First DLR trip - need dining recommendations with kids

[mrsincredible3]

We have had two very successful WDW trips using FP+ and are going to Disneyland for the first time. We will have two boys ages 8 and 3 with us and plan to stay at a Disneyland resort. Thinking of four day tickets, not sure about hoppers yet. I am looking for dining recommendations for our family. There were great threads for WDW with pictures of the food and lots of posts about restaurants there but I can't seem to find an equivalent for Disneyland resort. What are the best quick service and table service restaurants with kids (in both parks, hotels and Dtd)? Dh and I like good food! We've been to WDW twice and managed to never eat a burger there as there were so many other good options! My kids will likely not sit for a long dinner so looking for kid friendly places with fun theming or great food. Also which are the better character meals (and the ones we should avoid)? My kids really enjoyed character dining at WDW (tusker house, crystal palace, ohana all really good and fun!). We just don't want bad food!!! Any suggestions welcome, thanks!

 

[Sherry E]

There are many, many, many food-related threads. There are probably at least 3 new ones that pop up every week!

Here is a huge Disneyland Resort dining thread, with lots of photos http://www.disboards.com/threads/my...-with-pictures.1253888/page-191#post-53735946. It has well over one million views, so it is our most-viewed, most popular and longest-lasting thread, I believe! The key is, though -- do not start at the beginning of the thread, as it was created years ago. Start at the last page and work backwards -- that way you will have the latest info and see the most recent photos.

I like Plaza Inn in Disneyland park and Tangaroa Terrace at the Disneyland Hotel for quick service. I also like Earl of Sandwich in Downtown Disney. I like Carnation Café in Disneyland and Storytellers Café at the Grand Californian Hotel for table service.

Also -- here is a Character Meal Superthread -- http://www.disboards.com/threads/character-meals-super-thread.2959483/page-34. Again, start at the end and work backwards, for the most recent photos and info -- although there should be some basic, general info in the first post or two on page 1.

I prefer Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel (largest buffet of all of the meals, with a wider variety), but a lot of people like each meal for different reasons. Many people love Surf's Up with Mickey at the PCH Grill in the Paradise Pier Hotel.

Here is HydroGuy's thread, specifically aimed at WDW vets heading to DLR for the first time -- http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-dlr-guide-for-wdw-vets.1162599/. I think he addresses some general, basic dining differences between WDW and DLR.

When are you going to DLR (which month)? That will make a difference in terms of what's going on in the parks, like if it's a special season (such as Halloween Time or the Holidays). It may even add an extra layer in terms of food items and special dishes!

Currently, as I'm sure you know, Disneyland is celebrating its Diamond Anniversary, and there are 3 new nighttime shows. There are a lot of threads about this 60th anniversary, but here are two of the best ones -- http://www.disboards.com/threads/wh...starting-may-22.3280301/page-29#post-53740177 (this one has links to 60th-related food articles as well!) and http://www.disboards.com/threads/dl...links-to-other-threads.3412951/#post-53750298.

 

[Congo Queen]

I'll just add that in my experience a great counter service restaurant for a family with kids is Hungry Bear in Dland. It is right on the ROA and has a large shaded seating section so you can always easily get a table. Find one that is right along the rail that over looks the river and your kids will have a great time watching the Mark Twain and Columbia sail by as well as all enjoying all the cute duckies and other water fowl that populate the river. Your kids can get up and down from the table and no one will care. The menu offers one of my very favorite things to eat at the resort - the Fried Green Tomato Sandwich. It is delicious! And the honey bee cupcake is pretty awesome too.

 

[Abbey1]

We visited in February/March this year with my 3 year old son. We thought the character breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen had a good selection and we loved the characters there (Minnie, Chip, Dale, Pluto, and Goofy of course). We were staying at Disneyland Hotel (which is my fave of the Disneyland Hotels) and it's really convenient to have breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen and then head to the parks.

At Disneyland Park, our absolute favorite is Cafe Orleans. Jolly Holiday also has a lot of good options for kids. We did Blue Bayou, which was fun and had a great atmosphere, but my son wasn't terribly impressed.

