Eating on site at Disneyland

[SKFamily]

Dh doesn't want to carry lunch in July - he's worried about spoilage. Dh doesn't want to go off-site for lunch, either. He's worried about all of the walking involved, which I may not handle well. If we manage to get a scooter or wheelchair in the morning, we want to hold on to it for the day.

Where can we go to eat on site, (2 adults, a 13 year old and a 3 year old) without spending half a fortune on lunch for three days? We have 3 day park hoppers, and we're staying at HoJo if that makes any difference whatsoever.

I was also thinking of carrying things like granola bars, cookies, fruit leather etc. so we only have to buy the meals, not snacks.

 

[Straitlover]

Are you going to WDW in Orlando or Disneyland in Anaheim, CA?

if you are going to Orlando, go to Deb Wills site www.allearsnet.com. She has all the menus listed for onsite, and you can see what they offer and the prices.

I believe Mary's site www.mousesavers.com may have info on Diseyland since she lives in that area.

 

[MamaTink]

Check out all those menus! We take Brita water bottles (my kids don't like their tap water) and get ice water at the counter service places to refill them. Most of the portions at the restaurants, even counter service are large, so you may be able to order just 2 meals for the 3 of you. My 11 yr old DD and I often do that and it is plenty!
In the MK, Columbia Harbour House is reasonable and good. MGM has an area with lots of food booths to choose from. Our favorites at Epcot are the fish and chips (England), Morocco and Japan.
Go ahead and take your snacks--we do!
Tight budget or generous budget, you will have a lovely time!

 

[Liz]

If its Disneyland in Calif. you are talking about, there is a DIS board specifically for that park. You will get lots of great ideas there!

 

[SKFamily]

We're going to Anaheim, not Orlando. ("Eating on site at Disneyland") I thought the mousesavers site was for WDW, but I'll have a look at it anyway. Most of what I find is for Orlando.... doesn't anybody go to Anaheim anymore??

 

[Amberle3]

Lots of places to eat in the park that won't break the bank. One of the things you have to realize is that a lot of the restaurants in the surrounding area have scaled their prices to match DL, so that unless you want to trek around prices outside the park really aren't that much different than inside the park.

I recommend spending a little extra and doing lunch at the Blue Bayou. I'd definitely recommend lunch over dinner - it's much less expensive. Service is great, and you can't beat the atmosphere. The prices are more than other park restaurants, but the portions are also larger.

The French Market was pretty good, and I think pretty reasonable.

Redd Rockett's Pizza Port is probably the best price for Pizza you'll find in the park.

Bengal Barbecue is pretty reasonable.d

The burgers at Taste Pilot over at DCA are very good.

Speaking of DCA, make sure you head over to the Mission Tortilla Factory and get a fresh, warm (free) tortilla! very good.

Things I'd skip:
- McDonalds at DCA. Prices are sky-high, food is.... well it's McDonalds. And its a limited menu. We went there once - it amazed me how people can spend 30 minutes in line waiting to order with a big huge menu board staring them in the face and still not know what they want to eat when they get to the counter.
- The pastry at Baker's Field is very expensive.

 

[BethR]

Of course people still go to Anaheim, SKFamily! But the Budget Board is generally devoted to discussions about Orlando.

So I am moving this thread to a board devoted to Disneyland. Hope that you get a lot of great information here.

 

[Ozymoe]

I recommend spending a little extra and doing lunch at the Blue Bayou. I'd definitely recommend lunch over dinner - it's much less expensive. Service is great, and you can't beat the atmosphere. The prices are more than other park restaurants, but the portions are also larger.

I second the Blue Bayou resoundingly...and recommend the Monte Cristo sandwich for lunch...not something easily made at home and OH! so delish!...lol...although you may find something even better on the menu!

... the fireflies are so so so...*sigh*...I wish I was going to Disneyland.

*wink* but don't feel too sorry for me...I'm getting ready to go over to Animal Kingdom as we speak. I want to be there when the tigers talk and when the Flying Foxes start feeding. Then I'll close the park down with some cast members, singing all the way back to the front!

