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Disneyland doesn’t have a dining plan like Disney World but their food isn’t bad priced. Actually if you go to a table service restaurant outside besides Denny’s you are going to pay almost the same price. There are a few exceptions but for the most part everything is pretty good price wise. Best part is anyone can order a kids meal here. And if you have an Annual Pass no matter if it’s a Deluxe or a Premium you get a discount of some sort.
Best kept Secret: Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country. This restaurant has been one of my long standing favorites. It sits back where no one goes and has a great view and some great food. They serve burgers and chicken sandwiches and salads of sorts. They are a counter service restaurant. The food prices range anywhere from $5.00 for a meal to about $12.00 for a meal. A meal including either fries or apples. This restaurant is two stories and on the bottom story is a set of bathrooms that no one goes to. Great if you gotta go fast. It is also a great restaurant if you need some quiet time for little ones to relax.
Rancho del Zocalo is a great “buffateria” restaurant. This restaurant sits in Frontierland right next to Big Thunder Mountain. It also has a great hidden bathroom. They offer several options here for dining. They offer Mexican food and BBQ under one roof. It is great for that family who can’t decide. They also offer these killer lime salt chips which are a must every time we go. Some great hints here are the portions are big enough for two people and the kids portions are big enough for an adult. The sodas can be refilled as well. We always share a soda because of this.
If you want to get in out of the heat head across to the Golden Horseshoe. There is a great show that goes on here during different times of the day but they have some really fun and good food. It just recently has been opened for all day service. May I suggest the Mile High Chocolate Cake that feeds about four for $5.49 or perhaps the Fish and Chips or the Chicken Tenders. Grab a bite to eat, a seat upstairs, and enjoy. (P.S. Secret Bathrooms Upstairs)
Lastly as far as favorites go nothing beats the Riverbelle for Breakfast. This is a must everytime we go. Why? Mickey Mouse Pancakes, need I say more. Made by the same pancake lady that has been making them since I was little right in front of you. With a little powdered sugar on the ears and a cherry nose and pineapple smile it is a must. Here is a tip. The Mark Twain and the Steamboat are both the same price at $7.99. The Steamboat comes with Three pancakes and no biscuit. The Mark Twain is vice versa. It is cheaper to add on a biscuit then a size of pancakes. By doing this it makes it a meal for 2. They do offer indoor and outdoor seating and this a pretty great place to watch Fantasmic at night as well.
A family of 4 can easily survive on $100 a day at Disneyland and advanced reservations can be made for most of the sit down restaurants. All the ones noted above are first come first serve however.
I hope that this wets your whistle a little bit. Again I am sorry for my delay but I didn’t want to keep you hanging if you were needing some help planning a trip. As always I am here to answer any questions.
Disneyland is the Happiest Place On Earth. Be sure to learn how to make the most of your trip by reading the Disneyland Training series. You can also browse all the articles I have posted in an easy to use outline. And if you are ready to book your trip, be sure to read about the perks of using an authorized Disney vacation planner (plus it’s FREE!).
If you love the Monte Cristo sandwiches at Disneyland…the Monte Cristo at Cafe Orleans is cheaper/just as good, if not better, than the ones served at the Blue Bayou. Plus, the Pommes Frites (French Fries sprinkled with Parmesan cheese) at Cafe Orleans are so good. That’s about $23 for a meal for two people. We split the sandwich two-three ways…and share the fries. If you have never dined at the Blue Bayou, make reservations in advance and request a seat close to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Its worth it, at least once, but be prepared to spend some money. We usually go at lunch time, the lunch menu is cheaper and it usually carries us over well into the evening when all we want is a snack cause we are too tired to eat much. We make reservations at least a month in advance. The reservation lady gave us some good advice on what to eat off of each menu and recommended several restaurants for us to try. The beignets at Downtown Disney’s Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, are better than what you can get in the park. They have also shared their recipe available on their website. I made them before our trip, and they were so good, and it makes a ton!
Hungry bear is our favorite too . We go there every time and every one is happy. Nice place to sit down with a view of the water.
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Don’t forget there is a water dispenser in the seating area at rancho that has great cold water and cups – all for free!
There is a dining plan, but it isn’t a good deal from what I hear. You get vouchers, and they don’t give change if your amount isn’t as much as your voucher.
Our favorite places to eat at Disneyland are the Carnation Cafe and Cafe Orleans. Great food and great atmosphere!
We’re headed to Disneyland in a few weeks, so I’m starting to get excited!
Hey guys!! Great post. But, just so you all know…there IS a dining plan for Disneyland. I got mine thru Walt Disney Travel company. My understanding is that you can only get the dining plan if you pair it with park tickets or a whole park/hotel/dining package. You cannot do just dining alone. You get one premium meal which is good for any character dining, you get one quick service meal and one snack per day.
I am sorry about your dad. Thank you for taking the time to do this.
First off my prayers are with your dad, hope everything goes well for him.
Secondly, thank you so much for this! We are going in July and I am printing this out now to take with us :)
Thank you sooo much!
That is a great Idea, I think I will do that to. We go next month.
Thanks for all the kind comments. If you need any help please let me know. DL is my stomping ground. I know it with my eyes closed.
I have a question. This is my first Disney trip ever. My husband has gone but when he was 8. What do you recommend for a first timer.
I’m sorry to hear about your Dad, chemo is rough, but having a supportive family makes all the difference! Thanks for the food updates, I’ve really been helped by all of your updates. We’ll be there in September and you’re helping us out!
Wow, sorry to hear about your dad and you still find time for us. Thanks for all the info and it will come in handy when we go in August.
I have also found that if you are a Disney Vacation club member you get 10% off at almost every restaurant.
Love this post! We will definitely try one of these spots the next time we are at Disneyland.
Thanks for the tips! heading there tomorrow!!
I hope your dad feels better! Thank you for taking the time out to write about Disneyland’s restaurants, so much great information!
U really a lot of details bout Disneyworld(-:
Good articles.