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About Steve DizKahuna
Expertise
I can answer questions about Disneyland, California Adventure, Downtown Disney, restaurants and hotels of the Disneyland Resort, and local information (I`m also an expert in the California Category). I am also knowlegeable in Disneyland history and upcoming events. If you are coming to DLR with your family, I can give you some insight, since I have kids aged 6-23. If you have an attendance question, remember that predicting attendance is very tricky business, and I can only make my best guess based on past patterns. Hope to see you there!

Experience
My family and I are annual passholders at the Disneyland Resort, and we go there about once per week. We, have eaten at every restaurant (even a few that are no longer open), and stayed at the hotels of the resort (even though we live 10 miles away). My wife and I have each been going to Disneyland since 1965.

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You are here: Experts > Travel > Theme Parks > Disneyland > parade times

Disneyland - parade times

Expert: Steve DizKahuna - 11/3/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hi Steve,

I have more questions for you as my research gets deeper in planning our trip to Disneyland.
1. You mentioned the best time to go to Disneyland in June is Monday to Wednesday. Do they still hold the weekend parades and fireworks during the beginning of the week? I'm just trying to work out whether I should go at the beginning of the week hoping for less crowds but I'm worried I will miss out on the parades and fireworks.

2. I have come across some fast passes for less queuing time. What are they exactly and how much do they cost?

3. Are there any decent food or good restaurants inside the theme park? Or is everything fried?

Thanks once again,

Jizelle from Sydney Australia

ANSWER: Hi Jizelle,

1. Parades are still every day. Sometimes you have one parade each day, sometimes two. Usually, during the weekdays, it's only one.

In the past, they used to have fireworks every day of the week. This year, however, I noted that they went awhile without fireworks Monday through Thursdays, presumably to save money. It cost roughly $50,000 to put on a fireworks show each night. It's too early to know the schedule for June, but you will be able to see it at disneyland.com in the spring.

2. Fast passes are a nifty feature that you get FREE. The idea was to give guests a bit of a break from standing in lines, and presumably those guests would find their way into a sit-down restaurant or shop, where they would spend money. Here's how it works: You take your admission ticket to a popular ride, such as Space Mountain. Near the entrance to the ride, there is a fastpass machine. Insert your admission ticket, and you are issued a fastpass with a return time. You can come back any time after the return time, show your fastpass, and you get to bypass the regular "standby" line. This essentially puts you at the front of the line. Some fastpass entrance points are closer than others, but it definitely saves you valuable time.

What most first-timers don't know is this: You can have more than one set of fastpasses at a time. As long as you wait until the "return time", you can go get another fastpass. If you try to get another fastpass before the return time, you get a reject slip instead of a fastpass. When we do this, we usually wind up with 3 or 4 sets of fastpasses by the afternoon, which is when they are most useful.

3. I think this is my favorite question. Not many people realize it, but there are actually places in the park where they serve really good food. Here is my review of in-park dining:

Disneyland-
Carnation Cafe (Main Street): An open air cafe that serves great American comfort style dishes. I've had everything on the menu here, but my favorite is the pot pie. Not some little cheap frozen junk, but a real honest-to-goodness meat pie, baked in a dish. And when they run out, they're out. If they run out, I always give my server the stink-eye for a moment, then go for the delicious cheesesteak sandwich. Sadly, my youngest has discoverd how good these are, and has asked to get one of these next time, instead of ordering from the kids menu (she's 8). The kids menu here is very good, and offers a PB&J palette, where kids build their own sandwich with peanut butter, jelly, marshmallows, raisins, and fruit (banana or strawberry) slices. It used to keep my youngest busy for 20 minutes. The macaroni & cheese here is also a fav of kids, but you might have trouble getting them to go back to boxed mac n cheese at home. Other excellent items include stuffed potato soup, meat loaf plate, roast beef medallions, or a sandwich & salad. Like I said, it's all good. My favorite servers here are Troy and Kaye, two lifers.

Cafe Orleans (New Orleans Square): Another family favorite, which serves cajun-themed food. Worried if the kids will eat? Don't. They serve a very good "Mickey Mac" and cheese here, as well as chicken drumsticks. For the adults, my favorite here is the Monte Cristo Sandwich, which used to be served exclusively in the Blue Bayou. Add a basket of pommes frites (seasoned fries) and a cup of gumbo, and you've got a delicious meal. I prefer eating on the patio, since you're outside by the Rivers of America. There is also a very good crepe here, or a seafood/crab sanwich.

Blue Bayou (New Orleans Square): Easily the most popular restaurant in the park. And easily the most expensive. Entrees run $20-$30 here, twice what you'd pay at Carnation Cafe. However, you're INSIDE the Pirates of the Caribbean, and the food here is very good. The signature Monte Cristo is very popular here for lunch. The Creole shrimp is also very good. My wife likes the prime rib. Since it's rather pricey, we only eat here for

You can reserve any of the above restaurants by calling 714-781-DINE, up to 60 days in advance.

