Disneyland - Something different

[Tashinwdw]

can anyone tell me if there is any restaurants that do character or is really unique at disneyland that I wont get at Disneyworld. we have three days at DL at the end of our trip. As most of the research and planning has gone into WDW I am sort of lost when it comes to disneyland. Do they even do ADR?

 

[PrincessInOz]

I think you can book dining 2 months out from your trip. DLR is a lot more relaxed on the dining front than WDW. A lot of it has to do with the fact that there really aren't that many restaurants on-site at DL or DCA. But you will find places to eat at DTD....all of which are within walking distance.

The Plaza Inn and Goofy's Kitchen have different characters to M&G.

The Blue Bayou is one of the places everyone tries to get a dining reservation for. It's located inside Pirates and if you get a table by the "river", you get to see the barges go by.

 

[ssour]

can anyone tell me if there is any restaurants that do character or is really unique at disneyland that I wont get at Disneyworld. we have three days at DL at the end of our trip. As most of the research and planning has gone into WDW I am sort of lost when it comes to disneyland. Do they even do ADR?

Disneyland dining reservations open 60 days in advance, no plus 10 like WDW. We really enjoyed Carthay Circle in DCA on our last trip. It doesn't have characters but the theming was different to anything we've tried at WDW (not sure how it compares to brown derby as we've never eaten there). We've also eaten at blue bayou but I think the choice at Carthay was better for a similar price. I really like the character breakfast at storytellers cafe in Grand Californian. You can choose the buffet or a la carte which is nice and when I was there they had the brother bear characters but I'm not sure if they're still in rotation there.

 

[Tashinwdw]

thanks that gives me some to start off the research. It would be great if they did still have the characters from brother bear - I dont think I have seen them at a park before.

 

[5ofus]

PIO is right, you can book two months in advance.

We have done all the character meals at DL and this is what I think:

LOVE the Plaza Inn. We saw such a great assortment of characters there and the interaction was great. We had everybody from Capt Hook and the Fairy Godmother to the characters from Pooh. Minnie was there, but no Mickey and no princesses if that's your thing.

Surfs Up at the Paradise Pier hotel was so, so much fun for our family. I deliberately booked a late time and at the end, we were one of only two families left. My boys had a good half hour of one on one (or three on four to be more precise!) time with Minnie, Daisy, Mickey and Pluto. It was so amazing to see my two year old dancing with them, doing the old "Hi five, down low - too slow!" thing and telling them his life story. He might not remember it, but I won't ever forget it. It was expensive and I wasn't a huge fan of the food (DH preferred it over the others though) but I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Goofy's Kitchen we did for dinner one night and again we had a great time. We actually met up with another family and had a lovely big get together. Because we were kinda having a party, we weren't as focussed on the characters, but they did seem to be a little more rushed here. The food was actually quite good here, but I think this was the most expensive out of all the character meals.

We did Storytellers and Ariels a few years ago. DH adores Storytellers for the food. Characters are lesser known than the other meals, you get critters like Chip N Dale and Meeko. Lovely restaurant though. We had a great Ariel at our meal there. She was the most in character character I've ever seen and she was so much fun. The food there was so so and only having boys (who don't at all like princesses), I don't see us ever really going there again.

We also really like the Blue Bayou. DH proposed to me there once upon a time so it holds a special place for us. We've also been to the one at Tokyo which is pretty cool, but doesn't help you If you go, ask if you can have a table by the water.

In DCA, Carthay Circle is wonderful. Very expensive, but a lovely fellow Anzac DISer gave us her free dining voucher for here otherwise we wouldn't have had a chance to experience it. The food was the best we tried at Disney. Unfortunately the ambience was ruined a little by overtired kids (ours!!! - who we were overly concerned about disturbing other diners), but it was still a lovely, lovely meal. I love all the photos on the walls and just the ambience of the place.

 

[aussietravellers]

Blue Bayou has fantastic atmosphere! You really feel like you are sitting outside around a bayou (not that I've ever sat around a real one before ) but it's cool having the POTC ride going through it too.

You will need to make a booking for that restaurant. Bookings are taken as mentioned from 60 days out. As someone who has been at DL for 4 months and I didn't get a booking there. Every time I called or emailed to book I couldn't get a reservation.

There are great character meals, Goofy's Kitchen at Disneyland Hotel, it's open for brunch and dinner, (Dinner is our favourite). Breakfast at Storytellers at Grand Californian (this has the best food we think). Plaza Inn inside the disneyland park has characters at breakfast. This is a great breakfast and really great character interaction (we felt the best character interaction at a breakfast). There is breakfast at PCH Grill at Paradise Pier hotel, it's ok.

Another dining spot that can provide some fun entertainment is at the Refreshment corner on Main Street. There is a piano there and there is often someone playing. Mad Hatter and Alice are sometimes there, they dance around and entertain the kids, the Queen of hearts is there too sometimes. No reservations for here, it's just a quick service, grab something from the bakery or a hotdog from the refreshment corner and race for a seat when you see one.

As far as reservations go, it's not like WDW. We would always get a lunch or dinner reservation at restaurants the day before we wanted to go. Blue Bayou is the exception to this. Goofy's we would not always get the time we wanted booking the day of or night before (but always got a reservation).

So I would make a reservation if you know you want to go, but if you are flexible and when you are there think you may want to dine somewhere but don't have a reservation, give it a go and try to get one.