Can someone explain DisneyLand dining?

[sugarbear]

Like I'm 5? We are going the week of Christmas, which, I know, is crazy and I'm late in planning. We are staying just outside the gate at a place with free breakfast. I have no idea where to start on the other meals.

[lala]

What do you want explained?

The menus at all ears . net are great - allears.net/dlr/dining/menus.htm

We are going to DL for the first time in november. So far we have a character breakfast at the Plaza in DL, a world of color package at Carthay Circle in CA and a lunch at Cafe Orleans in DL. We are probably eating/drinking at Trader Sams one afternoon at the Disneyland Hotel.

[sugarbear]

Sorry, lala-- more specific questions: do I need to get a package? Reservations for every meal? Are the character meals worth it? Any money-saving tips?

[alleinesein]

Oct 2, 2016 12:42:21 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

Sorry, lala -- more specific questions: do I need to get a package? Reservations for every meal? Are the character meals worth it? Any money-saving tips?

There really isn't a dining plan for DLR like they have at WDW.

You can book your dining reservations 60 days in advance.  YOU WILL NEED DINING RESERVATIONS for the week of Christmas.  I cannot stress this enough.  DLR is very limited in FS dining options and if you want to have sit down meals you need to book it in advance.  Walk up reservations are very very very hard to get during high season.

Character dining options are available in both parks and all 3 resort hotels.  I prefer Goofy's Kitchen and Storyteller's Cafe for character breakfasts.  Goofy's has the largest selection of food.  Storyteller's has a smaller selection but they do have my favorite french toast.  They also feature Chip & Dale plus a bunch of wildlife/forest characters (characters from Pocahontas, Brother Bear, etc).  In the parks you can opt for a Princess breakfast at Ariel's Grotto in DCA or Breakfast with Minnie and Friends in Disneyland.  

If you want to see the new holiday World of Color you should definitely book a dining package.  I prefer the dining pack at Carthay Circle but it is the most $$ option and is not a good choice if you have picky eaters in your group.

If you want to eat at the Blue Bayou opt for lunch if you want the Monte Cristo sandwich.  It is not offered on the dinner menu.  If you want the sandwich without the atmosphere you can get the regular Monte Cristo or the all cheese one at Cafe Orleans; it is cheaper and you can get it all day.

The River Belle Terrace is the newest FS restaurant.  I had lunch there the last time I was at the park and it was good.  

The price difference between QS and FS at DLR is minimal.  You might save $2-$5 by opting for QS instead of FS but sometimes those few extra $$ are worth it because you can sit down and not have to deal with trying to find a place to sit and you get refills on your beverages.

If you want to be in the park when it opens you should allow at least 15-30 minutes to get from your hotel to the main gate.  You will have to go through security and it can sometimes have long lines.

[alleinesein]

Oct 2, 2016 11:23:30 GMT -5 lala said:

What do you want explained?

The menus at all ears . net are great - allears.net/dlr/dining/menus.htm

We are going to DL for the first time in november. So far we have a character breakfast at the Plaza in DL, a world of color package at Carthay Circle in CA and a lunch at Cafe Orleans in DL. We are probably eating/drinking at Trader Sams one afternoon at the Disneyland Hotel.

Get there when they open if you want to sit inside.  It is super tiny inside and kids cannot sit at the bar so seating is even more limited (there are 2 high tops when you walk in the door and maybe 5 normal tables and the rest is bar seating).  I love Trader Sams...the green beans are a must have and they make a good teriyaki burger.  If the holiday drinks are on the menu definitely try a few of them.  Have a Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum for me!!

[lala]

Oct 2, 2016 19:01:49 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Oct 2, 2016 11:23:30 GMT -5 lala said:

What do you want explained?

