What are the best places to eat at in Disneyland and Disneys CA Adventure?|172494

I am going in a couple of weeks and I am looking for some less expensive places to at in the park for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Thanks guys.

I always go to Disneyland on a budget and can relate. What I like to do is split the meal if it is two people allot of food that is served is really big portions except maybe breakfast.
If you are able to the one thing I would do is bring your own breakfast that is where the biggest markup is like if you have a cold cereal you like you can put it in a zip loc bag or hot cereal you can add water and then heat up at a hotel most around the area either have a microwave inside the room or at least accessible in the hotel, we even bring fruit and will just eat a banana, apple or orange it is one of the biggest saving I do.
If you are not able to do that however there is Mimi_s cafe which does have big portions it is right across the street from Disneyland right next to Howard Johnson and if you sign up online you get one free breakfast however after signing up the coupon is only valid two- three weeks after. It is one free meal you can not beat that and if there is two people sign up under two different emails and names and you get two free vouchers only once at a time that is two days worth of breakfast, plus you could share, that free meal.

Another quick meal would be La Brea
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_brxp��

at the beginning of Downtown Disney they have a Express which you can get a meal and again share if you want or they have bagels that are really great and granola and such I love there fresh squeezed orange juice it is refreshing.

For lunch me favorites are Rancho del Zocalo
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_zoc.��

they have really big portions that I always share they are mexican food and they are so great it is in Frontierland right next to Thunder Mountian they have indoor and outdoor seating and are open for lunch and dinner you seat yourself and get you own food but that is why you are saving money there. My favorites are Tostada Salad and the Burrito Sonora if you split it that would be about $5.00 per person for two.
They also allow free refills usually up to 2 so we get one soda and split it and that way after you are done eating you don_t have to carry around the soda and figure out what to do with it, you know what I mean.

Also for lunch I have gone to Cafe Orleans
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_cr.h��

and what we will do is order a couple of starters and share them we get Pommes Frites and New Orleans Gumbo or French Onion Soup for two of those sides it would be $9.00 plus tip so $4.50 a person there Pommes Frites are soooo.... good you have to try them.

I really didn_t find any great deals at California Adventure but that_s not to say that they aren_t there but the people I go with love to eat at Disneyland Verse California Adventure.

One great web-site that I use is
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/menus.ht��

they have every single restaurant in Disneyland, California Adventure, Downtown Disney and it Disneyland Resort Hotels, it will save you so much time and money to see the menus now and decide what fits you the best, I love this site and it is always updates with the latest. Plus if you are going in a couple of weeks I would suggest seeing what places you are going to be eating and make Disney Dinning Reservations for it that way you will be guaranteed a seat and a time to eat.

For dinner you could use the above restaurants they also serve dinner, or one of my favorites for dinner is in Paradise Pier Hotel it is PCH Grill
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_pch.��

there food is so good and really big portions and great price it is a little bit of a walk from Disneyland but it is worth it The Classic American which is a big burger and you could share it, it is $7.50 and if you split that it would be $3.75 Golden State Fish _ Chips is also great and is $12.99. They are not open for Lunch but and the breakfast is a character meal so there dinner is so affordable.

ESPN Zone
http://allears.net/dlr/din/menu/men_espn��

which is in Downtown Disney and is only a Monorail ride away which make it so accessible they have really great Burgers and Pasta and again they have big portions.

Those are my picks and I know it may seem silly to share or seem like you may not get enough food but let me tell you, you will not be sorry, it makes me so happy to save money and be able to spend it on something else, even my mom has me plan the meals because of how much she saves on food.
I really hope this helps you and hope the web-site helps you, also just a tip if you save enough money on food you could go to Blue Bayou that is what we will do and again share the meal, which they do have a split plate fee but you will get your own Gumbo or Salad and both a big portion of the main meal.
If you do this when you get there ask for a seat by the water it is the best seat in the house, and is only requested once you are there.

Enjoy your trip! *Jena

Inside the park (either park), you can expect to spend about $30 - $40 a day on food if you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner inside the parks. Apart from the restaurants, there are smaller food stands that have frozen treats and stuff everywhere, which are irresistable. Food ain_t cheap, and since it_s getting warmer in the summer you_re going to want things to drink, which are where they really make their money. The small bottles of water that you buy in bulk at Costco go for like $3.00 EACH, so it_s better to carry a small one in your bag and refill it as you go.

