Walk to cost effective dining

[MinnieVanMom]

We won't have a car and staying at DLH. I was a bit surprised at the cost of just a regular lunch and dinner on property.

What alternatives are there that we could walk or bus that offer good food at a good price for a family?

 

[skiingfast]

If you are in the parks Denny's is visible from the edge of property on Harbor. Of course McDonald's is just a few minutes down too. On the South end of Harbor across from the semi corner of DLR is a subway some pizza and chinese.

If you take a bus down or want a long walk south on Harbor you will find more, It seems like there are more sit down resturaunts a block of two down. I recall an Outback there.

Really though the prices right around DLR are only inflated a little less than inside the park. Consider the money spent taking a bus or the time it takes to get away from the elevated pricing and it may not seem like a bargain.

 

[blabbermouth]

We really liked Mimi's which is on Harbour near the Fairfield Inn. I don't know that it was especially cheap, but it was very good. And at breakfast a lot of their meals come with muffins, so then you have a snack for later too. We also went to Millie's next door, which was OK, but more like Denny's. Not really any cheaper, but large, shareable portions. We only ate at these places for breakfast. And there is a McDonalds there too, which isn't quite as cheap s McD's in the "real world", but still affordable if you want fast food. Also, there is a Quizno's sub shop in one of the hotels there too. A bit healthier than McDs.

Those are all within easy 5 min walking distance. Then there are a few more restaurants at Gardenwalk, but I don't think any of them are particularly cheap: Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen etc. and they are a bit farther to walk to.

 

[JoRo]

We have always done Millies and Mimi's epecially for breakfast - worth the walk.

Skip dennys and capt kidds for sure!

 

[skiingfast]

We have always done Millies and Mimi's epecially for breakfast - worth the walk.

Skip dennys and capt kidds for sure!

Capt Kidds= yuck,

I wish I knew before I tried.

 

[Had2stopLurking]

What do they even serve at Capt'n Kidds? We went in and looked at the buffet and walked out. I've forgotten leftovers from Thanksgiving in the back of my fridge for months and it looked better than that buffet. (not really about the leftovers, but, you get my drift).

We find that splitting meals even on property isn't that expensive. The portions at some places are HUGE. We've split one meal between three of us before and been full (couldn't finish it all).

One split meal between two of us at places like Tony Roma's gives us enough left overs to heat up for at least one or two more dinners.

 

[skiingfast]

What do they even serve at Capt'n Kidds? We went in and looked at the buffet and walked out. I've forgotten leftovers from Thanksgiving in the back of my fridge for months and it looked better than that buffet. (not really about the leftovers, but, you get my drift).

We find that splitting meals even on property isn't that expensive. The portions at some places are HUGE. We've split one meal between three of us before and been full (couldn't finish it all).

One split meal between two of us at places like Tony Roma's gives us enough left overs to heat up for at least one or two more dinners.

I agree the meals on property are big and throwing in an extra side and drink is the way to go.


Kidd's has both a buffet and menu. I had the buffet, it was the worst buffet I've ever had. There were no redeming qualities, I'll just leave it at that without getting in to it. I noticed nobody else seemed to be getting the buffet, which may of been my error. The prices made me think a chain further away would of been much better.

 

[egritz]

Tony Roma's is down by the Ramada Maingate, definitely walking distance. IHOP is right a/f the main entrance as well. If you join Mimi's mailing list you can get a coupon too good for a free meal (I did this last year & went by myself since DH was sick with a stomach bug ... so I ate for free+tip!)

 

[bnbheartdisney]

This map may be of help to you:
http://www.anaheim411.com/2008_mapFRONT_xl.jpg

P.S.
I've read that IHOP has inflated prices.

 

[BlueBayou]

Depending on how many days you are there - you may not want to venture out and lose park time. Not sure about the ages of your gang - but have you thought about meal sharing?

My DH and I have finally come around to doing it at Disney counter service places. A lot of the portions are just so huge. We can even talk are girls into sharing sometimes (ages 7 and 9).

Places like Bengel BBQ (Meat and Veggie Kabobs) are perfect for sharing. Three Kabobs feed our family just fine. The kids are so ready to get to more fun - that it is hard to get them to stop and eat.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

Thanks so much, I printed this page and put it in the planning folder. There are off park options that we can combine with making a few in room meals and hopeful have a cost efficient meal program and not be hungry.

 

[jenniferrose]

ESPN has great prices and is in DTD. You can take the monorail from Tomorrowland and it drops you really close to ESPN so you can eliminate a lot of walking.

There is a Togo's in Anaheim that will deliver. They are priced well and have awesome sandwiches.

 

[bumbershoot]

IMO, if you're going to walk to a restaurant, do it from the parks (esplanade). The walk from DLH is going to be long, to many of the places, b/c DLH is sort of tucked away.

I have liked Millie's (2 adults and one HUNGRY 4 year old shared ONE order of mac/cheese, some bread, and a salad for about $12), Mimi's (very kind to DS, bringing him scads of watermelon when he was enjoying it so much), and Coco's.

But we rarely go outside of Disney restaurants. They tend to give lots of food and things are easily shared. One plate of penne with marinara more than fills DH's and my bellies, when paired with one side salad and the one breadstick they give at Plaza Inn. Actually we realized we'd get more for less if we each ordered a kid's meal and one side salad....kid's meal gives half a breadstick (so just the same as with one plate), but you also get carrots and apple slices, along with a drink! We always start off sharing, and if someone is still hungry, they can get something more later. it's never happened, but it's a possibility!

 

[mystic_path]

What do they even serve at Capt'n Kidds? We went in and looked at the buffet and walked out. I've forgotten leftovers from Thanksgiving in the back of my fridge for months and it looked better than that buffet. (not really about the leftovers, but, you get my drift).

I think there is a reason they have employees standing out front daily handing out "FREE" meal cupons. I can understand why some people may consider it if they have kids and are on a budge, but personally I wont go near that place with a 300 foot pole. Its pretty bad.

I really love Mimi's... Amazing food, good prices, and fast service.

 

[disneychrista]

Any of the restaurants that is walkable will have inflated prices. Even McDonald's prices are more expensive and they DO NOT have a dollar menu (or they didn't last time we went).

 

[mystic_path]

Any of the restaurants that is walkable will have inflated prices. Even McDonald's prices are more expensive and they DO NOT have a dollar menu (or they didn't last time we went).

HAHA yah it is expensive. I went there to buy an egg McMuffin and a hashbrown in the morning last trip and it cost me like $6.00 I was horrified.

 

[skiingfast]

Any of the restaurants that is walkable will have inflated prices. Even McDonald's prices are more expensive and they DO NOT have a dollar menu (or they didn't last time we went).

This is the unfortunate truth. Anaheim's resort area is a tourist trap as much as anywhere.

To get the cheapest eats McD may be the place.

 

[scanmom]

in Downtown Disney has an appetizer of chicken or beef nachos for $9.99 that is HUGE and WONDERFUL!! We were going to get it, and an entree, but the waitress convinced us to see the size of the nachos before we ordered entrees, and was she ever right!! My adult DD and I could only finish half the nachos! It could easily feed a family of 4... and you can get it half beef/half chicken if you want to! be sure to try them! We ate in the main restaurant... I don't know if you can get them at the to go window.

 

[Brancaneve]

We always go to Shakey's on Harbor, past HoJo's and at the base of the overpass on your left hand side. The pizza is good, with a lot of locals to be found. I recommend it!

 

[scanmom]

I grew up in So. Ca., and I remember going to Shakeys as a child! I didn't realize there was one so close to DLR. We will have to stop in on our next trip!