Dining Recommendations

[shelbel95]

We’re visiting Disneyland for the first time in November. Family of 4 - 2 adults, 2 daughters (ages 12 and 14). Staying at Pixar Place. 4 park days.

I’m looking for recommendations for which restaurants we should consider for dining reservations since our first dining reservation day is quickly approaching and I have not done any research yet

Thanks!

Upcoming:
Disneyland Nov. 2024 (Pixar Place)

Past:
WDW August 2023 (Boardwalk Villas)
Universal Nov. 2022 (Loews Royal Pacific)
WDW and Universal June 2021 (Polynesian and Loews Royal Pacific - rescheduled from 2020)
WDW and Universal May 2018 (Bay Lake Tower)
WDW Oct./Nov. 2016 (Bay Lake Tower and Caribbean Beach Resort)
WDW April 2015 (Coronado Springs)
WDW Aug. 1994 (offsite)
WDW Aug. 1989 (offsite)
WDW Aug. 1982 (offsite)

 

[maleficent55]

I always stand by this: Blue Bayou is a must!
The food can be hit and miss depending on the current menu/season/and one’s level of foodie-ism
But it’s a quintessential place to dine in Disneyland

There is nothing else like it. Dark, mysterious, on the bayou, boats of people floating by on pirates of the Caribbean. Don’t miss it!
And it’s one that goes fast so be ready at 6 AM Pacific standard time in your app. Make sure your payment method is already in your app and ready to go. I will usually be on the restaurants page in the app and have it ready to go on where you select the number of people that are dining and the second it hit 6 AM. Go through the steps

If you want to die in there and you want a regular reservation, then you would want to go to the restaurants page in the app. If you’re wanting to do a phantasmic dining reservation then in the app, you can search for Fantasmic Dining packages and be ready to select it right at 6 AM that way, because the blue Bayou offers a dining package for Fantasmic

trader Sam’s at Disneyland requires a reservation unlike at WDW where it is a walk up
This reservation probably goes faster than any other reservation in the park. And unfortunately lately the dinner slots have been dropping earlier than 6 AM, at random times throughout the night and it seems for guests staying on site.
That one to me as a do not miss you just have to be aggressive and trying to get it, and it might take multiple mornings of trying to get it

 

[AndrewC]

Blue Bayou is top of the list there, your kids will probably enjoy it a lot. Should be able to snag something if you check right at 6am pacific time.

Make sure your hotel reservations is linked with your Disney account and you and logged in when looking for reservations, then select Trader Sam’s (I’ve had better luck via the app) between 12am and 12:35am and you’ll likely see reservations pop up. It’s very small, and it is an active bar, but I would feel ok taking kids early/mid day… might be a good 1-4pm window type thing, especially if you usually make a little trek back to the hotels for a break before evening or something.

 

[LKing]

With kids that age, I would plan on a lunch in San Fransokyo (counter service).

Fantasmic at Disneyland is different than it is at WDW. We don't have theater style seating. It is either sit on the ground in a dining package reserved area or stand in a standby section. My recommendation would be to book a Fantasmic dining package first show so you can watch fireworks from your seat afterwards. Fantasmic dining packages start at $35 pp for Rancho del Zocalo and go up to $89 pp at Blue Bayou. Fantasmic Blue Bayou packages book very quickly (within a minute or two). The view from RdZ is equal, if not better, than River Belle, so select based on your taste and budget.