Plaza Inn Paint the Night Dining Package reviews and info

[monorailmom]

Well funny thing is we actually did just say "well, then I guess we are allergic to meatloaf and need an alternate option". The whole thing was so silly. That's when they came back without a chef and said we could just have the chicken.
The thing is they are making it harder on themselves, too. The pan with chicken in it was two steps away from the pan where the meatloaf was. They were making such a big deal about it but the food is all prepared and right there!!! My DH also points out that while we were happy to get the chicken, the $18.99 meal you get there includes three pieces. With the substitution we each only got one. Which is fine. We asked for the chicken and there is always a markup for a special event. But oh my goodness this one seemed extreme!

**editing to add, please don't think we were being mean to the Cast Members. Our son is a Cast Member so there is no way we would ever do that. It was the leaders of the location who were dealing with our request which we were handling respectfully. The front line CM's were giggling a little and rather agreed with us how crazy the one choice option was.

 

[JerrodDragon89]

I might be walking into a trap but is the meatloaf that bad?

I'm not against people wanting chicken but is the food now that bad that you need a substitute?

Like has anyone had it and its just bad or people just prefer something else?

 

[LKing]

I might be walking into a trap but is the meatloaf that bad?

I'm not against people wanting chicken but is the food now that bad that you need a substitute?

Like has anyone had it and its just bad or people just prefer something else?

It was Disney meatloaf. Not bad but not particularly flavorful.

 

[BellaandMickey]

Any new updates on how the dining package is going (as far as people lining up very early to get curb spots even with the dining package) vs just finding spots on your own?

We have the dining package as of now but are considering cancelling. Curb spots (so the ability to sit) are very important to us. Is Disney still enforcing the 2 hour limit for getting a spot early? Would we be able to get a curb spot fairly easily 2 hours ahead?

 

[LKing]

Any new updates on how the dining package is going (as far as people lining up very early to get curb spots even with the dining package) vs just finding spots on your own?

We have the dining package as of now but are considering cancelling. Curb spots (so the ability to sit) are very important to us. Is Disney still enforcing the 2 hour limit for getting a spot early? Would we be able to get a curb spot fairly easily 2 hours ahead?

Do you need to sit on a curb or are you okay sitting on flat ground with your legs crossed? Everyone in the viewing area can sit or stand until the parade starts. The parade is approximately 17 min.

I was at Disneyland on Saturday. We were shopping on Main Street between 6:30 and 7 pm. I'm not sure what time people started finding seats, but by 6:30, the front row curbs along Main Street were full. There was still plenty of space for people who wanted to sit behind the front row to wait and then stand for the parade. Personally, I think standing for the parade behind someone who is seated is the best view but I understand that people are tired.

A security person wearing a yellow vest was going section by section and telling people that they couldn't sit until two hours before the parade (6:50 pm). Guests stood up and stayed on the edge of the curb or in the gutter next to the curb. At 6:45 pm, people started sitting down but security kept working his way up and down the street. I understand that it is a safety issue as they don't put the ropes up until 2 hours before the parade. However, people sit on that curb all day to take a break, enjoy ice cream, etc. and security doesn't ask them stand. Also, by 6:30, concession carts selling parade treats and toys were in the middle of the streets.

At 7 pm, the town square area that isn't used for the dining package/tour still had a decent amount of front row available, but it was starting to fill up. The side benches on the elevated train station terrace were taken as were the benches in the town square area. I didn't see other parts of the parade route. However, I was in the IASW area around 5:30 pm and there were no empty benches. I'm not sure if the people sitting there were waiting for the parade.

I walked by the front of castle around 6:30 pm and they had already moved a couple rows of those waiting for fireworks to the brick edge (see arrow). Everyone else had to wait on the curb in the back in order to keep the walkway open. I'm not sure what time they allow guests to fill the walkway. CM told me that ropes go up at 6:50 so probably soon after the ropes go up. Note, that this is for viewing fireworks and projections over the castle, not for viewing the parade. In this picture, the castle is to my left. The people sitting on the ground are front row for viewing fireworks & projections on the castle.

 

[OlliePop27]

Do you need to sit on a curb or are you okay sitting on flat ground with your legs crossed? Everyone in the viewing area can sit or stand until the parade starts. The parade is approximately 17 min.

I was at Disneyland on Saturday. We were shopping on Main Street between 6:30 and 7 pm. I'm not sure what time people started finding seats, but by 6:30, the front row curbs along Main Street were full. There was still plenty of space for people who wanted to sit behind the front row to wait and then stand for the parade. Personally, I think standing for the parade behind someone who is seated is the best view but I understand that people are tired.

