The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (235 page)

             
This raveworthy
Carthay Circle Theatre
libation is a confection of Pimm’s (gin, fruit, liqueur, spices), more gin, lemonade, and strawberry.  A standout among the
Carthay Circle Theatre
’s many outstanding beverages, Guests can’t recommend it highly enough.  Major bonus points for the elegant
Carthay
ambiance in which you sip it.  Brilliant!  Cheerio!


        
Pomegranate Limeades*
(
DCA
)

             
A Guest favorite, the
Pomegranate Limeade
is available at
Cone #3
at the
Cozy Cone Motel
in
Cars Land
.  Sparkling, bright, and tart, this is a real thirst-quencher in warm weather and a terrific pick-me-up anytime.  The lemon-lime foam is the kicker!  The non-alcoholic version sells for around $4; Guests who choose to add vodka pay closer to $8.


        
Red’s Apple Freezes
(
DCA
)

             
This Guest favorite is another
Cozy Cone
concoction, available at
Cone #4
.  Frozen apple juice is topped with passion fruit-mango foam—and do you detect a trace of toasted marshmallow?  Yes.  Yes, you do.  That subtle touch might be the element that propels this drink onto Guest “Top 10” lists.  Who is
Red
, anyway? 
Radiator Springs
’ fire truck.  You can sip an apple freeze while you and your little ones queue to meet him.


        
Wine Flights*
(
DCA
)

             
DCA
was meant to be a more grown-up park than
Disneyland
from day one, and the wine tasting options at the
Golden Vine Winery
remain part and parcel of that mission.  Even after
DCA
’s major renovations, and the introduction of much more family fun to the park, wine aficionados can still find a wealth of wine-tasting and cheese-tasting opportunities at the winery’s restaurant and lounges.  Consult the menus and ask the servers to recommend wine flights for you.  Whether you’re partial to white, red, or sparkling vintages, there’s something here to pique your interest.


        
Zebra Cocoa
(
DL
)

             
If you love chocolate, and you love hot cocoa, you’d have loved the
Zebra Cocoa
at the
Market House
on
Main Street
.  This off-the-menu specialty blended white chocolate and cocoa for a piping hot treat that warmed you on a cold day at the park.  Better than mittens!  But now that the new
Market House
sells
Starbucks
’ products, you’ll have to opt for a white-chocolate mocha instead.

Dining Spots

              [R = Call (714) 781-DINE or email
[email protected]
for Priority Seating or Reservations]


        
Blue Bayou
(
DL
) (R)

             
Gracious dining in a nighttime bayou setting so realistic you’ll think you’ve been transported to the garden of a Louisiana manor of New Orleans’ pirate era—particularly when boats from
Pirates of the Caribbean
drift by!  This
Pirates
-adjacent restaurant opened with the attraction in 1967.  On this bayou, crickets chirp and fireflies twinkle.  Linen napkins, flickering candles, paper lanterns, and attentive service at a leisurely pace set the backdrop for delicious surf and turf dishes.  The signature Monte Cristos, steaks, and fish dishes enchant.  Arrange your table in advance, bring plenty of money, and warn kids to mind their Ps & Qs (yes, there is a children’s menu).  As one Guest put it, summarizing the general consensus, the
Blue Bayou
is “a great place to enjoy a meal for a special event or celebration”.  Prepare to relax and melt into the beautiful setting with melt-in-your-mouth bayou cooking.  If you’re a first-time
Blue Bayou
diner, tell the host or hostess and request a water-side table for an extra touch of
magic
.


        
Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta
(
DCA
)

             
Hard to believe this classy Meditteranean buffeteria in
Paradise Pier
used to be
Pizza Oom Mow Mow
, a surf shack with a thatched roof and over-priced pizzas.  The generic fare is gone; now you’ll find tasty slices of brick-oven pizza, and tempting pasta dishes cooked fresh while you wait.  (Ask servers and cooks about gluten-free options.)  Rich lemon and espresso desserts round out the meal.  Seating is plentiful in the surrounding
Paradise Bay Gardens
, and musicians often play on the band stand.  Great food and pleasant surroundings make this a mid-priced “must”.


        
Carthay Circle Theatre
(
DCA
) (R)

             
DCA
’s new premiere dining establishment is the crown jewel of the park’s billion-dollar renovations, a replica of the famed
Carthay Circle Theatre
where
Snow White
premiered in 1937.  Call, email, or visit in advance to secure your table.  Enjoy jazzy renditions of
Disney
tunes and unique beverages and apps in the downstairs lounge before being whisked upstairs (there’s an elevator for the mobility-challenged) to the elegant dining rooms or outside terraces.  Menus planned by
Disneyland
’s gifted uber-chef
Andrew Sutton
include meat, fish, fowl, pasta, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.  There’s even a savory burger with a gourmet price tag.  Wines and beers sparkle, and servers can help you select the best beverage for your meal.  It’s a
Disney
park, so children are welcome and have their own special menu.  Don’t leave without trying a signature dessert.  It’s all terrifically expensive, but it’s hard to put a price on a leisurely meal amid fine surroundings and classic
Disney
photographs and memorabilia.  Terrace diners have the added bonus of people-watching high above
Buena Vista Street
.


