Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Last November, I packed up my wife and kids and headed off for a whirlwind ten-day vacation in Southern California. Our base of operations was Disneyland, where we would be spending most of our time and money.

I found deals everywhere I could, from the airline tickets to the online park hopper passes to the wonderful hotel around the corner from Disneyland’s main gate. In fact, I can’t recommend the Candy Cane Inn more highly. Our nine nights at this highly-rated, but inexpensive, hotel were perfect, from the quiet rooms to the morning breakfast by the pool.

So, we saved a lot of money on these items.

One of the more important things you have to budget for is food. I mean, you gotta eat. Usually three times a day, plus a couple of snacks. Walking around Disneyland really speeds up the metabolism.

Here is my recommendation for those of you with hungry families traveling to Disneyland for an extended stay.

Screw the food budget.

Seriously, you’re on vacation! One of the biggest pleasures of getting away from home is being able to eat well. Why ruin your vacation with a mouthful of cardboard pizza and a regretful stomach ache?

There are plenty of places in and around Disneyland where you can enjoy some delicious meals for lunch and dinner, and most of them aren’t as expensive as you’d think. Here are my recommendations for must-eat restaurants with your family.

PB&J creation at the Carnation Cafe

Most people walk right by the Carnation Cafe. It’s tucked away in an alley halfway down Main Street, and it’s easy to think it’s nothing special.

But the Carnation Cafe is our favorite eatery in Disneyland, simply because the food is so good and the staff is the friendliest in the park. My kids have a real soft spot for the PB&J Artist’s Palette, which comes with a mix of ingredients for the making of an epic peanut butter sandwich. For the grown-ups, the Croissant Chicken Club and the Cafe Chef Salad are fresh and delicious, and each around $11.

A similarly casual restaurant is the Cafe Orleans, situated near the entrance to Pirates of the Caribbean in New Orleans Square. The outdoor eating area can’t be beat, with views of the entire square and the Rivers of America. Most fun is simply watching the people go by as they hurry to the Haunted Mansion or Splash Mountain. It’s another restaurant that most people miss because they’re focused in on the rides and forget there’s more to eat in Disneyland than just burgers and pizza.

Monte Cristo Sandwich at Cafe Orleans

At Cafe Orleans, there’s really only one thing you should order. Their legendary Monte Cristo Sandwich is a mouthwatering combination of sliced turkey, ham, and swiss cheese fried in a light batter and served with berry purée and dusted with powdered sugar. Oh sure, they have other items on the menu, but I don’t know what they are. We always get the Monte Cristo, a bargain at $15.99.

Not far away, across from the Indiana Jones Adventure in Adventureland, is the quick and easy Bengal Barbecue. This is a walk-up counter that offers a variety of shish kebabs. We tried the spicy beef, the veggie, and the bacon-wrapped asparagus. The Bengal Barbecue also offers the yummiest grilled bread sticks in the park, as well as pretzels shaped like Mickey Mouse. This is definitely the best of the “fast food” locations in the park.

My last recommendation inside the park is the most expensive, but also the most memorable. The Blue Bayou Restaurant is located inside the same building as the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It’s this unique setting that makes it such a fun place to dine. As you eat, you watch boats full of people drift slowly past. Some visitors might even think you’re part of the ride. The perpetually moonlit night creates a magical atmosphere, and as you look out over the water at the flittering fireflies in the trees, it’s not difficult to imagine that you’ve just sat down on the patio of a Louisiana restaurant.

Prime rib at The Blue Bayou

But what about the food? Dinner entrees begin at $28 for adults, around $10 for kids. But beware, children 10 and older must order from the adult menu! For a family of four, it’s most likely going to run upwards of $100, and you’ll be asking yourself if it’s worth the experience. I’m happy to say the food is well worth it. The Blue Bayou should be the one meal you really splurge on. Not just for the atmosphere, but for the most excellent Five-Pepper Prime Rib and the Cajun-Spiced Salmon. We didn’t stick around for dessert, but I hear they have the best sweets in the park.

These four suggestions should keep your stomachs satisfied for a couple of days or more. If you’re at Disneyland longer, I suggest heading to Downtown Disney, just outside the main gate, for a few meals. I highly recommend the gumbo at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, as well as the Sonoma Valley Chicken at Storytellers Cafe in the Grand Californian Hotel. In fact, the dinner buffet at Storytellers is the best you’ll find in the area. And you’ll pay for it at $28.99 for adults (again, anyone over 9 years old).

Dinner buffet at Storytellers Cafe

Other restaurants in Downtown Disney are also of very high quality. There’s really not a bad one in the bunch. The only one that comes close to offering mediocre food is Rainforest Cafe, but you don’t go there for the food. The Rainforest Cafe is all about the atmosphere, and dazzling your kids with the sounds and sights of a tropical jungle.

Again, if you’re planning a major vacation to Disneyland, find your savings anywhere but in the food budget. Eating well, and not worrying about it, will make a big difference in the enjoyment of your time there.