As Magic Key holders, we spent a good number of days in 2023 visiting both Disneyland Resort parks and an equal amount of time dining there. I’ve curated a quick guide for parents to consider when planning their trip to the resort. I added a couple of bonus eateries which include Downtown Disney. My goal is to help you save some money and disappointment, I know first-hand that dining with little kids can be a challenge and meals are not cheap at the resort. Let’s get right into it!
2023 Winners
Ballast Point
Okay, this is by far my favorite option both for parents and kids. The menu matches the value of their pricing and they actually have good quality food options for children. The atmosphere is so relaxed and offers a fun escape for parents where they can sip on brew which they have a wide selection to chose from. You do have to exit the parks to walk out to Downtown Disney but I find that it offers a nice escape and again is worth the money spent. Much better than spending the same amount of money at the parks to dine somewhere where the food is subpar.
Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta
Eating here is sort of a two-part equation. We dined here once and I was not pleased with the food options for adults as the food was served cafeteria style. The pricing was appropriate for the meal served but again, it felt like cafeteria food. As for kids, they have classic options that parents may appreciate . Think spaghetti, pizza, mac n’ cheese.
While I initially gave this place a thumbs down, it’s the last sentence that has made us return. Not for us but for our four-year-old daughter. She likes her classic options. And this is where I’ll make a recommendation, DCA has tons of great places for older teens/adults to try. If you have a little one who is not adventureous in their eating I would highly recommend grabbing their food here as takeaway and grabbing outdoor seating (which there is plenty of) and have parents order some yummy food that they actually want to eat.
Paradise Garden Grill
Here it is, this is where we use Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta located at DCA to our advantage. This eatery is right next door to Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta. We normally pick up food for my daughter there while one of us finds seating and lets her get a head start at dining. Then the other parent leaves to order our food to bring back. And let me tell you, Paradise Garden does not disappoint!
If you appreciate Mexican food, parents this is a must. And don’t get me started on their Mango Candy Cocktails ($17 but such a treat!) Between food selection and beverage options I highly recommend eating here if you plan to visit DCA.
Cafe Orleans
Definitely one of my favorite places to eat at Disney, and this goes for the whole family. Great value for what you pay for. Mint Juleps, Monte Cristo, Cesear Salad, and kids mac are a hit . We’ve dine in and outdoors and both offer a great experience. If you’re thinking of making dining reservations, then spend your money here. Wine and beer also served here.
River Belle Terrance
Located at Disneyland, this is such a sweet place to bring a princess or a date! We have opted to sit outside so we can people watch a bit but also to give our daughter the freedom to get out of her seat if needed. The food matches the value of the price but it isn’t anything fantastic. My daughter did love the mac n’ cheese there though!
Bayside Brews
Located inside DCA this makes for a great pit stop to enjoy a beer. I love DCA because of all their outdoor seating and it’s a great time to sit back and rest while kids fuel up on an afternoon snack and rest their feet.
2023 Losers
Tortilla Jo’s
Subpar. The atmosphere looks inviting but the quality and taste of the food is not good. Save your money and dine elsewhere. They didn’t have many kids food options either so it’s disappointing when not even one member of your family has a good experience. I’m glad I didn’t even order a cocktail here, maybe at some point in the future I’ll go back but definitely not any time soon. There are just so many other better options and new places for me to try.
Flo’s V8 Cafe
Flo’s is located inside DCA and it’s adorable diner theme is cute but beware and proceed with caution! I’ve heard and read good reviews about this place and I’m sad to report we were not fans. Adult dishes were again, very much cafeteria style. I expect so much more from a Disneyland Resort. And not to mention that when I ordered chicken strips, they were spicy! I couldn’t even finish my plate. Even the kids mac n’ cheese didn’t look too appetizing but we were all hungry for dinner so even my daughter didn’t complaint. One positive to Flo’s is that they do serve beers, which we enjoyed with our meal. This is a place that I may eventually revisit because I really wanted to like it, but we’ll see.
Looking Forward to 2024
With a new year comes new experiences, we plan to renew our passes this year and I’ll continue to share the gems and pitfalls as we come across them. The goal is to share them as we go versus doing an end of year-round up, which we’ll still end up doing to highlight the good and bad.
xoxo,
The Sun Queen
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