Food at Disneyland with Teenage Boy. Bang for Buck?

bethwc101 · Feb 9, 2016

DH and I will be taking my Brother in law (16) to his first DLR trip in April. Thing is he eats a lot. We will do Goofys kitchen buffet one night but with BTR BBQ gone that was always our buffet go to item. We will bring in sandwiches and stuff but what can we bring to hold him off all day and what's a good place to eat to get the most out of our money with him. He's 6'4 growing boy.

HELP!!!

SoCalTrojanSkip · Feb 9, 2016

DGF and I LOVE the new Beach Side Bonfire Buffet at the Paradise Pier Hotel....

The prices are on par with what used to be charged at the BTR BBQ, and the food is far better than what you get at Goofy's Kitchen (IMHO).
The menu features dry rub Tri Tip and BBQ Ribs, with sauces on the side you can add if you like. They also have a pizza, clams, shrimp macaroni and cheese, shrimp alfredo and the best dang mini hot dogs I've ever had. The music's a little loud for my taste, but it's a nice beach theme and not overly "DISNEY". If you're going a a weekend, I'd make a quick call to Disney Dining and make an ADR.

The DIS had an article on it a while back...
http://www.wdwinfo.com/disneylandca...fet-opens-at-disneylands-paradise-pier-hotel/

Nonsuch · Feb 9, 2016

Storytellers at GCH also has a very nice dinner buffet.

Disneyluvr2 · Feb 9, 2016

Does he like sourdough bread? I always find the sourdough bread bowls to be a great bargain and really filling! You can get them either at Disneyland or DCA. I order my soup or salad separate from the bread bowl, then you have a whole loaf of bread to carry around and snack on. I always ask for extra butter.

I'm not sure where you're staying, but right across the street, on Harbor Blvd, next to Carousel Inn, is the Pizza Press. You can get a medium size pizza (6 slices) with anything you want on it for only $10 bucks. And it's really good pizza too! They cook it in one of those moving ovens, like at Quiznos, so it's done in about 5 minutes. Earl of Sandwich in DTD is pretty reasonable too.

If you're looking for an inexpensive meal to hold him over, you can always order a kids meal at the counter service restaurants. At Hungry Bear, for instance, you can get a cheese burger, fries, apple slices and a drink for a little over $6.00. It's a perfect size meal for me, but would probably be a snack for him! LOL!

ADLFAN · Feb 9, 2016

Yum, I second the Pizza Press suggestion!

Also maybe the Plaza Inn for the fried chicken dinner, which is one that is often suggested for splitting because it's so massive with three pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and a biscuit.

Maybe the heat will slow his hunger, I know it does for me!

longtimedisneylurker · Feb 9, 2016

I have a 16 year old son and a 14 year old son. For good food quality and all-you-can-eat, we enjoy the dinner buffet at the Paradise Pier and the Storyteller's dinner buffet at GCH.

For non-buffet the chicken dinner at the Plaza Inn in DL is large and filling, even to my teenage boys, especially if they get to follow up with some sort of dessert.

We have eaten at Rainforest Cafe in DtD for both breakfast and dinner and found the portions to be very large and not unreasonably priced for the quantities.

bethwc101 · Feb 9, 2016

Has anybody done the pot roast type meal at the Plaza Inn. I am allergic to chicken.

mom2rtk · Feb 9, 2016

Earl of Sandwich is a great choice!

figment_jii · Feb 9, 2016

At dinner time, I also vote for Storytellers or PCH Grill if you want a buffet or RFC if you want a table service meal. At lunch time, Goofy's Kitchen is the only operating buffet.

bethwc101 said:
Has anybody done the pot roast type meal at the Plaza Inn. I am allergic to chicken.

I've had the pot roast meal at the Plaza Inn. It has good flavor and is a fairly generous sized portion, but I think the chicken meal is larger.