Other notable places include:
Plaza Inn (In the Plaza, aka the Hub): They have a character breakfast buffet here, and chicken dinners for lunch and dinner. The character breakfast is very special, but rather pricey. The chicken dinners are second only two Mrs. Knott's, served up the road in Buena Park. They also have very good roast beef and pasta dinners. The salads are actually quite good as well.

Bengal Barbecue (Adventureland): Only one item here, meat on a stick. You might wonder why there is always a line, until you taste one.

Red Rockett's Pizza Port (Tomorrowland): Decent pizza, pasta, and salad. Be sure to eat outside, where it's less noisy. Head for the back of the dining room, then veer left to eat on the patio next to the Space Mountain line.

The Hungry Bear (Critter Country): Notable only in the fact that the food is underwhelming, and fits the stereotype of theme park food. A canoe guide said it best as he paddled by with a canoe full of guests, "Ladies and gentlemen, on your left is the Hungry Bear Restaurant, where the food is SO good, they feed it to the ducks!" (True. People toss bits to the ducks)

Tomorrowland Terrace (Tomorrowland): Like the Hungry Bear, without the River. I think they use a Jedi Mind Trick to get people to eat there.

Churro Cart: These are REALLY good, fried dough rolled in cinnamon sugar. But I have a hard time paying $4 for one, when I can easily stop by Costco and get one that's just as good for $1.
California Adventure:

Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor: This is the one place I REALLY wish had a fastpass. I don't know why, but ice cream tastes better here. Maybe it's the checkered marble floor, or the old fashioned wrought iron chairs. But it's good ice cream and the line is perpetually long.

California Adventure:
Wine Country Trattoria (Golden State): Delicious Italian Style food, at a reasonable price (for a theme park). California Adventure's answer to Carnation Cafe.

Pacific Wharf Cafe, sponsored by Boudin Bakery: If you don't want to drive up to San Francisco for some clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl, this will fit the bill. Servings are smaller here, but still pretty satisfying.

Cocina Cucamonga: Being in SoCal, I would think that they could come up with better Mexican food. But to be fair, I believe that the menu here is geared more for tourists, who generally don't like things as spicy as I do.

Lucky Fortune Cookery: Pretty decent Asian food, of a variety of types.

Ariel's Grotto: Decent food, served "prix fixe", with character interaction. I think I'm biased against this place because my youngest was afraid of the characters when she was younger. It really chapped my hide to be paying $17 for a cheeseburger, and my kid wouldn't even play with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy, which is essentially what you are paying for. However, I may give this another try. In the Spring of 2010, this will be PRIME real estate for viewing the new "Wonderful World of Color" show.

Have fun!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Steve,

I have more questions I'm afraid. I am now wondering where to stay in Las Vegas, which resort is suitable for kids is my question?? I have 2 daughters age 9 and 6. So I'm hoping you can recommend something on the strip which doesn't involve too much walking. I will be there from June 28 for 4 nights.

Thank you once again.

Jizelle

Answer
Hi Jizelle,

Keep in mind that its usually pretty darned hot in Vegas that time of year. Personally, I actually like Sam's Town, which is about 6 miles off the strip, just down Flamingo Blvd. It has a wonderful kid-friendly atrium at its center. It's favored by locals, and pretty cheap.

If you really want to stay on the strip with kids, I would probably stay at the Flamingo. It has a series of pools that your kids will be delighted to play in. And the buffet there is REALLY good. From the Flamingo, you can take a monorail to a number of other casinos on the strip. You're close enough to the Bellagio to walk across and see the water show, as well as the Forum Shops at Caesar's. Another good possibility is the New York New York Casino, where they have a roller coaster that kids like.

Vegas may be Sin City, but there are still plenty of things that the whole family can enjoy: Magician Lance Burton at the Monte Carlo, Tournament of Kings dinner theater at the Excalibur, buffets, hiking at Red Rock Canyon and the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. Most people automatically think of Circus Circus, but that is by far the dirtiest hotel and casino I've ever been in. Animal lovers of all ages will surely enjoy Gregory Popovich's Comedy Pet Theater. Disney's The Lion King at Mandalay Bay is another good choice for children 12 years and under. The show features all of the characters and songs from the hit animated movie. For an amazing view 500 feet above the Las Vegas Strip, take the kids to Cloud Nine Balloon Experience. And either before or after your balloon ride, make a stop at the Welcome to Las Vegas sign since it's only a short drive away. Make sure to bring your camera so you can snap away.

If you want to get some shopping done, Caesars offers something for the whole family. Check out the Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace where the kids can enjoy the Fall of Atlantis and Festival Fountain shows and aquarium.

Have fun!

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