First timers

[chadj07]

My wife and 5 y/o son (Will turn 6 while we are there) are heading to California on Tuesday. I should have posted this sooner but it actually snuck up on me. This is our first time to California. We are going to spend some time in San Diego before coming to Anaheim. Just wondering if there are any have to eat at places in San Diego or in DL. I know this post could have gone in the forum but I put it here also to get any tips for first timers at DL. We have been to WDW many times and are excited about coming to DL for the first time. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks.

 

[Arielismyfave]

We just got back from DL. We ate at Plaza Inn for brunch. Food was ok - standard buffet. there were 8-9 characters so LO got quite a few signatures in his book, which was a main factor in our decision to eat there.

Stage door cafe for lunch. We each had corn dogs and fries. It was really good - fresh.

Jolly holiday bakery cafe for lunch. It was all delicious. Tomato basil soup, oven roasted turkey on ciabatta, jolly holiday salad, kids Mac and cheese meal, and a celebration cupcake.

I'm not sure where you are staying but there are a ton of options right outside the park also.

 

[22Tink]

The Carnation Cafe on Main Street has lots of great tasty options. Also the pacific wharf cafe in DCA has amazing soups and salads served in delicious bread bowls. Have a great trip!!

 

[chadj07]

Thanks for the suggestions, we are really excited our son doesn't know yet so this will be a big birthday surprise. We are staying at the Howard Johnson. Also what all characters were at the plaza in brunch. We were thinking of doing a character breakfast(or at least trying to at this late date) but wasn't sure which one.

 

[22Tink]

I've yet to do the one at The Plaza, but Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel is a great character meal, too. We've done that one a few times. They do breakfast and dinner buffets and had Goofy, Chip and Dale and Minnie when we went last.

 

[Geemo]

We have been to all the character meals. They all have their own +/-, food is about the same for all.
It really depends on what you are interested in Character wise.
We have found the Plaza Inn Minnie and Friend's breakfast always has the most characters.
Our last trip 2015 Dec, at the Plaza Inn we had Fairy Godmother, Hook, Minnie, Rafike, Winnie the Pooh, Geppetto, Tigger, Chip and Dale.

There are a few of the Character meals that will be character specific.
DLH, Goofy's Kitchen besides Goofy, there have been 3 or 4 other Disney Characters. Over the years at Goofy's we have seen Mulan, Jasmin, Alladin, Ballou, Pluto, Mad Hatter, Alice and Geppetto.
PPH, Surf's Up generally includes Stitch Mickey and 2 or 3 other Characters
GCH, Storyteller's has been Pluto, Chip and Dale plus a few of the Brother Bear characters.

If you do make a reservation for one of the Character meals, plan to be there at least 1 to 1.5 hours. It can take this long to have all the characters come by your table.

Geemo

 

[Cats2]

We have been to all the character meals. They all have their own +/-, food is about the same for all.
It really depends on what you are interested in Character wise.
We have found the Plaza Inn Minnie and Friend's breakfast always has the most characters.
Our last trip 2015 Dec, at the Plaza Inn we had Fairy Godmother, Hook, Minnie, Rafike, Winnie the Pooh, Geppetto, Tigger, Chip and Dale.

There are a few of the Character meals that will be character specific.
DLH, Goofy's Kitchen besides Goofy, there have been 3 or 4 other Disney Characters. Over the years at Goofy's we have seen Mulan, Jasmin, Alladin, Ballou, Pluto, Mad Hatter, Alice and Geppetto.
PPH, Surf's Up generally includes Stitch Mickey and 2 or 3 other Characters
GCH, Storyteller's has been Pluto, Chip and Dale plus a few of the Brother Bear characters.

If you do make a reservation for one of the Character meals, plan to be there at least 1 to 1.5 hours. It can take this long to have all the characters come by your table.

Geemo

Just to update the Goofy's Kitchen lineup--it's now a set list of characters rather than random ones, that change happened a while ago. So, in addition to Goofy, there's Minnie, Pluto, and Chip & Dale.

Prior to the change, over the years we had seen the Mad Hatter, Cinderella, Snow White, Aurora (not on the same visit of course) in addition to Minnie, Pluto, and Chip & Dale.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Since you noted you were WDW vets, this thread will give you lots of helpful info for your trip: A DLR Guide for WDW Vets

 

[kristabelle13]

In San Diego, for breakfast, I absolutely LOVE Richard Walker's pancake house. Get there early. Last time we waited in about a 40 min line-up to get a table.

We also always have to have lunch or dinner at Corvette Diner in the Point Loma neighbourhood (It used to be in Hillcrest, but moved about 7 or 8 years ago). It's a 50s themed diner that's a ton of fun. The food is just typical diner food but the atmosphere is great and I'm sure a 5 yr old would love looking at everything (as would the parents).

 

[pinkprincess30]

My must-do is Cafe Orleans in DL for their Monte Cristo, pomme frites & Mickey biegnets! Our family of 5 arrived hungry & ordered these three items to share and we left with a to-go box. So good, so rich!

 

[Jajone]

In San Diego, for breakfast, I absolutely LOVE Richard Walker's pancake house. Get there early. Last time we waited in about a 40 min line-up to get a table.

We also always have to have lunch or dinner at Corvette Diner in the Point Loma neighbourhood (It used to be in Hillcrest, but moved about 7 or 8 years ago). It's a 50s themed diner that's a ton of fun. The food is just typical diner food but the atmosphere is great and I'm sure a 5 yr old would love looking at everything (as would the parents).

We did the Corvette Diner a couple summers ago. Be warned there is an arcade to fill your waiting time and empty your pockets. lol. They had a balloon maker coming around for the kids and I think they made funny hair warps in people's hair with straws. It was very busy, but we chose a Saturday night dinner.

 

[Arielismyfave]

We just stayed at the HOJO on our trip. It was a great hotel! My LO loved the water area during a lunch/mid-afternoon break. Something to think about if you have time.

Plaza Inn had: Minnie, Chip, Dale, Winnie, Tigger, Fairy Godmother, Suzy, Captain Hook, Eeyore, and Rafeiki.

Goofy"s kitchen had: pluto, chip, dale, Minnie and goofy. Pluto was taking pictures when we first got there (Goofy was checking on the kitchen..), so since Goofy did not circulate to sign or take pictures we got in the line again before we left.

We stopped at The Pizza Press for dinner one night and took it back to the room. It was delicious and on the walk back from the parks.

 

[pamcakes82]

Since it's your first visit to DL, definitely get a "My 1st visit" button and a "birthday" button for your son. People acted shocked it was our first visit there but since we live in NC, we always headed to WDW. Definitely get there early and do Radiator Springs Racing. Do it at night and during the day if you can. The neon lights are very cool! Download the app and that will help greatly with figuring out where to find characters. Some of the DL rides got crazy as the day went on like Peter Pan and Mr. Toad's wild ride had VERY long waits (for rides that just aren't that cool). I would recommend doing Pirates of the Carribean and getting a fast pass for Indiana Jones if your son is tall enough. Have a great trip!