Birthday Dinner at DLR: A Small Dilemma

[Elias1901]

Hey everyone. During our Halloween Time trip next month, I will also be celebrating my 22nd birthday with my friend for a little over a week. I am stoked! We want to go somewhere special for my birthday dinner on the 20th, but we ran into a small issue that will limit us on our choices. You see, I am a Disney Premier Annual Passport holder and she only has a 5-Day Park Hopper Ticket... since we would arrive at our hotel on Harbor and DLR respectively around 2 PM, I don't think it would be wise to "blow" one of her days the day we touch-down. Unless someone believes otherwise? The 20th will be a Monday.

So, this is where you come in most. I am throwing it out there to get some suggestions of how we should spend time while there but not in the parks and where we should have my special dinner. I was thinking maybe the Chef's Counter at Napa Rose (I enjoyed Carthay Circle more tbh...) or even simply chowing down on a 1/3 Angus Hawaiian Cheeseburger at Trader Sam's would be fine. But then again, I have done that -- she hasn't though, so... I don't know! Any good suggestions??

 

[figment_jii]

I concur that it doesn't make sense to use one day of ticket for a very short day (there is a MHP so DL closes at 6:00 pm and DCA is likely to close around 8:00 pm). I would look into the restaurants in DTD and the hotels. It all depends on what kind of food and atmosphere you are looking for. Your two examples (Napa Rose and Trader Sam's) are very different, so it's hard to say if you're looking for a fancy(ish) or fun dining experience.

For me, I would either opt for Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen (my favorite DTD restaurant) or something like Trader Sam's/Tangaroa Terrace because they're fun.

 

[SMD]

There's a Halloween party on the 20th. You could put the Napa Rose money towards tickets and eat CS in the parks before or during the party.

 

[mom2rtk]

There's a Halloween party on the 20th. You could put the Napa Rose money towards tickets and eat CS in the parks before or during the party.

That's exactly what I'd do!

 

[grnflash]

There's a Halloween party on the 20th. You could put the Napa Rose money towards tickets and eat CS in the parks before or during the party.

This idea would also get my vote!

 

[Iceman93]

SMD offered a great suggestion, but in case you don't do that here are some other random thoughts:

- I like your Trader Sam's idea. If you get there early enough to get prime seats at the bar, you could spend several hours trying many of the specialty drinks, interacting with the bartenders, and ordering munchies whenever the mood strikes. Personally, I would consider this an awesome birthday!

- Napa Rose is great, but if you prefer Carthay Circle (as do I), you might not want to spend the money there.

- Ralph Brennan's, as another poster suggested, is a great choice in DTD. It's not particularly "special", but is certainly fun.

- I really like Steakhouse 55 in the Disneyland Hotel and think it could fit the bill. It's fancy, but not pretentious. You can go in your shorts but still order a $2,500 bottle of wine. And I think the elegance of it is surprising to many people, so your friend might really enjoy that.

- Do you have any connections who can get you into Club 33? Dinner there includes a pass into Disneyland just before your reservation.

 

[MommyJKM]

Hey everyone. During our Halloween Time trip next month, I will also be celebrating my 22nd birthday with my friend for a little over a week. I am stoked! We want to go somewhere special for my birthday dinner on the 20th, but we ran into a small issue that will limit us on our choices. You see, I am a Disney Premier Annual Passport holder and she only has a 5-Day Park Hopper Ticket... since we would arrive at our hotel on Harbor and DLR respectively around 2 PM, I don't think it would be wise to "blow" one of her days the day we touch-down. Unless someone believes otherwise? The 20th will be a Monday.

So, this is where you come in most. I am throwing it out there to get some suggestions of how we should spend time while there but not in the parks and where we should have my special dinner. I was thinking maybe the Chef's Counter at Napa Rose (I enjoyed Carthay Circle more tbh...) or even simply chowing down on a 1/3 Angus Hawaiian Cheeseburger at Trader Sam's would be fine. But then again, I have done that -- she hasn't though, so... I don't know! Any good suggestions??

My Mom did the Chef's Tasting at NR in May and was blown away! Our usual choices for dinner are Carthay (duck wings!!), Blue Bayou waterside, and NR (and C33 obv) but my Mom insists she's doing the Chef's Tasting from now on at the kitchen counter. It's a 2 hour experience and comfortable and you can let the chef know it's your birthday and they'll do something special like write your name on the dessert or have the chef sign a menu (which is rare).

