FOOD
Food. Food at Disneyland. Just saying that my mouth waters and I have thoughts of hardy pastas, sweet sugary desserts and tasty beverages, all with the added touch only Disney can provide. For many, myself included, one of, if not the best part of the Disney vacation is the food. Let me begin by addressing, what is usually the second thought, right after food, many people then think expensive! Disney is a theme park and as theme parks go there is a stigma about the food and about how expensive it can be. I will say from my experience that this can be true, but many of the locations throughout Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are delicious, affordable and filling. I will take the time to mention a few of my favorites as well as showcase specialty items and fun-themed treats and snacks throughout the parks.
My take on food at the parks is this, I know they're probably not going to be the most healthy, although healthy options are available, so this is completely my choice. I also understand and accept that even though I believe the prices to be reasonable, they are certainly more expensive than eating at home or getting fast food outside the parks.
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TIP: Just a tip, the McDonald's on Harbor Blvd. directly across the street from Disneyland is slightly more expensive than the others that are only a mile or so further. If you have your own transportation, I recommend driving a bit further and saving some money and also, the McDonald's on Harbor gets very crowded.
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Food Categories at Disney Parks
At the Disney parks they categorize their food into a few categories. Knowing these categories will help you understand what type of food might be served there, how much it will cost and from that how crowded it might be and whether you need to dress any different for the occasion.
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The different categories are:
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Quick Service locations are many times setup cafeteria style or similar to fast food. At many locations you order at a cashier, then take your receipt to the counter and they hand you your food and you then search for a table.
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Table Service locations are sit-down restaurants that generally have a wait staff who services you. There are no dress code restrictions, however I believe they ask that you have on shoes and a shirt. There are only a few locations inside the parks, but among them are the famous Blue Bayou restaurant in Disneyland.
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Fine Dining locations, such as the Carthay Circle restaurant in Disney California Adventure park or the Napa Rose at the Grand Californian Hotel and Spa are considered fine dining. There are also no dress code restrictions, however in my experience, people tend to stand out if they're wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I've eaten at Carthay Circle recently, February 6, 2018 for my girlfriend's birthday. We dressed up to a "business casual" standard, but we felt this was appropriate, and upon arriving, many of the other patrons did as well. We did see a family come in wearing shorts and t-shirts, perfectly acceptable seeing how they're tromping through the parks all day, but again, if you're able to wear something nicer, I recommend it, not just for appearances to others, but I believe that you will feel better about it. For example inside the Carthay Circle restaurant, the decor is mid-Century luxury, and we felt that by us being dressed up added to our experience, we felt we fit into the narrative being played out with the theme of the restaurant. This is just my opinion, feel free to take it however you please.
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Snacks. Last but certainly not least, the wonderful, delicious and fun snacks offered at the parks, Downtown Disney, the hotels, every where on property are lovely snacks! Snacks average $5.00 per item and include some of the most popular and what I would call Disney staples when it comes to food. The Disney churro and popcorn, beloved by Disney fans, these are not your ordinary churro's or popcorn. These are somehow transformed, made with magic and memories of our childhood. I love getting a churro at Disneyland, they're always fresh and warm, I have not had a churro from any place else that even comes close to matching Disneyland's. Snacks are found in many locations including shops, outdoor vending (ODV) carts and as last minute items near the registers inside the quick service restaurants. Other favorites include the Mickey premium bar, vanilla ice cream coated in milk chocolate. A fantastic treat on a warm day in the park. The Mickey Pretzel, a cute Mickey shaped pretzel, add a side a gooey cheese sauce and it's practically a meal in itself.
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Many people, myself included end up skipping full meals throughout our day in Disneyland and instead opt to have smaller snack items spread across the day. The items are tasty and being the nature of the snacks they are small enough to hold in your hand, you can usually eat them on the go or while waiting in line for an attraction; and to purchase them, the lines can often be shorter.
