Let the planning begin!

[sweetpee_1993]

Now that our cruise is complete it's time to start planning our first DL trip in November. I'm working the budget stuff today and find that I'm clueless when it comes to food. We'll be at DL, planning on the DLH for 7 nights. What would you say are the must-do's in/around the resort (aside from character meals)? What are the shortest walk off-site options if the pixie dust gets to be too much? Tips, tricks, etc. would be greatly appreciated. :wave:

 

[Californian Elitist]

Now that our cruise is complete it's time to start planning our first DL trip in November. I'm working the budget stuff today and find that I'm clueless when it comes to food. We'll be at DL, planning on the DLH for 7 nights. What would you say are the must-do's in/around the resort (aside from character meals)? What are the shortest walk off-site options if the pixie dust gets to be too much? Tips, tricks, etc. would be greatly appreciated. :wave:

That's great! The good thing about dining when it comes to Disneyland is that you don't have to reserve your tables months in advance. You can usually just walk in, except MAYBE Blue Bayou and Napa Rose at the Grand Californian.

The Blue Bayou is a really cool restaurant! It's located in the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction and the food is tasty. The Plaza Inn sells very tasty fried chicken, and the restaurant happens to be Walt's favorite! The new Carthay Circle Theater Restaurant at California Adventure is now accepting reservations and I bet it's going to be amazing! Downtown Disney has some really great restaurants too, including Tortilla Joe's and House of Blues. Disneyland has good quick service restaurants too. One of my favorites is Hungry Bear, located in Critter Country. The chicken sandwhich is SO GOOD! Tomorrowland Terrace is really good too, along with Carnation Cafe. So many choices!

As far as the food places outside, there's a McDonald's across the street from Disneyland, as well as a Subway. Down a little bit further, you'll find the Garden Walk, and they've got assorted things to eat, as well as things to do, including bowling!

Here's the link for the Garden Walk:
http://www.anaheimgardenwalk.com/

Let me know if you have more questions!

 

[Crush Dude!]

Now that our cruise is complete it's time to start planning our first DL trip in November. I'm working the budget stuff today and find that I'm clueless when it comes to food. We'll be at DL, planning on the DLH for 7 nights. What would you say are the must-do's in/around the resort (aside from character meals)? What are the shortest walk off-site options if the pixie dust gets to be too much? Tips, tricks, etc. would be greatly appreciated. :wave:

You're having a GREAT year kelly :wave:

Cant wait to hear about your trip to DisneyLand, ive been taking a big interest lately as i want to see this park more and more!

Disneyland looks amazing and DCA is set for big things next month!!

 

[Laura]

Now that our cruise is complete it's time to start planning our first DL trip in November. I'm working the budget stuff today and find that I'm clueless when it comes to food. We'll be at DL, planning on the DLH for 7 nights. What would you say are the must-do's in/around the resort (aside from character meals)? What are the shortest walk off-site options if the pixie dust gets to be too much? Tips, tricks, etc. would be greatly appreciated. :wave:

I wouldn't consider the character meals a must-do, personally. Blue Bayou is nice and so are a couple of the restaurants at DTD (La Brea is my favorite). There really is no planning involved in a Disneyland trip. Show up and walk around and do things as you come to them. If you want to go to Blue Bayou, call a day or 2 ahead, though I've personally eaten there about 10 times and only made a reservation 3 of those times.

Are you planning to stay on Disney property the entire 7 days? I think you'll have done everything 3 times by halfway through the week. :lol: The longest I've ever been stuck in that area was 4 days for D23 and I was bored of wandering around the same 2 parks over and over by day 3.

Definitely head to Garden Walk once you've exhausted all options in the parks and DTD for food. It's within walking distance or you can use the ART.

 

[Crush Dude!]

I wouldn't consider the character meals a must-do, personally. Blue Bayou is nice and so are a couple of the restaurants at DTD (La Brea is my favorite). There really is no planning involved in a Disneyland trip. Show up and walk around and do things as you come to them. If you want to go to Blue Bayou, call a day or 2 ahead, though I've personally eaten there about 10 times and only made a reservation 3 of those times.

Are you planning to stay on Disney property the entire 7 days? I think you'll have done everything 3 times by halfway through the week. :lol: The longest I've ever been stuck in that area was 4 days for D23 and I was bored of wandering around the same 2 parks over and over by day 3.

Definitely head to Garden Walk once you've exhausted all options in the parks and DTD for food. It's within walking distance or you can use the ART.

I think you are forgetting seeing both night shows, wandering Disneyland nd exploring everything the new DCA has to offer!

 

[disney fan 13]

I believe that Knotts isn't that far ether so that is also a option.

 

[Laura]

I think you are forgetting seeing both night shows, wandering Disneyland nd exploring everything the new DCA has to offer!

I guess I have a short attention span. 1 day per park is more than enough for me!

 

[teacherlady19]

Just a little clarification -- the op requested what's a walk away. Knotts Berry Farm is a little more than a walk away from DL and DCA!

As for restaurants just outside the park -- if you go through the Grand Californian to the front, then go out to the street and turn LEFT, you can walk down to the corner of Katella and Disney Way. There are 2 restaurants near that corner -- Coco's (closest to the Best Western) and one that was, at one time,called Tiffy's. (This was 4 years ago, don't know if it's still there, though daughter assures me that Coco's is still there.)

My husband's and my very favorite DL restaurant is Blue Bayou. It's not that the food is all that wonderful (it's good but nothing to rave about). It's the ambiance of sitting right next to the waters of POTC. Call early, get a reservation, and then state that you're willing to wait for a table on the water (if that's true). It's worth the wait. You can also see onto the balconies of Club 33 from many of the tables in BB.

To me, 7 days would be a little much. Back in 2008, we opted for a "one tank car trip". It included 3 days of DL/DCA (and we'd never been to DCA at that point). By the third day, we were opting for the shows and anything where we didn't have to walk a lot.


Donna