraordinary service as a result. I had the pork chop. It was decent but I would not order it again.

 

[kab407]

This week has been a butt kicker. Between snow, snow and more snow....I need a vacation! I can't wait for this trip.

I can't answer because I've never eaten at any of those places, but I seem to recall Pete really liking Steakhouse 55 when he and Walter reported on their most recent DL trip(?)

I'd love to go to Napa Rose too - but that's not likely to happen with my husband either.

By the way - 60 days until the official start of our adventure!!!!

You can always twist your BFF's arm

 

[columnwest]

QUOTE]

I *live* for the Monte Cristo at Blue Bayou. I remember when they took it off the lunch menu once and there was a huge AP revolt. I will grant you, it's not the best Monte Cristo in the world (Do you remember when is used to come sort of cradled in a white cloth napkin on the plate? I miss that presentation.), but for me it isn't really a trip to DL without one.

 

[PrincessSharon]

I have a question for anyone who's been to the Farmer's Market. About how much time should I plan to be there? I don't need to see every little thing, but I would like time to explore. I'm trying to plan because I'm going to take the helicopter tour that Samantha Brown took on her show, and I want to schedule that for after the Farmer's Market. Would 2 hours be enough time there? Too much? I'm planning it for Sunday, if that matters.

 

[tmli]

What a week! Ever have one of those weeks where you seem to get nothing accomplished and the smallest of tasks seem monumental?? That's the kind of week I have had.

Boy do I need a vacation!!!!

 

[skunkvette]

It was a bad week.

48 inches of snow, stuck in the house for two straight days and Cathy and I debating whether to try for a super hard to score reservation at the French Laundry in Napa Valley at the sixty day window (pre ABD in San Francisco).

Cooler heads prevailed, we decide to use that part of the meal budget for two really nice dinners elsewhere during the trip.

Today's goal, get our Disney Family Museum tickets lined up!

 

[Dodie]

We are now resigned to the fact that we'll have to leave our house by 4:30 a.m. (EST) for our 6:30 a.m. flight - arriving in LA at 8:00-ish a.m. PST on Monday by realizing that this will truly give us an entire extra day for sightseeing.

My husband and I are both car lovers and we want to visit the Peterson Automotive Museum again (we were there in 2001 during our previous trip to LA) and it's only 3 miles from the Renaissance! That has to be do-able by taxi or public transportation. In researching that, it appears that the museum is closed on Mondays, so...

Our plan will be to explore the immediate Hollywood and Highland area on Monday afternoon - maybe even take one of those Haunted Hollywood type tours that depart from the area (yes - we're tacky that way and anyone who wants to tag along would be more than welcome - Kathy you up for this? Phillip really wants to do the one that takes you around in a converted hearse.)...

and then ...

Go over to the Peterson on Tuesday morning - making it back in plenty of time to rest before our tour dinner that night.

This plan is coming together!!!!!

In case you don't know about the Peterson, it's an amazing museum. http://www.petersen.org/

 

[Circusgirl]

In a momentary diversion from Disney dreaming, I'm getting out some things to take to Vancouver next weekend, when I'll go to the Olympics for the Women's aerial event on Saturday morning. It's going to be a quick run with an overnight near the border on Friday then into Canada at 5 am Saturday with an Olympic bus to the event from Burnaby. We'll be home in the evening. I'm watching the mogul event coverage from Grouse Mountain and realizing how crazy and fun I hope it will be to take a tiny dip into the Olympic scene. Now where did I put that cowbell...