cheap places to eat?? around disneyland

[Flea]

Hi ya,

We are back in planning mode for our uncancelled trip in October - we are coming from New Zealand and since the dollar is no longer in our favour I want to try find out information on other places to eat...and what prices we expect to pay. Maybe some less known but yummy eateries within walking distance of hojo's.


We will be staying at Hojo's for about 10nights we have 5 adults and 2 children (almost 3 and almost 5 at time of travel). We are more than happy to share meals as I've heard American portion sizes are larger than what we are used to


We will be doing a couple of character meals as they can be booked from NZ so easy for me to budget in

How far is the nearest supermarket? Is it easy enough to get to without a car? Breakfast we plan to eat in the room before we go out for the day.

TIA

 

[LucyDingo]

We always get a few groceries (water and snacks) at Target. It's not within walking distance though. The address is 12100 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA if you want to map it. It's close to the parks but not walking distance.

Some places to eat...

On Harbor Blvd (same street as the Hojo) there's a Denny's that we've gone to a couple times. 1610 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA‎

I've heard Millie's is good - 1480 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA‎

These two are a little farther away from the Hojo...
Coco's - 1100 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA‎

Tiffy's - 1060 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA‎

 

[LucyDingo]

Keep in mind, it doesn't take a little time to leave the parks to eat. So if you're leaving the park for the sole purpose of eating somewhere cheaper...you might want to weigh the price difference between eating in the parks and out. Sometimes it's worth it to just eat in the parks so you don't have to waste the time to leave.

At Disneyland, we find that the Pizza Port in Tomorrowland gives you the most food for your money. The pasta portions are pretty big. A lot of times my husband and I will share a plate of pasta and each get a side salad.

 

[bluecruiser]

I've heard Millie's is good - 1480 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA‎

Ate at Millie's on my trip a few years ago and loved it! Nice variety of food, very popular. I had an entree salad that was very good.

EDITED - it was Mimi's Cafe, not Millie's where I ate.
You know, the memory starts to go as we get older
More information in my post below (post #11).

If you're looking for fast food, there's a McDonald's on Harbor Blvd as well. I've never eaten there, but from what I've heard it's standard McDonald's fare.

 

[Flea]

Thanks - I'll add those details to my little planning book

We will probably be leaving the parks most days around lunchtime as we have 2 young ones who will probably need some downtime - we have a 14day pass but only there for 10days (was cheaper doing it this way from NZ) so we have plenty of time to spend in the park

I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile us renting a car for the day from LAX instead of doing the transfers - that way we could do some shopping etc. I might have to look into the price difference.

 

[LucyDingo]

Thanks - I'll add those details to my little planning book

We will probably be leaving the parks most days around lunchtime as we have 2 young ones who will probably need some downtime - we have a 14day pass but only there for 10days (was cheaper doing it this way from NZ) so we have plenty of time to spend in the park

I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile us renting a car for the day from LAX instead of doing the transfers - that way we could do some shopping etc. I might have to look into the price difference.

I would definitely look into that. We always rent a car, but that's because we visit family in the area while we're there.

Another good way to save money is to bring your own water bottles into the parks. They charge so much for one bottle of water. Close to $4, i think. We usually get a case of water from Target for under $10. Our hotel room has a fridge to keep them cold.

 

[konagal]

Check out Vons.com. They deliver groceries.

The plaza Inn on mainsrtreet has huge portions. We have gotten food there and took half back to the rooms.

A car for the first day sounds like a good option.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

We enjoy Millies as well. And I second the comment on Pizza Port's portions.

 

[jernysgirl]

Check out Vons.com. They deliver groceries.

The plaza Inn on mainsrtreet has huge portions. We have gotten food there and took half back to the rooms.

A car for the first day sounds like a good option.

I TOTALLY second the idea of grocery delivery. I would check out Albertsons though. They have had more positive feedback than Vons has. I believe they may give you free delivery on your first order banana: for free!). They deliver to the front desk of your hotel (so no walking/driving to a store). The front desk should hold your groceries as long as you let them know that they are coming. And, with Albertsons I believe you can order up to two weeks in advance (so you can order from home).

I would look into it, just as an option. Then you wouldn't have to worry about it once you got here.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Right next to the HoJos is another restaurant called Mimi's Cafe. Their food is really good, and you could probably get food to go to take back to the hotel, or eat in the restaurant. They have reasonable portions and decent prices.

