Staff writer Brian Bennett’s February 23rd column “Go West Young Man,” about his recent trip to Disneyland, inspired the following readers to write Brian with their comments and questions. Paul B. writes:
When planning trips to the Disneyland Resort, also check the Long Beach and Burbank airports. I’ve seen fares to Long Beach for as little as $189 round trip (including taxes). With some of the low-fare carriers serving these airports, it is possible to fly very cheaply with a little planning. Long Beach is a small airport and actually very easy to get through. It reminds me of a 1940s airport (except for some changes they made for homeland security. I enjoyed you article and agree with your take on the experience of each park. I love them both as well.
Thanks for the note and the additional information!
Elizabeth writes:
You missed all the good food at Disneyland. The Mexican restaurant over by Big Thunder Mountain, the French Market right there in New Orleans Square, and the Village Haus over in Fantasyland (oh my gosh, they have the best bacon cheeseburgers!); and you missed the corn dog cart on Main Street! Best corn dog on the planet!
Blue Bayou is too overpriced and in my opinion they just don’t have very good food. I have eaten there many times and have just given up on the place. Storytellers Cafe is, as you say, just OK. I do love the bread they give you while waiting for your meal, though. Down at the Disneyland Hotel there is the Granville Steak House (name has recently changed to Steak House 55). I have only had breakfast there but it is a wonderful meal. I plan on trying the dinner on my next visit.
Also down by the Disneyland Hotel is Hook’s Pointe. I have only eaten there once but the filet mignon, with garlic mash potatoes, was very yummy indeed. I don’t particularly like any of the food in Downtown Disney. I’ve eaten at several places and the food and service just don’t do it for me. And you missed White Water Snacks. This is located at the Grand Californian Hotel (near Storyteller). You will need to visit again so you can hit all these restaurants.
I’ll be back at the Disneyland Resort next year, so I’ll certainly try some of the restaurants you’ve suggested.
I did eat at all of the restaurants you suggested (Granville’s Steak House (Steak House 55 now), Rancho del Zocalo, the French Market, Village Haus, and White Water Snacks) on previous trips, but all of those meals were at least six years ago. I’ll make sure to give them all another try
I’ve never eaten at Hook’s Pointe, though, so I’ll make sure to give it a try. I also wanted to have some skewers at Bengal Barbecue, but we just never got around to it. Hopefully we will next year.
Pat G. writes:
Thanks for your Go West Young Man article of 23 February. I found it very interesting to see a Disneyland resort visit from an East Coast perspective.
At the end of your article you mentioned you were looking forward to trying the new Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse in Anaheim. My advice would be to not get your hopes up and try to get someone else to pay. Better yet, go somewhere else.
There are a number of these upscale, overhyped steakhouses throughout the country. I’ve tried Ruth’s Chris as well as Shula’s. Both were just OK and simply not worth the beyond-overpriced expense. At such restaurants, everything is a la carte. Thus, a simple steak dinner with a salad, loaded baked potato and a drink will set you back over $80. In my experiences, the steaks were very thick, but no better in quality than a typical Outback.
Certainly, Ruth’s Chris and Shula’s were nowhere near the quality of the Yachtsman’s Steakhouse at Walt Disney World in ambience, entrées or service. (In fact, at Ruth’s Chris, I had to demand a table by the window, none of which were occupied, when they wanted to seat me in a dark corner by the bathroom.) I hear Granville’s at the Disneyland Hotel is a very good steakhouse. You might try this restaurant if it hasn’t already been renamed and rethemed.
I don’t mind paying for a very good steak dinner. Unfortunately, I didn’t find a very good steak dinner at Ruth’s Chris. But I certainly had to pay.
You’ve convinced me to try Yachtsman Steakhouse again. It’s been a long, long time since Barbara and I have eaten there and I remembered it as being much like you described your experiences at Ruth’s Chris and Shula’s. However, since it’s close and it’s been so long… I’ll make sure to try it again soon.
