General bellyaching, Lack of food options within the parks

[Lakewood]

So last I went to WDW with my girlfirend we got the deluxe dining package, I don't think that I have ever ate that much for that long in my life. It basically was a week of Thanksgiving. Theres tons of places to eat just at EPCOT.
I go to D Land quite frequently, like 1x a week. Besides the hot dog, popcorn, churro, turkey leg and chimichanga (with a questionalbe filling, that may be meat or may be ______?) What is there that is good to eat in the park beyond the Bayou? I would like to see more table servie restraunts of varying origins throughout the park....
I mean they have a prime spot for a new restraunt at the end of Main Street if they would just move the annual pass center somewhere else.
And speaking for a born and raised Californian the "mexican" restraunt by Thunder Mountain is bad....
Thoughts, ideas or general replys to my food ramblings would be appreciated...

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I could go on and on about all of the things I love to eat at Disneyland...

I love the Monte Cristo and Pommes Frites at Cafe Orleans.
I love the chicken fusilli at Pizza Port.
I love the Hacienda Salad at Rancho Del Zocalo.
Loaded Baked Potato soup at Carnation Cafe.
Chicken Caesar salad at the Farmers Market at DCA
I had a really great salad at Wine Country Trattoria...
The chocolate macaroons at the Blue Ribbon Bakery are to die for...

Eating is one of my favorite things to do there!

 

[pixiewings71]

I totally and completely 100% disagree about Rancho. We really enjoy the food there. And I think that there are plenty of places to eat at DL but I would never compare it WDW anyway. They are totally different, WDW is so much bigger and they can add lots of places to eat. DL is smaller and more of a "local" park.

 

[LavenderPeach]

I just posted this on another thread but the turkey sandwiches at RBT are really good. They are made with carved turkey, not deli meat. The other food looked good there too but the turkey sandwhich is the only one I've tried so far.

 

[amyamya]

I tried three times to respond to this and I just have too much to say. There are TONS of options in both parks, not to mention DTD. Look through the board with the food pictures and try something that looks good next time you go. A lot of people on there post favorites that seem pretty universal.

 

[avalon451]

general bellyaching Awww, poor baby! (I've always wanted to use that violin player! )

Seriously, I know what you mean, in that, while there are lots of snack options and we all have our favorites... DL, because of its size, seems to have a lot fewer options. Especially with the table service places. Sure would be nice to have some more and different ones. Ah, well, I guess we sort of sacrifice such things for the sake of the place being so compact.

Like, for example, I love Blue Bayou. But seriously, how many times have we all heard it? "I don't go for the food, it's the ambiance you're paying for." Sometimes the food and service is phenomenal there... sometimes it's just not. Sometimes all you want is a Dole whip, other times you would kill for a hamburger that is really good and doesn't cost an arm and a leg (and take half an hour to get, standing in line!)

So, we bellyache. And we continue to enjoy our churros, corn dogs, turkey legs and Tigger Tails. But I think we can be forgiven if sometimes we secretly wish for a dining plan like WDW!

 

[Diznygrl]

It's true that they don't have many table service options IN Disneyland proper, but it's not like they have a ton of space. They're hurting for it the way it is. I'm not that impressed with Blue Bayou's food, but I love Cafe Orleans. I've heard good things about Carnation Cafe, but so far haven't had the opportunity to eat there. These are both table service. There are plenty of Disney TS options outside of the park.

Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen
Catal
Uva Bar
Napolini
ESPN Zone
Rainforest Cafe
House of Blues
Tortilla Joe's
Wine Country Trattoria
Napa Rose
Storyteller's Cafe
Steakhouse 55
Hook's Pointe
Yamabuki
PCH Grill

Take your pick!

 

[mechurchlady]

I have celiac and allergies so give me that violin.

There is the RAncho and Plaza inn has yummy but bland looking chicken as that is all I cna have. WAH I love that meal. Taste Pilot's grill is my haven. Barbecue chicken Pizza oh my dear I am going to faint over the thought of them. Cotton candy and tigger tails oh my.