In Disneyland you might also consider splitting a plate for a few dollars more than one plate at one of the restaurants. The Plaza Inn serves a nice fried chicken plate that is really more food than a person can eat. You could share that and a small side salad, one dessert for everyone, etc.

Another thing that many people do that I've noticed is order an appetizer as the meal and a salad.

 

[bluecruiser]

Right next to the HoJos is another restaurant called Mimi's Cafe. Their food is really good, and you could probably get food to go to take back to the hotel, or eat in the restaurant. They have reasonable portions and decent prices.

Oops - it was Mimi's Cafe (1400 S. Harbor Blvd) that I was thinking of in my earlier post, not Millie's.

Also - HoJo's has a public discussion forum on local dining options, which can be found here.

 

[Flea]

thanks

I'll investigate whether I can get something delivered - not sure if they'll accept my overseas creditcard though

I'm off to read the HOJO thread now thanks

 

[Queenbillabong]

The overseas credit card is an issue (I am Canadian and it won't accept mine), but if you can get one of the paid Visa or MC gift cards, those are accepted and you can just put the hotel address in as your billing address.

Have a great trip!!

 

[pixiewings71]

There is a Millie's and a Mimi's on Harbor. Mimi's is a chain, it's delicious but it's a bit more $$. Millie's is more a "family" owned type thing and it's a bit less pricey. Good food though!! There is also a Denny's and an IHOP but we avoid the IHOP as it's pretty $$$$. The McDonald's is OK, standard fare but no dollar menu there! Captain Kidd's in on Harbor right across the street, we ate there a couple of times and it was yucky. I had a salad, half my lettuce was wilted and not edible, DBF had the buffet and it had old gross food on it, the kids meals were OK but again, nothing special.

In DTD there is Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen Express, that's GOOD!!!!!! Good sized portions (sharable for DBF and I), good prices and good food. We ate at Tortilla Joe's walk up window and that was not so good so we won't do that again, inside is probably better as the outside menu is limited. Rainforest Cafe in DTD is good but it's not very cheap. La Brea Bakery has some good choices and Napolini's pizza was very good. Those are both in DTD as well.

 

[lntsmom]

One suggestion...go to the Orange County/Anaheim vistor's center website. Request any tourism info they have, and check there for printable coupons.

Last time we went they had coupons for lots of the places right there around Disney. At the time both of my boys thought McDonald's chicken nuggets were haute cuisine, and I was able to use the 20% off coupons from the website to get the meals at what was about the "normal" price at home.

You might also try signing up with Mimi's and any other of the chains in the area...they might have coupons and offers they e-mail. Every little bit helps!

 

[LucyDingo]

One suggestion...go to the Orange County/Anaheim vistor's center website. Request any tourism info they have, and check there for printable coupons.

Last time we went they had coupons for lots of the places right there around Disney. At the time both of my boys thought McDonald's chicken nuggets were haute cuisine, and I was able to use the 20% off coupons from the website to get the meals at what was about the "normal" price at home.

You might also try signing up with Mimi's and any other of the chains in the area...they might have coupons and offers they e-mail. Every little bit helps!

Oohh..I love coupons. good suggestions!

 

[kiwitravel]

Hi ya,

We are back in planning mode for our uncancelled trip in October - we are coming from New Zealand and since the dollar is no longer in our favour I want to try find out information on other places to eat...and what prices we expect to pay. Maybe some less known but yummy eateries within walking distance of hojo's.


We will be staying at Hojo's for about 10nights we have 5 adults and 2 children (almost 3 and almost 5 at time of travel). We are more than happy to share meals as I've heard American portion sizes are larger than what we are used to


We will be doing a couple of character meals as they can be booked from NZ so easy for me to budget in

How far is the nearest supermarket? Is it easy enough to get to without a car? Breakfast we plan to eat in the room before we go out for the day.

TIA

We have been twice and have a few ideas for you...

We found the american food not to our liking on our first trip (huge portions and high on carbs and low on greens. On our first trip we had a microwave so once I found a supermarket within walking distance we cooked a few meals for ourselves. Not all Hojos rooms have a microwave so you might want to request this now, Lorealle who is on this board can help you with that.

To walk to the supermarket you head north up Harbor to Ball road, turn right and about 400 metres down on your right is a "spanish" supermarket. The spanish supermarkets are just like ours, lots of fresh vegetables and fruit and fresh meats etc. On our second trip we bought an electric frypan at Target (about $25US) and took the maggi meal packets and mostly did our own dinners, better for our wallets and waistlines...

