Disneyland Dining

[Orsino]

We are going to Disneyland in February for 5 nights. I'd like to plan out a few meals and get an idea of the Disneyland 'must eats.' We are staying at the Grand Californian.

For World of Color, would you recommend a dining package or the dessert party?

For Fantasmic, I'm thinking about Blue Bayou dinner package.

I would like to have dinner at Napa Rose. I hear there is a chef counter. Is that a separate reservation? Recommended or not recommended?

What other restaurants are must-dos?
Anything that is a 'should avoid'?

Is there anything off property that we should consider? As East Coasters we hear all this hubbub about In and Out Burger. Is there one near Disneyland?

What about Breakfast? Any recommendations?

Sorry for being vague. I don't quite know where to begin.

 

[pblack]

I love Blue Bayou and if you want to see Fantasmic then I think that's a good choice. Fantasmic will probably only be shown on Weekends in February, i'm not sure which days you are going.

I love the food at French Market (counter service) - both the chicken plate and the beef stew are delicious. I also really enjoy the Fried Chicken plate at Plaza Inn (enough food to share between 2 people for a light lunch). You must also try the bread from Boudin in DCA if you are a sourdough fan.

I love in-n-out, but I am from CA. I will say that if you do decide to try in-n-out you really need to eat it there and not take it to go. Once the food is just warm, it's not nearly as good. Also get the fries well done if you like a crisper fry.

 

[Grammy4Lizzy]

I really do not like Blue Bayou. It is very overpriced and not very good. I like Flo's in DCA, the wharf, storytellers, and the Steakhouse at Disneyland Hotel.

 

[ParkHopper1]

For World of Color, would you recommend a dining package or the dessert party?.

Desert Party is the BEST way to see the show IMO. Get a light on the go dinner and arrive hungry to enjoy all the offerings. The fact you get a seat and table for the show is worth the price of admission alone!

For Fantasmic, I'm thinking about Blue Bayou dinner package.

BB is just "meh" food wise but the coolest venue atmosphere wise being right inside the Pirates of the Caribbean Ride. You are paying for the experience but worth doing.

I would like to have dinner at Napa Rose. I hear there is a chef counter. Is that a separate reservation? Recommended or not recommended?

Best food on property IMO. I have done the Chef's Counter quite a few times and the experience had gone downhill from a few years ago. It is a great dining experience still but I am just as happy with a regular reservation now. I you want he Chef's Counter you have to call Napa Rose directly. It is nit through Disney Dine.

Is there anything off property that we should consider? As East Coasters we hear all this hubbub about In and Out Burger. Is there one near Disneyland?

In-N-Out is either a cult following or "whats the fuss?". I like it, but it is just a fast food burger. The BEST, fast food IMO, but still just fast food. There are SO many on site options, I am never a fan of advocating leaving property just for food unless you have a very specific mission.

What about Breakfast? Any recommendations?

We recently discovered Flow's V8 in DCA for breakfast. great counter service option!

Have fun!

 

[cruisehopeful]

For World of Color, would you recommend a dining package or the dessert party?

I have done and enjoyed the dessert party. It is the only way I will ever watch the show. I highly recommend it. You'll have extra food/dessert afterward to take back to the hotel and snack on for a couple days.

For Fantasmic, I'm thinking about Blue Bayou dinner package.

I did this and liked it. I actually wasn't impressed with Fantasmic, but I did enjoy my meal at Blue Bayou.

I would like to have dinner at Napa Rose. I hear there is a chef counter. Is that a separate reservation? Recommended or not recommended?

I haven't done it, but the chef's counter is different from normal reservations. Reviews used to be excellent for this, but several more recent weren't as good. If you like to eat a very long meal, you might enjoy it.

What other restaurants are must-dos?

I enjoy Carthy Circle. I haven't done any of the dining packages, I just order off the regular menu. I would go to the park just to have a meal there.

Is there anything off property that we should consider? As East Coasters we hear all this hubbub about In and Out Burger. Is there one near Disneyland?

I am not impressed by In and Out burgers or their fries. I just don't get it. Anytime I've had one of their burgers, it has tasted like they put an entire bottle of salt on it. I don't recommend going out of the way for one. If you happen to see one and you are hungry, it's worth trying one just because you've heard about it and it will put an end to the wonder about it.

What about Breakfast? Any recommendations?

I have enjoyed breakfast at Carnation Cafe. It's the only place I've actually enjoyed a breakfast at DL. There is a breakfast that looks good at Steakhouse 55 and it's on my list to try sometime.

Speaking of Steakhouse 55, they have an afternoon tea on the weekends that is nice. You get tea sandwiches and finger desserts with tea. If you pay a little more you also get a salad and a glass of sparkling wine.

 

[BandMom1]

For Fantasmic dining package, Blue Bayou is the way to go! Our favorite *must do* every single trip, is Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland Hotel - the bone-in rib-eye is excellent! I also highly recommend Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar (also at the DL hotel) for atmosphere and fantastic beverages! Kids are welcome up until 8pm and they also have a great bar menu if you're hungry. Another *must do* for us is Café Orleans at Disneyland....great food and fun to sit out in the patio and enjoy the view of Rivers of America. Favorite breakfast spot at DL - Carnation Café or Rancho del Zocalo. Over at DCA - Carthay Circle for lunch or dinner (or the lounge for a quick bite -kids are welcome). The Grand Californian - we really like Storytellers for their dinner buffet. I highly recommend making reservations for all of these to get the dining times you want! Enjoy!

