need opinions for meals

[IloveAKL]

Hello everyone! We will be in Disneyland for the first time in less than 4 weeks!

I am feeling overwhelmed with what to plan for "counter service" (what they are called in WDW - is it the same in Disneyland?) meals, so I am asking for thoughts on what you would recommend.

We have a 3 day pass for DLR. Please tell me your top 3 counter service/cafeteria style meals for lunch/dinner. Two family members will eat anything. I am vegetarian (eggs and milk OK) and one daughter is selective in that she doesn't like mixed foods (no sauces on meats or combination of foods in one dish). Help me narrow down the choices!
(We have reservations for Blue Bayou, Goofy's Kitchen, Cafe Orleans, and Story Teller's breakfast YAY!!)

Thanks so much!!
Barb

 

[DizNee Luver]

allears.net is a great place to look over the options & hopefully find something that will cover everyone's likes & needs!!

I love the Hungry Bear Restaurant up in Critter Country & they have a new menu.

 

[oc_tony]

DLR has improved it's counter service menus over the last 18-24 months. While at DCA, check out the newly opened Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta. The ravioli dish and salads are very tasty. At DL, we like Hungry Bear, Village Haus, and Troubadour Tavern (baked potatoes).

Enjoy Cafe Orleans and Storytellers. We like both of those.

 

[Disney4us2]

One of our favorite lunch spots is the Whitewater Snacks at the Grand Californian. You order the food and are given a number and they will bring the food to the table. The only things saucy would be the nachos and the chili dog. You can still get a hot dog without the chili though. Besides hot items they also have sandwiches( pre made) and kids pb&j uncrustables.

Storytellers is our favorite breakfast at the resort. Enjoy

 

[Cagirl767]

I second reading the menus on Allears, they are current.

Within Disneyland, I believe all places offer a kids meal and vegetarian option. Veggie burgers abound! Kids meals are usually chicken nuggets, a turkey dog, mac and cheese, Plaza Inn has a chicken drumstick and pasta, Pizza Port has spaceghetti. At Cafe Orleans the marinara sauce comes on the side of the plain spaghetti. French Market has orange chicken etc etc. There will be something for everyone. I can't think of a restaurant, walkup, counter service that doesn't offer a meat free option. although not vegetarian, I usually opt for the veg option if it isn't heavy on the lactose. I haven't tried the fried green tomato sandwich yet, but hear it's good!

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

I seriously think one of the biggest differences between planning for WDW and for DLR is the meals. Aside from character meals and fancy table dining, you don't need to plan. You really don't. It's very easy to walk through the park, come across a restaurant, check the menu board and say "does this sound good to everyone?" If not, you can move on. Because the parks are so much smaller, it's not a giant trek to the next restaurant. It's so easy to be flexible, you don't have to make sure you're in one part of the park at lunch time because you want to eat at one place and it's a huge walk if you're stuck at the opposite side. Like "Well we wanted to eat at the Village Haus but here we are in Tomorrowland so I guess we're screwed." It's even extremely easy to park hop just for meals. I suggest reading the menus beforehand if you like, but just play it by ear once you get here. Eating at DLR is MUCH more relaxing than eating at WDW.

 

[cmwade77]

Ok, so here are options with good vegetarian options:

• Tangaroa Terrace (DLH)
• Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta
• The new Mediterranean Grill (DCA)
• Hungry Bear Restaurant

All of the above will make modifications for your daughter. For the Mediterranean Grill, order the child's meal (if she want's a larger portion, you can ask for the meat from the Child's meal in adult portions. The reverse is also true, you can ask for the adult versions in child portions.)

 

[ORDisneyfans]

I seriously think one of the biggest differences between planning for WDW and for DLR is the meals. Aside from character meals and fancy table dining, you don't need to plan. You really don't. It's very easy to walk through the park, come across a restaurant, check the menu board and say "does this sound good to everyone?" If not, you can move on. Because the parks are so much smaller, it's not a giant trek to the next restaurant. It's so easy to be flexible, you don't have to make sure you're in one part of the park at lunch time because you want to eat at one place and it's a huge walk if you're stuck at the opposite side. Like "Well we wanted to eat at the Village Haus but here we are in Tomorrowland so I guess we're screwed." It's even extremely easy to park hop just for meals. I suggest reading the menus beforehand if you like, but just play it by ear once you get here. Eating at DLR is MUCH more relaxing than eating at WDW.

