need advice with dining and attractions...

[Harmony]

Need advice on our dining choices and would like help regarding the parades/show times. I'm not sure if it will be possible to do everything I've listed. (this is our first time to Ca. and DL! )

Opinions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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May 30th—Tuesday— Scheduled to arrive in LAX at 10:10am.
Breakfast— (counter service)
Lunch— (counter service)
Dinner—late dinner @ Goofy’s Kitchen Time 8 pm
(note: restaurant closes @ 9pm) *we have the day pretty much open so if anyone has any ideas on something fun to do (esp for my 17y/o)...please let me know)

May 31st—Wednes----Disneyland
Breakfast—Goofy’s Kitchen Time 8:20 am
Lunch—late lunch @ Plaza Inn (walk-up dining)
Dinner—(counter service)
Parades/shows: 7:00pm Parade of Dreams


June 1st—Thursday—Legoland
Breakfast— (counter service)
Lunch—Knights Table BBQ Dinner— (counter service)


June 2nd—Friday—Disney’s California Adventure
Breakfast—Storyteller’s Café Time 8:20am
Lunch— (counter service)
Dinner— (counter service)
Parades/shows: 5:15pm Block Party Bash
(varying times) Aladdin Musical
(varying times) Playhouse Disney
Disneyland—Fantasmic! @ 9:25pm


June 3rd—Saturday-(open) See Ca. sights—shopping/beaches/tour? (again any suggestions here would be nice)
Breakfast— (counter service)
Lunch— (counter service)
Dinner—Medieval Times 8:15pm


June 4th—Sunday—Disneyland and California Adventure
Breakfast— (counter service)
Lunch—Ariel’s Grotto Time 2:40 pm (is this a character meal and if so, which characters?)
Dinner— (counter service)
Parades/shows: 5:15 Block Party Bash @ DCA
8:45 Electrical Parade @ DCA
Disneyland-- Fireworks @ 9:00 or 10:30


June 5th—Monday--Fly out of LAX at 6:35pm (we pretty much have the whole morning so any ideas would be great)
Breakfast— (counter service)
Lunch— (counter service)
Dinner— (counter service)

*note: for "counter service"...just means that we will eat if or when we get hungry so 'no'...we aren't always eating! lol

 

[iceskatejen]

Fantasmic is what's at 9 or 10:30. Fireworks are a completely different thing and they're at 9:25. If you're planning on seeing the Electrical parade, go with the later Fantasmic, because you won't be back in DL before the first starts.

I personally eat enough at Goofy's Kitchen, that I don't need lunch, but that's me.

 

[woody73]

I personally eat enough at Goofy's Kitchen, that I don't need lunch, but that's me.

Ditto for Storytellers, especially if you have the breakfast buffet.

Woody

 

[Harmony]

Thanks for those times! And yeah...we typically only eat one sit down meal per day too. So do y'all think doing Goofy's Kitchen for breakfast and Plaza Inn for either a late lunch or early dinner is too much? I figured it might be okay since PI is considered 'counter service'...no? Thanks again for your input!

 

[Chumpson]

I don't know about going to Goofys for only an hour on your first day for dinner. Paying that much money to not have time to enjoy it seems silly. Also, there is no way I would go for dinner one night and then breakfast the next day. Like someone said earlier, I was stuffed all day after eating at Goofy's. My kids didn't eat as much to fill themselves, but we can take them snacks for lunch fairly easily. I wouldn't put that much stuff back to back.

 

[iceskatejen]

Plaza Inn is not counter service. It's buffeteria service. The meals are huge (for example, the fried chicken is half a chicken, a pile of mashed potatos and a lot green & yellow beans) . Maybe if you do that for dinner along with Goofy's for breakfast and only have a snack in between, then you'd be ok. Last time I was at Goofy's (a few weeks ago), we didn't get seated until almost noon. I didn't need to eat the rest of the day.

 

[Harmony]

I don't know about going to Goofys for only an hour on your first day for dinner. Paying that much money to not have time to enjoy it seems silly. Also, there is no way I would go for dinner one night and then breakfast the next day. Like someone said earlier, I was stuffed all day after eating at Goofy's.

Eating a big dinner and a big breakfast is very "doable" for my boys! LOL I have all boys and a husband so it's okay to do that. (my boys ages are 17, 11 and 2) Since the toddler is free, it's even better...plus, he and I are the only ones that don't stuff ourselves. Still, going for only an hour doesn't make much sense, does it? Hmm...hadn't really thought that through...I'll see if I can get an earlier ressie, say like 7pm. Oh and glad to hear that Goofy's is "filling." LOL I'm sure my boys will be glad to hear that!