Hun you live in my shoes for a while and you will be grateful for Blue Bayou and popcorn.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I agree with Diznygrl.

With DTD and the DLR hotels literally right there, there's not a huge need for more TS restaurants within the parks. I've never felt that there is a lack of choices. And the fact that there's so many to choose from within a small area.....and we don't have to take a bus to get to them......is great.

We also really enjoy the bread bowls at both DL and DCA, as well as the skewers at the Bengal BBQ, for quick service options.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

skewers at the Bengal BBQ (my fav little food. have to have it at least once)
(i have more to but cant name them all lol)

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I totally and completely 100% disagree about Rancho. We really enjoy the food there. And I think that there are plenty of places to eat at DL but I would never compare it WDW anyway. They are totally different, WDW is so much bigger and they can add lots of places to eat. DL is smaller and more of a "local" park.

ITA. About Rancho and comparing DL to WDW food wise.

We love Rancho. We (DBF and I) were born and raised in So Cal and we're both Mexican (he's full, I'm 1/4). I say that just because DBF is living off real Mexican food everyday. He's picky when it comes to it (me not so much). He hates Taco Bell, Baja Fresh, or anything like that. Rancho he thinks the food is outstanding and not just because it's DLR.

 

[Stacerita]

I think there are many options. DD and I love French Market. Cafe Orleans is becoming a fave as well. Plus with DTD right there, we always find something we like.

 

[fairykin]

You just are not trying all the places everyone has listed.. try some new things.

You'll have fun exploring.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Love Rancho. Did you taste the Mexican Food at WDW? Because believe me, its not too hot. And like Blue Bayou, there are many places at WDW that I go to for the ambiance and not the food. San Angel, Sci Fi, Chef Mickey's are the first 3 that come to my mind. But then I think about the fact its a theme park atmosphere. So its amazing that WDW and Disneyland do as well as they do in the quality and selction of their restaurants.

I think DL is just a whole different thing obviously. Its not the tourist destination that WDW is, they only have two parks. I do like it that DTD in DL is so easy to get to with all its dining options. Ditto with the onsite resort restaurants being so close and I have some really good meals at places like Hooks Pointe at the DLH.

There's no doubt WDW has a lot of full service eateries. But in my book, their counter service is not the best. I think DL has way better cs options than WDW. To me places like Rancho, the Plaza Inn and French Market, the buffeteria thing so to speak, are much better than the cs places in WDW. I mean Pecos Bills can keep that toppings bar stocked with fake cheese all they want. But their burgers are awful comapared to Taste Pilots Grill in DCA! So I guess its a trade off.

If you did the DDP, delxue or regular, the sheer joy of prepaying for all that food and then worrying about nothing but the gratuity is worth it alone. Maybe you are just bored with the DL selections? To me, DL is a novel thing, but I don't get to go so often! When I do, I find the food very good. More expensive than WDW and not as much selection by any means, but in some ways better. Just my opinion of course!

 

[AmericanItGirl]

They are totally different, WDW is so much bigger and they can add lots of places to eat. DL is smaller and more of a "local" park.

Plus, Epcot was built with a restaurant for each Showcase country in mind, and that's only half of the park. There's also more rides in DL than in MK (e.g. less room for restaurants) and they're constantly trying to add new rides into the pre-existing perimeters.

 

[AmericanItGirl]

I mean they have a prime spot for a new restraunt at the end of Main Street if they would just move the annual pass center somewhere else.

Obviously, you're not up to snuff on the Disneyland news, because that place is slated to become the new gallery.

 

[Lakewood]

Obviously, you're not up to snuff on the Disneyland news, because that place is slated to become the new gallery.

Yeah, sure it is. Last heard the Bank was to be the new gallery....
As far as the Rancho is concerned, its all right just bland, to me at at least.