If you_d rather save time and stay inside the park, then I recommend the Tomorrowland Terrace and Red Rocket_s Pizza, both in Tomorrowland. Red Rocket_s is great for Italian, and they also have some great salads, and the Terrace has your basic salads and sandwiches, but the best time to hang out at the Terrace is when they hold the Jedi Training Academy. They invite children from the crowd to train with REAL JEDI! Sometimes, they even have a lord of the Sith come by to test the mettle of the younglings, and the kids are always fun to watch while they learn to use their real light sabers. It_s worth it getting there a little early, and the times should be on the schedule thing that you get at the main entrance.

Another really cool thing I love to do is go see Billy Hill and the Hillbillies in Adventureland. They play at the Golden Horseshoe Saloon, and there_s burgers and hotdogs on the menu there, plus other good stuff. The thing about the Billys is ... they_re just hilarious. These guys are all relatives with names of a Billy derivitave, but it_s not all country. These guys are all classically trained musicians and they often bust into some Led Zeppelin and rap, which no one ever expects. Their hot fudge sundae is a religious experience, by the way. Also near to the Golden Horseshoe is the River Belle Terrace, which has hot entrees and real rib sticking food served on real plates with actual silverware (as opposed to plastic).

I will recommend one place that_s in California Adventure ... it_s the WhiteWater Cafe. If you_re in the CA Adventure park, there_s an entrance from the Grand Californian Hotel directly into the park, and the WhiteWater Cafe is right near that entrance. If you need a bit of a break while in CA Adventure, go check it out. It_s your basic salad and sandwich place, but it_s an _off the beaten path_ kind of place that most park-goer_s don_t know about unless they_re staying at the Grand Californian. The prices are moderate and the food is all fresh and yummy.

I just found this link to restaurants at a glance which should be helpful.


http://allears.net/dlr/tp/dl/dl_rest.htm


If you want to save a few dollars, there are tons of places out on Harbor Blvd across from the main entrance. Denny_s, IHOP, Mimi_s Cafe, McDonald_s and several others are just a quick walk outside, and it_s a nice break from the crush of being inside the park all day and night.

Best of luck and have a great time !

Do you want the best places, or the cheapest places? Meals in the park can be rather pricey.

However, we like to eat at Carnation Cafe on Main Street, which has hearty entrees at somewhat reasonable prices. We also like Cafe Orleans so we can have the Monte Cristo Sandwich.

For breakfast, I_d just walk across the street to McDonald_s. You can get plenty of carbs for a lot less than Disneyland.

Red Rockett_s Pizza Port (Tomorrowland) also has some decent pizza and pasta dishes, and you can get refills on drinks. Plaza Inn in the Plaza has a great chicken dinner for a decent price, and you can get drink refills. And there_s a little counter service window right next to the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance that serves decent clam chowder in a bread bowl. It_s not as good as Pismo Beach or San Francisco, but it_s quite decent if you don_t want to drive 200-400 miles for some great chowder.

There are other places, but those are my favs in the parks

All meals cost roughly the same in all restaurants in the park, to avoid overcrowding in cheaper ones. There are two price levels for Disneyland: expensive and very expensive. Ariel_s Grotto in DCA and Blue Bayou are very expensive...but nice, all other places are just expensive.

Napa Rose in The Grand Californian is stratospheric costly.

Look to spend about $10-15 per meal/per person, depending on what you order.

There are cheaper, snack type places, especially in DCA (I love the corn dog place), but even there, expect to pay $5-8/per person.

It_s best to eat breakfast outside the park, preferably at your hotel (many offer free continental or even full hot breakfasts). Go ahead and buy lunch inside the park. Dinner is your choice, but trust me, once you see the prices, you_ll be looking for dinner outside the park too, especially if there for a few days.

Food is the biggest expense beyond the ticket, for most families. You can save a lot if you eat nearby, just outside the park (actual walking distance on Harbor Blvd.).

Downtown Disney also has a variety of restaurants, but still rather costly. The Bakery there (can_t remember the name, but right near the tram disembarkation) is pretty good for breakfast, but I_d still eat your hotel_s chow, especially for breakfast.

On our last trip to Disneyland, I figured I saved over $150 just by eating breakfast at out hotel_s complimentary buffet.



TIP: If you drink coffee, save your cup. If you buy a cup of coffee from any Disneyland vendor, it will be refilled for free the rest of the day from any other Disneyland restaurant serving coffee. Good for parents of young kids. Of course this isn_t gourmet stuff.

