Can anyone compare meals at DL to DW for me?

[O-Jo]

We are going to DL for the first time and will be buying gift cards through DS's school to pay for everything. We are trying to estimate how much a family of 3 (2 adults and a 4-year old) will spend on food for 6 days. We've only ever done the meal plan at DW so I feel like we are going at this blindly. Also, are the elements of the meals similar too?

Thanks for any help!

 

[pixiewings71]

It really depends on what you're eating. You can find menus online at allears.net or if that won't work (can't post opposing links) try all ears dot net LOL. I've never been to DW so I can't compare restaurants but really I think your best starting point is the menus.

 

[cinderella_mom]

What are you looking for? DL and DCA have some great counter service places, a few nice restaurants and four choices for character meals, but it's not anything like WDW.

 

[minniebeth]

In my opinion the food is much different at WDW and DLR...
The concept is the same but the food is different and more expensive.
The portions are large and can be very easily shared.
The menus at allears helped me before I went to DLR and there is a food thread here on the Disenyland boards with a lot of photos that can give you a good idea of what there is. What is nice about DLR is that everything is so much more compact, so you have options for food inside the parks, at the Disney hotels, in Downtown Disney and outside the park on the outlying areas with many options. (The new Garden Walk area, plus many others).

 

[kaoden39]

It's true that there are so many options. It depends on where you are eating and what you are eating what the cost will be. allears.net is a good place to try they have the menus and prices. Good luck and have a great time.

Michele

 

[HoneyBee06]

We are going to DL for the first time and will be buying gift cards through DS's school to pay for everything. We are trying to estimate how much a family of 3 (2 adults and a 4-year old) will spend on food for 6 days. We've only ever done the meal plan at DW so I feel like we are going at this blindly. Also, are the elements of the meals similar too?

Thanks for any help!

I think the counter service (which is all we had) at WDW was cheaper than the counter service at Disneyland.

 

[Stacerita]

I find it to be very different at DLR compared to WDW. At WDW I would never go without making ADRs for certain meals. while at DL, I could go completely with CS or eating outside the park. There are a lot more options outside the parks here than at WDW. Most within walking distace or really close driving.

 

[kaoden39]

I find it to be very different at DLR compared to WDW. At WDW I would never go without making ADRs for certain meals. while at DL, I could go completely with CS or eating outside the park. There are a lot more options outside the parks here than at WDW. Most within walking distace or really close driving.

That is so true. I have never been to WDW but I have been told by friends that they would never stay offsite because there is nothing close enough. And almost everything is within walking distance of Disneyland. There are a lot of food choices within walking distance.

 

[nancy drew]

i am used to the dining plan at WDW, so going to DLR was a total shock to my bank account. i really wish they had the same dining plan at DLR. i spent a fortune.

the character meals are not really worth it. we did all of them, and minnies breakfast was the only one really worthwhile. otherwise skip the character meals unless you REALLY want to see a certain character.

split your meals. get counter meals and share. otherwise you are paying $30 or more for counter meals. outside the park the prices are equally elevated (we got one plate of french toast at IHOP and it was $12). bring snacks in to compensate for sharing the meals.

i spent 3x as much on this vacation as i would have spent at WDW. that really shocked me. i will repeat it: i wish DLR had the dining plan they have at WDW. next time we go i will not eat on property nearly as much unless they have a dining plan like the one at WDW.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

Eating outside the parks is a must if you want to save money. Plus there is DTD, so make sure any gift cards you have would be able to be spent elsewhere. Otherwise you really limit your options. We like to grab things like Mimi's Cafe, and places like Subway and McDonalds for a quick bite. There are some nice places to eat in the parks, and we will usually do one Character meal. Plus 1-2 meals in DTD. Then some counter service lunches ect... But we never eat completely in the parks. It would cost a fortune, and I for one actually really enjoy having the variety.

 

[pixiewings71]

I disagree about the character meals not being worth it. You don't go to character meals just for the food, you go for the food and characters. I've only been disappointed at one character meal, that was Goofy's Kitchen. Bad interaction, not so great food. We had a ball at Lilo & Stitch, loved Minnie's and we love the Princesses so much we've done it 4 times for lunch/dinner and once for breakfast! LOL Yes, they are pricey but for us they are worth it. We would rather eat and see characters than just wait in forever lines for them.

 

[kaoden39]

We've done Goofy's Kitchen three times and we had two fantastic meals and character interactions, but the third was so early that the interaction wasn't as good. DH wants to go to Goofy's Kitchen in September even though it is just the two of us.

Michele

 

[ironpig70]

went to wdw 5 years ago for 4 days first and only trip and been to dlr 3 times in the last 8 years so i'm no pro on either dinning plan. but at wdw their is no way to walk from any of the parks off property to a resturant. dl is in the middle of the city. any park(dl or dca) to dtd is a 5 minute walk and if you go the other way(towards harbor) there is a ton of off property resturants and the new garden walk. i'd check the menus at the link posted. also like said bring in snacks.

 

[hogwild]

It's all about the food for me. Being a WDW vet, I find that I'm tired of the same ol' same. (We were at WDW 5 times last year.) I was a bit surprised that I was able to get ADR's yesterday for our trip on June 16th. That would NEVER happen at WDW. At the same time, I was sad that the choices are more limited. I LOVE Ohana's at WDW. I could eat there every night!

I'm really looking forward to Arel's Grotto. I love the princess breakfast at Epcot. It's something that I would do even if the kids weren't with us. I don't think that the meal or the character interaction is where it was a couple of years ago, but there is something magical about being there with all the little girls who's eyes are HUGE with excitment.

I'm also excited about eating dinner at Goofy's Kitchen. I was told that it's close to Chef Mickey's. If the attmostphere is anything like Chef Mickey's then we will have a wonderful time!

One last thing, I've looked at the menu's at allears. I'm SO excited about the variety of things offered! At WDW a lot of times I'll do a kids meal because the heat takes aways my appetite. I'm thinking that at DL the kids and I will be splitting something, and they won't be eating just kid meals. The potato soup is something that I will be looking for!!

I'm just too excited to be at DL, where Walt actually walked around. I can't wait!!

 

[pikaboo27]

I've been going to DLR 2-3 times a year for years and I've been to WDW 4 times including once this past January. The big difference between WDW and DLR is the variety. WDW has it all over DLR for variety. Now, DH and I haven't been blessed with children yet, but I usually order kids meals at both CS and TS so here are some tips.

1) For breakfast: if you want to save some money and aren't wild about character meals, check out the Carnation Cafe on Main Street. The food is awesome and it offers some great people watching. The Minnie Meal is my favorite. It's around $6 and it is plenty of food. DH loves his big mickey waffle so he orders an adult meal. With drinks and tip we are out of there for less than $20.

2) Lunch: For lunch I have 3 tips. Try sharing a big bowl of soup at the Boudin Restaurant in DCA. Also, the kids meals at the mexican restaurants in both parks(Mission Tortillas is DCA or Cafe Del Zocolo in DL) are great for something other than chicken tenders and corn dogs. Cafe Del Zocolo is also great for adults because the plates are HUGE and easy to share.

3) Turkey legs! They eat like a meal and are fun besides.

4) Avoid the Trattoria at DCA. The food is meh and the service is the worst I've ever experienced at Disney. Definately not magical.

Anyways, over all, if you plan about $80-100 a day, you'll be in good shape.

Have a great time!

 

[mousiemom]

we will be there next thurs and because we've never been to dl before, i made a ressie for BB for lunch one day and the wine country trattoria for dinner to watch the parade. i see there was a bad review on the trattoria, what did you have to eat? i hope we have better service.
mousiemom