Richard Mercer writes:
I really enjoyed your article, in part because it was just fun to read, but also because it is very, very similar to my own recent experience at Disneyland. I even wrote a summary that the Passporter site is threatening to run on March 8 (no promises, of course). One important difference is that it was my first time at Disneyland Resort.
“Several weeks ago” describes my stay as well, January 24-28, and I was also their for a convention, except mine was in Irvine on the 26th and 27th, so I was only at Disneyland on the 24th and 25th. I also stayed at the Howard Johnson, for two nights. I could also kick myself for not using the Entertainment rate. Although we buy the book every year, I’d given up using it on hotels.
I only paid $129 from Disney.com for my 3-day park hopper due to a “play at kid’s rate” promotion. Sadly I never used the 3rd day, but at least I got to use it for early entry.
Since I was traveling alone, I wasn’t as ambitious in my dining as you were. But I did eat breakfast at Mimi’s, which was wonderful. I wish I’d eaten a couple more meals there. My only sit-down meal in the parks was at Café Orleans. The atmosphere (outdoor seating) was great but the food was so-so. It was my own fault for ordering the Monte Cristo, which was a lot greasier than I would have wished. Did you consider dining at Downtown Disney or the hotels?
I agree with you about the Aladdin show, the best live show in U.S. Disney parks, but I think second place now has to go to the new Finding Nemo show in Animal Kingdom (I love the Beauty & the Beast show for sentimental reasons, but have to admit it’s not as good a stage show).
I also missed Fantasmic, and the fireworks show, and the Electrical parade, because they don’t play on weekdays during slow season.
Yes, we did eat at Naples in Downtown Disney one night, but that was our only meal there. We also ate at Storytellers Cafe one night at the Grand Californian. Sounds like you had a great time, even if you missed some things due to the season.
John writes:
After being a Disneyland Annual Passholder for five years (and a lifelong Disneyland regular), the wife and I finally made it to Walt Disney World in September (for the pin event and to spend a week at the parks.)
I couldn’t think of an answer when asked which I liked better, but you have nailed the difference of the coasts: time. Three days is enough for Disneyland I believe because of its size. It has more attractions than the Magic Kingdom (count them if you don’t believe it), but you can cover the area quicker. You need the extra days at Walt Disney World to see the other two parks, travel to everything and recover from all the walking.
As for dining, sorry we didn’t make the cut. Blue Bayou is all about atmosphere now that they’ve changed the menu. If you really need a Monte Cristo, head to Cafe Orleans next door for a lower priced version.
And a tip for off-site dining that’s near: Dave & Buster’s at The Block at Orange (about three miles south of the Disneyland Resort). My wife calls it Chuck E. Cheese for adults. Great food, full bar and games, including those that give out tickets.
P.S. Our Pirates is better because it’s longer.
You mentioned that, “You need the extra days at Walt Disney World to see the other two parks, travel to everything and recover from all the walking.” However, there are actually three “other” parks (with the Magic Kingdom being the original, of course) not to mention the water parks, miniature golf, and other things.
Also you wrote, “P.S. Our Pirates is better because it’s longer.” I agree that the Disneyland version is better. What I meant is that I had higher expectations of the Jack Sparrow overlay because I’d read that Disneyland’s (overlay) was more extensive than the Magic Kingdom’s whereas the overlay changes were almost identical.
David writes:
Obviously Pirates at Disneyland is better because it’s always been better, but you are mostly right that as far as the new things go, Disney World and Disneyland got the same improvements.
But there is one thing about the improvements at Disneyland you may not have noticed that I think makes a world of difference. This is the placement of where the Davy Jones effect is. You’ll notice that one of the phrases he says is, “Ah…but they do tell tales” or “Tales there be a plenty.” This is in response to “Dead Men Tell No Tales.”
In the Florida version, you hear this Davy Jones right away. This is before you even get a chance to hear “Dead Men Tell no Tales.” Maybe you hear it once or see it on a sign in the queue, but to suddenly hear, “Ahh, but they do tell tales,” makes no story sense.