Is it possible to get around Los Angeles without a car? How are the buses and cabs from LAX outward?|146417

I am going to a conference there in October and I am from NY. I am being told the traffic is horrible worst than NY. I don_t really want to rent a car. I_ll be going from I assume (a)El Segundo to the (b)Marriott @ LAX. Does public transit run from point a to point b? I am also being told that cab_s don_t come on time when you call? In fact I am being told the buses don_t run on time either, haven_t heard about the trains. This will be a 5 day trip.

I live in LA and have taken cabs many times to get to and from the airport. I have never had one not come on time when I_ve called for one.

Without knowing the address of your conference, I can_t tell you if public transit is going to work for you but it looks like line 109 is what you want:
http://socaltransport.org/tm_pub_stops.p��



http://socaltransport.org/tm_pub_start.p��

For the short distances you will be traveling, you should rent a car (it_s L.A. - it makes sense here, isn_t that strange?). There might be some congestion on the larger avenues, but you won_t move slower than 20 - 25 mph at worst. Cabs are an option - albeit an expenisve one. I guess if you will be with colleagues you can all split a cab to/from the convention.

Busses work well if you can take one bus, and if it comes at the time you can be at the bus stop - because they only run once an hour or once a half hour.

The traffic is bad heading west in the morning rush hour, and heading east in the afternoon rush hour, but I_m not sure how the traffic patterns flow around LAX.

I don_t think the metro will serve your purposes, unless you are wanting to explore Universal Studios and/or Downtown L.A., in which case a car will still take less time or the same amount of time than all those metro changes (green to blue to red to gold...or something like that).

well there a free shuttle from Lax, to the Marriott hotel
(Lax is Not in El Segundo but Westchester (oart of Los Angeles))
but its a shared service (meaning it might stop at other hotels
before yours) and on the return to LAX especially early morning
a lot of times those bus are already full by the time they get to the Marriott
as for taxis from LAX be advise that there is a Minimum
charge of $15.00 +2.50 airport fee when taking a taxi
from LAX
its also very expensive to take a taxi here are some of the fares


Fares (ordinances 177843 _ 178050 , effective 10/01/06 and 12/25/06)

All Passengers Ride for Price of One

1. $2.65 Flag drop (First 1/7th mile).

2. $0.35 For each additional 1/7th mile ($2.45 per mile).

3. $0.35 For each 47.5 seconds waiting time and/or traffic delay ($26.53 per hour).

4. $42.00 Flat fare for trips between LAX and downtown.

Area bounded by Alameda St., Santa Monica Fwy., Harbor Fwy., Cesar E. Chavez, Union Station and Chinatown.

5. $2.50 Surcharge for all trips originating at LAX.

6. $15.00 Minimum fare for trips originating at LAX (In addition to the $2.50 surcharge)


As forr public transit, someone told you
incorrect information
they will come but depening on traffic, they might be late
and being at the marriott means you have direct service
from the hotel to Santa Monica, (Santa Monica #3) stop
right at Airport and Century) ; service to Culver city including
Howard hughes center and fox hills malls
there are no trains from the airport (the only trains we
have are metro rail (the Green line) Blue Line, Red Line
Gold Line
as well as Metrolink
it all depends where you want to go
(if you need bus info email (check my profile for my email address)

LAX is located in El Segundo so you won_t have to go far. Just take a taxi and give yourself some buffer time in case of a late taxi. Century Blvd is one of the main throughfares to LAX. (I use it everytime I go to LAX) In fact, you could probably walk to the hotel---it_s relatively close.

LA_s freeway system gets a bad rap. It is superior to other cities and much more extensive. You just need to know when to take it and when to avoid it. At nighttime, nothing beats it. However, you won_t be renting a car so you won_t be experiencing too much.

LA has a good subway system (Metro). Not as extensive as NYC_s but it will get you to the far points of the metropolitan area (including the San Fernando Valley, Hollywood, Long Beach and Pasadena) They have a great website with times and maps. For 5 bucks you can get an all day pass. Also, FYI, there is a designated bus that takes you from Metro Red Line Union Station to LAX--I think it leaves every half hour and costs a few bucks. It runs into the late hours.

If you stay at the Marriot on Century Blvd, then you will be in no man_s land because there is nothing to do in that area except stay at the various hotels. If you want to get away one day, I suggest taking the Metro Subway. FORGET THE BUSSES! Slow, crowded, and not very trustworthy. Remember that LA is a GIANT city, in population and size--in the same league as NYC and Chicago. Getting around without a car is time consuming.

