One day at CA- where to eat lunch, where parents can get an "adult beverage"

[czinoc]

We are visiting the west coast to look at colleges w/ DD in April, and we're only spending one day at California Adventure due to our schedule (we've been to WDW many times & Disney Cruise twice, so we HAVE TO make time to have a Disney day).

Is there anyplace to have lunch and an alcaholic beverage in California Adventure? I looked at the menus, and the only thing I see is beer (looking for wine or cocktail)? It looks like even the Wine Country Trattoria doesn't serve wine- is that true?!?!

Thanks in advance for the help-

 

[Judy from Boise]

We head over to Pacific Wharf "food court " area. We get our soup in a bread bowl and beer from the cart. I think they have wine,beer, and premixed margaritas, but it has been a while since i was there.

 

[kerickson]

I believe most places serve beer and wine at DCA. We were excited to see beer on the menu at Ariel's Grotto. A nice treat after 5 days of running around the parks with 2 little ones!

 

[pixiewings71]

Wine Country Trattoria, it's got good food (or so it seems, I've never eaten there) and wine. They also have wine tasting at the Golden Vine Winery, Margaritas on the Wharf and specialty drinks at Cove Bar next to Ariel's Grotto.

 

[Sherry E]

Since DCA opens later and closes earlier than DL does, you also have the option of hitting some places in Downtown Disney in the evening. Rainforest Cafe has tropical, frothy, frou-frou drinks. Uva/Catal, ESPN Zone, House of Blues and Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen all have adult beverages. There are a couple of different lounges in the GCH that serve liquor. I am sure Yamabuki in PPH, Storytellers Cafe in the GCH and Steakhouse 55 in DLH serve drinks at dinner. I think the PCH Grill in the PPH also has some cool drinks that have glowy ice cubes and what not. There are lots of choices.

 

[nunzia]

Wine Country Trattoria, it's got good food (or so it seems, I've never eaten there) and wine. They also have wine tasting at the Golden Vine Winery, Margaritas on the Wharf and specialty drinks at Cove Bar next to Ariel's Grotto.

Isn't the Golden Vine Winery closed
now?

 

[amyamya]

DH loves that he can get a "big boy drink" at CA. The Cove Bar by Ariel's has some fun mixed drinks, like cruise ship specials. That's what it reminds me of, at least. We also love the Uva Bar in DTD.

 

[fairycat]

Isn't the Golden Vine Winery closed
now?

I went a few weeks ago and it was still open and I heard no plans of closing it. The Vineyard room however was closed, that was the fine dining place above WCT. Wine tasting is mostly offered in the afternoons and evenings now when they have extra staff, but you can buy wine all day.

Just to point out at Ariel's you can get beer, wine and cocktails. If you ask your server for a menu they will bring cocktails from the upstairs cove bar.

You can also bring wine over from the wine bar or order a glass from the wine bar's menu at Wine Country Trattoria.

If you want Margaritas (they also offer beer) you can get them while enjoying CS soup in a bread bowl or mexican food on the pacific wharf as mentioned.

 

[YellowMickeyPonchos]

The Cove Bar also has a range of appetizers, too. Lobster nachos.....

 

[Teki]

The only thing Im aware you can get is beer and wine, I know they serve wine, they have food and wine weekend and such. Personally I dont like to drink infront of kiddies, Im a firm believer in monkey see monkey do, but your with your older daughter so yeah beer and wine is pretty much it no cocktails to my knowledge. Maybe inside GC?

 

[MAH4546]

We are visiting the west coast to look at colleges w/ DD in April, and we're only spending one day at California Adventure due to our schedule (we've been to WDW many times & Disney Cruise twice, so we HAVE TO make time to have a Disney day).

If you are choosing California Adventure over Disneyland because it's not in Florida, you'll be very dissapointed when you find out its nothing more than rides from Epcot, Disney Studios and Animal Kingdom jammed into differently-named lands and a pretty roller coaster surrounded by construction walls and an ugly drained lake.

Disneyland is so much different than the Magic Kingdom. You won't regret it. Even rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain are very different experiences than in Orlando.

And, as for drinks, yes, the Cove Bar is a nice place to relax, IMO.

 

[Teki]

Some of the rides were in DCA BEFORE epcot (Soarin for example). While DL is way better I think DCA gets a bad rap it doesnt deserve.

 

[MAH4546]

Some of the rides were in DCA BEFORE epcot (Soarin for example). While DL is way better I think DCA gets a bad rap it doesnt deserve.

No, it's pretty much just Soarin'.

I enjoy DCA and go all the time, point being for somebody who has never been to DLR, going to DCA just because they've been to WDW is a huge mistake, IMO.

 

[bumbershoot]

The Cove Bar also has a range of appetizers, too. Lobster nachos.....

And the best artichoke dip I've had!

The only thing Im aware you can get is beer and wine, I know they serve wine, they have food and wine weekend and such.

