So this week, we booked our dining reservations. The first few times I went to Disneyland, we had no dining reservations and did not even eat at a sit down restaurant. However, I have to say, since doing so, that it is definitely worth it to book at least one fancy lunch or dinner while in Disneyland. You are on vacation, after all!
Along with standard dining reservation, Disneyland also allows you to make dining reservations that include premium fast passes for Fantasmic! in Disneyland park and World of Color in California Adventure. From what I am aware of, the Fantasmic! Dining package is fairly new, as it was not in place when I was at the park 2 years ago. But I am really happy to see they have started a fast pass system and look forward to seeing what it will be like this time around. Previously, you just had to find a spot to stand/sit in New Orleans Square and hope you got a good view and someone wouldn't be shoving you over to see.
For Fantasmic! You are only able to book a dinner, and the time you eat will decide on which showing of Fantasmic your fast pass will be for. The two showings are 9:00 and 10:00, so if you have dinner before 6, it's guaranteed you will be getting the 9:00 passes, With the Fantasmic! Dining option you have two restaurants to choose from:
Blue Bayou Restaurant, at $61.00 per adult and $23.00 for children ages 3-9
Dining starts at 4 pm and includes a starter, entree, non alcoholic drink, and dessert. It's a Prix-Fixe menu, but I'm pretty sure it's almost all the same options you get otherwise. Based on the prices of their dinner this is actually a very good price, depending on what you are planning on eating. Not only do you not have to worry about picking up Fantasmic fast passes, but you also get a great three course meal for almost the same, if not less what you would be paying to eat at the Blue Bayou anyways.
Blue Bayou is in high demand and it is always recommended that you make reservations if you want to eat there, whether fantasmic or not.
River Belle Terrace,at $41.99 per adult, $21.99 per child ages 3-9
If you're bringing kids, the price for children is not much different. River Belle Terrace is also a buffet style meal, so it all depends on whether you would like a fancy meal or something more casual such as this.
We decided on Blue Bayou purely for the atmosphere. I feel that even if the food isn't perfect, its something everyone should experience at least one time in Disneyland. However, I was planning to book our Fantasmic! meal on a Tuesday, but it just wasn't popping up, even when I waited until less than 60 days before I wanted to eat there. We called to discover that they do not do fantasmic shows during the week in their slower seasons. So if you are planning to go in the fall or any slow season, make sure you have a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday in the park, as those are the only showing days.
Now for World of Color. With World of Color, you have your choice of three restaurants. Two offer lunch or dinner, and one only dinner. The lunch option will most certainly get you into the first showing of World of Color. Once again, menus are Prix-Fixe but include a starter, entree, non-alcoholic drink and dessert. Here are the options:
Ariel's Grotto: DINNER ONLY $45.35 Adults and $23.75 children ages 3-9
Ariel's Grotto has mediocre food at best, and the service is not the best, as they are constantly busy. I can only recommend this option if you or your children REALLY want to meet all the Disney Princesses, as this is the easiest way to meet Snow White, Belle, Aurora, Cinderella, and of course, Ariel. Other than Ariel, whom you must meet and take a photo with before you are seated, each princess makes the rounds during dinner and will come to your table to chat, take photos/ sign autograph books. If this is a must for you, then choose this restaurant.
Wine Country Trattoria: Lunch $32.39 adults $20.50 ages 3-9
Dinner $45.35 adults $23.75 ages 3-9
Speaking from experience, Wine Country has amazing food and good service. This is a great choice for your party whether it includes children or not. This is the option we chose, and we chose to go for lunch. We also chose this option for our World of Color dining when we went to Disneyland two years ago. Lunch is very reasonably priced. We also found that it wasn't super busy, and it's also nice and tucked away, so if you're wanting a little quiet and a great view of the park, this one's a winner.
Dinner $63.73 Adults $21.60 ages 3-9
This is by far the most expensive option for World of Color and the only one I have not eaten at myself. However, if the menu itself and the look appeals to you, go for it! The blurb suggests that the food is the flavors of Southern California.
All in all, I feel that if you are going to book a more expensive dinner, or were planning to eat at one of these restaurants anyways, it is certainly worth it to make it a Dining Event reservation and get a little extra. It saves the stress of remembering to pick up your own Fast Passes, and you get much better viewing areas then others do. There are tiers within the restaurant options, with the most expensive options being closest to the action. So prepare to get a little wet!
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