When you imagine theme park food, are you haunted by soggy pizza and chalky hamburgers? If so, you probably have not been to Disneyland Resort lately. The dining options at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park have actually become part of the experience. We have tips to help you have the best dining experience and save money on food at Disneyland Resort, so keep reading.
You Can Bring Your Own Food to Disneyland
This is our favorite of all Disneyland dining tips and the first one we want to share: you can bring your own food into Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park! We always do!
It is not at all against the rules to bring outside food into the Disneyland Resort parks. At the time we are writing this, the only food-related items you are prohibited from bringing into the parks are glass containers (except for small baby food jars), alcohol, loose ice and hard coolers larger than 24” x 15” x 18”. You are allowed to bring reusable ice packs.
You can see the full and current list of park rules and regulations for Disneyland Resort here.
Why You Should Bring Your Own Food to Disneyland
We do think that Disneyland Resort has some delicious and fun dining options, but eating all of your meals at park restaurants can quickly drain your wallet! Instead, we recommend focusing your meal budget on items and restaurants around Disneyland Resort that really excite you. Then, fill in the gaps with food you brought into the parks.
This way, you spend your money where it is going to bring you the most enjoyment. Plus, you avoid running down your vacation budget by grabbing the first thing you see when you (or your kids) get hungry. We also think bringing your own food can be invaluable for guests with food restrictions or particular palettes. Bring what you know will work for your group!
How to Bring your Own Food to Disneyland Resort
Ready to take our advice and bring your own food to Disneyland Resort? We have a whole post with tips on where to get the food, what to bring and how to store it. You can find that post here: Bring Your Own Food to Disneyland.
You Can Bring Water Bottles Into Disneyland
We also always bring reusable water bottles to fill at the water fountains and bottle fillers around Disneyland Resort. We wrote a whole article with tips for bringing water bottles into Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. You can check-out that article here: Can I Bring Water Into Disneyland?
If we need something colder than the water from the bottle fillers, we stop-in to quick service restaurants for free cups of ice water.
Restaurants at Disneyland Resort
Now we come to the food and drink for sale at restaurants and snack stands around Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park and in the neighboring Disneyland Resort Hotels and Downtown Disney District.
Restaurant Categories at Disneyland
Dining options at Disneyland Resort are divided roughly into three categories: table service restaurants, quick service dining and cart/kiosk. Your ordering and dining options will differ depending on these categories, so we are going to go over them below. We are also going to cover dining packages, which can include quick service or table service dining.
You only need to plan your meals in advance if you want to make sure you can eat at a popular table service spot or take advantage of a dining package. Keep reading our Disneyland dining tips for more information on reservations.
What is a Table Service Restaurant at Disneyland Resort?
Table service restaurants are dining locations where you can expect to be seated at a table and helped by the restaurant waitstaff. You will frequently order from a menu, but some buffets are also marked as table-service. Food items are on the spectrum from comfort food to fine dining depending on the spot. You will be presented with a bill at the end of your meal.
Examples of table service restaurants at Disneyland Resort include Napa Rose at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, Lamplight Lounge at Disney California Adventure Park and River Belle Terrace at Disneyland Park.
Some table service restaurants, both in the parks and in the Disneyland Resort Hotels, offer meals with characters. You sit at the table and eat while beloved Disney characters walk around for quick visits and photos. Here is a link to the options Disneyland Resort is currently offering for character dining.
If you want to eat at table service restaurants, you can begin making dining reservations sixty days before your meal. Some popular options, like Fantasmic! dining packages, Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar (at Disneyland Hotel) or the Blue Bayou Restaurant can fill-up on the same morning they open. We have more information on dining reservations later in this article, so please stick with us.
What is Quick Service Dining at Disneyland Resort?
Quick service restaurants are ones where you make your order with a cast member at a register or by using mobile ordering on the Disneyland app. You pay for your food or beverages at the time you make your order. When your items are ready, you will pick them up at the restaurant’s counter (or window) and carry them to the area where you would like to dine.
Some of these quick service restaurants have indoor seating, while others only have tables outside. You are responsible for selecting your own table and clearing it when you are done. You can also take your food “to go.”
