Dining Reservation Question

[007mickey]

Well after many successfull trips to WDW we are planning a "out west" trip next year with a stop for a few days at DL! I haven't been there since I was too little to remember (mid 70's).

My question concerning dining is with reservations. Unlike WDW, it's 60 days (instead of 180) and there is no online reservation system, correct? Also, with WDW you are allowed to book reservations from your arrival date +10 days. Does DL work on the arrival date system? (we are planning staying on site) Please tell me I don't have to call everyday for each reservation when my 60 day out mark is. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[rufio]

Wow! I've never been to DL and I don't have an answer for you, but that really sucks! I love the online system!

 

[Laura]

You don't need reservations to eat at most Disneyland restaurants. It's NOTHING like WDW. You just walk up and eat at them, like you would at Applebees. Some of the more popular ones, you might want to call a day or 2 ahead (like Blue Bayou), but even that can be overkill sometimes. If I want to eat a Blue Bayou and I think it will be exceptionally busy I'll sometimes call the night before or the morning of, but usually I just walk right in and get a table.

 

[ajrwdwgirl]

If there is a restaurant you really want to eat at I would suggest calling around the 60 day mark. Better to be prepared if there is something you know you want.

 

[007mickey]

You don't need reservations to eat at most Disneyland restaurants. It's NOTHING like WDW. You just walk up and eat at them, like you would at Applebees. Some of the more popular ones, you might want to call a day or 2 ahead (like Blue Bayou), but even that can be overkill sometimes. If I want to eat a Blue Bayou and I think it will be exceptionally busy I'll sometimes call the night before or the morning of, but usually I just walk right in and get a table.

Wow, that is not what I expected! With many of the popular dining spots at WDW, you practically need military training to successfully pull dining reservations. This is a refreshing change. We definitely thought about Blue Bayou and I'm interested in the Carthay Circle. Thanks for the help.

 

[Master Yoda]

As others have stated, dining at DL is nothing like dining at WDW. That being said, I still always fall back on the rule of "If they take reservations, make them" no matter what it is. In all probability you will not need them, but it is a better situation it is better to have them and not need them than the alternative. I often compare it to the spare tire on your car. 99% of the time it is just dead weight taking up space in your trunk. That is until you find yourself with a flat in the middle of nowhere. Then it is worth its weight in gold.

If you know where you want to eat and when just make your ADRs a few weeks in advance. If you don't know, don't care or just want to wing it is not that dangerous/crazy to go do DL without a single ADR.

 

[Californian Elitist]

95% of the time, you won't need to make a dining reservation at the Disneyland Resort. All you do is walk in, give the CM the number of people and they'll seat you within a few minutes. Shocking, I know. Since you want to visit Carthay, I would probably call just in case. Disneyland also has more counter service options. Here's a great guide for WDW vets when it comes to DLR dining: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2914467

 

[007mickey]

95% of the time, you won't need to make a dining reservation at the Disneyland Resort. All you do is walk in, give the CM the number of people and they'll seat you within a few minutes. Shocking, I know. Since you want to visit Carthay, I would probably call just in case. Disneyland also has more counter service options. Here's a great guide for WDW vets when it comes to DLR dining: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2914467

Raven, that link was extremely helpful (and eye opening). Thank you.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Raven, that link was extremely helpful (and eye opening). Thank you.

Your welcome, hope you have a great time!

 

[dsollie]

Probably a factor here is that there are many other outside dining options within a few minutes walk of the front gate at DLR, as opposed to WDW.

 

[Brer Josh]

You can email for reservations

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ail-system-to-serve-disneyland-resort-guests/

 

[Texas84]

You can email for reservations

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ail-system-to-serve-disneyland-resort-guests/

I made my Blue Bayou reservation that way. Had it the next day via e-mail.

 

[Laura]

Probably a factor here is that there are many other outside dining options within a few minutes walk of the front gate at DLR, as opposed to WDW.

No I don't think it's that. There's not any food within walking distance worth leaving the park for and there's plenty of options at Downtown Disney.

I think it's more that Disneyland's visitors are primarily locals who head there often for a couple hours at a time and don't necessarily want to pay for a full service meal during each of their visits. It's more budget friendly to grab a snack or a sandwich if you're only there for 3-4 hours. WDW, on the other hand, is a magnet for crazed and obsessed tourists who need to plan everything out 12 months in advance, including several full service meals per day.

