What WDW Vets Need to Know About Dining at DLR

LOL, I think this is fine just being in my tips thread. I just know that many times I have wanted to have a thread like this available to just post a link to a WDW vet who appears to be over-obsessing about DLR dining.

I know you are looking at me........ :rotfl2:

I just found out recently that PCH grill has a similar "kitchen sink" I guess its bigger than at wdw but eh at least its something right??

I feel a challenge coming on. lol!

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-Kevin

Thank you for this link! We just got done watching the Disney Parks: Disneyland Resort on Instant Netflix. We learned so much and got a behind the scenes look at how some of the rides work. Also, we heard Richard Sherman play and sing the way IASW was originally intended. What a thrill....and now I'm excited more than ever for our trip in Nov/Dec!

Yes! Minnie & Friend's breakfast at Plaza Inn! You can get a reservation for 50 minutes prior to the official park opening.
It looks like us two grown up kids will be eating a couple character meals. :lmao: Is this true for Magic Mornings? Or will it be open at the same time people can come in for MM? I'm looking to get in early for a few unpeopled pictures too ;) Have they even announced park hours for Nov/DEc yet? It's going to take a lot to get me out of WDW mode......I'm already sort of in a tizz over the ADR vs PS thing. We went to WDW last Dec and I had every meal planned out and we even upgraded from the regular DDP (which was free for our days) to the Deluxe DDP. Talk about glutenous! We actually ended up missing Kona and the delicious Tonga Toast because of my over planning/over eating situation. We just HAD to sleep in that morning. I had literally run us ragged.....not very magical. So this Dec I'm looking forward to throwing caution to the wind and make only 3 or 4 reservations. lol!
 
Today is day 60 for us. We arrive in the morning, but late. I will be calling to make a WOC Dining reservation because my guess is that the Fastpasses will be gone by the time we can get to the park.

My question is this, can I make reservations for all of my trip since I arrive in 60 days for 5 nights or do I have to keep calling back every day for 5 days?

You'd have to wait, but I will say that you can typically get WOC FP's well into the afternoon (WELL into!) so I wouldn't spend all that cash just to see the show...
 
Is there a way to add a celebration to your reservation like you can at WDW?
We are going next month for my bday and I know at WDW there's a place to say you are celebrating a birthday.

Is it worth it to email them and let them know?

Thanks!
 

Is there a way to add a celebration to your reservation like you can at WDW?
We are going next month for my bday and I know at WDW there's a place to say you are celebrating a birthday.

Is it worth it to email them and let them know?

Thanks!
Yes, I believe there is.

:wizard:
 
Is there a way to add a celebration to your reservation like you can at WDW?
We are going next month for my bday and I know at WDW there's a place to say you are celebrating a birthday.

Is it worth it to email them and let them know?

Thanks!

Yes, you can call or email them to add it to your reservation. You will get similar results as WDW. Sometimes a dessert to celebrate your event.

Also, not sure if this has been mentioned, but a similar option to the kitchen sink from beaches is at the Ghiradelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop:

The Earthquake Family Favorite
Eight scoops of ice cream, eight delicious toppings, finished with fresh bananas, whipped cream, chopped almonds, decadent chocolate and cherries.
 
Yes, you can call or email them to add it to your reservation. You will get similar results as WDW. Sometimes a dessert to celebrate your event.

Also, not sure if this has been mentioned, but a similar option to the kitchen sink from beaches is at the Ghiradelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop:

The Earthquake Family Favorite
Eight scoops of ice cream, eight delicious toppings, finished with fresh bananas, whipped cream, chopped almonds, decadent chocolate and cherries.
Even better, they have a kitchen sink at the PCH grill.

:wizard:
 
Yes, you can call or email them to add it to your reservation. You will get similar results as WDW. Sometimes a dessert to celebrate your event.

Also, not sure if this has been mentioned, but a similar option to the kitchen sink from beaches is at the Ghiradelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop:

The Earthquake Family Favorite
Eight scoops of ice cream, eight delicious toppings, finished with fresh bananas, whipped cream, chopped almonds, decadent chocolate and cherries.

Thank you!!!
 
Thank you, thank you, thank you!! I am planning our first ever DL trip for September 2015 (for my 40th...:sad:) and this thread just answered every single dining question I had. I've been to WDW 7 times now, and honestly I think the laid back pace that it appears DL has will be a very welcome change. Thanks again!!
 
Hi HydroGuy! First time I read this thread and I think it sums up DLR dining pretty nicely. I would just add one caveat to the following information:

Should I Even Make Dining Reservations at DLR?

By all means, make dining reservations. With the new online reservation system on Oct 3, 2013, for the first time DLR is charging for cancellations like WDW has for the last couple years

I would strongly recommend making a reservation if you know you want to eat the Blue Bayou. This is one table service location that seems to consistently turn away walk-ups. I have had luck walking-up or heard folks ask about walk-ups at most other TS locations, but BB is the one venue where I have not heard walk-ups being accepted readily.
 
One thing I didn't know as a WDW vet headed to DLR is that when making breakfast ADRs at either Ariel's Grotto or Carnation Palace, if you make a reservation for a later breakfast, you will automatically be seated outside so the inside of the restaurant can be prepped for lunch. This was never mentioned when we made our ADRs over the phone nor did I read it anywhere online (and I did a lot of research). At Ariel's this meant we missed the beautiful décor of the restaurant and at Minnie's we missed a LOT of characters as none of them had a handler like at WDW so they were wandering around with no general path so we saw some characters 3 times but didn't see about 1/2 of the others.
 
Hi HydroGuy, this came up in another thread, and I think it would be worth including in your first information post. At DLR, the dining systems opens new days up one-at-a-time about 60-days in advance. There is no early access to reservations for on-site guests. Folks are used to WDW's 180+10 system and wonder if DLR has something similar, but DLR does not.
 
Hi HydroGuy, this came up in another thread, and I think it would be worth including in your first information post. At DLR, the dining systems opens new days up one-at-a-time about 60-days in advance. There is no early access to reservations for on-site guests. Folks are used to WDW's 180+10 system and wonder if DLR has something similar, but DLR does not.

Thanks! I will add that to the OP.

:wizard:
 
Thank you for this link! We just got done watching the Disney Parks: Disneyland Resort on Instant Netflix. We learned so much and got a behind the scenes look at how some of the rides work. Also, we heard Richard Sherman play and sing the way IASW was originally intended. What a thrill....and now I'm excited more than ever for our trip in Nov/Dec.

I just tried to find this on Netflix Streaming but couldn't find it using the Search function. Anyone else have any luck finding it?
 
I just tried to find this on Netflix Streaming but couldn't find it using the Search function. Anyone else have any luck finding it?

Looks like it's only available through their DVD service now. :(
 
It's been over a year and a half since the latest post... are most of these tips still accurate? Thanks!!
 












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