Quick service dining options are available all over Disneyland Resort. Examples include Flo’s V8 Cafe in Disney California Adventure Park, Ronto Roasters in Disneyland Park and Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill at Disneyland Hotel.
If you choose to dine at quick service locations, we do recommend taking advantage of mobile ordering for a streamlined experience.
Mobile Ordering at Quick Service Restaurants
Mobile ordering is a feature on the Disneyland app which allows you to select menu items and order them in advance for pick-up at a designated time.
We like mobile ordering because we can peruse menus with our kids and order our selections while we are waiting in line for an attraction. Then, rather than wait in line again at the restaurant, we simply head over to the restaurant when our order is ready and grab the food from the pick-up counter. This saves us stress and time. We use mobile ordering whenever it is an option, even for getting something simple like Dole Whips!
Our Disneyland Mobile Ordering Guide will walk you through the whole process with photos and step by step instructions. We recommend giving that guide a read in advance of your visit and checking out how the Disneyland app works on your own mobile device.
What are Dining Carts and Kiosks at Disneyland Resort?
Disneyland Resort also has dining carts and kiosks. These are exactly what the name implies: small snack stands selling food or beverages. These carts and kiosks are typically set-up next to walkways and serve a limited variety of specific items like popcorn, ice cream bars or soft drinks.
Like quick service restaurants, you will make your order and pay for your items at a register. Unlike quick service restaurants, carts and kiosks typically do not have their own seating, and mobile ordering is usually not available.
It is not particularly important to know the difference between quick service and kiosk locations, and there is sometimes overlap. Still, we want to make you aware that some dining locations offer mobile ordering and seating while others do not.
What Are Dining Packages at Disneyland Resort?
Parades and nighttime spectaculars are extremely popular among guests at Disneyland Resort. Some guests will line-up hours before a performance to secure a preferred viewing location. Dining packages are a way for you to increase your chances of grabbing a favored spot.
Some of these dining packages combine vouchers for designated viewing areas with a meals at particular restaurants. Other packages feature a specific viewing area where paying guests may sit or stand while enjoying desserts, snacks, beverages or a meal during the show.
Dining packages can be reserved in the same way that you make advance dining reservations. These reservations can be extremely popular, especially for Fantasmic! dining packages. If you know you want one of these reservations, book it as close to sixty days out as you can.
Making Dining Reservations at Disneyland Resort
You can make dining reservations for table service restaurants and dining packages up to sixty days before your meal. You will want to open the Disneyland app and navigate to “Reserve Dining” in the menu. Alternatively, you can open the Disneyland website and go to “make reservations.”
From there, you will indicate your group size and desired date and time. If you have some flexibility in dates and times, do not worry, you will have the option to look at multiple dates later in the process.
When you find a location and time that works for you, make your selection, and Disney will walk you through the reservation process. Disney will ask you for payment information before finalizing your reservation. If you fail to show-up for your reservation and do not cancel within a designated window of time, you will be charged a no-show fee. Be sure to check the policies when you book and cancel any reservations you do not plan to use!
Essential Disneyland Dining Tips
- Use the Disneyland app (or website) to review menu items and prices in advance of your trip: it is a fun way to get excited in preparation for your visit. Plus, it could help you save time and money later if you know what to expect.
- Save money and guarantee you have access to your favorite options by bringing your own food to Disneyland Resort. And, do not forget to bring a reusable water bottle!
- Use mobile ordering to lower stress and wait times when dining at quick service locations. Be sure to check-out our guide in advance: Disneyland Mobile Ordering Guide
- Have a must-do table service meal or want to grab a dining package? Make your reservations on the Disneyland app or website sixty days before that meal! Just be sure to cancel any reservations you will not use to avoid a charge.
- There are lots of great places to eat at Disneyland Resort and a variety of food and beverages. Need help deciding on where to dine? Start with our list here: 5 Best Places to Eat at Disneyland Resort Parks
Thanks for reading our tips for dining at Disneyland Resort.
Making plans for dining is step five in our Step-by-Step Prep series for Disneyland Resort. You can find links to our first four steps here:
Step 1: Choose Your Best Travel Dates
Step 2: Select Admission Tickets and Make Park Reservations
Step 3: Arrange Transportation
Step 4: Book a Hotel Near Disneyland
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