First time DISNEYLAND trip - scared out of my mind!

[HydroGuy]

First and most obviously, DLs Counter Service options FAR surpass WDWs and many of DLs options rival TS restaurants at WDW. Simple comparison, DLs Plaza Inn Fried Chicken plate is heads and shoulders above ANY fried chicken plate at WDW, and at $17, a much better value. And it's CS! Places like Rancho del Zocalo serve up Mexican platters that are much better than any of WDWs Mexican TS restaurants as well. I had a half chicken platter with refried beans and rice, with corn tortillas and a side of fresh chips and salsa yesterday for $16. It was better than anything I've had at San Angel In or Hacienda de San Angel in Epcot and cost half the price. Lots of DL CS use real plates and silverware as well. CS that directly compare to WDW TS include the following: French Market, Rancho del Zocalo, Plaza Inn, Flo's V8 Cafe (arguably one of the best themed CS I've ever been to), Cucina Cucamonga, Paradise Garden Grill, and Lucky Fortune Cookery.

Yep, that is where I started.

I was going to mention Flo's as that is well done. Have not been inside RRT yet. That Rancho del Zocalo is better than the Mexico pavilion at Epcot? We will have to agree to disagree.

Tortilla Jo's in DTD has become a must-do for us. I include that because it is on DLR property. Same thing at WDW and Shula's. Anyways, TJ's just has great guacamole. I know some (most?) SoCal natives like to turn their nose up at TJs but I think they are being unfair. I lived in SoCal for 28 years from San Diego to Santa Barbara and I think TJ's is pretty darn good.

Naples is better than Via Napoli and Tutto Gusto. Wine Country Trattoria is FAR better than Tony's Town Square and Mama Melrose. It's not even close. But Italian food isn't as popular in southern California as it is on the East coast. I'd rather have ONE good Italian place at DLR than 15 mediocre ones at WDW.

AFAIK, Naples in DTD at DLR is the same as Via Napoli at Epcot. So if one is far better, well, that is hard to explain.

I have dined at WCT twice and Mama Melrose's twice and I had a different experience. WCT is not even close IMO.

WDW has so many (too many??) Italian spots - see https://blog.touringplans.com/2018/01/24/ask-many-italian-restaurants/

Napa Rose is home to the best steak I've had anywhere. We tend to measure "Disney" steaks up against Morton's and Ruth's Chris. NR beats both in terms of flavor and creativity. CA Grill has a good steak, but it's not as good as NR. I have heard great things about Shula's, but technically that's a chain restaurant. You can also walk to a Ruth's Chris from Disneyland if you are looking for a high quality steakhouse steak.

Funny, I have done Ruth's Chris twice and think it is highly overrated. My experience I guess. Shula's is a chain but a small chain. It is on WDW property and since I often stay at Swan or Dolphin it is right there. Ruth's Chris is a huge chain by comparison.

Napa Rose was nice and it is all highly rated and everything, but SH55, that was special and more my speed. Felt like Shula's and really good. I have only eaten there once though! I want to every time but it is hike to get over to DLH and we never seem to find time!

Thanks for sharing your detailed opinions!

 

[DLgal]

Yep, that is where I started.

I was going to mention Flo's as that is well done. Have not been inside RRT yet. That Rancho del Zocalo is better than the Mexico pavilion at Epcot? We will have to agree to disagree.

Tortilla Jo's in DTD has become a must-do for us. I include that because it is on DLR property. Same thing at WDW and Shula's. Anyways, TJ's just has great guacamole. I know some (most?) SoCal natives like to turn their nose up at TJs but I think they are being unfair. I lived in SoCal for 28 years from San Diego to Santa Barbara and I think TJ's is pretty darn good.

AFAIK, Naples in DTD at DLR is the same as Via Napoli at Epcot. So if one is far better, well, that is hard to explain.

I have dined at WCT twice and Mama Melrose's twice and I had a different experience. WCT is not even close IMO.