I'd recommend making a Carthay reservation at least a couple weeks out and a Blue Bayou reservation 24-48 hours out to be safe. But for most of the other restaurants it's easier to not have any reservations at all and just go where you want, when you feel like it. Making reservations 60 days out is pretty strange and definitely unnecessary, unless you're traveling with a giant group, so there's no need to worry about when the 60 day mark hits.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Probably a factor here is that there are many other outside dining options within a few minutes walk of the front gate at DLR, as opposed to WDW.

That's not it. Since opening, Disneyland has never been about multiple dining restaurants. DL locals don't really look at dining and eating as part of their visit, but more the rides. Eating just takes up time.

 

[Maryssa*]

Aside from that, I kind of feel like there aren't really any restaurants at DL that my mouth starts to water just thinking about. Blue Bayou is nice but after eating there 2-3 times I was meh about it. With WDW, I hungrily count the days til I can eat at places like 'Ohana, Le Cellier, Whispering Canyon, etc.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Aside from that, I kind of feel like there aren't really any restaurants at DL that my mouth starts to water just thinking about. Blue Bayou is nice but after eating there 2-3 times I was meh about it. With WDW, I hungrily count the days til I can eat at places like 'Ohana, Le Cellier, Whispering Canyon, etc.

Blue Bayou is really the only sit down, "fancy" restaurant in Disneyland. One, compared to I don't know how many in the parks at WDW. I'll say it again, sit down restaurants aren't part of the main focus at Disneyland. Now if we're talking counter service...

 

[007mickey]

Okay, I know everybody has different tastes but I'm hearing a lot about the better than average counter service. What are some good picks? We are not picky eaters, we love variety. Also, any favorites from DTD?

 

[Laura]

Okay, I know everybody has different tastes but I'm hearing a lot about the better than average counter service. What are some good picks? We are not picky eaters, we love variety. Also, any favorites from DTD?

Well, I won't be much help because I'm a really picky eater and don't eat much of anything. But my favorite counter service spots are Pacific Wharf for their sandwiches on fresh sourdough bread and Redd Rockett's for the chicken fusilli. My favorite full service spots were Blue Bayou for the atmosphere and Monte Cristo (lunch only) and Carnation Cafe for the chef salad. But now they've redone Carnation and changed the menu, so I don't know if it's any good anymore. At Downtown Disney we eat at La Brea Bakery all the time and get the ham and cheese melts. I also like the 4 cheese tortellini and the atmosphere at Rainforest Cafe.

I'd say that 80% of the time we eat a meal at Disneyland, it's either Pacific Wharf or La Brea Bakery. We have a reservation for Carthay on Saturday, so we'll see how that goes.

Like @Maryssa* said, Disneyland isn't loved for its restaurants the way WDW is. It's actually pretty disappointing in comparison. When I go to WDW, the only thing I can think about is food.

 

[coachwnh]

Well after many successfull trips to WDW we are planning a "out west" trip next year with a stop for a few days at DL! I haven't been there since I was too little to remember (mid 70's).

My question concerning dining is with reservations. Unlike WDW, it's 60 days (instead of 180) and there is no online reservation system, correct? Also, with WDW you are allowed to book reservations from your arrival date +10 days. Does DL work on the arrival date system? (we are planning staying on site) Please tell me I don't have to call everyday for each reservation when my 60 day out mark is. Thanks in advance for any help.

we had 2 reservations made before we went. Goofy Kitchen and the World of Color package. However, we ate with the princesses, did the plaza breakfast with characters, and ate at other sit downs as well. Never had any issue getting ressies. waked right up, gave the time we wanted and the day, they filled out a paper and said see you then. nothing at all like WDW, so no worries!! The othe great thing is the number and randomness of characters. we had 11 at one and 9 at another. and some you never see at WDW. and they are always changing. youll love it!!!

 

[Californian Elitist]

Okay, I know everybody has different tastes but I'm hearing a lot about the better than average counter service. What are some good picks? We are not picky eaters, we love variety. Also, any favorites from DTD?

I love, love, LOVE the Plaza Inn located on Main Street (Walt Disney's favorite in-park restaurant). They make really good fried chicken. Tomorrowlad Terrace and Village Haus in Fantasyland make good burgers. Pizza Port's pasta is really good, Hungry Bear makes good chicken sandwiches and chili burgers. The French Market is good too!

As for DTD, Tortilla Joe's makes good Mexican food. Rainforest makes great food too. You can go pretty much anywhere in DTD.