If not Goofy's Kitchen...where?

[Pamb]

We will be arriving at DL on a Monday after a long car ride around 3 or 4 pm. We will need to check into hotel, get groceries, and relax before our first day in the park with MM entry on Tuesday.

I had planned on visiting DTD and eating at Goofy's Kitchen that night. What would be a good/less expensive option for dinner for 2 adults and 3 children 7,5 and 2.5 that would still help us feel like we have arrived?

Every time gas prices go up I have to adjust the food budget to compensate....I am hoping they go down and I can add to the budget instead!

 

[Sy-]

Rainforest Cafe?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

i just saw yummy food from house of blues. or jazz kitchen they looked good

 

[spaceace510]

Jazz Kitchen is great! Right in the heart of DTD and with some views you can even view the monorail!

 

[avalon451]

I'd second Rainforest Cafe because of your kids' ages, unless your little ones would be scared of the "thunder and lightning" that happens every half hour. It doesn't seem to faze most kids; and mine love the animal tableaus-- jumping up to go watch when the gorillas start shaking the trees and going "oook, oook!" or the elephants start trumpeting.

Seems like many families here on the DIS celebrate their first evening at RFC. It's not cheap, but would probably still be less than Goofy's.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

Jazz Kitchen is great! Right in the heart of DTD and with some views you can even view the monorail!

at night I think the jazz kitchen has a little more adult feel to it....

however, my vote is for Naples...they have great pizza (that they make right there) and pasta like raviolis and lasagna...HUGE portions....and its very family friendly...its loud and right in the heart of DTD....just right to get you in that disney mood to say you're here

 

[dizneekrazee]

To me, all the restaurants seem way over priced, even more than Disney. We too will be arriving the day before our first day in the park, and have decided on dinner at Crocs Bits N Bites inside the DLH, there is also WhiteWater Snacks, inside the GCH (where we will eat dinner the following night!!) I havent heard too many reviews about Crocs Bits N Bites, but I have heard plenty excellant reviews about WWS.

HTH!!

 

[spaceace510]

at night I think the jazz kitchen has a little more adult feel to it....

however, my vote is for Naples...they have great pizza (that they make right there) and pasta like raviolis and lasagna...HUGE portions....and its very family friendly...its loud and right in the heart of DTD....just right to get you in that disney mood to say you're here

good point! In that case, if you want to avoid places inside hotels, then i agree Naples. Then your right across the way from World of Disney, so then you can do a little shopping and be surrounded by all things Disney

 

[disneegrl4eva]

oh and I dont know if any of you are aware of this but Patina Group owns Naples, Tortilla Joes and Uva Bar and they are offering a special through the 31st of this month...if you go to any of the 3 places between 11 and 4pm you get 15% off your lunch

 

[Wavy Blue]

...You guys actually like the Naples restaurant? My experience there was awful...overprices pizza that honestly wasn't as good as the five buck pepperoni you can get from local chains...

I'd say go for RFC.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

You could try the ESPN Zone. They have an arcade so the kids can work off some energy from sitting in the car all day.

 

[disneegrl4eva]

...You guys actually like the Naples restaurant? My experience there was awful...overprices pizza that honestly wasn't as good as the five buck pepperoni you can get from local chains...

I'd say go for RFC.

Ive been several times and yes I like it...the pasta is awesome...especially the lasagna

 

[disney-super-mom]

I have to agree with the Rainforest Cafe for giving everyone that feeling that they've arrived. It just provides that special, fun, unique atmosphere. We eat here at least once, and usually more than once, on every Disneyland trip we make. Our kids love it (the fish, the animals, the storms, the food), and DH and I enjoy it as well.

Now the Jazz Kitchen definitely does have a more adult atmosphere, but of course since it's Disney, there will be plenty of kids there. The food here is really good, and they often have a live band playing in the evenings, so it can be loud, but the band is really good.

But I would still pick the Rainforest Cafe, just because I know the kids would like it better.

 

[DesertBell]

I second the ESPN zone. We like to go there our first night in. . .the food is amazing.

 

[DisneyNic]

Sorry, I'm going to threadjack for just a second. I'm confused about something. On allears, there is a menu for Ralph Brennan's Creole Cafe, but I can't find it anywhere on the Disney website. It is not on the list of dining in DTD and it is not on the map.

 

[Jennifer03]

Sorry, I'm going to threadjack for just a second. I'm confused about something. On allears, there is a menu for Ralph Brennan's Creole Cafe, but I can't find it anywhere on the Disney website. It is not on the list of dining in DTD and it is not on the map.

I believe that's the quick-service (not sit-down) part of the restaurant. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[avalon451]

Isn't that the counter service place attached to Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen? Which, of course, is the sit down restaurant.

I'm thinking that's the place you can take a tray through the line and get your gumbo and dirty rice, or beignets, etc. I had the beignets and was less than impressed.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

I'm with those who said the Rainforest Cafe. We always eat there once, usually the first night too. Always give you that "we've arrived" feeling.

We ate at the ESPN zone the first night. It was just "okay". Great for those who LOVE sports. Kids love the video games upstairs, but the restaurant area won't keep them entertained unless they like watching sports on several screens everywhere. The food was okay, they messed mine up, so I had to sit and wait for quite a while before they could fix it. Then it gave me terrible heartburn and I ended up back at the hotel a little earlier then I wanted to. That was a bummer.

 

[honeymom]

RFC unless the young child is afraid.

I wind up spending so much at arcade restaurants that I think it would wind up costing as much as Goofy's Kitchen.

RBJazzKitchen upstairs dining room is our favorite restaurant at DL. But, I don't know that I would want to go with a 2.5 year old. Depends on how well behaved.

 

[moniquem]

Depending on how much you'd like to stretch your budget - you could go to the IHOP right outside the gates, Kids eat Free! Just a suggestion!

I find that all of the places at DTD, are overpriced. I haven't ate at ESPN Zone, though.