I am a veteran of the LA freeways and it_s subway system, and I also used the busses for a short while. I lived in L.A. for 15 years.
One last thing: If you choose to take the Metro trains, ask the taxi to take you to the green line station. The green line goes east to the blue line and the blue line takes you to the red line which is located downtown. That is where Union Station is located.

L.A. Traffic is only bad during rush hours 6-9 am and again from 4-7 pm.

I would think the Marriot @ LAX would provide a free shuttle. Check that out.

Cabs..we don_t use them much but there are a few of them waiting at curbside at LAX. I believe you have to go to the Cab area (a guy kind of keeps things in control).

Now, once at the hotel and you want to go out and do things...that_s another story. You may need a car then. As I said, people don_t use Cabs as much in LA as they do in NY. You can_t just go out onto the street and flag one down.

Forget any trains. You need a way to get to the train station.

If you are just hanging around the hotel the whole time, then check for the shuttle from the hotel.

It_s not true what the last person said about exits not being marked. They are marked for up to 3-4 miles before the exit. You just have to know the name of the street you want to exit onto. Also, our Freeways are a little confusing for those that don_t live here. We don_t have exit numbers (at least they are working on that) , the exits go by street names. Also the freeways say _San Diego_ for example. We all know San Diego is SOUTH of Los Angeles. But for someone who doesn_t live in CA, that can be confusing.

My suggestion: Get some good maps and rent a car if you are planning to go see things outside of the hotel.

In the L.A. area, you are lost without a car..they have NO clue what public transportation is supposed to do.

The traffic is heavy but - believe me - the freeways can handle it. They have the best freeway system in the U.S. Your best bet is to either order a taxi to move you around or rent a car. If you rent, get a small car...easier to navigate.....and KEEP YOUR ATTENTION TO THE EXIT SIGNS. Unlike here in the upper east coast, they usually don_t give you a warning that your exit is coming up....it just is THERE.... if you are in the wrong lane, you_ll miss it.

I work at LAX. Transportation around the airport is very good. We have shuttles, cabs, buses, Metro Rail. Yes traffic can be bad on the freeways, but if you are staying close to the airport renting a car should not be a problem. Its when you plan to drive from LAX to...say...Orange County that you would have traffic problems. The Marriott is a great hotel and will call taxis for you, but there are generally taxis just outside their doors. If you have any more questions let me know.... kingsleydr60@yahoo.com YOur hotel should be able to provide you with a shuttle.

Metro it!
Most LA buses run on a 24 hour basis as well.

There should definitely be a shuttle bus from the Marriott that will pick you up at the airport and take you to the hotel. Where those shuttle buses pick up are clearly marked (outside of baggage claim). Taxis from LAX ARE reliable, just not cheap.

I lived in LA for almost 20 years. It is rough to get around without a car if you are planning on doing anything other than hanging at the hotel. However, if you plan on just going _nearby_, taxis can get you there easily enough.

Driving in LA is not nearly as awful as people will tell you. The freeway system is easy to understand. Yeah, there is a lot of traffic but most folks know how to drive in LA, unlike many other parts of the US/the world.

If you_ve got any sense of adventure, rent a car. If not, the taxis/shuttle buses will work for you just fine!

Can anybody recommend some good places to hike in the dessert or mountains near Las Vegas?|156636

Going there this weekend for a wedding. My girl and I have no interest in the city, gambling, or clubs. We want to see desert and some cool places out in the nature.

You have asked the right question. I spend my time in Vegas at all the scenic places. Most people don_t know that Vegas is surrounded by spectacular National Parks. Don_t miss them. Take a look at the videos at VegasNature.com. Their Visitor_s Blog has a lot of info too.

Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area in Nevada is an area managed by the Bureau of Land Management as part of its National Landscape Conservation System, and protected as a National Conservation Area. It is located about 15 mi west of Las Vegas, and easily seen from the Las Vegas Strip. The area is visited by over 1 million visitors each year.

The conservation area showcases a set of large red sandstone peaks and walls called the Keystone Thrust. The walls are up to 3,000 ft (1,000 m) high, making them a popular hiking and rock climbing destination. The highest point is La Madre Mountain, at 8,154 ft (2,485 m).

A one-way loop road, 13 miles (21 km) long, provides vehicle access to many of the features in the area. Several side roads and parking areas allow access to many of the trails located in the area. A visitor center is located at the start of the loop road. The loop road is very popular for bicycle touring; it begins with a moderate climb, then is mostly downhill or flat.

