Where to Eat on Your Disneyland Vacation with Kids

The Disneyland Resort is the perfect place for a family vacation. There are a lot of fun things for kids and adults to do. Eating together at some of the fun themed restaurants can be part of the magic and will complete the Disney experience. I have listed some of our favorite places to dine as a family.

Redd Rockett's Pizza Port
Location: Tomorrowland in Disneyland

Pizza is an obvious choice for families but Redd Rockett's is far from the standard boring pie in a box. The service is cafeteria style. Grab trays at the front and either pick out individual entrees or pick up a whole pizza for the family. Their individual offerings include pasta, salads and pizza slices. Focaccia bread and a side salad are offered as a side dish and there is a large self-serve drink selection. There is plenty of seating. If the main dining area is full take a left through the automatic doors and you will find another large dining area that is empty except on busy days.

Tips: Keep your family together. It is not a straight line through the serving area and it can get quite crowded. To save money bring your own drinks. The pasta dishes are huge and are easily shared.

Review: The food is very good. There is something for everyone, including your picky eaters. The portions are large. You can get your food quickly.

Stage Door Café
Location: Frontierland in Disneyland

The Stage Door Café is a counter service restaurant featuring mainly fried foods. It makes the list because it is fast, convenient, and open later than everywhere else. The menu is limited to chicken or fish strips with fries and mozzarella strips. They have funnel cakes which is an amusement park favorite.

Tips: During the months that aren't busy for Disneyland many food service places shut down early. This is one of the only places that will remain open. Don't let long lines scare you. The service is fast.

Review: The food is actually pretty good considering it is all fried. They have a good variety of dipping sauces. During shows on the Rivers of America it is a great place to grab a hot chocolate and a funnel cake.

Taste Pilot's Grill
Location: Condor Flats in California Adventure

This counter service restaurant reminds me of a gourmet McDonalds. They have hamburgers, ribs and chicken. Ordering is a little different. You actually order on a touch screen computer and then walk up to the counter to pick up your food. They do serve alcohol here. They are conveniently located by Soarin' Over California.

Tips: The food is excellent but the lines are a little slow. Have your family take a seat while one or two people wait in line and pick up the food. There is indoor and outdoor seating.

Review: The kids menu is great. For yourself try the Wild Bleu Yonder Burger. It is the best thing on the menu. There is a condiment bar that I missed the first time. It is fully loaded with vegetables and sauces for your burger. The milkshakes are above average.

PacificWharf Café
Location: Pacific Wharf in California Adventure

This counter service restaurant serves breakfast as well as lunch and dinner. Don't walk by if you don't intend to eat there. The smell of the warm sourdough bread will make your mouth water. Their bread bowls are served with either soup or salads. It is a nice change from regular fast food.

Tips: The themeing and menu are not geared for children. However, they will probably like the food a lot. The servings are large and perfect for sharing. Take a tour of the bakery just before eating. You will enjoy the fresh sourdough bread that much more.

Review: The Sonoma Chicken and Apple Salad is the best thing on the menu in my opinion. Their desserts are very good as well. Try the cream puffs in ether chocolate or vanilla.

Carnation Café
Location: Main Street in Disneyland

This full service restaurant is one of the few in Disneyland where you will be waited on. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served here. Their menu is one of the more diverse. The breakfast menu contains the kid-favorite Mickey Mouse waffle as well as cereal, croissant sandwiches, cinnamon rolls and more. The lunch and dinner menus offer soups, sandwiches, pasta, and pot pies. The children will love Peanut Butter Painter's Pallete or a hot dog or macaroni and cheese.

Tips: Sometimes you will have to wait to be seated, but the wait is never too long. The outdoor seating right on Main Street is great for people watching and is casual for perfect family dining. The desserts are large and perfect for sharing. Main Street often opens a half an hour before the rest of the park. This is a perfect place to have breakfast while watching the crowds of people excitedly waiting for their day at Disneyland to begin.

Review: One of our favorites, the service here is very friendly. The atmosphere is nostalgic and has nice charm to it. Don't worry, I see adults ordering the Mickey Mouse waffle all the time. They are the best waffles I have ever had. They are thick and perfectly crispy on the outside and very rich. For lunch try the Peppered Turkey Sandwich with a cup of soup.

Rainforest Café
Location: Downtown Disney

The Rainforest Café is a full service restaurant with great themeing. You won't want to miss taking your kids here. You will dine in an indoor rainforest complete with entertainment. There are realistic animals and live parrots. The menu is very extensive and contains pizza, pasta, seafood, hamburgers, soups, sandwiches, salads, as well as beef, pork and chicken entrees.

Tips: The Rainforest Café is a little pricey but worth saving up for. They do offer priority seating. Call the resort to find out how to put your name on the list.

Review: The theme is decidedly "Save the Earth" and you may feel a bit strange while dining on meat among the animals but your children probably won't mind. Try the salads. They are exceptionally good.