One Day Anniversary Trip, 2 adults, character meals? Romance?

[BenA81]

My DW and I are planning a trip (5/21-26) to So. Cal. for our 5 year anniversary and would like to do one day at DL (5/22). Any tips or suggestions to make our day there extra special? I have done a lot of research about WDW but next to none about DL. Does DL even have character meals?

HELP!

 

[PinkBudgie]

DLR does do some character meals but I haven't been. We are going for our anniversary and have decided on the Blue Bayou, in the Pirates ride. Napa Rose is also supposed to be very good but expensive. Guess it depends on what you like. We love the POTC and the "outdoor" patio at the restaraunt is wonderful.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We're doing a couple's only anniversary trip, but our trip is for a week, so we're planning all sorts of fun stuff while there. We like Goofy's Kitchen when we've taken the kids, but have planned to do this as a couple. We're doing lunch at the Blue Bayou....we've heard great things about this restaurant!! We're doing the reserved seating for Fantasmic (riverside seating with dessert). We're going to go watch Aladdin, The Musical (this is broadway caliber). These are just a few suggestions of what we're doing. Everybody has their own tastes, how child-like they like to be, things they enjoy....so look thru as many threads as you can & find the stuff that interests you & ask more questions. Lots of great help here.
Have a great trip & Happy Anniversary!!!!!!!

 

[Jennifer03]

Here are the character meals offered at Disneyland Resort:
Goofy's Kitchen at the Disneyland Hotel (Breakfast and dinner)
Lilo and Stitch Character Breakfast at PCH Grill located in Paradise Pier Hotel
Chip and Dale Breakfast at Storyteller's Cafe located in Grand Californian Hotel
Breakfast with Minnie and Friends at Plaza Inn located in Disneyland
Ariel's Grotto in California Adventure (Breakfast, lunch [I think], and dinner)

 

[Sherry E]

Character meals:

In Disneyland: Minnie and Friends (held at the Plaza Inn, featuring Minnie, Chip and Dale, Captain Hook, Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and assorted other characters - a good selection it seems)

In California Adventure: Ariel's (all the Princesses only)

In the Grand Californian Hotel: Storytellers Cafe critter breakfast (features Chip and Dale, sometimes Baloo, Meeko, sometimes Rafiki and Timon, Koda and Kenai from Brother Bear - basically the woodsy and jungle characters) You can order buffet or off the menu.

In Paradise Pier Hotel: Lilo and Stitch (held at the PCH Grill; people say that other than Lilo and Stitch, sometimes you see Goofy and Minnie, Chip and Dale and Donald and Daisy, all dressed in beach or surf attire)

In the Disneyland Hotel: Goofy's Kitchen (they do a character breakfast brunch AND a character dinner; besides Goofy, the regulars are Chip and Dale and Baloo, and there is a revolving cast of characters including Alice and the Mad Hatter, Aladdin and Jasmine, Aurora and the Prince, Belle, etc. All you can eat buffet only, no off the menu orders.

 

[BenA81]

thanks for the tips so far. I'm starting to feel guilty about going without my kids! (DS0, DD3) but they'll be going to WDW for a week in December. That fantasmic dinner buffet seems very interesting. I'll look into the Blue Bayou meal as well. Now that I think about it, a character meal doesn't sound very romantic. I'd like to surprise my DW with something (romantic) while there as well. Any tips for that department?

how far in advance can reservations be made at DL? 90 days?

 

[Queenbillabong]

Oops - double post.

Character meals are not that romantic. How about Napa Rose or Steakhouse 55? Blue Bayou is nice, but I would not say really romantic. Good atmosphere, yes, romance - not really.

 

[Queenbillabong]

thanks for the tips so far. I'm starting to feel guilty about going without my kids! (DS0, DD3) but they'll be going to WDW for a week in December. That fantasmic dinner buffet seems very interesting. I'll look into the Blue Bayou meal as well. Now that I think about it, a character meal doesn't sound very romantic. I'd like to surprise my DW with something (romantic) while there as well. Any tips for that department?

how far in advance can reservations be made at DL? 90 days?

FYI - the Fantasmic premium viewing is not a buffet, but you do get a really nice box with a selection of desserts, fruits, cheese, crackers, and drinks (nonalcoholic) with seating for the show and fireworks.

 

[kikiq]

thanks for the tips so far. I'm starting to feel guilty about going without my kids! (DS0, DD3) but they'll be going to WDW for a week in December. That fantasmic dinner buffet seems very interesting. I'll look into the Blue Bayou meal as well. Now that I think about it, a character meal doesn't sound very romantic. I'd like to surprise my DW with something (romantic) while there as well. Any tips for that department?