My hubby loves Ruth's Chris Steakhouse on Harbor. We always eat at the one in Atlantic City but the Anaheim one is just as great. If you choose to eat there ask for Tim M. - the manager and let him know it's your birthday and they will do something great for you.
http://www.ruthschris.com/restaurant-locations/anaheim

You could also request a private room at Carthay Circle for your birthday and it's no extra charge!

 

[Elias1901]

Thank you everyone for giving your suggestions on what I should consider doing for my birthday. I definitely have some ideas flowing. I really appreciate it!

Do you have any connections who can get you into Club 33? Dinner there includes a pass into Disneyland just before your reservation.

Pfffft, yeah, I wish! A dinner at Club 33 for my birthday certainly would take the cake... it would be a dream come true honestly! Unfortunately, I have no direct connections. I do have a friend of a friend whose a member... but I think that's out of the cards at the moment. I once tried to see if my Aunt could get us in through her connections at General Electric and that was a dismal failure considering nobody in her circles even knew what Club 33 was...

And that's cool, I didn't realize dinner at the Club included a pass into the park before you went to eat. I always assumed you'd need a park ticket or an AP. I'm pretty sure that even without entry being included, I would've paid admission anyway just for the chance to get up there! Haha!

Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[SMD]

Thank you everyone for giving your suggestions on what I should consider doing for my birthday. I definitely have some ideas flowing. I really appreciate it!



Pfffft, yeah, I wish! A dinner at Club 33 for my birthday certainly would take the cake... it would be a dream come true honestly! Unfortunately, I have no direct connections. I do have a friend of a friend whose a member... but I think that's out of the cards at the moment. I once tried to see if my Aunt could get us in through her connections at General Electric and that was a dismal failure considering nobody in her circles even knew what Club 33 was...

You might try again, it's more widely known now, and someone might have asked about it in the interim. Although I know someone who works for a big company and they said that the rules have tightened with the recent changes and they can't offer it anymore. But if you ask the worst that can happen is they say no.

And that's cool, I didn't realize dinner at the Club included a pass into the park before you went to eat. I always assumed you'd need a park ticket or an AP. I'm pretty sure that even without entry being included, I would've paid admission anyway just for the chance to get up there! Haha!

Thanks for your suggestions!

It actually doesn't include admission anymore. Members are limited in the number of people they can give free admission to and the number of people who they can make unaccompanied reservations for.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

You could always celebrate your birthday on the next night. It isn't as if tons of people don't run around DLR with birthday buttons on the day nearest their birthday that they could be there, so why not you? You could have a nice, simple dinner/drinks with your friend on the 20th (and by drinks I of course mean TRADER SAMS!!!) sort of as a prelude to your week of birthday festivities, and then really kick it off your first full day in the parks (wearing your birthday button) and first night in the parks with a nice Table Service dinner in the parks--perhaps at Carthay Circle (which you say you really like.) After all, you'll be at Disneyland. Why limit the fun to one night just because of a technicality of the calendar?

 

[CassieF]

There's a Halloween party on the 20th. You could put the Napa Rose money towards tickets and eat CS in the parks before or during the party.

You are talking this month, right? If so, this fantastic idea won't work, as Halloween parties don't start until the 26th (oct 20th has a party, not sept). There have been some great suggestions for DTD options if you don't want to waste a park day.

 

[SMD]

You are talking this month, right? If so, this fantastic idea won't work, as Halloween parties don't start until the 26th (oct 20th has a party, not sept). There have been some great suggestions for DTD options if you don't want to waste a park day.

The OP says the trip is "next month."

 

[CassieF]

The OP says the trip is "next month."

Ah, I see that now. I guess I saw the "little over a week" and got confused. By all means, do the Halloween party!

 

[Elias1901]

Hmm... it seems as thought splurging for Halloween Party Tickets is a popular suggestion. Only thing is, is that we already currently hold tickets for one of the party nights later in the trip. Does doing it twice make sense? It sounds as though only counter service are options during the party? I was hoping that if I did venture into the parks with a party ticket, that I'd be able to dine at Blue Bayou for my birthday or something.

