When and where should we eat at Disneyland???

[misscampbells]

Hey everyone! I am planning a trip to disneyland in the middle of February (12th-17th). Can someone give me a game plan on when and where we should eat. We are definitely going to eat at Blue Bayou on the first day we are there at 3pm (late lunch early dinner) and I would like to try the Wine Country Tratorria on Tuesday. We will be staying at the Paradise Pier for those days. There are so many cool places to try, I'm just not sure when I should be scheduling reservations for different places and which places I should definitely try while there. It will just be my husband and I that are going on this trip.

Any help is appreciated,
Kathy

 

[DisneyDotty]

Let's see--we were there in December and ate at the following places:
--Blue Bayou--you can check lunch/dinner menus somewhere here on the boards (sorry I'm not sure where) and see which you prefer--we did lunch so we could try the Monte Cristo sandwich--interesting
--Wine Country--lovely late lunch sitting outside, watching the people, enjoying the food and weather
--Goofy's Kitchen--lunch--great food and character interaction
--Brennans for lunch at DTD--food okay, service slow
--Tortilla Jo's at DTD--lunch again--we were starved and thought everything was excellent
--Catal (sp?) at DTD for dinner--lovely sidewalk restaurant experience--great food, service a bit slow
Hmm--the rest I think were counter service--remember eating smoked turkey legs (yummy), soup in bread bowl at CA (not enough soup--too much bread), more churros than I care to remember, and lots of breakfast pastries at the coffee shop at DLH.
Have a great trip!

 

[Michelle2]

We loved Goofy's kitchen (dinner), and the Blue Bayou (lunch) --- both have become traditions for us every trip now...lol
We also loved Tortilla Jo's for dinner, and the House of Blues for dinner.
Oh and of course Rainforest Cafe was expensive, but a favorite of ours...SO many selections! We try to go there for a dinner every time as well!

The only place where we had a bad experience was Storyteller's cafe in the Grand Californian for dinner. But we had gone there a few years previous to that and it was fine, so you never know? Could have been an off night??

 

[Shawn]

We prefer the restaurant right next to Goofy's kitchen -- Granville's. They have a very reasonable breakfast menu for adults and children, they serve on linen and cloth napkins, it's elegant, not stuffy or anything. Our 2nd and 3rd grader found they liked the food there better than when they ate at the places with the disney characters.

If you are looking for characters -- we had great luck at Ariel's Grotto in DCA at lunchtime. Lots of characters, they got the kids to get up and step outside to dance and such. It was nice.

-Shawn

 

[judimouse]

Restaurant menus as http://www.dlresortinfo.com

 

[Rapunsel]

Check to see when POTC is closing. As the Bule Bayou will be closed also.

We like to eat lunch and get chicken strips, motzarella strips and fish strips at the place by BTM. I can't remmebr the name!!

Then there is the grill over by Soarin.. That was nice. We like the kids meal with the 'little chicken nuggetts and smily fries." It was also nice bceause it was a computer with a touch screen that you ordered on. So if the order was wrong you can re do it and see exactly what you are getting.


HTH

 

[mouseketeer]

For the last few years I've gone to Disneyland, I make it a REQUIREMENT to go to Redd Rocket's Pizza Port in Tomorrowland...the caesar salads are DELICIOUS and a good size for the $7...I also recommend the Chicken Fusilli Pasta...it is around $8 and IT IS A LOT OF FOOD...I usually split it with someone and I am always full!
note: if you see that it is really busy on the inside, I would skip it until it clears up because the dining room inside and out is PACKED. I had to sit on the floor on New Year's Eve

Goofy's Kitchen breakfast is really yummy too....a little expensive, but a huge choice of food IMO...and who can say no to a buffet!

There is also a place that I always forget the name to...I think it is River Bell Terrace (it looks over the Rivers of America and has a bunch of white tables and chairs on the patio)...the food is a good price for the amount of food you get...VERY TASTY! And if you get there about a half hour or so before the Fantasmic! show starts...grab a table outside (but make sure you have food or they will make you leave!) because the view of the show is PRIME!

 

[Shawn]

Restaurant menus as http://www.dlresortinfo.com

Great site for checking out the menus and deciding which new places to try. Thanks for the link.

From the Granville's childs breakfast menu

Scrambled Eggs with “Mickey” Toast
Served with roasted potatoes and your choice of bacon or sausage
$5.29

Who says it's expensive to take your children out to eat at Disneyland? Eggs, toast, potatoes, and bacon for $5.29 at a nice
sit-down restaurant.

-Shawn

 

[Dale-n-Chip]

We found Pacific Wharf in DCA to be DESERTED at lunchtime. The Pacific Wharf Cafe has some great soups and sandwiches and DS loved his burrito from Cucina Cucamonga (sp?). Walked RIGHT UP, ordered and were eating in five minutes. At 11:45 am on a Thursday! Plenty of outside seating, too.

Our experience may have been the exception, but we're definitely going to try it again on our next trip.

Happy planning!

 

[lntsmom]

although I understand they are no longer offering the great deal. We ended up eating for next to nothing with it. It was a nice break, the memorabilia was fun, and the boys loved the game room upstairs.

We also loved Ariel's Grotto...but I hear it's now estrogen-enhanced. If they are doing the Princess foof and you have girls, it would be a must. My boys would rather starve than eat while being ensconced in yards of tulle and tons of sequins, lol!

