Michael,
Wish we could do B2B.
What are your favorite restaurants at the resort?
Disneyland
is like home for us, as we have visited many times, living on the West Coast. We should clue in Steffy, as this will be her first time there.
We are counter service kind of people, as we have spent many vacations there when our four kids were growing up and we were on a tight budget.
On this trip, we will be staying at a Hotwire/Priceline hotel and eating two meals outside the parks (we always do cereal at hotel for breakfast
). That leaves one counter service (or sometimes a sit-down) meal in the Park. We like Hungry Bear (watch the canoes go by), Rancho del Zocalo, or Taste Pilots at DCA. For sit-down we like Rainforest Cafe
at DD.
Tim
When we lived in L.A. we were at the park every weekend, even if it was just for a few hours (yup, we were part of the "hated locals with APs." When the Vineyard room over in DCA was open we were regulars for Saturday dinner. We had "our" waiter and were treated very well. Unfortunately it closed as it wasn't an inexpensive dining option for those who were searching for something like that. Both chefs, Chad and then his replacement, Gloria Tae, worked wonders up there. Chad has moved on from Disney but Gloria is now working at the Napa Rose!
Napa Rose - Ah, the memories! Some say pretentious, we say sublime! If it's only 2 of you, the Chef's Counter is just a lot of fun. Up close and personal with the chef(s) and line workers with personal attention that makes one want to stay all night!
Steakhouse 55 - A gem of a restaurant hidden in the Disneyland Hotel. Chef Jason runs a wonderful kitchen and there's something for most everyone on the menu. They have a very reasonably-priced 3-course dinner (salad, petit filet, dessert) that has never disappointed. During the DLR Food and Wine Festival (unfortunately discontinued for the next 2 years due to construction) it was the site of the Winemaker dinners. THOSE were fun!
Storyteller's Cafe - We do enjoy their breakfast. There is a large buffet but it is too much food for us so we just order off the regular menu. A bit pricier than some, but good food!
Inside DL we'd do Carnation Cafe for breakfast. We've never done anything but b'fast there but the folks who do lunch say that the potato soup is wonderful.
Plaza Inn for lunch - FRIED CHICKEN!!!! It is so not good for you, but it is soooooooooooooooo tasty!!! I get over the pasty mashed potatoes and get right to the chicken. It's a huge serving and Marc and I usually end up sharing a plate. There was a time when we both got an order - what the heck were we thinking????
Cafe Orleans - It's just great to sit outside and watch the crowds go by as you eat. I've never had a bad meal here either - heck, I don't think I've had a bad meal anywhere and I'm really not a pushover for questionable food.
For snacks we have two favs - Bengal Barbeque and the The Red Wagon (corndog cart) over by Plaza Inn. My ONLY "complaint" with both of these is that the lines can be long and the service just a bit slower than I'd like. No issues with the food at all. I don't eat corndogs outside of DL!
Gosh, I forgot about the Cove Bar over at DCA! It's not open all day - and I did hear that they started charging a cover when World of Color began - but they have some of the tastiest appetizers and great drinks. Sitting at the bar is fun but they have quite a few tables to enjoy as well. One problem here is that if it's sunny and hot out there isn't a lot of shade to escape under. The afternoon sun does push patrons to east side of the bar and it can get crowded. The nacho (lobster) appetizer is huge and if you aren't a fan of lobster (we're not) they will either leave it off or substitute chicken if you'd like.
Outside the park and nearby - Mimi's Cafe. Good food, decent prices, HUGE portions - definitely enough to share!, and open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It's near the Howard Johnson (HOJOs) and a few of the other Harbor Blvd hotels, so it's always busy, but they do turn a quick table.
And, finally (well, I'm sure there are more!), we are fortunate that we are able to dine at Club 33 when we wish to. If you're able to grab that chance, do. It truly is a wonderful experience. Pricey? Yeah, a bit but it includes a parkhopper ticket for the day so if one doesn't have an AP or is only there for a day or so, it is a very reasonable cost. We could wax poetically about this spot, but it is our "happy place." All cares just sort of disappear once you go beyond "the door." We have closed the park dining here; being walked out of D'land through the dark, empty streets is just sort of surreal. Yeah, we like it LOTS!!
Hope this wasn't too long, but just sharing some of our favs!
Michael
I think you will enjoy your first visit to Disneyland.
Can' think of a better way to do it. Anybody out there sailing with any young teenagers that might want to meet on line before the cruise? (yes - this means she is going to miss a week of school and she is so bummed -NOT
) We will be arriving in Vancouver on Sat to do a little exploring. Can't wait!
We are excited too. My wife will be celebrating her 53rd birthday on the cruise, also. 
and I will be booking sometime in May/June 2011.
and then a few days at Disneyland, before we fly home. We will also Hotwire 
