ROFR Thread January to March 2025 *PLEASE SEE FIRST POST FOR INSTRUCTIONS & FORMATTING TOOL*

[AstroBlasters]

We’re SoCal as well, and love DLR, but enjoy WDW more, being an enormous fantasy world with multiple parks, lakes, kayaking, green space, and a much stronger sense of a natural environment, which is lacking in Anaheim. Having grown up with DLR, with so many positive memories, we still enjoy our visits, but there’s also a sense of over familiarity.

That’s fair, but if someone is a “Disney addict” and is moving to SoCal and can’t get family to visit the park with them…. they have to look for an angle because whatever they are already doing isn’t working…..

 

[Girlstar30]

^^^^this! The refurb results, walkability to a park, access to dining across many resorts, the lower dues, and price per point over length of contract sold it for us!

Don't forget onsite dvc lounge, lots of merchandise in shops next door, and one of the best restaurants (california grill) So glad my favorite resort is also one of the more economical ones

 

[juxtapose]

Also…. have you ever heard the words “The food at Walt Disney World is better than Disneyland?”….. I have not…. People can go who aren’t theme park people and who are just foodies…..

I have often heard people say that “the quick service at Disneyland is better than the sit down at Walt Disney World”….

I wouldn’t have said this 5 years ago, but now that I have a food allergy kid, the food at WDW is significantly better and easier to navigate with any food allergies. That is the only complaint I have with DL, we’d go there a lot more if my son could eat there like he does at WDW.

 

[Paul Stupin]

In the lakes… in FLORIDA!!??
My west coast bias is showing, but I can’t even fathom standing near the edge of any body of water in Florida without keeping my eyes on the water!! lol

Huh? Truly, am not understanding you. What’s so hard to fathom? We love walking from MK to Grand Flo along the Seven Seas Lagoon, bicycling around Crescent Lake, taking a boat we rented at Grand Flo to and back from Bay Lake, walking around Hour Glass Lake when we stay at Riviera, etc, etc. In FLORIDA! We’re not swimming in them.

And the Kayaking at Ft. Wilderness is super fun. We do it every trip.

 

[Jimmy Geppetto]

Huh? Truly, am not understanding you. What’s so hard to fathom? We love walking from MK to Grand Flo along the Seven Seas Lagoon, bicycling around Crescent Lake, taking a boat we rented at Grand Flo to and back from Bay Lake, walking around Hour Glass Lake when we stay at Riviera, etc, etc. In FLORIDA! We’re not swimming in them.

And the Kayaking at Ft. Wilderness is super fun. We do it every trip.

They’re probably referring to Gators.

 

[AstroBlasters]

I wouldn’t have said this 5 years ago, but now that I have a food allergy kid, the food at WDW is significantly better and easier to navigate with any food allergies. That is the only complaint I have with DL, we’d go there a lot more if my son could eat there like he does at WDW.

My son has a serious sesame allergy… the app makes it easy to see what can be ordered.

 

[juxtapose]

My son has a serious sesame allergy… the app makes it easy to see what can be ordered.

My sons is gluten and while if something is available it’s easy to order, really only pizza and burgers are available at DL quick service. WDW just has so many more options.

 

[Girlstar30]

Okay, I'll say it: the food at Walt Disney World is better than Disneyland.

I really like some of what DL has but frankly the great options are limited; there's 1-2 class leaders for each 'tier' and the rest in each tier need improvement. DL's best in each 'tier' is typically better than WDW's best in the same tiers, but WDW has more good/very good options, especially in the Signature Dining tier.

For repeat visiting, WDW's variety ultimately puts it ahead for us.

On top of that, WDW has at least two restaurants (V&A and Takumi-Tei) a cut above DL's best (Napa Rose, which we love).

I agree with this and i live in California... Disneyland doesn't have all the buffets and signature restaurants that WDW has... I think the qs is on the same level as disney world and the buffets and signature restaurants are better at WDW. I have never been impressed by the food at carthay circle or Napa rose, wine menu is better i dont know ive eaten at napa rose twice and nothing stood out to me. The storytellers cafe breakfast buffet is OK, the parmesan grilled cheese off the menu is better than what they have at the buffet, chef mickeys is better than that and Goofys kitchen imo. The princess dining is really good at Napa rose I'll give them that. I was super impressed with Jiko and Victoria and Alberts at WDW and BOMA, there's just so much more variety. Burgers and pizza are crap at both locations. Blue bayou is good but the food at cafe orleans is even better. Epcot is a foodie heaven. Our California adventure food festivals are a joke... same type of things every year... I seriously wanted dvc because I got kind of tired of the same old. I am excited for portos restaurant to come to dtd. That will be delicious

 

[AstroBlasters]

I agree with this and i live in California... Disneyland doesn't have all the buffets and signature restaurants that WDW has... I think the qs is on the same level as disney world and the buffets and signature restaurants are better at WDW. I have never been impressed by the food at carthay circle or Napa rose, wine menu is better i dont know ive eaten at napa rose twice and nothing stood out to me. The storytellers cafe breakfast buffet is OK, the parmesan grilled cheese off the menu is better than they have at the buffets, chef mickeys is better. The princess dining is really good I'll give them that. I was super impressed with Jiko and Victoria and Alberts at WDW and BOMA, there's just so much more variety. Burgers and pizza are crap at both locations. Blue bayou is good but the food at cafe orleans is even better. Epcot is a foodie heaven. Our California adventure food festivals are a joke... same type of things every year... I seriously wanted dvc because I got kind of tired of the same old. I am excited for portos restaurant to come to dtd. That will be delicious

Compare the food at Food and Wine to Flower and Garden…. it’s not even close.