We LOVE the beignets at Ralph Brennan's in Downtown Disney. They have great chicory coffee for breakfast there too. Another great place to grab breakfast in DTD is La Brea Bakery and Cafe. We had a really enjoyable breakfast sitting outside there.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Check the online menus available on Allears.net. You will be able to see what is currently being offered at the various TS and CS places in the parks and in DtD. That is a great place to start and should help with the decisions on which places will work best for your family.

 

[ADLFAN]

Mickey pancakes for breakfast at RIverbelle Terrace!! The most kid friendly thing I can think of!

 

[cjnix29]

And be aware that dining is definitely NOT the same at Disneyland and WDW. I don't think you can really compare the two. The sheer volume of restaurants and dining experiences at WDW is monstrous compared to what is available at Disneyland. I'm not in any way saying Disneyland dining is bad, it just is not as much of a food centered place as WDW. It is more a locals park, and there is very little bubble. The vast majority of people stay off site, and there are numerous dining options outside of the park. We do like the Hungry Bear and the corn dog cart! I think the Blue Bayou is highly overrated. We did like the choices back in the Wharf in DCA. Have fun with your kids!! We love Disneyland!!!

 

[Barnabe]

IMO the QS options at DLR are far better than the ones at WDW. I think the variety of fresh food is wonderful.

 

[demare]

We went to DLR when my kids were 5 and 8, so kind of in your age range. We are leaving for our second trip in 4 days . As others have mentioned, dining is much different. When we go to WDW, we typically have one TS meal per day. You don't need that at DLR, as the QS locations are quite good. We only have one TS meal booked for our upcoming trip. For our previous trip, we did our trip more like a WDW trip, and had 4 TS reservations--not necessary. We liked Storytellers breakfast and Carnation Cafe. Cafe Orleans and Ariel's Grotto were ok, but not worth it, IMO. For quick service, Hungry Bear is good with kids. We haven't been yet, but Flo's would also be a good choice. Pacific Wharf and Paradise Pier have several QS locations near each other, so if everyone wants something different it's not a big deal to stop at two or three different locations. If the kids like Mexican, Rancho Del Zocalo is pretty good. Maybe consider Big Thunder Ranch BBQ if you want somewhere that is not QS.

 

[HydroGuy]

We have had two very successful WDW trips using FP+ and are going to Disneyland for the first time. We will have two boys ages 8 and 3 with us and plan to stay at a Disneyland resort. Thinking of four day tickets, not sure about hoppers yet. I am looking for dining recommendations for our family. There were great threads for WDW with pictures of the food and lots of posts about restaurants there but I can't seem to find an equivalent for Disneyland resort. What are the best quick service and table service restaurants with kids (in both parks, hotels and Dtd)? Dh and I like good food! We've been to WDW twice and managed to never eat a burger there as there were so many other good options! My kids will likely not sit for a long dinner so looking for kid friendly places with fun theming or great food. Also which are the better character meals (and the ones we should avoid)? My kids really enjoyed character dining at WDW (tusker house, crystal palace, ohana all really good and fun!). We just don't want bad food!!! Any suggestions welcome, thanks!

This also may help: "What WDW Vets Need to Know About Dining at DLR" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2914467

DLR has lots of good options. Not as many as WDW but enough for your four days for sure.

Your kids may especially like:

Flo's Diner at DCA (counter service)
Big Thunder Ranch BBQ at DL (table service)
Storytellers at GCH (table service - offer character dining)

Other good counter service places:
Jolly Holiday Bakery at DL
Plaza Inn at DL (also offer character breakfasts I believe)
Pacific Wharf Cafe at DCA

We have never done a character meal so the links provided by others will be best for that.

 

[1002jennisue]

When I took my kids they were 4 and 10, we went to Flo's and they loved it. We also loved Café Orleans as a sit down place. If they like BBQ then Big Thunder Ranch BBQ might be fun. I have always wanted to try that place, maybe on our next trip. We also did Surf's up with Mickey and loved it, we did it on a non park day and that was the hotel that we were staying in but the food was excellent.