Well, I guess that the party on that Monday night is from 6 PM - 11 PM... and from what I gather guests of the party would be admitted into the park at what? 3 PM? 4 PM? Do you think I could make a reservation for Blue Bayou at their latest seating that night (supposing their reservation schedule aligns with a park "closing" time of 6 PM)? What do ya'll think of that?

 

[figment_jii]

Hmm... it seems as thought splurging for Halloween Party Tickets is a popular suggestion. Only thing is, is that we already currently hold tickets for one of the party nights later in the trip. Does doing it twice make sense? It sounds as though only counter service are options during the party? I was hoping that if I did venture into the parks with a party ticket, that I'd be able to dine at Blue Bayou for my birthday or something.

Yes, it seems like it's mostly counter service that is open during the party. I think that Cafe Orleans and Carnations were open for at least part of the party, but I don't recall how long.

I've gone to two parties in the past and it's a lot of fun. You get to relax more during the parties because you don't have to do everything in one night.

Well, I guess that the party on that Monday night is from 6 PM - 11 PM... and from what I gather guests of the party would be admitted into the park at what? 3 PM? 4 PM? Do you think I could make a reservation for Blue Bayou at their latest seating that night (supposing their reservation schedule aligns with a park "closing" time of 6 PM)? What do ya'll think of that?

If the party starts at 6:00 pm, then you'll be able to enter DL at 3:00 pm using the party ticket. Yes, the seating times at the table service venues "line" up with the park closing at 6:00 pm (so I would guess the last seats are somewhere around 5:00 pm).

Personally, if I was going to MHP, I would try to plan my dinner so that I didn't miss out on the party. For me, that means starting dinner around 4:30 pm or so (90 minutes should be enough). If you don't mind missing some of the party (potentially), then a later dinner would also be okay.

 

[SMD]

Hmm... it seems as thought splurging for Halloween Party Tickets is a popular suggestion. Only thing is, is that we already currently hold tickets for one of the party nights later in the trip. Does doing it twice make sense? It sounds as though only counter service are options during the party? I was hoping that if I did venture into the parks with a party ticket, that I'd be able to dine at Blue Bayou for my birthday or something.

Well, I guess that the party on that Monday night is from 6 PM - 11 PM... and from what I gather guests of the party would be admitted into the park at what? 3 PM? 4 PM? Do you think I could make a reservation for Blue Bayou at their latest seating that night (supposing their reservation schedule aligns with a park "closing" time of 6 PM)? What do ya'll think of that?

The last reservation is more likely to be 5pm, but it's within the 60 day window, so check to see what's available. I'd say you'll be wasting your party time, but if you're already going to another party, and don't mind paying, go for it. Is your other party day also going to be a day you go to the park? Because you could always use an admission day that first night and hop to DCA and then not go in the parks in the morning on party day.

What airport are you flying into and how are you getting to your hotel? It might be worth exploring something off site for your arrival day. There are a lot of really cool places in LA that you could get to for a lot cheaper than 2 Halloween party tickets.

 

[RandFamily]

I vote for pretending your birthday is the next day. I really like to have the whole day at DLR for my birthday and enjoy feeling special throughout the parks.

Of course you could do both - a special dinner outside the parks on your real birthday and then have your "Disney Birthday" the next day.

Enjoy!

 

[Elias1901]

Is your other party day also going to be a day you go to the park? Because you could always use an admission day that first night and hop to DCA and then not go in the parks in the morning on party day.

I encountered that issue while planning and decided that we wouldn't use a full day admission for the day we're using our party tickets. So, we're covered!

What airport are you flying into and how are you getting to your hotel? It might be worth exploring something off site for your arrival day. There are a lot of really cool places in LA that you could get to for a lot cheaper than 2 Halloween party tickets.

We're flying into LAX but we're taking the Disneyland Resort Express down to our Anaheim hotel. So really, we'd only be able to do stuff in the Anaheim Resort area and the Disneyland Resort area.

 

[Eeee-va]

I do like the party idea; it's rather special to be IN the parks on your birthday.

If you wanted something cheaper than Blue Bayou and quite a bit more Halloween-party festive, you could get a reservation for Cafe Orleans before the party. There is amazing people-watching as people come in all costumed, and I found it a nice atmosphere overall. (I got soup and pommes frites when we ate there, which I guess wouldn't make a great birthday meal, but was "lighter" than a monte cristo so I had room for candy. )