A security person wearing a yellow vest was going section by section and telling people that they couldn't sit until two hours before the parade (6:50 pm). Guests stood up and stayed on the edge of the curb or in the gutter next to the curb. At 6:45 pm, people started sitting down but security kept working his way up and down the street. I understand that it is a safety issue as they don't put the ropes up until 2 hours before the parade. However, people sit on that curb all day to take a break, enjoy ice cream, etc. and security doesn't ask them stand. Also, by 6:30, concession carts selling parade treats and toys were in the middle of the streets.

At 7 pm, the town square area that isn't used for the dining package/tour still had a decent amount of front row available, but it was starting to fill up. The side benches on the elevated train station terrace were taken as were the benches in the town square area. I didn't see other parts of the parade route. However, I was in the IASW area around 5:30 pm and there were no empty benches. I'm not sure if the people sitting there were waiting for the parade.

I walked by the front of castle around 6:30 pm and they had already moved a couple rows of those waiting for fireworks to the brick edge (see arrow). Everyone else had to wait on the curb in the back in order to keep the walkway open. I'm not sure what time they allow guests to fill the walkway. CM told me that ropes go up at 6:50 so probably soon after the ropes go up. Note, that this is for viewing fireworks and projections over the castle, not for viewing the parade. In this picture, the castle is to my left. The people sitting on the ground are front row for viewing fireworks & projections on the castle.

View attachment 976985

Thanks for sharing. I'm going to try IASW around 7:30 to see if it works for us, but we may have to pivot to the 10:50 parade one night if not. I don't think we can do more than an hour but do hope to get at least a couple up front spots for kids with adults standing behind.

Do they allow strollers up front so a kid could sit in it or no strollers?

 

[Pluto468]

Thanks for sharing. I'm going to try IASW around 7:30 to see if it works for us, but we may have to pivot to the 10:50 parade one night if not. I don't think we can do more than an hour but do hope to get at least a couple up front spots for kids with adults standing behind.

Do they allow strollers up front so a kid could sit in it or no strollers?

We watched the parade from Small World last week and had a good view even though we showed up about 5 minutes before it started. If you go an hour earlier maybe you'll luck out and get a bench.

One of our nights we stopped on Main St. to watch the 10:50. We were right on the curb, there was plenty of space.

 

[LKing]

Thanks for sharing. I'm going to try IASW around 7:30 to see if it works for us, but we may have to pivot to the 10:50 parade one night if not. I don't think we can do more than an hour but do hope to get at least a couple up front spots for kids with adults standing behind.

Do they allow strollers up front so a kid could sit in it or no strollers?

Strollers are allowed in front if the child is sitting in it for the parade. If the child isn't sitting in the stroller, they ask for you to put it in stroller parking.

 

[OlliePop27]

We watched the parade from Small World last week and had a good view even though we showed up about 5 minutes before it started. If you go an hour earlier maybe you'll luck out and get a bench.

One of our nights we stopped on Main St. to watch the 10:50. We were right on the curb, there was plenty of space.

Thank you @Pluto468 and @LKing. I have been so many times, but a nighttime parade at DL with little kids and with 6 additional family members we don't normally travel with has added a new element of challenge to planning! I will report back on my experiences.

 

[Artygal90]

We did our package yesterday Saturday 6/28 and I thought I’d post my thoughts here. I spent so long agonizing over whether to keep it. After experiencing the package I decided that despite some drawbacks that overall it was worth it for our party of 3 adults and one very wriggly toddler.

I checked us in at 3:50 (reservation was officially at 3:30) while the rest of my party was stuck in a longer-than expected line at Star Tours. When paying I told them I don’t eat red meat due to health reasons and they gave me chicken without a fuss, yay! Because they stop serving the dining package food at 4, they let me pay and get everyone’s food and find a table while I waited for the rest of the group to arrive. Also, they let me omit the pea purée, another yay as it looked a bit congealed. The food was good - I did try the meatloaf and it was fine but I was very very happy with my fried chicken and the rest of my meal.

We ended up heading down to the dining area early because it was getting so crowded and claustrophobic just moving around the park and we were ready to sit down. I did see some places along the route where maybe an intrepid person or two could squeeze in to fill a spot, but it looked pretty filled in. We were at Town Square around 7:45 with maybe 50 other people and when they let us in at 8 the curb spots quickly filled up. There was plenty of space right behind the first row if you wanted to sit though. You were not allowed to bring in a stroller unless your little one was sitting in it, just fyi. It was easy to get out of the area to use the bathroom or get snacks until about 8:45, then it became harder as the other package holders filtered in and were sitting down getting comfy.

