Dining at Disneyland???

[lmhall2000]

We are planning a one day jump over from the airport trip to DL after our cruise...(late flight, leaves LAX at 11:35PM!!)
Is Disneyland like WDW where you have to make reservations? We'll have 6 in our party and would like to treat the kids/niece to a fun dinner with all Disney theming...we love the Castle restaurant/SciFi/just lots of atomsphere that you can't get outside of Disney..
1. Are there restaurants like that in Disneyland (won't be visiting California Adventures)
2. do we need to make ressies ahead of time?

Thanks so much! The kids are 11, 12, 15, 17 so old enough for a nice dining but atmosphere is our first want!

Strike all that...atmosphere not my main goal after looking at the $$$ for Blue Bayou! So which counter service is worth stopping at for a meal??

Tara

 

[wdwfan22]

Disneyland does not really have a lot of themed dining like DW does. No Sci Fi/50s Prime Time, etc.

The one great themed restaurant in DL is Blue Bayou. and that is also the only one you really needs reservations for. You can make them up to 60 days in advance, but don't really need to like at DW. But make them as soon as you can just to be sure.

With only 1 day at DL, I personally would not spend a big chunk of it at a sit down restaurant, as much as I love the Blue Bayou. The thing that DL does better than DW is counter service. There are a few good ones to choose from.

Either way, have a great day !!

 

[skiingfast]

There are a small number of table service in DLR. I'd get a reservation just to make sure you get in. Blue Bayou is really nice. Don't overlook eating in the Grand Californian either.

 

[mrsxsparrow]

Blue Bayou has the best atmosphere by far, since you're actually eating inside of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It's a nice restaurant and kids love watching the boats go by. My favorite pic from Disneyland is when we ate there... my parents stayed at the table and my brother and I went on PotC so the pic is us on the boat. Really cool

 

[lmhall2000]

Wow!! Just checked out the menu..let me restate..atmosphere means nothing to us! HA!!! $35 for steak is a little steep...I was thinking like a $15 or less entree so I went right to counter service...even those are fairly $$ but more doable..so that said, which counter service has the most tasty fare???

Thanks guys!!!
Tara

 

[marciemouse]

We've become big fans of the Carnation Cafe. It's outdoors right on Main Street. It's table service, but all the entrees are under $15, I think. The food we had was really good, way better than most theme park food, and actually priced pretty close to many of the CS places in DL. Aside from Blue Bayou, DL really doesn't have much to compare to places like SciFi. We've found Carnation Cafe to have a fun, old-fashioned DL feel to it, in spite of not having very heavy theming. Yes, make a reservation, especially with your party size. (The place is pretty small.)

The other place we really like is Storyteller's Cafe in the Grand Californian. It's pricier than some places, but they do have affordable entrees. I think my husband's spaghetti was about $15.99. The architecture is great, so maybe this would qualify as a "nicer" dinner, and it's fun to walk through the GC lobby to get there. Again, make reservations.

The only other place no one has pointed out that may be worth a mention for the theme is Hooks Pointe, although we've never actually been in there, so I'm only going off of online descriptions. Pricey though.

If you like corn dogs, be sure to visit the little red wagon on the right end of Main Street. (if you're facing the castle) Those corndogs are insanely good! We grab ours and then go sit across the street at Coke Corner to listen to the ragtime piano player. Coke Corner has hot dogs and pretzels for any members of your family who may not like corndogs, and the ice cream parlor is just a few doors down, too.

Have fun!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Wow!! Just checked out the menu..let me restate..atmosphere means nothing to us! HA!!! $35 for steak is a little steep...I was thinking like a $15 or less entree so I went right to counter service...even those are fairly $$ but more doable..so that said, which counter service has the most tasty fare???

Thanks guys!!!
Tara

Depends on what you like. We enjoy the pasta and salads at Pizza Port in Tomorrowland or the fried chicken at Plaza Inn on Main Street. Portions at these two places are great for sharing too. I like to eat the chicken dish and a couple other things at the French Market, but I have seen comments by many others suggesting that they find the food there hit and miss. Many people post very positively about Rancho del Zocalo but after eating there once, our family decided we could eat much better Mexican food elsewhere so we don't bother with it at Disney. Another thing we don't like to eat at Disney are burgers; there are so many better burgers elsewhere, that we would much rather eat something else in Disneyland.

 

[JustAKid]

Wow!! Just checked out the menu..let me restate..atmosphere means nothing to us! HA!!! $35 for steak is a little steep...I was thinking like a $15 or less entree so I went right to counter service...even those are fairly $$ but more doable..so that said, which counter service has the most tasty fare???

Thanks guys!!!
Tara

PRICELESS!!!

 

[Hound 109]

From Hydroguy's "DLR Guide for WDW Vets" Thread:

10. Dining

For some WDW vets, dining represents a significant portion of their experience. Here WDW vets will find DLR a weaker counterpart. There are some fine dining options at DLR - such as the Blue Bayou in DL and the Napa Rose at the Grand Californian Hotel - which can hold their own with the best of WDW. But in total DLR does not offer the diversity of choices that WDW has because there are fewer resort hotels and no counterpart to Epcot's ethnic dining options.