WDW has so many (too many??) Italian spots - see https://blog.touringplans.com/2018/01/24/ask-many-italian-restaurants/


Funny, I have done Ruth's Chris twice and think it is highly overrated. My experience I guess. Shula's is a chain but a small chain. It is on WDW property and since I often stay at Swan or Dolphin it is right there. Ruth's Chris is a huge chain by comparison.

Napa Rose was nice and it is all highly rated and everything, but SH55, that was special and more my speed. Felt like Shula's and really good. I have only eaten there once though! I want to every time but it is hike to get over to DLH and we never seem to find time!

Thanks for sharing your detailed opinions!

I agree on Tortilla Joe's. LOVE that place!

Rancho del Zocalo has improved considerably over the years. It's up there now as one of my favorite CS spots. My husband loves the carnitas burrito served wet with salsa verde. The meat they use is incredibly flavorful and high quality. My half chicken was fantastic yesterday...super juicy and marinated so there was flavor all the way through. My favorite part was the skin...crispy and amazingly seasoned! Just phenomenal when you consider the cost. The chips con limon are totally addictive too. So, so good!

Same goes for WCT. Has improved by leaps and bounds in the past couple years.

As far as Naples vs Via Napoli...yes, they are both owned and operated by the Patina group, but the atmosphere inside Naples and the service is far more pleasant than at Epcot. Via Napoli is just too big, too loud and the servers are either super charming or completely standoffish and aloof. Naples has a more professional serving team, IMO. In addition, Naples has slightly different menu options that VN doesn't have (and vice versa), so they are not exactly the same. Plus, you can get the amazing pizza by the slice here and you can't do that at Epcot, so that seals the win in favor of Disneyland for Italian food. Mama Melrose was borderline inedible last time I went and it was just a simple sausage pizza that I ordered. It tasted like a frozen pizza...just not good at all. I had enjoyed MM in the past and was sad at how poor my last meal there was.

 

[DizneyMommy]

I always think it’s funny when WDW vets get stressed about DL. It’s tiny, easy to navigate, and feels so simple compared to when we go to WDW! You can literally show up at DL one morning with no advance planning and have a wonderful day.

And I don’t think the food at DL is bad at all. I think we have a little less variety than WDW and definitely less TS, but it’s also smaller, and guests are a less captive audience with it being a big locals park and with the ease of walking right off property.

 

[HydroGuy]

Rancho del Zocalo has improved considerably over the years. It's up there now as one of my favorite CS spots. My husband loves the carnitas burrito served wet with salsa verde. The meat they use is incredibly flavorful and high quality. My half chicken was fantastic yesterday...super juicy and marinated so there was flavor all the way through. My favorite part was the skin...crispy and amazingly seasoned! Just phenomenal when you consider the cost. The chips con limon are totally addictive too. So, so good!

Same goes for WCT. Has improved by leaps and bounds in the past couple years.

I have not done RDZ or WCT for the last couple years so will move it back onto my radar.

For awhile we really liked Ariel's Grotto but had three bad experiences in a row and decided to never go back. Guess now we never will because it is gone!

OK, I have to say about your WDW trip...I have never been to any of your places you are planning! Even Blue Zoo although I have stayed at the Swan many time and I believe that is where it is.

For WDW here is what I go for:

TS
o Did CA Grill for the first time in 2017 - good food and hard to beat the views!
o BOG - always try for that
o Sci-Fi Dine-In - never miss that!
o Beaches & Cream (how could anyone NOT love that place?)
o Shula's (usually)
o At Epcot no must-do's - sometimes Le Cellier, sometimes Via Napoli, sometimes San Angel Inn, sometimes Rose & Crown - last year we tried Nine Dragons and were surprised and will definitely go back there. The only "never again" place is Biergarten.
o Whispering Canyon every so often
o Brown Derby every so often
o Yak and Yeti often
o A place I really want to visit next time is Jiko's. We tried to get in there when we stayed at AKL last year and could not fit it in.
o We tried Sanaa for breakfast last year and were very disappointed.

