Suggestions for Must Eat At...in DL

[mm126]

Would like suggestions on places I should make PS reservations for restaurants in Disneyland and California Adventure. 1 Adult and 2 childrens (10,11 yrs old).

Thank you.

 

[XGrumpy1]

In DL "The Blue Bayou". My favorite restaurant in the whole world. You are inside the Pirates and watch the boats float by while you eat. Pretty good food too. You do need a PS though.

 

[Sherry E]

Would like suggestions on places I should make PS reservations for restaurants in Disneyland and California Adventure. 1 Adult and 2 childrens (10,11 yrs old).

Thank you.

Blue Bayou requires a PS now, whereas in the past, it was strongly suggested but not mandatory. A CM at the Dining number told me that the other day. It is always crowded. Make sure to order the Flying Dutchman cookie boat. Also, Carnation Cafe on Main Street is very good, but seating is limited, so try to make a PS or you could wait for a long time. All the character buffets - my favorite is Goofy's Kitchen in the DLH - are not necessary to have PS's for, but it is suggested. Sometimes they can get very busy, and again, you could be waiting a long time. Rainforest Cafe in DTD is always super busy - one time we waited for one whole hour to be seated - so make a PS for them (they have a separate phone number to make the PS but Disney Dining will give it to you). I made PS's for all of the above-referenced restaurants for my upcoming trip, as well as for Naples in DTD (great pizza and Italian food) and for Storytellers Cafe in GCH. Wine Country Trattoria is a good place to eat (good meatball sandwiches). If you like fine dining where you can dress casually, Napa Rose in GCH probably requires a PS. Places like Plaza Inn on Main Street are good (PI is known for its fried chicken), but you don't make a PS for it or for French Market. Of course, over in New Orleans Square (the only one out of all the Disney parks worldwide) you can get chicory coffee, mint juleps and beignets, and other New Orleans-related food. Blue Ribbon Bakery on Main Street does not take PS's but it has tasty pastries and treats, so it is worth a visit!

 

[Golfing Goofy]

Blue Bayou requires a PS now, whereas in the past, it was strongly suggested but not mandatory. A CM at the Dining number told me that the other day. It is always crowded. Make sure to order the Flying Dutchman cookie boat. Also, Carnation Cafe on Main Street is very good, but seating is limited, so try to make a PS or you could wait for a long time. All the character buffets - my favorite is Goofy's Kitchen in the DLH - are not necessary to have PS's for, but it is suggested. Sometimes they can get very busy, and again, you could be wiating a long time. Rainforest Cafe in DTD is always super busy - one time we waited for one whole hour to be seated - so make a PS for them (they have a separate phone number to make the PS but Disney Dining will give it to you). I made PS's for all of the above-referenced restaurants for my upcoming trip, as well as for Naples in DTD (great pizza and Italian food) and for Storytellers Cafe in GCH. Wine Country Trattoria is a good place to eat (good meatball sandwiches). If you like fine dining where yu can dress casually, Napa Rose in GCH probably requires a PS. Places like Plaza Inn on Main Street are good (PI is known for its fried chicken), but you don't make a PS for it or for French Market. Of course, over in New Orleans Square (the only one out of all the Disney parks worldwide) you can get chicory coffee, mint juleps and beignets, and other New Orleans-related food. Blue Ribbon Bakery on Main Street does not take PS's but it has tasty pastries and treats, so it is worth a visit!

Great Suggestions!!! I love all those places.


One FYI regarding Carnation Cafe that I learned during our trip last year. If the weather is bad, Carnation Cafe is closed since it is outdoor seating. They were closed after there was sprinkling rain earlier that morning and it was a little cool. We had to scramble and try to think of another spot to eat. It was very crowded and I did not have a back-up plan....

Just something to think about, depending what time of the year you go. Have fun.

 

[Sherry E]

Great Suggestions!!! I love all those places.


One FYI regarding Carnation Cafe that I learned during our trip last year. If the weather is bad, Carnation Cafe is closed since it is outdoor seating. They were closed after there was sprinkling rain earlier that morning and it was a little cool. We had to scramble and try to think of another spot to eat. It was very crowded and I did not have a back-up plan....

Just something to think about, depending what time of the year you go. Have fun.

That is a good point, Golfing Goofy - I never even think of what Carnation does in the rain, but I imagine during months like late January and February, when it rains quite a bit, they must be closed a lot! They have such limited seating anyway - I liked it when there used to be extra seating (and a more extensive menu) for Carnation indoors as well as out. I hate that too - when you have a plan of where you are eating and something goes awry and you have to change your plan on the spot and think of an alternate! For some reason, the brain just locks up and it seems there is NO place to eat all of a sudden. Nothing sounds good and everyone just stands there, staring at each other!

 

[disneegrl4eva]

That is a good point, Golfing Goofy - I never even think of what Carnation does in the rain, but I imagine during months like late January and February, when it rains quite a bit, they must be closed a lot! They have such limited seating anyway - I liked it when there used to be extra seating (and a more extensive menu) for Carnation indoors as well as out. I hate that too - when you have a plan of where you are eating and something goes awry and you have to change your plan on the spot and think of an alternate! For some reason, the brain just locks up and it seems there is NO place to eat all of a sudden. Nothing sounds good and everyone just stands there, staring at each other!

haha rain??? what rain...where???? we barely even know what rain is

 

[Sherry E]

haha rain??? what rain...where???? we barely even know what rain is

Yep - Especially lately, where it has pretty much been mid-'80s and holding, give or take a few degrees! Although it has cooled down at night quite a bit - not so oppressively hot in the evening as it was in the middle of summer! I am ready for FALL!

 

[profdsny]

With one day, we have PS for Blue Bayou at 7pm. What should we do for lunch?

 

[Sherry E]

With one day, we have PS for Blue Bayou at 7pm. What should we do for lunch?

Depends on if you want table service or counter service or just something light to snack on. It seems like I and many people on this board tend to be full after a big meal at DLR and can't handle another meal so soon after, but only you know you and your companions' eating habits! If you are planning to have dinner at BB at 7 p.m. (my BB PS is for 8 p.m., but it is dessert only), then you want to make sure everyone is good and hungry when you sit down to eat because it is not cheap to eat there! You are largely paying for the ambience, but you want to get your money's worth. So would suggest either scheduling your lunch for much, much earlier in the day so you will have room in your stomach by 7:00 p.m. OR just eating a light lunch. If you need to have a little something substantial in your stomach for lunch but you don't want to eat junk or a big meal, you could try a place like Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland. It is counter service. They serve good chicken skewers, beef skewers and veggie skewers, as well as a couple of other light items, and it is a good little dose of protein for a light lunch that won't fill you up too much.