Disneyland dining?

[psimon]

Is dining reservations for DL the same as WDW? 60 days ahead of first day and book your reservations for length of stay? 6AM Eastern? If not, how/when are DL dining reservations made?

Many thanks.


---Paul in Southern NJ!

 

[LKing]

6 am PST

 

[twodogs]

And at DL, you have to book each day separately. So on the first day, you book the first day’s dining of your trip. On the next day, you wake up bright and early again, and you book the second day of your trip dining, etc. So different from WDW, where you can book all the days of your trip on the first day that dining opens for your trip dates.

 

[maleficent55]

Is dining reservations for DL the same as WDW? 60 days ahead of first day and book your reservations for length of stay? 6AM Eastern? If not, how/when are DL dining reservations made?

Many thanks.


---Paul in Southern NJ!

as mentioned above, 60 days out PST 9Disneyland time!) for EACH day of your trip.

however, it is important to know that some things go exceptionally fast

these go fast:
Blue Bayou
Blue Bayou Fantasmic Dining Package
River Belle Terrace PREMIUM Fantasmic dining package
Trader Sams eEnchanted Tiki Bar*
Lamplight Lounge

*this one is the odd ball. Lately it has been dropping at random times, not just at 0600. And maybe in relation to whether or not you have a Disney resort reservation tied to your app but ???
Example, I recently booked it and got a dinner reservation at around 0400. When I rechecked on other days and that same day, at 0600 dinner times never released, only earlier in the day ones

SO be ready, aka already logged in and with a credit/debit card already on file (not for pre paying, but for securing as you are charged for no shows) and it's helpful to be on the actual "page" of the dining reservation you're after. Not the broad "check Dining availability" button.
If you're after a fantasmic reservation of any kind, don't go to that restaurant (Blue Bayou, River Belle, Rancho Del Zocalo) when trying to secure, search for and go to "Fantasmic! Dining Packages".

Good luck!

 

[OlliePop27]

The good news is that since OP is on the east coast, it's 9:00 am ET so not quite as bright and early as for west coasters.

 

[DizMe]

these go fast:
Blue Bayou
Blue Bayou Fantasmic Dining Package
River Belle Terrace PREMIUM Fantasmic dining package
Trader Sams eEnchanted Tiki Bar*
Lamplight Lounge

Is River Belle premium the only dining package with seating/cushion for Fantasmic?

 

[maleficent55]

Is River Belle premium the only dining package with seating/cushion for Fantasmic?

Yes it is, and we’ve done it and it’s a mixed bag for me..

The good: you have a place to sit! So nice after a long park day with lots of walking. And charging stations for your phone. And when we did it (not the current menu) it was really really good. There was that amazing chocolate sphere dessert. Do you remember seeing that? Served on the rainbow Harlequin plate?
Also, like the WOC dessert party, you get unlimited hot drinks during the show, hot chocolate, coffee, tea…

The bad: it’s an angled view of the show. And also between the terrace where you’re sitting and the crowd of people watching along the banks of the river there is a thoroughfare, a pathway with a constant flow of guests walking by and of course along with that comes the cast member holding the glowing light to direct traffic. It’s a little distracting.

 

[DizMe]

Yes it is, and we’ve done it and it’s a mixed bag for me..

The good: you have a place to sit! So nice after a long park day with lots of walking. And charging stations for your phone. And when we did it (not the current menu) it was really really good. There was that amazing chocolate sphere dessert. Do you remember seeing that? Served on the rainbow Harlequin plate?
Also, like the WOC dessert party, you get unlimited hot drinks during the show, hot chocolate, coffee, tea…

The bad: it’s an angled view of the show. And also between the terrace where you’re sitting and the crowd of people watching along the banks of the river there is a thoroughfare, a pathway with a constant flow of guests walking by and of course along with that comes the cast member holding the glowing light to direct traffic. It’s a little distracting.

I've not eaten at Riverbelle since they had a breakfast buffet. No, I never saw the chocolate sphere on the Harlequin plate! I wish they still had that dessert, though...that's my kind of food and I'd go just for that

So do you sit on the terrace in a chair? Or is there a dedicated spot and a cushion? And when do you get your cushion? I've never looked into any of this so sorry for all the questions. My sister and I do something special every Christmas season that we've not done before so I'm thinking this might be good. We're running out of things we've never done!

 

[Steven G]

It was mentioned above, but I wanted to stress that it's possible and/or likely that some dining reservations may not be available at 60 days out at 6am PT. This happens way more often than it does at WDW.

Recent examples I've ran into was Goofy's Kitchen in the DL hotel, WOC dessert party, and Trader Sam's, but there have been others. Sometimes it may just randomly show up later in the day (or sometimes earlier), or even days later.

 

[maleficent55]

I've not eaten at Riverbelle since they had a breakfast buffet. No, I never saw the chocolate sphere on the Harlequin plate! I wish they still had that dessert, though...that's my kind of food and I'd go just for that

So do you sit on the terrace in a chair? Or is there a dedicated spot and a cushion? And when do you get your cushion? I've never looked into any of this so sorry for all the questions. My sister and I do something special every Christmas season that we've not done before so I'm thinking this might be good. We're running out of things we've never done!