Since PI has such big portions, I think we'll save that one for dinner instead. Thanks for the input guys! I really do appreciate it!

 

[CalGal]

Harmony,

I noticed that you were planning on having two breakfasts at 8:20 on days that you were planning on going to DL and/or DCA. That would mean that you wouldn't get to DL until well after its 9AM opening. I am a strong believer in enjoying the parks at opening. The first couple of hours at the parks before the crowds get heavy is always the most enjoyable IMO. I like to have a light breakfast and perhaps a late brunch, after spending a couple of hours at the park. Or I would do the GK or Storytellers breakfast on a day that I was not going to DL. I assume you have a park hopper which should likely include an EE; were you planning on using that?

 

[Harmony]

We do have a park hopper. I checked the schedule and the times listed said the park wouldn't be opening till 10. Hmm...I don't know if the days we will be doing DL and DCA are EE days. Where can I find out? Thanks for reminding me about that.

 

[CalGal]

Disneyland.com shows DL opening at 9 AM during the week, 8 AM weekends at the end of May and first of June. DCA usually opens at 10 (although gates and Soarin' usually open 30 minutes earlier. EE (which would start one hour before the scheduled opening) is typically offered Mon, Tue, Thu, and Sat. However, Grad nights can alter that schedule, and I don't know if there will be any grad nights during your stay. It looks like you aren't currently planning on going on EE days, but I think EEs are very worthwhile, particularly if you plan to do many Fantasyland rides. You can go to EE one day, hop over to DCA after a couple of hours, and still have more than enough time to do everything you would want at DCA.

PS -- EE is only for DL; Most of Fantasyland and a couple ofTomorrowland rides are open for EE.

 

[samkj]

Disneyland opens at 9am,May 30-Jun 2 and 8 am Jun 3-4. You should be at the gates at least 20-30 minutes BEFORE opening. DCA opens at 10am all days. I believe EE days are Mon, Tues, Thurs and Sat. BTW, I agree do Goofy EITHER for dinner of breakfast not both. If you are set on a character meal, why not try Lilo and Stitch at the PCH Grill over at the PPH for breakfast?

I missed if someone answered your Ariel's Grotto question, this is a character meal with the princess. It is table service rather than a buffet like the others.

HTH!

 

[Harmony]

why not try Lilo and Stitch at the PCH Grill over at the PPH for breakfast?

I missed if someone answered your Ariel's Grotto question, this is a character meal with the princess. It is table service rather than a buffet like the others.

HTH!

I suggested the PCH Grill for breakfast but my sons really enjoy Chef Mickey's at WDW and they think that Goofy's Kitchen will be the same. (and I hear ya about the dinner and breakfast thing but they enjoy Chef Mickey's so much that it's our 'thing' to do it once for breakfast and once for dinner during our time at WDW so that's why they want to do that with GK.) What characters, besides Goofy, go to that restaurant?

Ariel's Grotto is PRINCESS? Oh no! I read that it's Mickey and Friends. I'm going to have to double check that 'cause if my boys have to sit through one more princess meal, they will hurl! I was hoping for a more "boy" themed meal. Guess I'll have to keep looking.

And "yes"...it does help! Thanks!

 

[samkj]

Minnie and Friends is at the Plaza Inn for breakfast, but yes Ariel's Grotto is definitely all princesses! I think these two switched last fall((???))

 

[CalGal]

Ariels was a Mickey's and Friends but switched to a Princess meal late last summer I think. At the same time, Plaza Inn switched from a princess breakfast to a Minnie and Friends character breakfast.

My DS prefers Goofy. He's now a teenager, and still likes to go to GK each trip. Goofy's tends to have a nice variety of characters, and does switch them around a bit. You might want to check to see if the characters will be the same at breakfast (or brunch) as they will be for dinner; I think there's a good chance that there will be some different characters at the different meals. Usually there will be one princess and/or at least one face character (Alice was there our last visit and she made by teenage son blush). I can't tell you who will be there when you go, but we've seen Max, Pluto, Genie, Aladdin, Chip and Dale, Minnie, and others during recent visits.

 

[samkj]

Hey Calgal, we seem to be posting at the same time today! Are you avoiding work too?

 

[Snow Brite]

I might have already mentioned this a time or two... but at Legoland the Granny Apple Fries are to DIE for. They are at a little stand in the Knights Kingdom and are granny smith apples that are cut like french fries, coated in batter, fried, dusted with cinnamon sugar and then served with vanilla whipped cream. Oh myyyyyy....they are my favorite thing!


We usually get breakfast at the hotel when we go to Legoland or you could grab something before you go in. By far the easiest and cheapest and since Legoland doesnt open until 10am on the day you are going this should be pretty easy to accomplish, and will let you make the most of your time at the park.