Getting round by bus is a breeze, Target is a couple of miles south down Harbor (just after Chapman I think) on the left. They sell water, processed frozen foods, chips etc no fresh produce. You will have to buy the frypan in US of course as they are 110v.

We looked at the possibility of driving ourselves from the airport too, it is cheaper to catch the bus (once you factor in the insurance and fuel) and no great hardship. For us the hassle of getting the car back the next morning when all you want to do is hit the parks was the deciding factor. If you have a late flight out of LAX it might be handy to have a car on the last day and sightsee through Hollywood etc.

 

[TiggerNZ]

Hi there

Just a quickie from me, we too just had our first trip to DL from NZ - well en-route to the UK and the one thing I noticed was that my DS (aged 6) was so overwhelmed by what was going on all the time that he hardly ate - or rather ate little and often, so I carried around a stash of muesli bars/crisps etc, and he ate those. If you have more time (we only had 2 days) I'd definatly go to a supermarket and get some supplies, the HOJOs rooms are great with heaps of storage space, so all will be fine.

Eating wise - we ate at Mimis which was good -and their kids meals were great, and McDonalds, as well as a few places in DL and DCA (mostly hot dogs/chips though)

For the character meals - I know you didn't ask but - Goofys Kitchen was fabulous, but again my son was so in awe that he hardly ate anything. If I was to do it again, I'd go for a later brunch - 10am ish - and on a day I wasn't going to the parks so you could sit for as long as you wanted. It was awesome and the food was great - I didn't buy the photo package though, as just couldn't justify spending over $50 on a photo!!! Argh!!! silly exchange rate!

I am very jealous that you'll have so much time there, and hope you have a great trip. I loved our few days there, and wished we'd had longer. Have fun!

 

[Sherry E]

Hi there

Just a quickie from me, we too just had our first trip to DL from NZ - well en-route to the UK and the one thing I noticed was that my DS (aged 6) was so overwhelmed by what was going on all the time that he hardly ate - or rather ate little and often, so I carried around a stash of muesli bars/crisps etc, and he ate those. If you have more time (we only had 2 days) I'd definatly go to a supermarket and get some supplies, the HOJOs rooms are great with heaps of storage space, so all will be fine.

Eating wise - we ate at Mimis which was good -and their kids meals were great, and McDonalds, as well as a few places in DL and DCA (mostly hot dogs/chips though)

For the character meals - I know you didn't ask but - Goofys Kitchen was fabulous, but again my son was so in awe that he hardly ate anything. If I was to do it again, I'd go for a later brunch - 10am ish - and on a day I wasn't going to the parks so you could sit for as long as you wanted. It was awesome and the food was great - I didn't buy the photo package though, as just couldn't justify spending over $50 on a photo!!! Argh!!! silly exchange rate!

I am very jealous that you'll have so much time there, and hope you have a great trip. I loved our few days there, and wished we'd had longer. Have fun!

TiggerNZ, the photo at Goofy's is just over $30, not $50. (Still way too expensive to buy, in my opinion, but maybe not to some!) Did someone tell you it was $50? We were just there on the 21st and we got the usual $32 speech! Or do you mean that after you figured out the exchange rate in your mind, it came out to $50? I DID notice, however, that the breakfast prices were exactly the same on Dec. 21 as they had been when we ate there in the off-peak season of early October. Usually, there is about a $5.00 increase in price from the off-season to the peak season, but they didn't do that this year, presumably because of the bad economy and the fact that the PS bookings were down this season and they had lots of availability.

Whether you go for breakfast, dinner or brunch, there is a 90-minute time limit at Goofy's, but they don't always enforce it if the restaurant is un-crowded. That 90 minutes can go by fast if there is lots of eating and character interaction. We didn't even realize our 90 minutes were almost up until the server suspiciously kept coming around and asking if there was anything else we needed more often than necessary! They were trying to hint at us to leave!

Anyway, even though you guys were not that hungry, I HOPE you grabbed yourself some yummy bacon and Mickey-shaped waffles or cobbler!!!

 

[Wingles]

Sherry re the photo price she is talking about once you convert it to NZ dollars. I just got my Visa bill for our trip in early Dec and it was 62 dollars for the picture package !!!!!!
I don't know what possessed me to say yes to it ! It isn't even a good picture my daughter and I both look horrible lol.