Dining at DL?

[Missus Toad]

Hi all! I'm looking for some recommendations on dining in DL (parks and GC) for our upcoming Sept. trip. I'm traveling with my folks and my young kids (2 and 7 mos.), and would love to get your thoughts on appropriate and fun (and good-- not just chicken fingers) dining experiences. Although I live in L.A. and spend a lot of time in DL, this will be my first real stay there and I'm clueless about good eats in DL (ask me anything about WDW, though-- on that I'm an expert!). TIA!

PS-- Just a note that I've done Catal, the beignets at DTD and the cafeteria service in New Orleans Square many times (enjoyed them all!). Thanks again!

 

[swimrsal]

I might be able to help with this one... we were there with our 21 month old in May.

Blue Bayou - You can get Priority Seating for this ahead of time. Get a seating for 11:30am - it's the first seating of the day and then get there about 15 minutes early and ask for a table at the water. The food is excellent and comes fast (great for a squirmy toddler). DS loved the corn dog bites. DH and I loved sharing the Monte Cristo. This is a very nice restaurant but since we shared it was actually one of our least expensive meals!

Rainforest Cafe - Little ones love the animatronics and we liked the food. Warning... while we were there a gal came around with a big stuffed frog - handed it to our son and asked if she could take our photo. We said "sure." She gave it to him - took our photo and immediately snatched it away - leaving us and our crying toddler. Ugh! She could have let him hold it for a while, you know?

Goofy's Kitchen Buffet - Great food - fun for our toddler. Also get the first seating (7am). They had everything from enchiladas to peanut butter & jelly pizza to an omelet bar. Try the creme brule french toast too! It was lots of fun.

Storyteller's Cafe - We also did this one for breakfast. We didn't make PS - we just dropped in. The characters spent a lot of time with DS. The buffet was better than Goofy's but less selection and no mickey waffles (you had to order them seperate).

La Brea Bakery in DTD for breakfast - This was great because you could wait in line and order your food and sit outside. DS loved the quiche - go figure!

I think those are all the noteables that I can recall. I hope it helps!

-Sally
Disneyland May 9-13, 2005

 

[Mom2my2daughters]

We personally thought all the food there was horrible. We never had a good meal, even spent $150 on 3 steaks at Granville in the DLH and it was horrible!! Don't waste your money here.

The one place that had a semi okay meal was at Ariel's Grotto. My mom really liked her salad, and the fish was okay. But the characters there spent so much time with the kids, and the pictures were so wonderful outside. Great atmosphere with them dancing outside on the veranda with the park in the background. We'd definitely do this one again.

Goofy's Kitchen is fun also. Buffet style, but great pizza and AWESOME desserts

 

[Mom2my2daughters]

Also wanted to add for a quick snack Wetzel's pretzel had good hotdogs in a pretzel bun. The cheese one was great.

 

[Redcon1]

Try Redd Rockett's Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. Great pasta and salads at very good prices for a theme park. Large portions too that you can share.

 

[WorknFires]

Hi Missus Toad,

I think we'll be there at the same time. My family is arriving Sat. Sept 10th. We're using our DVC to stay at PP Hotel. This will be my 1st trip to DL, like you, I'm the expert on WDW but then I live a lot closer to it! LOL Let me know what kind of great things you run across in your planning.

SwimrSal (Sally) - thanks for the great insight. We'll make good use of your info.

Cheryl

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There's so much that we share, that it's time we're aware,It's a small world after all!

 

[Al's Jasmine]

I am with you guys and vote in Blue Bayou and Goofy's Kitchen as well! DH and I do not have children (yet) but we are big kids at heart so we extremely enjoyed the food selection and character interaction over at Goofy's Kitchen. I'm sure the kids get a kick out of all the mickey-esqe food (mickey waffles, disney mac-n-cheese, the dessert selection!), and Adults never feel ashamed to grab a ladel or two from the "kids" buffet table! You are sure to be entertained by the atmosphere.

Blue Bayou is another great experience because, to me, it's like a totally different world. We have always had great experience with the waiting staff, the food always fast and quality good. Just because it is sit down table service, it is still very child friendly in my opinion.

Taste Pilot's grill is a great place to grab a different kind of burger (not your Village Haus variety), chicken burger, BBQ Ribs etc. The themeing is cool and they have gotten rid of the use for extra cast members to take orders and have replaced them with kiosk with touch screens where you not only pick your food and extras, you pay there too with debit/credit cards or cash! It's very inventive! It is right next to Soarin' so we always like to take a ride on that then eat at Taste Pilot's. (Something about Criss cut fries..they just taste better than regular lol)

Hope that helps

 

[dmand13]

My mom and I are going to DLR for the first time ever in a couple of months. We, too, are also WDW experts however. I've been hearing so many good things about the Blue Bayou. I also heard that it is best to go there for lunch because of $$ and portions. How does everyone else feel about this place?

 

[crazymomof 4]

Go to Blue Bayou and get a waterside seat for lunch(Cheaper than dinner for basically same thing). Your kids will love Goofy's kitchen. Ariel's Grotto/Captain Mikey's at night by the water. This is in CA. Riverbelle Terrace for b reakfast or lunch because you can see the Rivers of America and your kids can get Mickey Pancakes. Also cool because Walt ate there almost every Sunday from what I've heard. Rainforest at DD for the kids.

 

[webray]

We thought Blue Bayou was just ok, definately not the best monte christo sandwich we have ever had. The gumbo left a bit to be desired. Service was good, we would not eat there again.

Napa Rose, definately over rated. We were really looking forward to this, would never eat there again either.

Tortilla Joes - very slow service, very slow. The food was so so, probably would not eat there again either.

We had some fast food mexican in CA back by the tortilla factory..that was very good.

The microbrews from the beer stand all tasted stale, except for the hefewiezen.

We had wonderful appetizers with our wine at hooks wine cellar, we wish we would have had dinner upstairs. (the appetizers come from the restaurant upstairs) The night we were there it was totally booked for a private function, but if the food is as wonderful as the appetizers I would say definately take your family there. It is at the DL hotel.

Breakfast at La Brea bakery was pretty good, huge portions, and we had great weather for sitting outside in the morning before entering the park.

All in all the food was really disappointing.

 

[dmand13]

I'm really thinking the BB for lunch. How early in advance can you call for PS? I really would love to sit by the waterfront.

 

[Missus Toad]

Thanks for the great tips everyone! I really appreciate the advice, and am looking forward to trying some new places this trip!