Snack-wise, there is a place over on the boardwalk, just to the right of the carousel, that serves fresh apples with carmel dip. If you're looking for a different snack, that may be just the ticket!

 

[kuusimo]

Our family's favorite is Whitewater Snacks. It is inside Grand California Hotel. We go there for lunch or dinner when we are at DCA. DH loves their nachos. My favorite is the chicken sandwhich. My DS's split a children's meal. It is quiet inside. If you go near closing time they give away all of their baked goods. If you order a mug it is refillable for free the entire time you are there.

Off the resort we love Mimi's cafe. Call ahead for a reservation. It is about a 10 minute walk.

 

[Spook50]

I'm a fan of Hook's Pointe at the DLH. A little more "grown up" than alot of other restaurants, but still family friendly. Very appealing maritime theme, with just enough Disney influence to remind you that you're at a Disney property. Both the food and service were great the times I went there a couple years back. Don't be shy to ask your waiter/waitress questions about the parks or hotels either. Every time I ate there, the person I had knew a TON of stuff about what was happening and what was upcoming as well.

Of course, Blue Bayou in DL is a classic with an outstanding environment too. The food is really good, but I wouldn't say outstanding (I prefer the crab cakes myself). I advise wearing long pants though, because every time I've worn shorts in there after being outside in the warm air, my legs cool off and the muscles get real stiff and sore.

 

[kristenhh]

For the last few years I've gone to Disneyland, I make it a REQUIREMENT to go to Redd Rocket's Pizza Port in Tomorrowland...the caesar salads are DELICIOUS and a good size for the $7...I also recommend the Chicken Fusilli Pasta...it is around $8 and IT IS A LOT OF FOOD...I usually split it with someone and I am always full! the show is PRIME![/COLOR]

I totally agree. I look forward to the Chicken Fusilli Pasta, almost as much as prime rib at the Blue Bayou.

 

[Snow Brite]

For two adults I would reccomend Napa Rose at the Grand Californian. It is a swanky restaurant and expensive but very, very good. It would be a fun adult Disney thing to do.

 

[Tink!]

We have an annual pass and we go to Plaza Inn everytime!

 

[mareed]

I totally agree. I look forward to the Chicken Fusilli Pasta, almost as much as prime rib at the Blue Bayou.

We used to also love this (last trip about 1 1/2 years ago), but when we were back there the first week of January, it had gone downhill drastically! I'd swear they only put about a tablespoon of cut up chicken on the pasta, and even some of that was not edible chicken (mysterious pieces instead of breast meat). DH & I have also always shared and asked for an extra plate and they'd give us one of the platter shaped plates the pasta came on. Well, this time, they said they couldn't do that, but they gave us a small round paper plate. They was just too obviously cutting back on costs. I'd rather pay a bit more and keep it the way it used to be! We used to also get the bread and share it with the pasta, and that's not anywhere near as good as it used to be. It used to have a sort of seasoned cheese mixture on it, and now it's just really bread without the cheese.

Overall, we were extemely disappointed with the food. Blue Bayou wasn't even good with horrible service, and my portion of pork loin was about half as big as DH's. When we pointed it out to the server, he took my entire plate and it took 2 more tries to get a plate of food with the right vegetable I'd ordered back out to me, and it ended up being a horrible cut of pork. DH's was fine, so it must just vary. Oh, well, at least we're not disappointed about BB being closed on our March trip because I wouldn't go back for a long time again anyway!

We also didn't care for the menu change at Rancho Del Zocalo since they removed the nachos, and there was nothing our kids would eat, so we skipped it and it used to be another of our favorites.

 

[kristenhh]

We used to also love this (last trip about 1 1/2 years ago), but when we were back there the first week of January, it had gone downhill drastically! I'd swear they only put about a tablespoon of cut up chicken on the pasta, and even some of that was not edible chicken (mysterious pieces instead of breast meat). DH & I have also always shared and asked for an extra plate and they'd give us one of the platter shaped plates the pasta came on. Well, this time, they said they couldn't do that, but they gave us a small round paper plate. They was just too obviously cutting back on costs. I'd rather pay a bit more and keep it the way it used to be! We used to also get the bread and share it with the pasta, and that's not anywhere near as good as it used to be. It used to have a sort of seasoned cheese mixture on it, and now it's just really bread without the cheese.

I am sorry to hear this! The garlic bread was great -- you also used to get a small hunk with the pasta. No where will we go??

 

[PinkTink63]

Hey everyone! I am planning a trip to disneyland in the middle of February (12th-17th). Can someone give me a game plan on when and where we should eat. We are definitely going to eat at Blue Bayou on the first day we are there at 3pm (late lunch early dinner) and I would like to try the Wine Country Tratorria on Tuesday. We will be staying at the Paradise Pier for those days. There are so many cool places to try, I'm just not sure when I should be scheduling reservations for different places and which places I should definitely try while there. It will just be my husband and I that are going on this trip.

Any help is appreciated,
Kathy

I have to say one of our favorites is the Rainforest Cafe. We love it, even if we weren't taking the kids. I love all the aquariums! My husband loves their ribs and my two favs are the Rasta Pasta and Fried Buffalo Chicken Salad. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Can't wait for our trip this summer!
One of our other favs is the Jazz Kitchen Counter service for Beignets and coffee in the morning.
Eat some for us please!!
Stephanie