Neither does DLR have any counterpart to creative dining options such as MGM's SciFi Dine-In. And finally, dinner shows such as the Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue or Polynesian Luau are also lacking.

DLR does have a Downtown Disney area adjacent to the parks and thus within easy walking distance. DTD offers a number of additional dining options.

It should be noted that DLR is located in the center of a major metropolitan area and there are numerous non-Disney dining options nearby.

To view menus at DLR park, hotel and DTD restaurants, go to this link: www.***************** and click on the "Disneyland Resort Area Menu's" on the left. This website also includes references to other nearby off-property restaurant options. Some websites block this link. Here is another good one: http://allears.net/dlr/tp/dl/dl_rest.htm.

Special dining (or rather “dessert”) reservations for the Fantasmic show at DL are available and can be made onemmonth in advance. These are not comparable to the way Fantasmic dining / reserved seating is setup at WDW. They are very limited in number and go very quickly. During busy periods you must call immediately on the morning one month in advance (according to DLR dining) in order to secure a reservation.

By saying all of this I am not recommending a Fantasmic dessert reservation. For many years we have never even considered this and were always able to see Fantasmic just fine. We usually went to the second show during high season. We recently did the dessert reservation and it was a nice experience. Advantages are that you can see the 9PM show (as we did) without an excessive wait. You also get comfortable chairs in which to sit. And the view is very good.

The new World of Color show at DCA opened on June 11, 2010, and it takes dining reservations that offer "preferred standing" tickets for the show. These are available at Wine Country Trattoria and Ariel's Grotto 30 days in advance. There is also a "picnic" option available 30 or 60 days in advance (this seems to be inconsistent and depends on the month). See Disney's FAQ's on World of Color.

You can make dining reservations at DLR by calling: 714-781-3463 (714-781-DINE).

Here's the link....essential reading for all WDW veterans:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599


You might want to consider Park hopping to DCA in the afternoon (less than 100 yards away)....lots to see & less crowded than at DL.

Have a great time at Walt's Park.

 

[DahliaRW]

Carnation Cafe is my favorite (other than blue bayou and cafe orleans). Small and quaint and great spot to people watch everyone on main street. Though, I think their breakfast/brunch is the best, the rest of the day is good too.

 

[iChloe]

Carnation Cafe= Must have!
Space Pizza Port- NO reservations, easy pizza, salad, soup, and sandwiches!
Blue Bayou- GREAT atmosphere, a little on the mire expensive end...
I can't think of any more stand outs...

 

[pixiewings71]

We really like the French Market, I love the 4 cheese pasta they have, it's so good. We also like Cafe Orleans, I suggest a reservation for eating there. You usually sit outside (there are a few tables inside but not many) and can see NOS and the RoA as well. It's a nice place to sit. The gumbo there is excellent as are the Pomme Frites and the begniets (I always spell that wrong LOL).

 

[jtown]

Wanted to point out that reservations are absolutely needed for Blue Bayou. I've never been able to walk up and make a same-day reservation. Not that I try every time but I'm batting 0.000 for the times I've tried on a whim. Carnation and Cafe Orleans have always been walk-up-sit-down for me. 15 minute wait at most without a reservation. Tho that's for 4 or fewer. A larger table may require waiting or splitting up.

As for the $35 steak, that's cheaper than many steak houses above the "Sizzler" level. Take a look at Morton's or Ruth's Chris. $40 for the steak and lobster is downright reasonable.

If you want under $15, stick to counter service. And even that can go above $15 with a drink and/or dessert added. Disneyland is expensive.

 

[heatherleigh]

Carnation Cafe. There's a CM there who has worked for DL for 50 years, named "Oscar". I'm doing a breakfast & lunch there next week. If we see him, we plan on getting a photo- he's a DL icon.

 

[lmhall2000]

We really like the French Market, I love the 4 cheese pasta they have, it's so good. We also like Cafe Orleans, I suggest a reservation for eating there. You usually sit outside (there are a few tables inside but not many) and can see NOS and the RoA as well. It's a nice place to sit. The gumbo there is excellent as are the Pomme Frites and the begniets (I always spell that wrong LOL).

4 cheese pasta, oh yes, you had me at cheese!!!! YUM!!! Found a WIIIIINER!!!

Thanks everyone! My niece is a vegetarian so this cheese pasta will be right up her alley, too!

Tara

 

[DahliaRW]

Carnation Cafe. There's a CM there who has worked for DL for 50 years, named "Oscar". I'm doing a breakfast & lunch there next week. If we see him, we plan on getting a photo- he's a DL icon.

He came over and talked to us when we ate there last visit!

 

[pixiewings71]

4 cheese pasta, oh yes, you had me at cheese!!!! YUM!!! Found a WIIIIINER!!!

Thanks everyone! My niece is a vegetarian so this cheese pasta will be right up her alley, too!

Tara

YAY!!! so glad I mentioned that. It's got mushrooms in it and it's baked and it's sooooooooooooooo darn good!!!! It really is one of my faves.

He came over and talked to us when we ate there last visit!

Us too, Oscar was pretty awesome to meet.