You are on the back terrace outdoor patio area of River Belle Terrace and there are probably a dozen or so tables and chairs. It’s a real table and real chairs and of course the most desirable ones are the ones right along the railing closest to the river and what I’ve heard is that you’re seated close to the railing based on when you booked and that’s always perplexed me because this reservation goes in seconds so I guess they prioritize the seating of reservations within seconds of each other! Lol
Here are some pictures of the seating and of that fabulous dessert that doesn’t exist anymore sorry! It was really good and I have to say, I really like dessert based on the way they look, actually all food in general as I’m a real foodie and the way it looks is really exciting to me as well as the way it tastes!
I will include some pictures below of the seating area, the view and our delicious food, and that sadly retired dessert
This will give you an idea of the view. This is a picture of the sailing ship Columbia, a.k.a. the pirate ship coming around the bend, and what that looks like with the walkway and the trees. And then also RIP Murphy

 

[DizMe]

You are on the back terrace outdoor patio area of River Belle Terrace and there are probably a dozen or so tables and chairs. It’s a real table and real chairs and of course the most desirable ones are the ones right along the railing closest to the river and what I’ve heard is that you’re seated close to the railing based on when you booked and that’s always perplexed me because this reservation goes in seconds so I guess they prioritize the seating of reservations within seconds of each other! Lol
Here are some pictures of the seating and of that fabulous dessert that doesn’t exist anymore sorry! It was really good and I have to say, I really like dessert based on the way they look, actually all food in general as I’m a real foodie and the way it looks is really exciting to me as well as the way it tastes!
I will include some pictures below of the seating area, the view and our delicious food, and that sadly retired dessert
This will give you an idea of the view. This is a picture of the sailing ship Columbia, a.k.a. the pirate ship coming around the bend, and what that looks like with the walkway and the trees. And then also RIP Murphy

Oh gosh, THANK YOU for that!!! This sounds good. We did the WOC dessert party last year, and it was nice but I wasn't too keen on the desserts. Dinner sounds better and I like the live action. Too bad about Murphy

 

[Porsche4]

Also from what I understand you no longer get cushions to sit on with any of the dining packages so if you can't get the Terrace and decide upon one of the other restaurants you would be sitting on the ground in the reserved viewing areas along the front of Rivers of America. I am going to try for River Belle Terrace Brunch because the menu suits us the most and then we will take some inflatable cushions to sit on.

 

[OlliePop27]

Oh gosh, THANK YOU for that!!! This sounds good. We did the WOC dessert party last year, and it was nice but I wasn't too keen on the desserts. Dinner sounds better and I like the live action. Too bad about Murphy

It may not matter to you, but the Premium Package reservation is for dinner at 7:15 for the show at 9:00 pm. That's the only option.

 

[DizMe]

It may not matter to you, but the Premium Package reservation is for dinner at 7:15 for the show at 9:00 pm. That's the only option.

Ah, thanks for that information. Is there a downside to that time?

 

[LKing]

Ah, thanks for that information. Is there a downside to that time?

Just that you are waiting for a couple of hours vs showing up a 30 min before the show.

There is a long Fantasmic thread with info about seating and the current menu options. Fantasmic re-opened on May 24 which starts on page 26 of that thread.

The pics that @maleficent55 shared are from a couple years ago. They show the view, but I just want to reiterate that the the food/menu is different.

@crystal1313 recently did a video about the premium dining.

 

[DizMe]

Just that you are waiting for a couple of hours vs showing up a couple hours before the show.

There is a long Fantasmic thread with info about seating and the current menu options. Fantasmic re-opened on May 24 which starts on page 26 of that thread. The pics that @maleficent55 shared are from a couple years ago. They show the view, but the food/menu is different. @crystal1313 recently did a video about the premium dining.

Thank you so much, LKing!

 

[crystal1313]

Just that you are waiting for a couple of hours vs showing up a 30 min before the show.

There is a long Fantasmic thread with info about seating and the current menu options. Fantasmic re-opened on May 24 which starts on page 26 of that thread. The pics that @maleficent55 shared are from a couple years ago. They show the view, but the food/menu is different. @crystal1313 recently did a video about the premium dining.

Thanks for the shout out!!!

 

[maleficent55]

Just that you are waiting for a couple of hours vs showing up a 30 min before the show.

There is a long Fantasmic thread with info about seating and the current menu options. Fantasmic re-opened on May 24 which starts on page 26 of that thread. The pics that @maleficent55 shared are from a couple years ago. They show the view, but the food/menu is different. @crystal1313 recently did a video about the premium dining.

Yes, I did mention that the menu had changed, but I really wanted to just show it because it was so good and that dessert was so incredible. That prime rib was so tender and delicious and the scallops and asparagus. Were really special. It’s too bad they changed the menu.

 

[maleficent55]

Also from what I understand you no longer get cushions to sit on with any of the dining packages so if you can't get the Terrace and decide upon one of the other restaurants you would be sitting on the ground in the reserved viewing areas along the front of Rivers of America. I am going to try for River Belle Terrace Brunch because the menu suits us the most and then we will take some inflatable cushions to sit on.

I’ll have my cushions from years ago when they did hand them out. They’re in pristine condition as they’ve just been hanging on a hook in my garage. I thought about bringing them next month, when we do the blue Bayou package, but I don’t know if I want to carry them around even if I can put them in the locker. I’m still going to get them at some point before the show and then put them away at some point after.

 

[joseph821]

I’ll have my cushions from years ago when they did hand them out. They’re in pristine condition as they’ve just been hanging on a hook in my garage. I thought about bringing them next month, when we do the blue Bayou package, but I don’t know if I want to carry them around even if I can put them in the locker. I’m still going to get them at some point before the show and then put them away at some point after.

My cushions are in a tuckertote in the attic!