SMD · Feb 9, 2016

I think Fire & Ice at GardenWalk is AYCE. You can probably find a coupon. In the parks, just buy more food. You can pay extra for an extra side at Jolly Holiday, Flo's and most CS places, though a lot of them have fries as the side. At some place like TLT I'd just budget for a second meal for everyone to share if it eats that much. Like try the special dark side burger, everyone gets a taste, he gets the rest.

agamble · Feb 9, 2016

The Mexican food at Rancho (next to Thunder Mt) is plentiful too, and oh so delicious.

cmwade77 · Feb 9, 2016

It depends on where you are staying, here are some great options:
On Property:
QS:
White Water Snacks (If you are staying at the Grand Californian, order the Nachos pool side, you will get a much larger portion for the same price, otherwise do not order the Nacos, but any other item on the menu or the off the menu Chili Cheese Fries)
Plaza Inn Chicken Dinner
Pastas at Boardwalk or the Greek Food from the window

TS:
Buffets:
PCH Grill
Plaza Inn Character Breakfast (Also the best bang for your buck on number of characters at one meal)

Non Buffets:
The Lounge next to PCH Grill (Offers some of what PCH grill used to offer and is relatively cheap, not sure if this should classify as a QS or a TS though)
Rainforest Cafe (Only if you are a Landry's member and it is near the member's birthday)
Any of the Patina Group Restaurants (If you have signed up for their birthday club on their website for free, you get $25 off a meal on your birthday, cannot be combined with other offers and you must present an I.D. for guests over 18 with the coupon)

Offsite:
Pizza place at the hotel across from the main entrance (Sorry can't remember the name right now), it is similar to Pieology and such where it is one price for as many toppings as you want, but they are substantially better and offer discounts for passholders, etc.
IHOP near Katella (Do NOT confuse this with the IHOP right across from the main entrance, they are twice the price)
Panera
Mimi's Cafe (Sign up for their email club and you will almost always have a buy one entree and two drinks, and get an entree fee coupon)

There are others as well, again it depends on where you are staying.

tarheelalum · Feb 9, 2016

The fried chicken at Plaza Inn, by far, offers the most/best food for the money in the parks. I can eat a lot but I have trouble eating the full plate and usually get some extra biscuits and just splitting it all with my wife.

Iceman93 · Feb 9, 2016

Concierge lounge at one of the resort hotels.

dtnrhi · Feb 10, 2016

Brother is 17 and eats a ton. Pizza Press pizzas, stacked with whatever toppings he wants, are two meals for him. The value is there.

sheetz · Feb 10, 2016

Cheesecake Factory at Gardenwalk has very large portions, and you can sometimes buy gift cards at a discount.

theluckyrabbit · Feb 11, 2016

We used to get our boys a whole pizza from Pizza Port. Between our oldest and youngest, that pizza disappeared and, with a salad and drinks, was enough to hold them for a while.

gottalovepluto · Feb 11, 2016

bethwc101 said:
Has anybody done the pot roast type meal at the Plaza Inn. I am allergic to chicken.

I did, it was yummy but rather dry last summer. Don't know if that's the norm but in your shoes I'd order it anyway.

The penne pasta is another possible safe alternative for you. It's just a penne pasta with marinara sauce so the pot roast is better bang for your buck but if you don't feel like something that heavy the pasta is yummy.

ryanthekiwi · Feb 16, 2016

I thought the Monte Cristo for $19 at Cafe Orleans might have been the best bang for buck. That sandwich is about 1000 calories plus the sides (fruit or maybe you can sub in fries?) The Plaza Inn chicken dinner was good too, but I didn't consider it huge by any means. Likely around the same 1000 calories for the plate. I also though that ordering the Corn Dog from the DL cart of DCA Corn Dog castle without the chips for about $6-7 was a good value. Very filling for a reasonable price.

Geemo · Feb 16, 2016

we like to order a pizza from Marris' and have it delivered to our hotel. For the DLR hotel you have to meet them at Bell Services. When we stay on Harbor they have come to the room door. We get a giant pizza and it's right around $19 bucks.

Here's a link to their menu, they have several options. My group is stuck on pizza.
http://marrispizza.com/MenuSit2.html

On Fri or a weekend night we call our order in an hour before we plan to be back at the room.
Geemo

Food at Disneyland with Teenage Boy. Bang for Buck?

DIS Veteran

Tropic Rivers Of Adventure

DIS Veteran

I'll never out grow the kids table!

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Invented the term "Characterpalooza"

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

DIS Veteran

Earning My Ears

DIS Veteran

Share this page