Breakfast at DL Hotel, Morning of Checkout

[PiperG]

Hi Everyone,

We are going on a very short trip to DL while visiting my folks in San Diego this summer. We are checking into the DL hotel on 9/1 and are planning to spash around at the pool and eat at Rainforest Cafe that night. On 9/2 will be at the parks.

We are checking out on 9/3 and are looking for a good breakfast option that is within walking distance. We don't need to pay the prices for Steakhouse 55 and are not interested in a Character Breakfast. Any ideas what else might work? Maybe something at DTD or at one of the other resort hotels. . . . . I didn't see any quick options at the DL Hotel, but maybe I missed something.

Thanks.

 

[Sherry E]

Wel....hmmm....see, if you were not going to be eating at Rainforest Cafe two nights before, then I would suggest that for breakfast. They open at 8:00 a.m. or so, and that is an excellent time to get a good table and really see the inside of the restaurant, because there are not many people dining at RFC at that time. But since you will have already been there for dinner, and you don't want Steakhouse 55....do you not want a character meal because you don't want to interact with characters or is it because of the cost of a character meal? If it is the cost only that concerns you, you can eat at Storytellers Cafe (in the GCH) or Lilo and Stitch (in the PPH) and just order off the menu rather than pay buffet price, but you would still be interacting with characters.

Otherwise, I think Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in DTD serves breakfast, as does LaBrea Bakery. House of Blues does a brunch.

 

[Sherry E]

Or....another idea would be the counter service restaurant Whitewater Snacks in the GCH - it gets rave reviews for portion sizes and quality of food, and I know they serve breakfast too.

 

[l’amore bella]

Whitewater Snacks at the Grand Californian has some great breakfast items. There is also the Coffee House at the Disneyland Hotel and Compass Books and Cafe in Downtown Disney.

 

[PiperG]

Regarding the character breakfast, we just can't justify the cost of the buffet given how little some of us eat. Although we always have fun when we do them, now that DS is 12 don't gravitate to them. Having said that, I will definitely look into the options that allow you to order off the menu.

Thanks for all of the suggestions! We may switch our Rainforest Cafe to breakfast and do Naples Restaurant for dinner.

 

[Sherry E]

Regarding the character breakfast, we just can't justify the cost of the buffet given how little some of us eat. Although we always have fun when we do them, now that DS is 12 don't gravitate to them. Having said that, I will definitely look into the options that allow you to order off the menu.

Thanks for all of the suggestions! We may switch our Rainforest Cafe to breakfast and do Naples Restaurant for dinner.

I can't blame you about not wanting to spend the $$$ on a character buffet. It IS a lofty sum, and unless you have kids who really want to see those characters OR you know you will eat enough food to justify spending that $$, then it is better to skip a character meal OR do one of the ones which allow you to order off the menu. So that rules out (my favorite) Goofy's, since that is buffet only, but you do have the Storytellers Cafe Critter Breakfast with Chip, Dale, etc. which allows menu orders OR buffet, and Lilo and Stitch at the PPH allows menu orders OR buffet as well. So those are good options for you if anyone decides they just NEED some character lovin' at a cheaper price!

I like the Rainforest Cafe in general and have eaten at the DTD one for dinner or late lunch a few times, but I was surprised at how much better I could see the decor of the restaurant, enjoy the ambience and sit where we wanted to sit and get faster service by switching from dinner to breakfast. At the time we went - which was 8:15 a.m. or so on a weekend - there were very few other folks there because I don't think anyone realized that RFC served breakfast! So if you DO make the switch from dinner to breakfast at RFC and eat dinner at Naples, I think that is a good choice too! (I also like Naples a lot!)

 

[PiperG]

So if you DO make the switch from dinner to breakfast at RFC and eat dinner at Naples, I think that is a good choice too! (I also like Naples a lot!)

Great! We are now leaning towards Naples for dinner and Rainforest for breakfast. The only other thing I might check out now is the Chip and Dale breakfast. We love those guys, and if we can order off a menu that might work.

We have not been to DL in many, many years. So much has changed! The main point of this trip is so that DS 12 can ride the imfamous Matterhorn that DH and I always talk about so fondly. Both DH and I grew up in San Diego, and have done DL many times but all pre-California Adventure. I was soooo excited to see they have a DTD with Rainforest, Pin Trading etc. . . . . I bet it feels so different! More like WDW, which is what I have gotten used to since our first trip there in 2001.

Sorry. . . .I am just rambling now

 

[Sherry E]

Great! We are now leaning towards Naples for dinner and Rainforest for breakfast. The only other thing I might check out now is the Chip and Dale breakfast. We love those guys, and if we can order off a menu that might work.

We have not been to DL in many, many years. So much has changed! The main point of this trip is so that DS 12 can ride the imfamous Matterhorn that DH and I always talk about so fondly. Both DH and I grew up in San Diego, and have done DL many times but all pre-California Adventure. I was soooo excited to see they have a DTD with Rainforest, Pin Trading etc. . . . . I bet it feels so different! More like WDW, which is what I have gotten used to since our first trip there in 2001.

Sorry. . . .I am just rambling now

Yes, you can definitely get the off the menu option at Storytellers!

Don't worry about rambling here - I don't think anyone minds. I am one of the biggest ramblers out there on the DIS! I know what you mean about being away from DLR and having so many things change. It does take a bit of getting used to. I was someone who, growing up in L.A., also used to go to DL all the time as a kid (well, once or twice a year starting in 1972) and then twice a year as an adult, all the way up until the mid '90s. Life took a different path and I didn't go to DL for about 5-1/2 years. Talk about things changing! By late 2000 when I went back, A whole chunk of the landscape of the Disneyland Hotel had been lopped off when they began construction of DTD and DCA, and Goofy's was in a different place, and the Monorail Cafe was GONE. Suddenly there were fewer restaurants and shops in the DLH and there was this whole new DTD area, PLUS the IASW Holiday was open during that time I returned in 2000. DCA had not yet opened, but it was all very surreal. Then, I was away from DLR again for 6 years after that and made my grand return in Fall 2007, with my first time ever in DCA. I didn't take to DCA at first. Everything felt weird and foreign to me because I had missed so much time. I felt out of the loop. Even looking around DL, certain little things were different, there were brand new rides, things had been painted over, shops that I used to love had closed - it really felt odd because I had not been there in so long. Some things never change but other things do. But I went again in late 2007 and then twice last year, and now I have grown to really like DCA (Toy Story Midway Mania is one of the best rides ever), and I feel like I am back in the swing of things at Disneyland and it doesn't feel so odd!

So hopefully, you guys will be able to get the lay of the land and find your 'Disney legs' rather quickly and get right back into the thick of everything - revist the old and embrace the new!! I am sure your son will love the Matterhorn - AND Toy Story Midway Mania!!!