 

[daannzzz]

The least expensive places to eat at Disneyland are..
Pinnochio Village Haus
Club Buzz (Formerly Tomorrowland Terrace)
Stage Door Cafe which is located around the corner from the Golden Horseshoe review.
These three places serve the usual Hot Dogs and Hambugers and a sandwich or two along with fries and salads.
In general though if you get a burger fries and soda it seems to end up around $9.
At California Adventure there is a hot dog stand in the Hollywood area. At Pacific Warf there is the Pacific warf Cafe that sells salad and soups in bread bowls and a Mexican place. These are a bit more expensive. In Condor Flats there is Taste Pilot's Grill with Hamburgers and Fries. And there is a McDonalds in the Route 66 area called burger invasion.
Right outside the gates of Disneyland and to the righ a bit is a picinic area. It is convenient to go to from either park but you would still have to store your lunch in a locker.

 

[Amy&Dan]

The mexican place is Rancho Del Zocalo (they also serve BBQ)in Adventureland. It is very reasonable and the portions are huge enough to share. That is actually the case in most DL eateries. Always look at what other people are having to get an idea of the size. Also the Golden Horshoe in Adventureland is pretty reasonable and has much better hamburgers and hotdogs than the Hungry Bear (IMO). I honestly don't think eating in the park is bad on the budget. Also, any character buffets will be fun and filling but pricey. And you are very smart to bring your own snacks, a small thing of popcorn is $2.75 to give you an idea. If you can keep it to two meals a day you will be pleasantly surprised at how economical it can be. Have fun!

 

[MATTERHORN]

Can't believe no one has mentioned walking through the Grand to Whitewater snacks. Great food, decently priced, and you can walk there very easily from the parks, or if you happen to be in DD. Have fun!

Andrea

 

[Firefly777]

Originally posted by Amy&Dan
The mexican place is Rancho Del Zocalo (they also serve BBQ)in Adventureland. It is very reasonable and the portions are huge enough to share. That is actually the case in most DL eateries. Always look at what other people are having to get an idea of the size. Also the Golden Horshoe in Adventureland is pretty reasonable and has much better hamburgers and hotdogs than the Hungry Bear (IMO). I honestly don't think eating in the park is bad on the budget. Also, any character buffets will be fun and filling but pricey. And you are very smart to bring your own snacks, a small thing of popcorn is $2.75 to give you an idea. If you can keep it to two meals a day you will be pleasantly surprised at how economical it can be. Have fun!

Just a couple of corrections: Both Rancho Del Zocalo and Golden Horseshoe are in Frontierland.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I knew that! This will teach me to type a reply while talking on the phone! Sorry!

 

[Firefly777]

LOL

 

[Xendancer]

We just returned from Disney, and found that sharing meals really helped keep the expenses down. I second the Rancho Del Zocalo recommendation, if you have a passport, you can also save 10%. We also shared an entree at the Plaza Inn- the fried chicken is fantastic. I would think that two entrees there could feed your family, we got 3 large pieces of chicken, beans, biscuit and mashed potatoes! The chicken was very good.

We also really liked eating the large sandwiches at Pacific Wharf in California Adventure. Again, these are big enough to share and very fresh. YUM!

 

[Chicago526]

Most portions are big enough to split, especially with kids!

That being said, a sandwich/burger/hot dog/chicken strips/whatever with fries and a pop will run $8 to $10 per person.

But do save your pennies and eat lunch one day at Blue Bayou. The lunch prices are in line with a sit-down place anywhere you go, and the food, service and atmosphere are wonderfull! And yes, get the Monte Cristo, so yummy!!!

I also recomend the Golden Horseshoe. Find out the show times, and head over about 20 minutes before. The food is counter service and prices are the same as other counters, but you get a great show while you eat! Go early for best seats.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

<font color=navy>I also recommend the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, where you can watch a show while enjoying a meal. You can also grab food from Bengal Barbecue or Riverbelle Terrace & take it into the Golden Horseshoe Saloon if you'd rather have something different than burgers and chili fries.

 

[Liz]

I recommend the Plaza Inn also. We shared the 3 pc. fried chicken meal and bought a large salad to go with it. It was such a nice change from burgers and tasted sooooo good.

 

[kentear]

Xendancer, what do you mean by "if you have a passport you save 10%?" Do you mean an actual passport or some Disneyland thing? Thanks! Ken

 

[SKFamily]

$300 + for passports, plus the hassle driving over an hour to stand in line at the nearest Federal Government office... I'd rather spend full price on lunch.