The reason why is that it was not designed to be put in that spot. In the Disneyland version, you first see a bunch of dead pirates who truly are telling no tales. You hear that voice over and over that they tell no tales. Then you go through the dark tunnel and see Davy Jones say “Ahh…but they do tell tales.” And sure enough, right after that is when you get to the big pirate ship and start to see pirates come to life “telling tales.”
So it’s just some little things like that which point to that the new effects were truly designed for the Disneyland version. Just thought I’d point that out for you.
I completely agree.
Louise H. writes:
I recently re-read your review of your visit to the parks and the surrounding area and had to comment on your view of the Pirates of the Caribbean changes. Many Disneyland purists didn’t take to the idea of any changes being made to the attraction. I think the changes were very well done. During your next visit, watch Jack in the barrel. His animatronics are pretty good (he turns to look at the barking dog at one point). Sorry you were disappointed, but the changes were not meant to be an overlay of the movie. The attraction is, after all, the inspiration for the movies, not the other way around. A rumor surfaced on a Disney-related Web site (maybe this one) that the Aztec gold chest in the Disneyland Pirates attraction is the one from the first movie.
Next time you’re in Anaheim you might consider staying at one of the motels on Harbor or Katella Boulevard. My favorite motel is the Carousel Inn and Suites. They are a five-minute walk to the Park and offer a modest continental breakfast. They recently rebricked their driveway and there is now a Quizno’s sandwich shop on the premises. The Candy Cane Inn is also fairly nice. They have their own shuttle that takes you to the entrance. Both motels have microwaves and refrigerators in all rooms.
Have fun on your next visit.
I wasn’t disappointed in the Pirates changes because it wasn’t an overlay of the movie but rather because I had higher expectations because I’d read that Disneyland’s (overlay) was more extensive than the Magic Kingdom’s. As it turned out, the changes were almost identical.
Also, you wrote, “Next time you’re in Anaheim you might consider staying at one of the motels on Harbor or Katella Boulevard.” Actually, the Howard Johnson’s is on Harbor. It’s just the northernmost one on the Harbor strip before I-5. I tried to make reservations at both the Carousel Inn and Suites and the Candy Cane Inn. Unfortunately, both were booked solid for at least some of the days during our trip and we didn’t want to move from one hotel to another during the week. Next year, I’ll try to plan further in advance.
Rae M. writes:
I really enjoyed your article about your recent stay at Disneyland. It brought back similar memories of my trip last September so I could run in the inaugural Disneyland Half Marathon. That was such a super event. I also stayed at Howard Johnson—my second stay there. They are super friendly and helpful. I thought their little gift shop was great and not overpriced like a lot of hotel gift shops. I totally agree with you about Mimi’s—I ate there also. I ended up eating there for my “pasta-load” dinner because Disney cancelled my dinner reservations as they were having a private party.
While I didn’t have problems with plane reservations I almost missed my bus for the trip home. Wouldn’t you expect if you took the Disney express bus from the airport and it was totally decorated with Disney characters much like Walt Disney World that would be what you would look for on the return trip? Well not so. As it turned out the bus was just another big, white, ordinary bus. Thankfully a very nice bus driver asked me which bus I was waiting for. He told me I had missed that bus and was nice enough to take me to the Disneyland Hotel to catch another bus to the airport.
I certainly agree with you about staying off property at Disneyland however, if you are running in the half marathon event the on-property hotels are closer to the start/finish area.
Thanks for your note! I wish you luck in the Minnie Marathon.
Dave W. writes:
Brian, I enjoyed your article about your recent trip to Disneyland Resort. I agree with you after my first trip to Walt Disney World last December, that Dinning is far better in Walt Disney World. Disney needs to transfer some foods management people from Orlando to Disneyland Resort to show them how it’s done.
Thanks for the note, Dave. I agree.