        
Corn Dog Castle
(
DCA
)

             
Cosy up to this unprepossessing and kitschy yet much-beloved “castle” in
Paradise Pier
, one of the few snack stands in the parks to have its own lengthy queue.  Yes, it’s
that
popular—so popular it was spared the axe during
Paradise Pier
’s dramatic, multi-year transformation.  Guests line up in droves for the outstanding corn dogs and fried cheese sticks; passers-by assume the line must be for a ride or show!  A limited menu means lines move faster than you expect.  Prices are reasonable, and there’s plenty of seating nearby.  Add it all up, and a stop at the
Corn Dog Castle
is a royal—if high-calorie—treat.


        
Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop
(
DCA
)

             
Described by one fan as “a bit pricey, but worth every penny in decadence and deliciousness,” this “little gem” near the wharf dishes and scoops unique temptations that Guests rave about long after their visits end.  Everything is delicious, but particularly recommended are the
Nob Hill Chill
(covered in the “Beverages” section above) and the
Intense Dark Midnight Reveries Sundae
which is large enough (and rich enough) for two to share and affectionately nicknamed “death by chocolate”.  Grab plenty of napkins with your treat!  Seating is abundant on the wharf.


        
Hearthstone Lounge
(
Grand Californian
)

             
As a visitor at the
Disneyland Resort
, you’re welcome to utilize the shops and restaurants at the
Disneyland Resort
hotels even if you’re not staying at the hotels.  That includes this serene gem on the ground floor of the
Grand Californian
.  Tall windows framed by book shelves admit natural light that washes over the Arts-and-Crafts furniture and décor.  Cosy armchairs flank the crackling hearth.  Window seats offer views of the lush hotel grounds.  Stop in for wine, beer, a cocktail, or one of the lounge’s delectable coffee drinks.  Stay for a quiet word with friends and loved ones in front of the fire or near the quietly stunning garden views.  No muss, no fuss, “far from the madd’ing crowds”.  The
Grand Californian
’s smoking area, a grand exterior hearth, is located just outside the lounge.


        
Hungry Bear
(
DL
)

             
Fun for the whole family and ideally located near several kid-friendly spots, the
Hungry Bear
is a sure winner if you have small ones in tow.  Kids will love the cosy ambiance, bear statues, and the proximity to
Splash Mountain
, the
Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
, and
Pooh Corner
.  And, oh yes—the
Haunted Mansion
and
Tom Sawyer Island
are just down the trail.  Grown-ups will appreciate the reasonable price points and the sprawling, conveniently located restroom complex on the ground level.  The down-home menu of burgers, fried green tomato sandwiches, and sweet potato fries offers something for everyone.  The views can’t be beat; the train passes the upper deck so closely you can almost reach out and touch the engine when it passes, and both the upper and lower decks, with their plentiful seating, boast vistas of the
Rivers of America
,
Tom Sawyer Island
, and the canoes, the
Mark Twain
sternwheeler, and the
Sailing Ship Columbia
.  Relax in the shade of the evergreens, and let the kids be a little messy; no one minds in this casual environment.  Children love to toss bits of fries to the ducks in the river (although signs ask Guests
not
to feed the animals), or to try to spot the charcoal cat that calls the
Hungry Bear
porches home.


        
Little Red Wagon
(
DL
)

             
The original corn dog cart at
Disneyland
, this red wagon on
Main Street
sits in the shadow of the
Plaza Inn
.  Flavor, price, and service speed are all excellent.  Tables and benches south of the
Plaza Inn
are located near one of the Cast Members’ many backstage doors.  As you nosh a corn dog, watch CMs hurry to and from their backstage eatery, the
Inn Between
, hidden behind the
Plaza Inn
.  The
Little Red Wagon
is so named because
Swift Quality Meats
(whose logo was a red wagon) used to sponsor the restaurant next door.


        
Napa Rose
(
Grand Californian
) (R)

             
There’s little one can say about this glorious restaurant that hasn’t been said in countless sparkling reviews.  Fine dining at its best in
Anaheim
.  First-class food in an elegant environment open to all resort visitors—you don’t have to be a park-goer to eat here.  Do call or email in advance to secure a reservation.  Stained glass, elegant ambiance, a deep wine selection, gourmet fare, and private tastings—this award-winning restaurant has it all.  Perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, date nights, and business celebrations.


        
Plaza Inn
(
DL
)

             
Originally called the
Red Wagon Inn
, this
John Hench
and
Dorothea Redmond
-designed Victorian dream serves hearty old-fashioned fare from pot roast to fried chicken, and dazzling desserts.  Lines, signs, and service can be confusing at this mid-priced buffeteria, but the delicious food, generous portions, and sumptuous surroundings more than compensate for any initial hassle. 
Hench
took courses in restaurant management to help him design this venue (and leadership of
Cars Land
eateries might want to take a page out of
Hench
’s book).  This
Main Street
landmark stays open later than most other restaurants in the park, so make a beeline here if hunger strikes late at night.  Drop by in the early morning for character breakfasts attended by beloved (and villainous)
Disney characters
who pose for Guest photos.  This is not the place for a light snack, so bring your appetite.  Portions are large, even for side dishes like the seemingly bottomless green beans.  There’s no split plate fee if you want to manage your portions and share dishes.