 

[Sherry E]

The food at Disneyland pre-1992 or so was bad. Cold burgers, barely edible fries, etc. Eating was only a necessity of being in the park all day - it wasn't really something to look forward to and plan schedules around. Then they added in a character buffet with a LOT of choices at the DLH, and started to put out some healthier selections in the park (more lean chicken and fruits and veggies) to go along with the general amusement park fast food, and suddenly the quality of the regular (non-healthy) food got much, much better overall. Now, there are LOTS of places to eat in DLR - and even the counter service places (which used to be almost inedible in the '80s) serve really good stuff (like Taste Pilots Grill, for example). You can get some of the most delicious fruit you have ever tasted all around DLR. The character buffets all serve good quality food and the buffets are fresh and bountiful. Places like Carnation Cafe and Wine Country Trattoria are great. Bengal BBQ offers healthy skewers. And as has already been stated, DTD has a bunch of choices. Rainforest Cafe, Naples and ESPN Zone all have great food, and RFC, in particular, has a wide variety to choose from. Storytellers in the GCH has good food for lunch or dinner.

There is a lot out there - you just kind of have to try different things and explore. I tend to think DLR continues to get a bad reputation as far as food because amusement parks in general don't serve a lot of good stuff, but DLR have really improved and made things tasty and more nutritious in the last 17 - 18 years (as much as they can), and I think we all agree here on the DIS that dining is now a part of our trips we look forward to - not just a necessity - and actually make PS's for the meals we like and work the meals into the plans. It is actually an enjoyable experience now!

 

[TinkerbellTris]

So last I went to WDW with my girlfirend we got the deluxe dining package, I don't think that I have ever ate that much for that long in my life. It basically was a week of Thanksgiving. Theres tons of places to eat just at EPCOT.
I go to D Land quite frequently, like 1x a week. Besides the hot dog, popcorn, churro, turkey leg and chimichanga (with a questionalbe filling, that may be meat or may be ______?) What is there that is good to eat in the park beyond the Bayou? I would like to see more table servie restraunts of varying origins throughout the park....
I mean they have a prime spot for a new restraunt at the end of Main Street if they would just move the annual pass center somewhere else.
And speaking for a born and raised Californian the "mexican" restraunt by Thunder Mountain is bad....
Thoughts, ideas or general replys to my food ramblings would be appreciated...

We just got back from our 4 day trip. I have said in previous posts how much the food has improved in Disneyland, even since our last visit in June 08. I felt like you do the last couple trips, food was going down hill, there is no where to eat etc. ******BUT, not this trip. I really researched the menu's on here that are posted, to see what all has changed and what is being offered at all the places to eat in the parks, hotels, and downtown disney. I have to say it was a lot of tough choices for me. We ended up eating in the park a lot, we ate at Pinocchios, coca cola corner, Blue Bayou, Riverbelle Terrace, and in DCA we ate at Wine Country Trattoria, and downtown disney we ate at Tortilla Joe's, Naples, Espn, and we ate at Steakhouse 55 at Disneyland Hotel. We never once had a bad meal, and were very surprised at the quality improvement in the food at every establishment we chose. I am a firm believer in the fact you must go that extra mile and research your options before you go, or you will wind up eating the same old junk that is there in your face in the parks....Hot dogs, turkey legs, churros.

 

[nunzia]

ITA. About Rancho and comparing DL to WDW food wise.

We love Rancho. We (DBF and I) were born and raised in So Cal and we're both Mexican (he's full, I'm 1/4). I say that just because DBF is living off real Mexican food everyday. He's picky when it comes to it (me not so much). He hates Taco Bell, Baja Fresh, or anything like that. Rancho he thinks the food is outstanding and not just because it's DLR.

another Rancho fan here. We live right by the border (85 miles which is too close since the big war is right THERE), and we really enjoyed the plate there. We even shared a regular size plate and did fine, (although it was really good and I may need my own next time).
Also LOVE the gumbo at Cafe Orleans and corn dogs and skewers and lots of other stuff. We are not big sit down meal people though, so DL and DCA have plenty of choices..oh man..now I want a bread bowl from Boudin's...darn!