They did not do as much hyping up the crowd as I had expected during the 8-9:15 wait. Mickey and Goofy did come do some greets in their 70th costumes and some photopass photographers came around but that was about it. We were struggling to keep my overtired kid from being a complete terror to everyone else. If you saw a toddler dancing around like crazy in the middle of Main Street yesterday being watched by a defeated-looking mom…that was us.

We *loved* the parade itself. We were sitting directly across from the train station steps and had a great view of each float as they came around the corner and down the street. After the parade was over we went to an empty space up against a railing immediately northeast of the flag pole and had an ok view of fireworks without having to fight through Main Street. We couldn’t see the projections very well but we could hear great, see Baymax and the Blue Fairy, and see the castle with the bursts going off after it. Then we were able to turn around and leave, lol.

Anyway, that’s way too much information, but maybe it will be helpful to someone else who is considering keeping or dropping their package!

 

[LKing]

Anyway, that’s way too much information, but maybe it will be helpful to someone else who is considering keeping or dropping their package!

Thanks for sharing. That's a great report. Glad that everything worked out for you.

 

[Pluto468]

We did our package yesterday Saturday 6/28 and I thought I’d post my thoughts here. I spent so long agonizing over whether to keep it. After experiencing the package I decided that despite some drawbacks that overall it was worth it for our party of 3 adults and one very wriggly toddler.

I checked us in at 3:50 (reservation was officially at 3:30) while the rest of my party was stuck in a longer-than expected line at Star Tours. When paying I told them I don’t eat red meat due to health reasons and they gave me chicken without a fuss, yay! Because they stop serving the dining package food at 4, they let me pay and get everyone’s food and find a table while I waited for the rest of the group to arrive. Also, they let me omit the pea purée, another yay as it looked a bit congealed. The food was good - I did try the meatloaf and it was fine but I was very very happy with my fried chicken and the rest of my meal.

We ended up heading down to the dining area early because it was getting so crowded and claustrophobic just moving around the park and we were ready to sit down. I did see some places along the route where maybe an intrepid person or two could squeeze in to fill a spot, but it looked pretty filled in. We were at Town Square around 7:45 with maybe 50 other people and when they let us in at 8 the curb spots quickly filled up. There was plenty of space right behind the first row if you wanted to sit though. You were not allowed to bring in a stroller unless your little one was sitting in it, just fyi. It was easy to get out of the area to use the bathroom or get snacks until about 8:45, then it became harder as the other package holders filtered in and were sitting down getting comfy.

They did not do as much hyping up the crowd as I had expected during the 8-9:15 wait. Mickey and Goofy did come do some greets in their 70th costumes and some photopass photographers came around but that was about it. We were struggling to keep my overtired kid from being a complete terror to everyone else. If you saw a toddler dancing around like crazy in the middle of Main Street yesterday being watched by a defeated-looking mom…that was us.

We *loved* the parade itself. We were sitting directly across from the train station steps and had a great view of each float as they came around the corner and down the street. After the parade was over we went to an empty space up against a railing immediately northeast of the flag pole and had an ok view of fireworks without having to fight through Main Street. We couldn’t see the projections very well but we could hear great, see Baymax and the Blue Fairy, and see the castle with the bursts going off after it. Then we were able to turn around and leave, lol.

Anyway, that’s way too much information, but maybe it will be helpful to someone else who is considering keeping or dropping their package!

Thanks for the review! I'm glad they gave you the chicken and that you liked the parade

 

[joseph821]

Through October 26​

​

Paint the Night Dining Package​

Savor a scrumptious lunch at Plaza Inn with an all-in-one meal package that comes with reserved viewing for Paint the Night—a dazzling nighttime parade at Disneyland Park—in honor of the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration!

Dining Dates and Times

• May 16 to October 26, 2025
• Dining Time: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
• Showtime: All Guests will receive a voucher for the day’s first performance of the Paint the Night parade.

 

[ahintz]

Through October 26​

​

Paint the Night Dining Package​

Savor a scrumptious lunch at Plaza Inn with an all-in-one meal package that comes with reserved viewing for Paint the Night—a dazzling nighttime parade at Disneyland Park—in honor of the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration!

Dining Dates and Times

• May 16 to October 26, 2025
• Dining Time: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
• Showtime: All Guests will receive a voucher for the day’s first performance of the Paint the Night parade.

Thanks for posting - we'll be there in mid-October and are planning on getting the dining package (we've gotten the package before for other parades and it just works with our (now 5-year-old) son). Appreciate everyone's comments and reports so we can temper our expectations accordingly!

 

[Duckbug.Ducktales]

I thought about it a lot but it seems like going to the later show works for finding good places to watch the parade. And we have no kids in tow. So I'm going to cancel my package for later this week.