CS
o FTBBQ at AK - every time!
o Harbor House at MK
o That is pretty much it. Can't think of any at Epcot or DHS that appeal

 

[HydroGuy]

I always think it’s funny when WDW vets get stressed about DL. It’s tiny, easy to navigate, and feels so simple compared to when we go to WDW! You can literally show up at DL one morning with no advance planning and have a wonderful day.

And I don’t think the food at DL is bad at all. I think we have a little less variety than WDW and definitely less TS, but it’s also smaller, and guests are a less captive audience with it being a big locals park and with the ease of walking right off property.

Yes, and often WDW vets get UPSET when they can't make dining reservations 6 months in advance at DLR!!! They think something is wrong!

 

[DLgal]

I always think it’s funny when WDW vets get stressed about DL. It’s tiny, easy to navigate, and feels so simple compared to when we go to WDW! You can literally show up at DL one morning with no advance planning and have a wonderful day.

This. Yes! This is how ALL our Disneyland visits are. We decide we are going usually a few days in advance and we plan NOTHING. We went yesterday, on Easter, and made no solid plans. Spent 6 hours between the two parks, rode our favorites, ate a leisurely lunch and headed home when we started feeling tired. We will probably go back next Sunday to use up the rest of our F&W AP pass tabs before the festival is over. So, I guess that's a "loose plan."

I love not having to make FP reservations ahead of time. I HATE that part about WDW.

 

[Lm3js]

Oh man, sorry, I didn't mean to cause a controversy on saying I thought WDW food was better than DL! DL/DCA does have good food options, just overall, we had better experiences with WDW food (Tusker House, SciFi Dinner, Be Our Guest, Liberty Tree Tavern, Biergarten)

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Oh man, sorry, I didn't mean to cause a controversy on saying I thought WDW food was better than DL! ...

Actually, I think all the ensuing discussion will be helpful to people planning trips! All the detailed discussion, instead of merely hit-and-run opinion, can really help people learn how things are different (and different doesn't mean bad) and to decide what might work for them at DLR.

 

[DLgal]

Oh man, sorry, I didn't mean to cause a controversy on saying I thought WDW food was better than DL! DL/DCA does have good food options, just overall, we had better experiences with WDW food (Tusker House, SciFi Dinner, Be Our Guest, Liberty Tree Tavern, Biergarten)

LOL! Don't be sorry! Food is something I feel strongly about. Cooking/baking is a hobby of mine and I appreciate good quality food. I just have to defend DL anytime anyone makes the blanket statement that the food is better at WDW because I feel so strongly that DL is a lot better overall. WDW definitely has it's gems and DL has some duds, so it's not all or nothing on either end.

It just shows how subjective food is. I would never return to three of the five places you listed because I thought they were literally three of the worst meals I've ever had in my life. But I know people love those places!

 

[Abharmagic]

I’m in the same boat. I’m a little panicked. I guess I’m used to WDW’s incessant planning, expansive walks, boat rides, busses, far away resorts, and competing for every slot at everything- from rides, to dining. I had a similar panic I about Universal Orlando- and then loved it. So much less planning. Parks right next to each other. Hotels within walking distance. Lots of dining options. Thinking our trip to DL will be similar to our trip to Universal Orlando. We loved it! I’m looking forward to being able to walk everywhere! less stress, more relaxing.

 

[Tinkerbell19672]

I always think it’s funny when WDW vets get stressed about DL. It’s tiny, easy to navigate, and feels so simple compared to when we go to WDW! You can literally show up at DL one morning with no advance planning and have a wonderful day.

And I don’t think the food at DL is bad at all. I think we have a little less variety than WDW and definitely less TS, but it’s also smaller, and guests are a less captive audience with it being a big locals park and with the ease of walking right off property.

I agree. When we went to WDW, all the planning for dining and fastpasses stressed me out and I didn’t like it. Hard to say so far in advance what we’ll want to eat or what ride to go on. I much prefer DLs laid back style