Where should we eat?

[Lissame]

Trying to get some recommendations--I am a total mega planner.

We are arriving later than we have in the past, so I'm unsure where we should eat on our arrival day.

Our plane gets in to Long Beach at 5:30 on tuesday the 29th, we are renting a car and then need to check into our hotel (Candy Cane Inn)

I'm estimating that the earliest we will be in the park is 7 PM.

Any suggestions for a place to eat dinner? I have a bunch of PS and other plans (for places without PS) scheduled over the following four days, but the Tuesday dinner is my only "open" spot.

 

[Funball]

ummmmmmm.. lol, well that is during dinner time, my best suggestion would be to call ahead to a place and get a reservation for the time you will be at the park.

and for a place to eat, i suggest that not inside the park but in downtown disney-naples. they take reservations. or you can try a short walk to mimi's cafe... i don't know about the other places.....

you guys are going to have soo much fun!

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

If it were my family and we were determined to eat in the park that night, we would head either to Pizza Port or French Market first thing. Another possibility though would be to eat offsite before heading into the park that night. The Garden Walk is near the Candy Cane Inn (within walking distance if you don't feel like driving) and has a number of restaurants including a Cheesecake Factory, California Pizza Kitchen, and Bubba Gumps. If you want to drive a few blocks down Harbor from Candy Cane in the opposite direction from Disneyland, there's a Buca di Beppo. My family sometimes finds the arrival day the best time to eat offsite because once we get going in the parks we never seem to be able to pull ourselves away.

 

[PRomano]

Mimis is really good, if you have the car you can drive there or stop on the way to your hotel

 

[mrsmoore]

Not sure if you want to eat in the park. When we arrived last February we got there late too and needed dinner. We hit up the Coca Cola Refreshment Corner. Got DD the Kids Turkey Dog meal, and they let you get a Turkey Dog for the regular Hot Dog meal too, so my mom and I each got one of those. It was a perfect stop to eat before hitting a few rides and heading to bed!

 

[skiingfast]

I'd either do counter service in the parks or eat on the way. If you get off the garden grove freeway on Harbor and start heading north you will pass a dozen resturaunts.

This way after you get to the hotel and drop your things you will be free to see attractions.

 

[jlmarr]

Here's the easiest route from LGB to DLR.

Mimi's Cafe is about where the 'B' is - you'd be across the street from where the Monorail leaves the park on the way to DTD.

 

[Lissame]

Wow, thanks for that map/directions. That's different from the one Mapquest gave me. I would imagine that avoiding the fwy at 5:30 is probably a good idea.

 

[SeattleTink]

Are you going into the park the day you arrive or not?

If you are going into the DLP, I would just grab a corn dog from the red wagon on Main Street. That is quick and easy and gets you on rides as soon as possible. And they are the best corn dogs ever!

If you aren't, I would either go to Mimi's or ESPN Zone.

All of these places to eat are "must do's" for us.

Have a fantastic trip!

 

[Lissame]

Yes, we are planning to go to the park until close that day. We weren't originally planning to go the arrival day (hence our late arriving plane) but then the 5 days for the price of 3 popped up and it didn't make sense not to go that extra day, even if only for 4-5 hours.

I wish we could change our plane to an earlier arriving one, but that's life.

I love those corn dogs...we were planning to eat them another day, but maybe I'll do a little switching.

 

[sahbushka]

Pizza Port for the Chicken fussili or Harbor Gallery for the soup in bread bowls! Have fun!

SarahMay

 

[seadd67]

Are you flying out of Seatac?, I know Its probally to late but we are acutally flying out the same day via SW 7:35am flight getting Into LAX at 11:30am and staying at Candy cane Inn. How many Is In your party?,we made Resv at Blue Bayou for 8pm where thinking of dumping that resv and going to Big boys a few miles away. Its for 2, if you want it just let me know. I am sure If there Is more In your party they will accomdate them. Well have fun we will see you there

 

[Lissame]

Are you flying out of Seatac?, I know Its probally to late but we are acutally flying out the same day via SW 7:35am flight getting Into LAX at 11:30am and staying at Candy cane Inn. How many Is In your party?,we made Resv at Blue Bayou for 8pm where thinking of dumping that resv and going to Big boys a few miles away. Its for 2, if you want it just let me know. I am sure If there Is more In your party they will accomdate them. Well have fun we will see you there

Nope, we're flying out of Portland--we live only about 40 min from PDX, so it's much closer. We changed it and are now flying out at 7:17 am on JetBlue, we get into Long Beach at 9:40 am.
I made lunch reservations at Carnation Cafe for lunch, I think we'll just grab something counter service for dinner.