But I still plan to see the parade at least twice during our 3 park days! Need to figure out timing to also catch Wondrous Journeys and WoC once each.

 

[Disneyhanna]

Here’s my review from July 3rd! Overall I don’t recommend the package for nights where the parks are not that busy, which is how it ended up being over the holiday weekend.

The Plaza Inn is a bit chaotic as you wait outside to be brought to the register inside, pay, and then circle back for your food and then bypass the registers. So if you have multiple people in your party just be prepared to be in tight quarters and carrying lots of trays. (I’m sure it always like this but I haven’t eaten there in a number of years.)

I said I was vegetarian right away as I wanted the pasta and didn’t really feel like asking for fried chicken. That was no issue but they don’t have a plan set up for this at all…it involved telling multiple people and they asked if I was fine with bacon on the salad (sure) and I just thought this was funny since I’m sure many people legitimately are vegetarian and they didn’t seem to think that through with this offering.

Anyways, here was my meal!



The wedge salad was very good, I think it was ranch and there was blue cheese which I don’t like but was able to eat around. Best part of the meal for sure. The pasta was about as good as it looked, lol. The dessert was a typical Disney mass produced dessert, like you’d get at a dessert party and not the kind that you’d pay for by itself. Not a big fan of the chocolate and raspberry jelly, it was okay but I only had a few bites. Maybe I should have just risked the meatloaf?

I headed to the check in area at 7:45 and there were maybe 30 people ahead of me? I think I ended up somewhere in the middle of the overall line. Along Main Street there was so much open space in the viewing areas as I was walking over, most of the curbs had just been taken but plenty of space 2nd row. So I was already regretting it at this point.

They started taking tickets and letting us sit at 8:00, they were very quick. I snagged a front row spot but was probably one of the last ones to do so, easier since I was solo and didn’t need much room. So if you showed up at 7:50 you’d probably be second row which you could have gotten for free along Main Street!

Here is where I ended up:


They took the ropes down around 8:40. Much more filled in across the street by then:


It was a bit cooler that night but I was warm enough without a sweater in that area. The characters stopped by a few times to entertain and a few front row families got selected for photopass pictures.



I started hearing the music at 9:02 and it started going by us at 9:10 and finished at 9:30. This was a great spot for leaving the parks as soon as the parade was over!

The view was good, I’ve never seen PTN before and actually think it would be been better viewing straight on instead of from the side.






Everyone being seated during the parade was nice, of course I forgot my mat to sit on!

On Saturday I walked up and caught the parade going by just outside guest services, plenty of room and the view was equally as close but a bit more head on and you could watch the floats approach.



Overall the food is very meh and the package viewing was not necessary this weekend. Perhaps it’s more valuable on busier weekends? But it’s not always easy to know how busy it will be ahead of time. I paid about the same for the Cafe Orleans Fantasmic package which was 100% worth it and I’ll do a separate review on that. Definitely recommend that over the PTN package if you have to choose between the two.

I was too tired to make it to the second parade but I have to imagine it’d be very easy to get a good viewing spot just walking up with how late it is.

 

[LKing]

Thanks for your review. I agree, PTN is much better if you can see the floats coming towards you.

 

[KPeterso]

Thanks for your review. I agree, PTN is much better if you can see the floats coming towards you.

I think so too! I always try to get a spot to see them coming towards me.

 

[OlliePop27]

I watched the first parade to the right of the entrance to Small World on Sunday evening. This is an ideal spot because the parade comes towards you and it's narrow so no one can fit behind your group with the queue railing. We showed up 2 hours before, but you could probably show up 1.5 before and find something in the area. The area immediately in front of the parade entrance opened up less than an hour before and quickly filled. We found the 2 hour wait worthwhile, and actually lots of fun. We alternated holding the spots and riding Runaway Railway, Small World, and getting food. The kids played around with bubbles.

The spot is also excellent because you simply turn around for a front row view of Wondrous Journeys and then Tapestry of Happiness. Highly recommend Small World for all three shows if you can swing it!

 

[crystal1313]

I watched the first parade to the right of the entrance to Small World on Sunday evening. This is an ideal spot because the parade comes towards you and it's narrow so no one can fit behind your group with the queue railing. We showed up 2 hours before, but you could probably show up 1.5 before and find something in the area. The area immediately in front of the parade entrance opened up less than an hour before and quickly filled. We found the 2 hour wait worthwhile, and actually lots of fun. We alternated holding the spots and riding Runaway Railway, Small World, and getting food. The kids played around with bubbles.

The spot is also excellent because you simply turn around for a front row view of Wondrous Journeys and then Tapestry of Happiness. Highly recommend Small World for all three shows if you can swing it!

Do you mean the area marked in red in the attached photo?