Nah...Cove Bar has some great drinks...I had the "pina colava", a raspberry vodka blender drink...they have quite the list of mixed. Had it while DS had a catnap in his stroller, LOL...we're more of the European type...normalize drinking by showing controlled drinking at home, thereby cutting down on binge drinking when the kids run off to college...didn't work perfectly with me, but it did with my brother!

If you are choosing California Adventure over Disneyland because it's not in Florida, you'll be very dissapointed when you find out its nothing more than rides from Epcot, Disney Studios and Animal Kingdom jammed into differently-named lands and a pretty roller coaster surrounded by construction walls and an ugly drained lake.

On the other hand, since they are checking out colleges, they might be more into the DCA experience than the DL experience, and DCA is pretty darned awesome!

 

[nunzia]

I went a few weeks ago and it was still open and I heard no plans of closing it. The Vineyard room however was closed, that was the fine dining place above WCT. Wine tasting is mostly offered in the afternoons and evenings now when they have extra staff, but you can buy wine all day.

Just to point out at Ariel's you can get beer, wine and cocktails. If you ask your server for a menu they will bring cocktails from the upstairs cove bar.

You can also bring wine over from the wine bar or order a glass from the wine bar's menu at Wine Country Trattoria.

If you want Margaritas (they also offer beer) you can get them while enjoying CS soup in a bread bowl or mexican food on the pacific wharf as mentioned.

Ahh..thanks..I 'm sure I was thinking on the Vineyard room..where is the wine tasting place? I thought it all went away since Mondavi pulled out and Blue Sky Cellar was put in? I'm confused

 

[Hound 109]

If you are choosing California Adventure over Disneyland because it's not in Florida, you'll be very dissapointed .....

Disneyland is so much different than the Magic Kingdom. You won't regret it. Even rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain are very different experiences than in Orlando.

......

I'll jump in and agree that even if only visiting for one day, one should spend at least half (or 2/3rds) of it at DL & the other half (or 1/3rd) at DCA.

I can think of a dozen or more things that a WDW vet would want to see or do at DL (Walt's Park).....if even for a one day visit. Here's an example of how i spent my last "one day visit":

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1975805

Also take a look at HydroGuy's & MaryJo's sticky's at the top of the board for LOTS of info that the WDW vet would find helpful.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1162599

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=802084



& I agree that wine can be had at the Tratoria. A great place to dine outside on a pretty day. Last year, Mrs. Hound & her sister spent a couple of hours at the trat, sitting outside & people watching while Padewan Alec & toured DCA.

Have a great time.

 

[M4travels]

Ahh..thanks..I 'm sure I was thinking on the Vineyard room..where is the wine tasting place? I thought it all went away since Mondavi pulled out and Blue Sky Cellar was put in? I'm confused

It's tucked between WCT and Blue Sky Cellar. Lots of little tables to sit and sip at if you'd like!

 

[Hunnypaw]

DH loves that he can get a "big boy drink" at CA. The Cove Bar by Ariel's has some fun mixed drinks, like cruise ship specials. That's what it reminds me of, at least. We also love the Uva Bar in DTD.

concur!

 

[pixiewings71]

Isn't the Golden Vine Winery closed
now?

Nope we walked past it last weekend and I wanted to have some wine. I didn't tho, we had kids that weren't ours with us.

And the best artichoke dip I've had!
Nah...Cove Bar has some great drinks...I had the "pina colava", a raspberry vodka blender drink...they have quite the list of mixed. Had it while DS had a catnap in his stroller, LOL...we're more of the European type...normalize drinking by showing controlled drinking at home, thereby cutting down on binge drinking when the kids run off to college...didn't work perfectly with me, but it did with my brother!

On the other hand, since they are checking out colleges, they might be more into the DCA experience than the DL experience, and DCA is pretty darned awesome!

That's how we are, I drink in front of my kids. I believe if they see it as a normal everyday thing then it won't be a big deal to them as they get older. I also have let them taste what I'm drinking, so far they think everything they have tried is gross. lol I drink White Zin, Margaritas & beer at home, they have each had a small taste of those.

 

[fairycat]

It's tucked between WCT and Blue Sky Cellar. Lots of little tables to sit and sip at if you'd like!

Ahh..thanks..I 'm sure I was thinking on the Vineyard room..where is the wine tasting place? I thought it all went away since Mondavi pulled out and Blue Sky Cellar was put in? I'm confused

Modavi pulled out years ago. All it changed was some of the training and actually opened up the Wine offerings. I know that some of the structure changed internally but over all it did not change the tasting bar. Though they did eventually change the tastings from classes to standard tastings.

Blue Sky Cellar, was the showing room of the "Seasons of the Vine" show. It was an unappreciated little gem, but I love wine! I loved the smell and coolness in the room! I really liked when they used to offer the tasting classes in there on hot summer days.

But like was said, the tasting bar is a counter that sits between the WCT and the Blue Sky Cellar. It's closeness to WCT is why you can have your server bring you a glass of wine from the tasting bar.