The menus at all ears . net are great - allears.net/dlr/dining/menus.htm

We are going to DL for the first time in november. So far we have a character breakfast at the Plaza in DL, a world of color package at Carthay Circle in CA and a lunch at Cafe Orleans in DL. We are probably eating/drinking at Trader Sams one afternoon at the Disneyland Hotel.

Get there when they open if you want to sit inside.  It is super tiny inside and kids cannot sit at the bar so seating is even more limited (there are 2 high tops when you walk in the door and maybe 5 normal tables and the rest is bar seating).  I love Trader Sams...the green beans are a must have and they make a good teriyaki burger.  If the holiday drinks are on the menu definitely try a few of them.  Have a Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum for me!!

Thank you for this!!! Everything I know about trader Sam's is from podcasts! I haven't found a real person who has gone. Our plan is to go there right at 4pm on our first day - we aren't doing the parks.

Im sooooo excited.

[sugarbear]

Oct 2, 2016 18:57:32 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Oct 2, 2016 12:42:21 GMT -5 sugarbear said:

Sorry, lala -- more specific questions: do I need to get a package? Reservations for every meal? Are the character meals worth it? Any money-saving tips?

There really isn't a dining plan for DLR like they have at WDW.

You can book your dining reservations 60 days in advance.  YOU WILL NEED DINING RESERVATIONS for the week of Christmas.  I cannot stress this enough.  DLR is very limited in FS dining options and if you want to have sit down meals you need to book it in advance.  Walk up reservations are very very very hard to get during high season.

Character dining options are available in both parks and all 3 resort hotels.  I prefer Goofy's Kitchen and Storyteller's Cafe for character breakfasts.  Goofy's has the largest selection of food.  Storyteller's has a smaller selection but they do have my favorite french toast.  They also feature Chip & Dale plus a bunch of wildlife/forest characters (characters from Pocahontas, Brother Bear, etc).  In the parks you can opt for a Princess breakfast at Ariel's Grotto in DCA or Breakfast with Minnie and Friends in Disneyland.  

If you want to see the new holiday World of Color you should definitely book a dining package.  I prefer the dining pack at Carthay Circle but it is the most $$ option and is not a good choice if you have picky eaters in your group.

If you want to eat at the Blue Bayou opt for lunch if you want the Monte Cristo sandwich.  It is not offered on the dinner menu.  If you want the sandwich without the atmosphere you can get the regular Monte Cristo or the all cheese one at Cafe Orleans; it is cheaper and you can get it all day.

The River Belle Terrace is the newest FS restaurant.  I had lunch there the last time I was at the park and it was good.  

The price difference between QS and FS at DLR is minimal.  You might save $2-$5 by opting for QS instead of FS but sometimes those few extra $$ are worth it because you can sit down and not have to deal with trying to find a place to sit and you get refills on your beverages.

If you want to be in the park when it opens you should allow at least 15-30 minutes to get from your hotel to the main gate.  You will have to go through security and it can sometimes have long lines.

Thank you!!!!

[alleinesein]

Oct 2, 2016 19:27:28 GMT -5 lala said:

Oct 2, 2016 19:01:49 GMT -5 alleinesein said:

Get there when they open if you want to sit inside.  It is super tiny inside and kids cannot sit at the bar so seating is even more limited (there are 2 high tops when you walk in the door and maybe 5 normal tables and the rest is bar seating).  I love Trader Sams...the green beans are a must have and they make a good teriyaki burger.  If the holiday drinks are on the menu definitely try a few of them.  Have a Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum for me!!

Thank you for this!!! Everything I know about trader Sam's is from podcasts! I haven't found a real person who has gone. Our plan is to go there right at 4pm on our first day - we aren't doing the parks.

Im sooooo excited.

I go every time I am at Disneyland.  My bank account does not like it when I go there!  So many tasty tiki drinks

Piranha Pool, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and the infamous green beans.


The Uh Oa. It is supposed to serve 2 but I never share.



The Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Rum (and bad lighting selfie!)



The Melekaliki-Mocha and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer