Meal planning for DLR vacation

[shellynn24]

Thanks to you guys here on the DL board, I have picked my hotel and my dates and now I need help with daily planning. This is my favorite part and I'm excited We will be arriving around 9 am on Jun 28 and checking in right away. we will be swimming and hanging around the resort until the room is ready then showering and going to DTD. Don't try to talk me out of this, we are eating dinner at Rainforrest Cafe we like it there so we will be fine with that.

Second day we will get up ealy and go to DL eat lunch at Blue Bayou (really looking forward to that) and staying there for the afternoon parade. We will then go on to DCA for the evening. Where would you guys eat for quick CS at DCA for dinner? We plan to stay on there until after the elec. parade snd back to DL because they are open really late. We will stay until the kids get to much to handle.

Next day we will start out at DL again to try to finish the important rides. Back to DCA for whatever shows we missed the day before. Where should we eat lunch for CS, DL or DCA. I was thinking of staying on at DL but don't know where. We will be eating dinner somewhere else. Where is a TS that we should not miss. Any ideas?

Okay, July 1st we will eat Brkfst at Goofy's character breakfast and then probably be going on to a family gathering in L.A. When we get back we will go back to whatever rides we have missed or want to do again. we will just grab CS where ever is closest. Go back to the room and pack. We leave the next morning so sad!

Alright recap, I need ideas for CS Dinner in DCA, CS lunch in DL, and not to be missed TS anywhere on property. I'm long winded, I know, but I love planning! TIA

 

[denyd]

A couple of places to try:

In DCA sitdown/counter service:
Taste Pilots Grill has very good burgers w/ a condiment bar
Strips & Dips has tasty chicken strips w/ a ranch dipping sauce
Right next door in the Grand Californian is Storytellers Cafe with and excellent buffet and some very good sandwiches

In DCA snacks:
Try the Nachos from Cuchina Mexican Grill and an ice cold beer
and the chocolate dipped strawberries from the Marketplace

In DL sitdown & counter service:
The Carnation Cafe serves a yummy Potato Cheese Soup & 1/2 Turkey Sandwich (they also have a PB&J Painters Palate for the kids)
Rocket Redds has some excellent salads and the best pizza at the resort
The River Belle Terrace has a very good clam chowder in a bread bowl
I've never been to the Bengal BarBQ but I've heard good things about it.
The Blue Bayou & Cafe Orleans are about to come out of a major makeover, so keep an eye on this forum for reviews.

In DL snacks:
The Dole Whip at the Tiki Room is fantastic
The Tigger Tales at the Pooh Corner are a candy lovers heaven

 

[iceskatejen]

Whitewater Snacks in the Grand Californian is quick and much tastier than anything in the parks. It's very near the DCA entrance to the GC, so it's quick out of the park and back in.

 

[shellynn24]

Thank you for the ideas. Any more ideas I should add to my time there?

 

[Texasfan]

We like the Hungry Bear a CS in DL.

 

[shellynn24]

We like the Hungry Bear a CS in DL.

Where is this one?

I was just reading the new menu and prices for Blue bayou and I'm shocked! I'm thinking about skipping this one now because it is too expensive and they don't seem to have much of a selection. Any other suggestions for a nice lunch at DL?

 

[Texasfan]

Hungry Bear is over by Winnie the Pooh ride. I would not call it a nice place to eat, but we like it. You sit outside in a well shaded area (I think it is covered and has trees) that overlooks the river. It is nice to be able to sit by the river so that you can feed the ducks and watch the boats go by.

We usually eat there the day we do the fantasyland rides. We start off at fantasyland and then head over to Splash Mountain to get fastpasses and then hit Winnie the Pooh and eat at the Hungry Bear while waiting for our fastpasses to become active. If we have a long wait for the fastpasses we go over to Tom Sawyer's Island or hit PofC and Haunted Mansion after eating.

Here is a link to the menus at Disneyland http://www.dlresortinfo.com/DisneylandMenus/dlmenus.html

 

[Snow Brite]

You don't say if you are with boys or girls (or none at all!) but Ariel's Grotto in DCA is a nice sit down lunch with the princesses. If it is just adults the Vineyard in DCA is nice also. I agree about Taste Pilots Grill in DCA.

Red Rocketts is great for a salad in DL. The Golden Horseshoe is a good place to sit and eat while you watch the show, chicken strips or my favorite mozzarella sticks. And of course a huge slice of chocolate cake!

Don't forget that DTD is really close by to both the parks, so it is easy to get something there too when popping between parks. That increases your dining options quite a bit.

Turkey legs are a must have on our trips. Dole Whip...not to be missed. Churros are eaten every afternoon.

 

[shellynn24]

I'm sorry, I will be with DH, DS (4), and DD (2). I think we might try the Ariel's Grotto for DD, she loves princesses. I'm pretty sure we will be replacing Blue Bayou with the Plaza Inn because DVC members get a discount there. I do not know our exact whereabouts for any given moment of the day, so we will be picking up something quick most of our time there. Thank you for all of your ideas

 

[Ohana 4]

I LOVE Pacific Wharf Cafe. We ate there one night last year right before the park closed and even though we froze our fannies off, we sat at a table by the water and were able to see the fireworks from afar that was going on in Disneyland. It was so peaceful. We vowed to go there every time we visit. They have really good bread bowls. Yumm!

And we also love Rancho del Zocalo in Disneyland if you like Mexican. They had tasty meals there for CS. But we're excited to try Tortilla Joe's when we go this year in July. I've heard good things about that place in DTD.

 

[Jen117]

Taste Pilots grill is nice. DH fell in love with the hamburgers last time we were there and we ended up eating there several times.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Another nice place for a sit down lunch is Carnation Cafe inside Disneyland. You sit outside in a covered patio area and you can have a nice view of Main Street. They have soups, sandwiches, salads and a cute pb&j kids meal. The peanut butter and jelly and other condiments come out on an artists palette and the child gets to create their own artistic sandwich creation. You can make a priority seating for that one. I also second other's choices for counter service of : Rancho del Zoccalo, Taste Pilots, the Hungry Bear (for nice atmosphere and decent burgers), Plaza Inn for lunch and dinner, they have huge portions of fried chicken and pasta dishes that can easily be shared in a very lovely, Victorian atmosphere (they do have a character breakfast too that you can make a ps for) and Redd Rockets for decent pasta and salads and okay pizza. And I totally second the idea of enjoying the Pacific Wharf area in DCA at night. The lights are just beautiful over there in the evenings and you have your choice of the bakery and the Mexican place and then sit outside. And Ariel's Grotto is a lot of fun and one of the cheaper character meal options. Its also nice that its not a buffet so you don't run the risk of missing out on a character while you are getting your food. Since Blue Bayou's new format is a no go for you , you might try looking into Cafe Orleans. This is being turned into a full service restaurant and I think will have some of the selections that Blue Bayou has had in the past (namely the Monte Cristo) for a much cheaper price than what Blue Bayou is now offering. Good luck, Disneyland Dining is hardly the reason to make the trip, but my family has always found things we enjoy eating in nice atmospheres. And the food at Disneyland/DCA is certainly a cut above most theme park dining. Have a great trip!

 

[heidimn]

I would definitely recommend Ariels Grotto, but don't remember it being princesses via my pictures. Of course it does have Ariel but otherwise, Minny, Mickey & others are in my pictures. It was more girl friendly and I remember my DS (12) and DH opped out of the lunch. But my daughter 9 and I really enjoyed the food & the characters.
We are going back in a few weeks and right now am going to wing it (no meals planned during this part of the trip - which is really a test for me - as I love to plan!)

 

[Amy&Dan]

I would definitely recommend Ariels Grotto, but don't remember it being princesses via my pictures. Of course it does have Ariel but otherwise, Minny, Mickey & others are in my pictures. It was more girl friendly and I remember my DS (12) and DH opped out of the lunch. But my daughter 9 and I really enjoyed the food & the characters.
We are going back in a few weeks and right now am going to wing it (no meals planned during this part of the trip - which is really a test for me - as I love to plan!)

Ariel's Grotto was briefly referred to as "Cap'n Mickey's" and featured Mickey and Minnie as well other characters. Although the sign above the entrance always said Ariel's Grotto even when she no longer appeared there anymore. This was a brief change I believe, it reverted back to Ariel's Grotto only and now features many other Disney Princesses along with its namesake. It is very similar in character interraction to the Princess themed meal in the castle in Norway at Epcot in WDW. The princesses now make their rounds inside and outside and Ariel is no longer wearing her mermaid costume but her pink princess dress. The menu is still the same and it is obviously even more girl oriented now than it used to be. This has all been sort of confusing, especially if you have an older guide book or were at DL in the not too distant past!

 

[shellynn24]

Ariel's Grotto was briefly referred to as "Cap'n Mickey's" and featured Mickey and Minnie as well other characters. Although the sign above the entrance always said Ariel's Grotto even when she no longer appeared there anymore. This was a brief change I believe, it reverted back to Ariel's Grotto only and now features many other Disney Princesses along with its namesake. It is very similar in character interraction to the Princess themed meal in the castle in Norway at Epcot in WDW. The princesses now make their rounds inside and outside and Ariel is no longer wearing her mermaid costume but her pink princess dress. The menu is still the same and it is obviously even more girl oriented now than it used to be. This has all been sort of confusing, especially if you have an older guide book or were at DL in the not too distant past!

Thank you for clearing that up. I was hoping it was princesses.

 

[SpectroBelle]

We're just back and were pleasantly surprised with Pizza Oo Mow Mow at DCA. They serve very large, thick crust pizza slices, pasta, and nice, fresh salads that are decent sized. It is also right next door to a McDonalds's so your party can have both. It was also very uncrowded which was nice.

 

[mello]

has really good CS food imho. We're not burger n fries folks, so we look for the more unusual CS places. We've had delicious chowder in bread bowls, yummy chicken salad in bread bowls, and good tacos over there. I'm really looking forward to that chicken salad again. Oh, and for snacks we had good smoothies - can't remember the name of the little stand, but it was in Hollywood Backlot. And in DL, I'll second the Dole Whips - MMMM!!!

 

[JayS]

A couple of places to try:

In DL sitdown & counter service:
The Carnation Cafe serves a yummy Potato Cheese Soup & 1/2 Turkey Sandwich (they also have a PB&J Painters Palate for the kids)
Rocket Redds has some excellent salads and the best pizza at the resort
The River Belle Terrace has a very good clam chowder in a bread bowl
I've never been to the Bengal BarBQ but I've heard good things about it.
The Blue Bayou & Cafe Orleans are about to come out of a major makeover, so keep an eye on this forum for reviews.

In DL snacks:
The Dole Whip at the Tiki Room is fantastic
The Tigger Tales at the Pooh Corner are a candy lovers heaven

I could have written my own DL response... but denyd did so well I'll just add my 'here here' those comments...

Haven't found a real favorite at DCA yet.