I was going to suggest Wine Country Trattoria but you said DL not both. How about cocktails with appetizers at Napa Rose and then dinner Blue Bayou. I don't consider BB very romantic, but then it's Disney. My DH and I think walking down Main Street at night toward the castle holding hands is romantic and then stand under one of the trees with the twinkling lights looking at the castle.

 

[firefly87]

My DH and I went to BB for the first time for our anniversary back in 2004. The atmosphere was cool but my DH wished he could have had a glass of wine with his meal (there is no alcohol in DL). So keep that in mind!
Happy Anniversary to you both!

 

[Disneyland Veteran]

I took my DW for her first time last summer and she really enjoyed the Aladdin Musical. I also recommend watching the wishes fireworks up at the Disneyland Railroad entrance in Main Street. They have reserved seating but I usually stand behind that, best view of the fireworks. Very romantic.

 

[BenA81]

FYI - the Fantasmic premium viewing is not a buffet, but you do get a really nice box with a selection of desserts, fruits, cheese, crackers, and drinks (nonalcoholic) with seating for the show and fireworks.

I was going to suggest Wine Country Trattoria but you said DL not both. How about cocktails with appetizers at Napa Rose and then dinner Blue Bayou. I don't consider BB very romantic, but then it's Disney. My DH and I think walking down Main Street at night toward the castle holding hands is romantic and then stand under one of the trees with the twinkling lights looking at the castle.

I like the combination of Napa Rose and Blue Bayou, but I also like the idea of reserved seating for Fantasmic. So for right now its between these two options. Are Napa Rose and Blue Bayou far apart from each other? Are they both within the park? I know BB is over by POTC.

My DH and I went to BB for the first time for our anniversary back in 2004. The atmosphere was cool but my DH wished he could have had a glass of wine with his meal (there is no alcohol in DL). So keep that in mind!
Happy Anniversary to you both!

thanks!

I took my DW for her first time last summer and she really enjoyed the Aladdin Musical. I also recommend watching the wishes fireworks up at the Disneyland Railroad entrance in Main Street. They have reserved seating but I usually stand behind that, best view of the fireworks. Very romantic.

By 'wishes' do you mean Fantasmic? I didn't think DL has Wishes. I do appreciate the good viewing location suggestion though.

--
another question...
On a Friday in May, can I expect the hours to be from 8:00am-Midnight?

 

[Queenbillabong]

I like the combination of Napa Rose and Blue Bayou, but I also like the idea of reserved seating for Fantasmic. So for right now its between these two options. Are Napa Rose and Blue Bayou far apart from each other? Are they both within the park? I know BB is over by POTC.

Napa Rose is in the Grand Californian and Blue Bayou is by POTC in DL


--
another question...
On a Friday in May, can I expect the hours to be from 8:00am-Midnight?

Last year at the end of May, the hours were 9:00 a.m. - midnight. You can see the hours HERE


Hope that helps!!!

 

[BenA81]

Last year at the end of May, the hours were 9:00 a.m. - midnight. You can see the hours HERE


Hope that helps!!!

great, thanks!

 

[BenA81]

We're now thinking of doing our entire stay on property, possibly the Grand Californian. Should we wait to see if any specials come out before we book? We're looking to stay 5/20-5/25.

 

[Sherry E]

We're now thinking of doing our entire stay on property, possibly the Grand Californian. Should we wait to see if any specials come out before we book? We're looking to stay 5/20-5/25.

Since that's Memorial Day weekend you are looking at, it is doubtful there will be too much in the way of specials at the GCH for that time. They usually don't discount major holiday weekends. And I would book it ASAP for that reason too - many other folks will probably go to DLR during Memorial Day weekend and stay in the hotels, so you want to get a room reserved right away.

What you can do is book something now, or soon, at whatever the rate will be for that time and then if, by some miracle, a discount comes up that you can take advantage of for 5/20 - 5/25, you can call Reservations and tell them of the discount and have them adjust the room rate to reflect the discount. They will do that.

 

[BenA81]

Since that's Memorial Day weekend you are looking at, it is doubtful there will be too much in the way of specials at the GCH for that time. They usually don't discount major holiday weekends. And I would book it ASAP for that reason too - many other folks will probably go to DLR during Memorial Day weekend and stay in the hotels, so you want to get a room reserved right away.

What you can do is book something now, or soon, at whatever the rate will be for that time and then if, by some miracle, a discount comes up that you can take advantage of for 5/20 - 5/25, you can call Reservations and tell them of the discount and have them adjust the room rate to reflect the discount. They will do that.

OK thanks. Since this is the case we'll probably just stay 1-2 nights at GCH (5/20-5/22) then stay elsewhere in LA closer to Burbank.

 

[BenA81]

made ressies for Napa Rose today! We're going to do a day at Knott's on the 21st then go to Napa Rose for dinner at 8pm. I don't know where we're staying that night yet, maybe at GCF, don't know, its kind of pricey. We plan to do a day at DL on the 22nd.