Booking window snuck up on me

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

This morning, I realized we're 92 days from check-in, and I hadn't even begun to think about dining for our Disneyland trip in March. This is only our second trip, ever, with the previous trip being just for a few days at Christmas.

On that previous trip, we had a special Christmas Eve buffet at Storytellers Café, a World of Color package at Ariel's Grotto, and a counter service meal at the French Market Restaurant.

This trip, we'll have the luxury of time. We'll be at the Grand Californian for 8 nights, and will have 5-day tickets. (Possibly buying additional tickets, but we're playing that by ear and may spend some non-Disney days.) So we're looking for a combination of both in and out of park options. We typically do a single table service each day, and then have snacks (or a light counter service) for the rest of the day.

Here are some of the restaurants that jumped out at me during a quick review of the Disneyland and Disney Food Blog web sites:

Park Days
Blue Bayou
Carthay Circle
Golden Horseshoe
Flo's V-8 Café
Carnation Café

Non-Park Days
Steakhouse 55
Napa Rose

Any suggestions? Am I missing any must-see places? Thoughts on Steakhouse 55, Napa Rose, and Carthay Circle all on the same trip? Too much? At WDW, we'd typically only do one or two signature restaurants during a trip.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

Reservations can be made 60 days in advance so you have plenty of time to decide!

Some of my family favorites....

Cafe Orleans
Hungry Bear
Plaza Inn, both for character breakfast and fried chicken dinner

DCA...we actually slip into Grand Californian to White Water Snacks. We appreciate the quiet and free refills.
Paradise Pier food court area...good selection of different cuisine

Off property

Love Tagarooa Terrace and Trader Sam's

 

[figment_jii]

This morning, I realized we're 92 days from check-in, and I hadn't even begun to think about dining for our Disneyland trip in March.

As the PP said, Disneyland dining reservations open 60-days in advance, so you still have plenty of time! In truth, very few reservations fill up at the 60-day mark. Almost all of the places will have availability at least until a week or two beforehand.

Here are my thoughts...

• Blue Bayou - The iconic restaurant at DLR. It gets mixed reviews about the food, but I've always enjoyed my meal. Request a waterside table when you check-in. You'll be told there is a wait, but it's well worth it to get a waterside table.
• Carthay Circle - I like both the restaurant and the lounge, so either is a great choice. They do also have a WoC dining package, but you're restricted to ordering from a limited menu.
• Golden Horseshoe - This is a CS location. It's okay, but nothing really out of the ordinary.
• Flo's V-8 Café - This is also a CS location. Fun decor and good food. One of the better CS options in DCA (to me).
• Carnation Café - Good, basic, foods and a nice setting. Indoor and outdoor seating.

I'd probably opt to try the Plaza Inn in place of Golden Horseshoe. The fried chicken and the pot roast are both excellent.

Depending on the whether, I'd also look into the Big Thunder Ranch BBQ. It's all you care to eat family-style ribs, chicken, beans, coleslaw, and corn bread (there are a few additional items at dinner). The food is outstanding and it's a fun atmosphere.

I haven't been to either of the non-park venues.

 

[TheDoleWhipper]

Your plans sound good! With that much time, you can really relax and enjoy signature dining locations without worrying about being rushed! If you have the money for all those fancy meals, then definitely go for it! Another thing you might want to consider are the Fantasmic Dessert packages. Basically, you sit at a designated spot (in chairs!) along the water enjoying a perfect view of Fantasmic, while enjoying a box of fancy goodies such as squares, cheese, cookies, etc. Make sure you book early though, as space is limited and they often sell out very quickly.

And if you wanted, you can also book a world of color dining package for DCA. You pay a fixed-price, enjoy your meal at the restaurant (either Carthay Circle, Wine Country Trattoria, or Ariel's Grotto) and then you get a special fast pass for seating for the show. Carthay circle patrons get the best view, right front and center in an elevated (and dry) platform. Early diners get FPs for the first show, and late diners get FPs for the second show (if scheduled). These are a perfect option if you want to eat at Carthay Circle anyways!

 

[TheDoleWhipper]

And also, if you wish to eat breakfast at the parks, do it later, like at 11:00 am just when the parks are starting to get busy. If the parks open at 8:00 am, and you take advantage of early entry at 7:00 am, you can get a lot done in terms of rides!

 

[ImDMous]

Your plans sound good! With that much time, you can really relax and enjoy signature dining locations without worrying about being rushed! If you have the money for all those fancy meals, then definitely go for it! Another thing you might want to consider are the Fantasmic Dessert packages. Basically, you sit at a designated spot (in chairs!) along the water enjoying a perfect view of Fantasmic, while enjoying a box of fancy goodies such as squares, cheese, cookies, etc. Make sure you book early though, as space is limited and they often sell out very quickly.

And if you wanted, you can also book a world of color dining package for DCA. You pay a fixed-price, enjoy your meal at the restaurant (either Carthay Circle, Wine Country Trattoria, or Ariel's Grotto) and then you get a special fast pass for seating for the show. Carthay circle patrons get the best view, right front and center in an elevated (and dry) platform. Early diners get FPs for the first show, and late diners get FPs for the second show (if scheduled). These are a perfect option if you want to eat at Carthay Circle anyways!

They no longer do the dessert party at Fantasmic! with a seat. Since Fantasmic! has gone to Fastpasses (similar to WoC), there are dining options that come with Fastpasses for certain sections. They do still have a dessert option at Hungry Bear but you go pick it up before the show. This just started last week so they are definitely still working out the kinks of seating that many people.

 

[TheDoleWhipper]

They no longer do the dessert party at Fantasmic! with a seat. Since Fantasmic! has gone to Fastpasses (similar to WoC), there are dining options that come with Fastpasses for certain sections. They do still have a dessert option at Hungry Bear but you go pick it up before the show. This just started last week so they are definitely still working out the kinks of seating that many people.

Right! I knew that they had fantasmic dining packages, but I did not know that they had discontinued the Fantasmic Dessert packages! For some reason, I think that I have been posting faster than I think, lately! I dunno, but I just seem to be making a lot of mistakes in my posts! I am so sorry, and I will try to fix that problem! Thank you for correcting me!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Reservations can be made 60 days in advance so you have plenty of time to decide!

As the PP said, Disneyland dining reservations open 60-days in advance, so you still have plenty of time! In truth, very few reservations fill up at the 60-day mark. Almost all of the places will have availability at least until a week or two beforehand.

Doh! It really does suck to be a newbie all over again!

Thanks for setting me straight. I had it in my mind that it was 90 days. I would have been really upset on Thursday.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Golden Horseshoe - This is a CS location. It's okay, but nothing really out of the ordinary.

Wanting to eat here is more about having never had the opportunity to see this show in Florida before they cancelled it, and always regretting that. Sort of along the lines of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Snow White's Scary Adventure not being among the better rides at Disneyland, but will still be some of the first we head to because we miss them from Florida.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Thanks, everyone. LOL, I'll come back and reference your suggestions in 30 days.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Carnation Cafe and Steakhouse 55 also serve breakfast (S55 is one of our favorites for breakfast at DLR), so that might be a way to eat at these locations while leaving other options open for lunch and dinner.

 

[joyfulDisneytears]

And also, if you wish to eat breakfast at the parks, do it later, like at 11:00 am just when the parks are starting to get busy. If the parks open at 8:00 am, and you take advantage of early entry at 7:00 am, you can get a lot done in terms of rides!

Be careful here...I tried to get breakfast at Flo's at about 11:05 and they switched the signs outside to lunch as I was standing in line. I still enjoyed my lunch but I was hoping to try the breakfast tamales!