Just back! Thoughts from a WDW vet on our first trip!

[mom2rtk]

I think the character meals are worth it if you have kids that like characters. However, in our experience, the rotations are not as tightly defined as at WDW. For example, we have ended up seeing a princess along with the other characters at Goofy's. which for us was a good thing. And then she might be replaced after a couple of rotations with another princess. Another good thing. Or we have ended up seeing Pluto in three or four different' places and characters repeated. Not such a good thing. Over at WDW you get the mickey set here, the pooh set there, and the princesses over here, and this other set here. In general, I think we got more characters at each meal at DLR than we did at WDW. The food isn't gourmet by any means but it's good for the most part.

Just an FYI, Goofy's is very set now. Disappointingly so. Goofy, Minnie, Chip, Dale and Pluto. No more, no less. Every time.

 

[Angel Ariel]

I'm still likely to do Napa Rose or steakhouse 55...though with a 7 and 8 year old it might be better to wait on Napa rose...

FWIW, we took our 4 year old to Napa Rose, and she was great. We got the earliest dinner reservation possible (5:30). She's always been great in restaurants (and she was intrigued by the open kitchen), and even with ordering 3 courses and being there for a while she was fine. I would bring our 6 (almost 7) y/o and 10 year old nephews as well.

you know your kids, of course, but the experience is worth it if you can go. if you can't spend a ton of time, maybe eating in the lounge would be an option.

 

[Xenorye]

Just an FYI, Goofy's is very set now. Disappointingly so. Goofy, Mickey, Chip, Dale and Pluto. No more, no less. Every time.

Minnie instead of Mickey though, IIRC.

 

[mom2rtk]

Minnie instead of Mickey though, IIRC.

Oops! I knew that too. Thanks for correcting it. I'll correct my post so I don't mislead anyone.

 

[GatorChris]

Minnie instead of Mickey though, IIRC.

It would be way better with Mickey, but he does have his own meal at Paradise Pier. Of course, so does Minnie in the park. C'mon Disney, give us Donald Duck!

 

[mom2rtk]

It would be way better with Mickey, but he does have his own meal at Paradise Pier. Of course, so does Minnie in the park. C'mon Disney, give us Donald Duck!

Plus he has his own restaurant at WDW. Not sure he'd appreciate second billing here.

 

[mamapenguin]

I am so glad someone else doesn't like be our guest. It was one of my worst Disney experiences ever. Napa food wouldn't be bad for 7 and 8 year old but the time but be a bit long. It's more of a dining experience and you will be there a while. The chairs and room are designed for a quieter meal as well. I think if you were going to pick only one (Napa or steakhouse) go with steakhouse. But definitely do Disney blue bayou. And if you can try cafe Orleans and any monte cristo. I know blue bayou has them too but I just like them better at cafe Orleans. At all costs avoid village haus the food is stale or dirty (I'm talking salad tastes like dirt).

I disagree, I like the food at Village Haus. I like the apple cheddar salad, and my girls really like their pepperoni pizza. They like the pizza there better than at Pizza Port, it has a better crust. All of the food at Disneyland has been good except for Flo's in February, I don't care for the new menu.

 

[Ndusmama]

I disagree, I like the food at Village Haus. I like the apple cheddar salad, and my girls really like their pepperoni pizza. They like the pizza there better than at Pizza Port, it has a better crust. All of the food at Disneyland has been good except for Flo's in February, I don't care for the new menu.

I think it's because I remember the village haus food from several decades ago when overall the park had better food. Last time I went the cheddar salad literally tasted like dirt. I guess it's all subjective to what one person likes, has memories off, and is willing to eat. I usually go anywhere there is a bread bowl, plaza inn for fried chicken, or anywhere there is a monte cristo.

 

[julesann]

Thanks for the great trip report!

 

[Indiana Scott]

I disagree, I like the food at Village Haus. I like the apple cheddar salad, and my girls really like their pepperoni pizza. They like the pizza there better than at Pizza Port, it has a better crust. All of the food at Disneyland has been good except for Flo's in February, I don't care for the new menu.

Same here. Much of the burgers and stuff are the same thing available at every other location in DLR but the specialty items are very good. We especially like the Chicken Sausage in a Pretzel Roll with fruit instead of fries. It's a nice filling but light meal.

 

[monorailrabbit]

Sorry your tour bus to Sea World Stank. Bad attitude driver. Was he the same driver all the way or just from where you transferred from the pick up bus to your sea world bus? For future reference, there are rental car places near DLR. You can rent a car for the trip down to Sea World. Then you're not confined to anyone else's hours but your own. By the way if it is Friday, I'll take WDW's Chef Mickey's. Any other day of the week, I'll take Goofy's.

Yeah... we got the same ray of sunshine for both there and back. Such a great way to end the day, haha. Luckily I just threw my headphones on and slept the whole way back. As far as driving, I'm not sure why we are this way, but DH and I almost end in divorce if we try to drive in a busy city we don't know well. Like it gets bad, haha!