Maybe we'll run into each other at some point!

 

[seadd67]

Oh great,we might eat there for lunch to,It looks like we might have to make resvp for Carnation cafe? I did not think I would but now you might be on to something??. Yep we just might, i will be one with something from one of the local teams shirts or hat on have a great time!!

 

[Lissame]

I make PS reservations for everything that I think we will want to eat. I'm kinda obsessive about planning...but also, both my husband and dd are HORRIBLE when they get hungry. They get grouchy, mean, and awful to be around. I have found that it is so much easier and less stressful to know where and when we will be eating each meal instead of saying "where do you want to eat?" "I don't know, where do you want to eat?" And everyone ending up in tears.

 

[Flitterific]

Oh great,we might eat there for lunch to,It looks like we might have to make resvp for Carnation cafe? I did not think I would but now you might be on to something??. Yep we just might, i will be one with something from one of the local teams shirts or hat on have a great time!!

It would be wise to make a PS for Carnation Cafe as they have very limited seating and there always seems to be people waiting in line to get seated. It's much better to have a PS than to be one of those people waiting in line wishing they planned ahead and made a PS

 

[Evita_W]

First off, let me say WELCOME TO SO. CAL and DISNEYLAND!! You may have been here before, and if so...WELCOME BACK!!

Can I offer any assistance??

#1--Yes, at all cost AVOID THE FREEWAY at this time....I live close to LGB and I know if you take Willow St. (that turns into Katella) it will be the BEST way to get there...

#2--In ways of eating, I would say that TILLY'S is your best bet for food. It is right on Katella on the way to your hotel...SERIOUSLY!! Lots of choices, fast service, close to Disney and your hotel..and Tillimook Ice Cream! if you really want to eat in the park...then I would suggest French Market.

#3--In terms of parking at Disney, if your hotel offers FREE shuttle..GREAT! If not, there is the TOY STORY PARKING right by your hotel! Walk over and get a free ride from their shuttles...

#4--Are you going to see WORLD of COLOR?? If so, they just announced some new dining packages with Reserved Viewing...Ariel's Grotto and Wine Country Tattoria offers Preferred Viewing...there will also be some picnic boxes that you can order online starting June 11th. Although this is a cheaper option, they do not offer Preferred Viewing, just reserved. And if ordered online, it will be packaged in a reusable tote bag...

If you have ANY OTHER Questions...I AM HERE FOR YOU!! Just let me know! I LOVE to see people go to DL and DCA! Have tons of fun!

 

[Tikestoublie]

Here's the easiest route from LGB to DLR.

Mimi's Cafe is about where the 'B' is - you'd be across the street from where the Monorail leaves the park on the way to DTD.

Love the map!! Doing this drive in just over a month and will be using this. Thanks!

 

[reynmagsmom]

I am so jealous Lissame we dont get to go until end of aug. please report back on WOC if you get to see it, we are gonna have to get together sometime and talk over coffee or something. It is so great to have a fellow Diser here in Kelso.
Have you guys tried Cafe Orleans, great food and excellent service. Carnation Cafe and the loaded potato soup is to die for!!

 

[Lissame]

we are gonna have to get together sometime and talk over coffee or something. It is so great to have a fellow Diser here in Kelso.
Have you guys tried Cafe Orleans, great food and excellent service. Carnation Cafe and the loaded potato soup is to die for!!

We are going to Cafe Orleans on another day of our trip--you're right, it's very yummy, we all love it.

Maybe we need to start a Disneyland fan club here in LV/Kelso. I think we should all get together and share photos and experiences.

We are going to do the dining package for WOC on Friday July 2. I am very anxiously awaiting the reports on which areas will correspond to which packages (full dining vs. picnic vs. fastpass). We may add the picnic onto another night of our stay if it's a worthwhile spot.