 

[tzeitel]

We've done both the dining pckg and the dessert party for WoC, the dessert party is the way to go. We loved it!
For breakfast we do Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen window at least once a trip. DD loves the beignet french toast, I go for the beignets, DH gets a breakfast bowl.

Trader Sam's is another of our favorites. We go for lunch, right when they open at 11:30, and sit inside. Been to Blue Bayou twice, mostly for the atmosphere. I like Cafe Orleans better. The Plaza is another iconic place to eat at DL, everyone raves about the fried chicken - I do not care for fried chicken so not a big draw for me.

Do you plan on having a car? If you do I recommend the Original Farmers Market. It is near the tar pits, LACMA, and the Petersen Auto museum. They have tons of great places to eat, and to shop.

 

[Orsino]

Thanks for all the great advice. I feel I have a better handle on what I want to plan for meals. Where we eat is a big part of vacation for us, so your opinions are greatly appreciated.

I you want he Chef's Counter you have to call Napa Rose directly. It is nit through Disney Dine.

I tried calling Napa Rose, but could only leave a message. I got a call back from the hotel (not the restaurant) telling me I need to book 60 days from the day. Compared to WDW, 60 days seems so short!

Given the feedback, we will likely skip In-n-out burger. It seems like one of those 'you need to grow up eating it' to really appreciate it.

For breakfast we do Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen window at least once a trip. DD loves the beignet french toast, I go for the beignets, DH gets a breakfast bowl.

Trader Sam's is another of our favorites. We go for lunch, right when they open at 11:30, and sit inside. Been to Blue Bayou twice, mostly for the atmosphere. I like Cafe Orleans better. The Plaza is another iconic place to eat at DL, everyone raves about the fried chicken - I do not care for fried chicken so not a big draw for me.

Do you plan on having a car? If you do I recommend the Original Farmers Market. It is near the tar pits, LACMA, and the Petersen Auto museum. They have tons of great places to eat, and to shop.

I love beignets so we will have to check that out. I also love fried chicken so I'm penciling in The Plaza for lunch. And as it happens we are staying in LA two nights before going to DL and Original Farmers Market is on the plan for lunch after seeing the tar pits.


My List:
Breakfast - Carnation Cafe, Flo's V8, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
Lunch - The Plaza, Cafe Orleans
Dinner - Napa Rose Chef Counter, Blue Bayou for Fantasmic Dinner Package, Carthay Circle
Evening - World of Color Dessert Party, Trader Sam's

 

[whoever]

Breakfast at SH55 is a great meal. Getting Beignets on your way to the park from RB is also a great treat (but you have to backtrack through DTD from the Grand's entrance to get them). As other's have mentioned, Napa Chef's Counter is a 60 day window and MUST be done by calling the restaurant directly. We've done the Chef's Counter, normal dining room, and lounge dining there and it's all been great. I recommend BB for Fantasmic! dining package, it's expensive, but it's good enough meal and the seats are great. From everything I've heard, the WOC dessert is awesome given you actually get a chair. As you are already aware the Fried Chicken from Plaza Inn is amazing. Lobster Nachos from Cove bar is a must. Trader Sam's for some great tiki drinks and their awesome Ahi Poke and Chinese deep fried long beans. SH55 dinner is even better than breakfast, so make that a stop too. Only other must-eat would be C33 if you know someone who can get you in.

Hi, I'm Matt and I have a Disneyland Dinning Addiction.

If you are REALLY well off, Reserve 21 Royal, but find 11 other friends to partake at the $15k/seating meal. You get a 10-course experience IN the dream suite with the best view of Fantasmic available.

 

[StarlitNight05]

My List:
Breakfast - Carnation Cafe, Flo's V8, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen

Maybe it's just our experience, but I would NEVER eat breakfast at Flo's V8 again. DH and I both got the American breakfast. The eggs were clearly powdered, and it made me feel nauseous for most of the morning. Not sure if other items like the french toast are better, but the meal was so bad that I vowed to never do breakfast there again!

 

[whoever]

Maybe it's just our experience, but I would NEVER eat breakfast at Flo's V8 again. DH and I both got the American breakfast. The eggs were clearly powdered, and it made me feel nauseous for most of the morning. Not sure if other items like the french toast are better, but the meal was so bad that I vowed to never do breakfast there again!

The green chile and chicken tamale used to be good. Was about as meh as meh can get. And their biscuits are the driest things ever.

 

[StarlitNight05]

And their biscuits are the driest things ever.

YES! I forgot about those biscuits... you almost have to take a drink with every bite to be able to swallow them.

 

[Geemo]

We are going to Disneyland in February for 5 nights. I'd like to plan out a few meals and get an idea of the Disneyland 'must eats.' We are staying at the Grand Californian.


I would like to have dinner at Napa Rose. I hear there is a chef counter. Is that a separate reservation? Recommended or not recommended?

Others have indicated Napa Rose has a 60 day window for reservations...
For a Chef's Counter reservation in October 2016 and again October 2017, it was not a 60 day window.

At those times Napa Rose opened reservations at the first of each month, for two months out.
For our October reservations I called on August 1st. (714) 300-7170
I left my reservation request on the voice mail.
Later in the afternoon I received a call confirming my request.

October 2016 was a reservation for my DGS(24) and his fiance. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
October 2017 I went with DGD(20). I've done it once but I wouldn't do it again.
It was far to noisy and chaotic for my liking. I would have been happier in the main dining room.

Enjoy
Geemo