It’s also kind of ridiculous to compare food at the resorts since they can be a 20-30min drive away. If you’re going to do that then you need to compare all of the food options within a 20-30min drive from Disneyland….

 

[Girlstar30]

Compare the food at Food and Wine to Flower and Garden…. it’s not even close.

It’s also kind of ridiculous to compare food at the resorts since they can be a 20-30min drive away. If you’re going to do that then you need to compare all of the food options within a 20-30min drive from Disneyland….

What restaurants and food do you think are so good at Disneyland and California adventure? When people ask me for recommendations I tell them cafe orleans and that's about it.

 

[AstroBlasters]

My sons is gluten and while if something is available it’s easy to order, really only pizza and burgers are available at DL quick service. WDW just has so many more options.

Umm…. are we not counting DCA? Since really DL/DCA are like one big park after 11am…. Lots of gluten free options.

 

[Girlstar30]

Omg the tacos at cocina Cucamonga at California adventure are BOMB i forgot about that. And the chili cone queso at California adventure is pretty good. I actually do think that the qs at California adventure is superior now that i think about it, we had a hard time finding good food at MK, but imo sit-down is better at wdw

 

[Girlstar30]

The primetime cafe and sci fi restaurant were tasty and so unique. The kids loved both and so did we. I like tiffins a lot and le cellier at epcot.

 

[AstroBlasters]

What restaurants and food do you think are so good at Disneyland and California adventure? When people ask me for recommendations I tell them cafe orleans and that's about it.

So good? How about places that I would have no problem eating at and finding something I would enjoy:

1) Plaza
2) Carnation Cafe
3) Bengal BBQ
4) Blue Bayou
5) Tiana’s Gumbo
6) Ronto Roasters
7) Docking Bay
8) Carthay Circle
9) Harbour Gallery
10) Studio Catering Company
11) Pym’s
12) Cocina Cucamonga
13) Ghirardelli
14) Magic Key Terrace
15) Flo’s
16) Napa Rose
17) Smokejumpers
18) Hearthstone Lounge
19) Trader Sam’s/Tangaroa Terrace
20) Din Tai Fung
21) Paseo
22) Palm Breeze Bar
23) Crafstman Grill

Cafe New Orleans is not even on my list…. which is not in any particular order.

Have not tried Hungry Bear with the BBQ new menu…

 

[Girlstar30]

So good? How about places that I would have no problem eating at and finding something I would enjoy:

1) Plaza
2) Carnation Cafe
3) Bengal BBQ
4) Blue Bayou
5) Tiana’s Gumbo
6) Ronto Roasters
7) Docking Bay
8) Carthay Circle
9) Harbour Gallery
10) Studio Catering Company
11) Pym’s
12) Cocina Cucamonga
13) Ghirardelli
14) Magic Key Terrace
15) Flo’s
16) Napa Rose
17) Smokejumpers
18) Hearthstone Lounge
19) Trader Sam’s/Tangaroa Terrace
20) Din Tai Fung
21) Paseo
22) Palm Breeze Bar
23) Crafstman Grill

Cafe New Orleans is not even on my list….

Have not tried Hungry Bear with the BBQ new menu…

I agree with Bengal bbq and rontos those are my qs go tos at DLR. I wish they would have better food at magic key Terrace and wine country trattoria. Haven't tried palm breeze yet but excited too. I liked that qs at magic kingdom I think Pecos bill? The new menu was good

 

[AstroBlasters]

Let’s simplify this…. where would you rather order a churro?

 

[Girlstar30]

New hungry bear BBQ is good, on par with Pecos bill, there are similarities with the pulled pork, reminded me of each other. Not a fan of tianas beignets which is sad because they did her dirty i like the gumbo at cafe orleans a lot better, but everyone is different. Not a fan of flos or smokejumpers either. I'm not sure if your counting disney springs but we really liked chef art smiths homecoming. I miss rainforest cafe at dtd and house of blues, lots of memories there

 

[Girlstar30]

Let’s simplify this…. where would you rather order a churro?

Honestly, neither Not sure how the mickey ice cream bars are at wdw, but at disneyland they are rock hard, can break a tooth . I've never tried that Cheshire cat tail but that Maurice's treats cheesy garlic bread at dland i also realize that wdw is new and exciting to me so that could also influence my loving the "new foods" to me

 

[AstroBlasters]

New hungry bear BBQ is good, on par with Pecos bill, there are similarities with the pulled pork, reminded me of each other. Not a fan of tianas beignets which is sad because they did her dirty i like the gumbo at cafe orleans a lot better, but everyone is different. Not a fan of flos or smokejumpers either. I'm not sure if your counting disney springs but we really liked chef art smiths homecoming. I miss rainforest cafe at dtd and house of blues, lots of memories there

The Flo’s chicken is on par with the Plaza. It’s delicious.

Smoke jumper is great for breakfast and the kids are happy to eat there for lunch.

Tiana’s… I only get the gumbo.

Oh, I forgot to add Jazz Kitchen….

Once again…. this is all with a 15 minute brisk walk from anywhere in the park….

 

[Girlstar30]

This is true, strictly speaking of the parks qs and not the wdw resorts i do have to agree 100%. How can I forgot about those two fried chickens. And the Carne asada fries at award wieners holy shizzzz. They made the Plaza chicken into hot honey chicken at pride last year and almost died, best fried chicken I've ever had, we are foodies

The Flo’s chicken is on par with the Plaza. It’s delicious.

Smoke jumper is great for breakfast and the kids are happy to eat there for lunch.

Tiana’s… I only get the gumbo.

Oh, I forgot to add Jazz Kitchen….

Once again…. this is all with a 15 minute brisk walk from anywhere in the park….