So agree with Shelby! We really just wing it! YDD must have a turkey leg! ODD must have a frozen lemonade! Other than that we eat when we are hungry wherever we may be. We usually share meals and snacks and break up the day that way. Some must haves during the trip are soup in a bread bowl (or salad) in DCA, Bengal BBQ skewers in Adventureland (which I do not like but fam does), corn dog at the little red cart, sundaes at the hidden ice cream stand on the right hand side of Main street behind the fruit cart looking towards the castle (huge and no line!), Whitewater snacks in GCH for a quick breakfast or nachos or sandwiches or...

This trip we are staying at DLH so will try out the new offerings by the pool and Hungry Bear restaurant!

 

[disneydreamer74]

I seriously think one of the biggest differences between planning for WDW and for DLR is the meals. Aside from character meals and fancy table dining, you don't need to plan. You really don't. It's very easy to walk through the park, come across a restaurant, check the menu board and say "does this sound good to everyone?" If not, you can move on. Because the parks are so much smaller, it's not a giant trek to the next restaurant. It's so easy to be flexible, you don't have to make sure you're in one part of the park at lunch time because you want to eat at one place and it's a huge walk if you're stuck at the opposite side. Like "Well we wanted to eat at the Village Haus but here we are in Tomorrowland so I guess we're screwed." It's even extremely easy to park hop just for meals. I suggest reading the menus beforehand if you like, but just play it by ear once you get here. Eating at DLR is MUCH more relaxing than eating at WDW.

I could not agree more!! At DLR we often table hop because DD4 is a picky eater and her dad and I get tired of eating Pizza . This is one of the perks of DLR, so easy to just pick a place to eat and go!!

 

[spacemermaid]

Be sure to try the fried green tomato sandwich at the Hungry Bear in Critter Country...soooooooo yummy!

Another good meat-free choice is the fusilli pasta in parmesan cream sauce at Pizza Port in Tomorrowland. They make it when you order it, just ask them to leave off the chicken.

 

[mbb]

We're really going to love DLR aren't we

(We're WDW vets who make dining plans first, picking what restaurants we want to "try this trip", then we plan our park days!! LOL!!)

DH and I are going to send the kids back to the hotel for swimming with the grandparents and nosh the day away around Disney

 

[BlueBayou]

http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_bb.htm

I am partial to the Bengal Barbecue across from Jungle Cruise and

http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_roy.htm
The Royal Street Veranda underneath Pirates

I have never had to deal with an absolute vegetarian before. My now DD10 has never been a big fan of any meat other than fish (and I have gone years without red meat). For the past 5 months she has been a committed vegetarian - so there have been many adjustments in our family recently.

 

[EmmersIsTheMommy]

I was gonna suggest Bengal BBQ too. I LOVE those yummo skewers

 

[cyclenut]

I am so surprised at the number of recommendations for Hungry Bear. I swore off the place years ago and have never been back. Perhaps I need to give it another try.

We prefer Red Rocket's Pizza Port in Tomorrow Land. Quite a few choices and the pasta is filling and you have good vegetarian options there. We also like the Plaza Del Zocolo over by Big Thunder. It is really deceiving but they have a good selection too that includes vegetarian options.

In DCA we enjoy both the bread bowls and the Mexican food they have over at the warf area (sorry ... we go there all the time but I don't remember the name of the place). For burgers, I prefer Taste Pilots Grill to just about any burger place in DLR, but as I mentioned above, it is has been many years since I've tried Hungry Bear.

In all though I would have to agree with the PP that there are plenty of good food choices at DLR. You really don't need to plan your meals, unless you are really picky about exactly what type of food you want.

 

[pinktink83]

I 3rd reading through the menus at Allears ahead of time! Also, on Disneyland's website, you can check each land and see what is available there, with pics, menus, prices, etc.

And yes, its not that hard to just puruse the park, there are lots of eating places right next to each other. We usually just end up grabbing lunch in whatever land we're in when we all get hungry, and make our decision from there.

Benagl BBQ is our fav. The bacon wrapped asparagus is something you can't get anywhere else! The meat & the rolls on a stick are good, too! Its easy to order a few of each and share with the group.

The corn dogs are good, too!

 

[MyYearWithTheMouse]

Hungry Bear just reopened earlier this year with a whole new menu. If you haven't seen it yet, you should take a gander

 

[Mama Who]

I am so surprised at the number of recommendations for Hungry Bear. I swore off the place years ago and have never been back. Perhaps I need to give it another try.

It's a totally new menu and it's like a whole new restaurant.

I had the fried green tomato sandwich with the slaw and it was WONDERFUL!