Check out my dining plans...

[pumpkinfish]

...for our upcoming trip please. Any feedback will be appreciated such as the choice of resturant for the day or time of day...or if you have a better idea for the same type of food.
Since it is DH and I the first half of the trip, we basically always plan our days around where we want to eat. I have tried to take in account of EE days (since we are staying onsite) as well.

2/24- Saturday (arrival day): B. at home L. Tomorrowland Terrace D. Plaza Inn
2/25- Sunday: B. Carnation Cafe L. Farmer's Market D. ???
2/26- Monday (celebrating my B-day!!): B. Carnation Cafe L. (late lunch at Blue Bayou) D. ???
2/27- Tuesday: B. Blue Ribbon Bakery L. Karl Strauss Biergarten D. The Cove Bar
2/28- Wednesday (DH dad and 10 y/o brother arrive from Northern Cali): B. at hotel (PP) L. ??? D. Goofy's Kitchen (what time?)
3/1- Thursday: B. Carnation Cafe L. Bengal Barbeque D. House of Blues
3/2- Friday: B. Blue Ribbon L. Baker's Field Bakery D. Blue Bayou or Cafe Orleans
3/3- Saturday (departure day): B. Blue Ribbon

Now some things we have read about and we would like to try are the bread bowls from Baker's Field Bakery, the meat sticks from Bengal Barbeque, maybe the cream cheese filled pretzel from Karl Strauss, and a character dinner/lunch. DH and I always hit Chef Mickey's at least once during our WDW trips for breakfast, so trying out Goofy's Kitchen for dinner will be different. We also like HOB when we are at Downtown Disney at WDW so want to try the one in DL out. Do they have a Sunday brunch at the HOB in DL? Just curious.
Are there any other places we might want to think about because of a specialty? I'm sure DH will try the Monte Cristo at BB since he likes the one at Bennigan's. But what are some of your personal faves? And I know you noticed a running pattern for Breakfast at either Carnation Cafe or Blue Ribbon...but I LOVE LOVE LOVE mickey waffles (always get one each morning while staying at PO French Quarter) and I LOVE LOVE LOVE crepes...especially chocolate ones so we will be visiting these two locations often!

WooHoo! Less than a month

 

[iceskatejen]

Soup and Salads in breads bowls are at the Pacific Wharf Cafe, not Bakersfield bakery. The Karl Strauss thing is just beer and pretzles, not any actual meals (not actually a biergarten). And the Blue Ribbon Bakery does not have waffles--just muffins, croissants, cinnamon rolls, and coffee (nor does Bakersfield bakery).

 

[Zoemakes5]

Sounds good overall. With such large breakfasts on a number of the days, I'd shoot towards later lunches and later dinners. Didn't see much from DCA.
I heard Storytellers is great for breakfast. You might want to try them out once. I "think" (though I can't honestly remember for certain) that you can get either the buffet or cook to order food of a menu.
For the 10 y.o. brother, I'd plan a couple of fun places. Maybe ESPN Zone? I know my 10 yo son really likes Italian food, maybe switch the Blue Bayou for one of the italian places in DtD or DCA?
I hear that the lunches at Whitewater snacks in GCA is supposed to be really good. You might want to check that place out for some "different" stuff.

 

[MATTERHORN]

I agree with atleast one meal at Storyteller's!! It's great! I love to do the breakfasts also but wish they were like WDW where you didn't have to waste park time to eat a big breakfast. That's the only reason we don't!! But your plan looks great, you have a lot of good food in there!

And the breadbowls are really good, I like the broccoli & cheese!

Andrea

 

[pumpkinfish]

Thank you all so much for your wonderful feedback! I knew you all would provide me with other ideas

*I'm glad you set me straight about where to find the breadbowls! I am a die-hard carb fiend and would have dragged DH all over to find them

*I'm thinking we may pass by Karl Strauss as a snack idea instead of lunch.

*DH and I always tend to eat a early breakfast (well I eat...he drinks his OJ) and a early lunch and then snack and then early or late dinner. Since it is just us, if one is hungry and the other is not, we grab a dole whip (can you say YUM?!) or a turkey leg until later.

*DH spoke with his dad last night. ESPN and/or HOB is in the cards for when they arrive. DH dad told DH that they always eat in DTD when they visit DL.

*I see the Blue Ribbon Bakery doesn't have my mickey waffles, but Carnation Cafe does. The mornings I feel like having my waffle and bacon fix we will head to CC. When I feel like my chocolate crepe, we will hit BRC. And maybe some mornings we will do both! Hey, we are on vacation afterall Vacation calories are empty calories (in my book at least!)

*Since it doesn't seem like DH dad and brother want to do a character meal, we may decide to do Storyteller's as a late breakfast like we do at WDW. Would you say that Storyteller's is a better breakfast than Goofy's kitchen? What are the different character interactions? Did I fail to mention that Goofy is DH favorite?!

*I can't seem to find a menu for whitewater snacks. I also have seen some reviews in trip reports that they enjoed it. What is served?

Thanks again for everyone's help! We are so excited about our upcoming trip.

 

[honeymom]

Instead of two meals at Blue Bayou, why not do one there and one at either Napa Rose or Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. All three are pricey, but the food at Napa Rose and Ralph Brennan's are infinitely better than BB (we ate at all 3 on our last trip). I would agree with the recommendations for breakfast at Storytellers. It was a great breakfast.

 

[amw]

*I can't seem to find a menu for whitewater snacks. I also have seen some reviews in trip reports that they enjoed it. What is served?

Here you go (from http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_wws.htm):

Menu Date: October 2006

Breakfast
Served daily until 10:30 a.m.

Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwich - Fried eggs, smoked bacon and Cheddar cheese. $6.99
California Breakfast Burrito - scrambled eggs, diced tomato, Cheddar cheese, bacon and red bliss potatoes. $6.99
French Toast Sticks - with maple syrup and lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar. $5.99


All Day Menu
Served after 10:30 a.m.

Classic French Dip - Roasted top round with au jus, served with French fries. $9.29
Hot dog - with chili, Cheddar cheese and onions, served with French fries. $6.29
Personal Pizza - with mozzarella or pepperoni, served with a fresh garden salad. $6.99
Char-Broiled Cheeseburger - with Cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and pickle. $7.59
Char-Broiled Chicken Sandwich - with grilled Ortega chile and guacamole. $8.59
Veggie Burger - served with French fries. $7.59
Chicken or Shredded Beef Nachos - with guacamole, sour cream, jalapenos and salsa. $7.89


Kid's Meals
All Kid's meals served with seasonal fruit, a fun straw,
and choice of mllk, small chocolate milk, juice or small bottled water
French fires and sodas available upon request

Chicken Breast Tenders - $5.99
Cheeseburger - $5.99
Hot Dog - $5.49
Grilled Cheese Sandwich - $5.49


Cold Sandwiches

Chicken Salad Sandwich - $7.99
Egg Salad Sandwich - $7.49
Tuna Salad Sandwich - $7.99
Roast Turkey Sandwich - $7.99
Kid's PB&J - $5.99

Salads

Grilled Chicken Breast Caesar Salad - $8.49

Miscellaneous

Pretzel with Cheese - $3.29
Whole Fruit - $1.59
Yogurt - $1.89
Milk - $1.59
Bottled Soda and PowerAde - $2.69
Chocolate Mousse - $4.99
Pie of the Day - $4.99
Nestle Ice Cream Novelties - $3.49

 

[pumpkinfish]

honeymom~ It is funny you said that about the Jazz Kitchen because I am thinking we will do that on Friday for dinner! Great minds think alike I would love to go to Napa Rose, but DH isn't all into the fancy resturant setting. Plus, I love wine, he doesn't. If we go, I would want him to try all the wines with me and I know how he gets. I was thinking about doing a sampling of wines at Wine Tratt. in DCA. Has anyone done this?

amw~ Thank you so much for posting the menu! I don't have any idea how I missed it! I have allearsnet in another window on the computer right now and I have no idea how I didn't see it. I have been side-tracked by the dining reviews thread stickied at the top...keep going back to those yummy pictures!

 

[Amy&Dan]

A great cs place for breakfast inside the parks is the Riverbelle Terrace in Disneyland. Mickey shaped pancakes, huge cinnamon rolls and eggs and bacon platters. You can sit outside and enjoy a lovely morning right on the Rivers of America. Storytellers for breakfast vs. Goofy's is that at Storytellers is more about the food. Its a great buffet, a lovely setting and the characters are fewer in numbers. Usually its Chip, Dale and Koda and Kenai. Sometimes Meeko is there. At Goofy's they have some loud (but very fun) singing and dancing its just more energetic, very much like Chef Mickey's. I actually like to do Goofy's for dinner but prefer either Storytellers or the Lilo and Stitch breakfast at the Paradise Pier Hotel. We love to go to Goofys for dinner early, around 5:00 when the crowds are low, the buffet is fresh and we can have a nice dinner but then have plenty of time in the parks afterwards.

Also, Bengal BBQ is wonderful but it gets pricey and the portions are not very big. It makes a great, ample snack but if you go in there very hungry for a meal you will either leave hungry or spend a fortune. But again, its delicious, just more of a appetizer than a meal! Its great for a low carb snack/lite meal.

You can also get breadbowls inside Disneyland at Riverbelle Terrace, I think its stew in a breadbowl. In New Orleans Square I think there is a place that has soup in breadbowls. Maybe the Royal Street Verandah or something like that.

You can also get a Monte Cristo at Cafe Orleans (full service). Its cheaper than the one at Blue Bayou but its not inside the Pirates Ride so it doesn't have the same atmosphere.

Have fun at Disneyland!

 

[hlbtimes2]

*I see the Blue Ribbon Bakery doesn't have my mickey waffles, but Carnation Cafe does. The mornings I feel like having my waffle and bacon fix we will head to CC. When I feel like my chocolate crepe, we will hit BRC. And maybe some mornings we will do both! Hey, we are on vacation afterall Vacation calories are empty calories (in my book at least!)

*Since it doesn't seem like DH dad and brother want to do a character meal, we may decide to do Storyteller's as a late breakfast like we do at WDW. Would you say that Storyteller's is a better breakfast than Goofy's kitchen? What are the different character interactions? Did I fail to mention that Goofy is DH favorite?!

*I can't seem to find a menu for whitewater snacks. I also have seen some reviews in trip reports that they enjoed it. What is served?

:

The bakery does not have crepes. At least not that I've ever seen. Its a walk up bakery counter, not really a restaurant. The only place I know of in the park that has crepes is Cafe Orleans. I've heard conflicting info on if they serve breakfast or not. I highly recomend calling for priority seating for breakfast at CC. It will save you a 30-45 min wait.

Storytellers is a character meal, as is the breakfast at PP hotel.

You can find menus at www.dlresortinfo.com She has them listed for almost every where in the hotels, parks and a bit of the surrounding areas.

 

[pumpkinfish]

Ok, so where the heck am I getting the idea they have chocolate crepes at BLue Ribbon Cafe?! I think all the great info I am getting from the DIS lately has all merged together in my head.

Well, whatever the case, I still appreciate the good info, and thanks for setting the record straight for me