Red Rock Canyon itself is a side-canyon accessible only by four-wheel-drive road off of the scenic loop. The unnamed but often visited valley cut through by State Route 159 is commonly, but incorrectly, referred to as Red Rock Canyon. The massive wall of rock called the Wilson Cliffs, or Keystone Thrust, can be seen to the west along this highway.

Mt Charleston is a great place to hike as is Red Rock Canyon, but know that it is made up of loose shale. Since the hot summer is over, Death Valley is a great place, but a long drive both ways and a very long day. Valley of Fire, on way to UT, is another site. People get hurt in Red Rock all the time.

But right in town on US95 at Valley View is the Las Vegas Springs Preserve. You can walk and walk and walk and see nature at its best plus many indoor exhibits. That would be the best option and about 8 miles from Strip.

Red Rock Canyon is on the western edge of the city and is a state park with gorgeous, brightly colored rock formations and is a popular hiking spot. On the east side is Lake Mead. I don_t know about the hiking but it_s a popular boating destination.

To the north is the Valley of Fire, another state park, with plenty of trails and Indian petroglyphs.

You can drive a little further and find yourself in Zion or Bryce Canyon. Both, I believe, are national parks and are stunning, each in its own ways. Bryce has some amazing sandstone rock formations cut into towers by centuries of erosion.

http://www.mountainzone.com/mountains/de��
shows some of the lesser known hiking trails in the Sheep Range. These are the mountains you can see from Las Vegas if you look north.

Carry lots of water and hike prepared as these are real desert wilderness areas without snack bars nor toilets. Follow the trails as they are well marked, but don_t leave sight of them.

While on these trails, be observant of barbed wire fences with signs saying _Government Property, No Trespassing_. You are on the edge of restricted government areas. (Area 51 is on the north side of the Sheep Range.) If you find any alien artifacts, you can keep them, but leave the snakes alone.

Yes you may find snakes among which are the dozen or so varieties of rattlers that inhabit our area. Use normal snake precautions like not stepping over objects, but stepping on or going around them while watching the shadows. If you hear a rattle, freeze, locate the direction of the sound and back away before going around.

Snakes will warn you to stay away and will only strike if surprised or their warning is ignored. I_ve seen maybe a couple of dozen in all my years playing in the desert around Vegas. (VS my time on Ft. Irwin near Barstow, CA, where every bush seemed to have a sidewinder living under it.)

You are actually more apt to see wild burros and horses than snakes.

Red Rock Canyon would be what you are looking for. The views are great. They have designated paths but you can go anywhere you want and do what ever you want. You can climb a mountain if you wish. You will come across some fascinating animals and other creatures. A great place to experience the desert.

Hoover Dam! Bring water.

park at #13 freebie lot on AZ side.Take stairs to #11 lot, follow those stairs to #10 parking lot. Very steep. Got me winded! Walk across that lot to hoover dam. Tours inside not free. many photo opportunities!

Walking from Downtown to MGM (or vice versa) is not exactly a small expenditure. Especially on super hot days. Weather cooling down.
A few Walgreens to stop in for cool drinks or bars if you prefer!

Stomp on the wedding cake. That would be hiking in the dessert.

Seriously, use spellcheck. It_s DESERT!

Anyway, take Charleston west all the way to Red Rock Canyon. Good hiking there.

I wouldn_t go hiking in the dessert, very sticky. Although I guess an apple pie would be ok if the pastry was thick enough.

Red Rock Canyon is nice with lots of hiking.

Red Rock Canyon

My wife and I want to move to San Diego. How much money would you consider a comfortable amount to go with?|155569

We figure it will take month to get jobs and get settled.Is this accurate?

well, you didnt say wether you are looking to rent a house or an apartment. Either way, a 1 bedroom apartment goes from about 800-1000 for an _o.k._ neighborhood. Higher end places will obvioulsy be more. A 1 or 2 bed room house will go for around $1200-$1300.
In each instance also figure around $1000 for a deposit. Some utilities require a deposit as well. I would try to have 2 months rent, plus deposit and gas and food money. Also utilities.
If possible look into jobs before you move out. Maybe you can transfer from your current job. Even if one of you does that it will be helpful.
OR
Get lots of job interviews ahead of time. Set them up for the first few day you will be in town.
If you are looking for a house, maybe consider moving into an apartment first, then finding a house after you get jobs. Look for an apartment that no lease, instead find one thats month-to-month.
if you have lots of stuff, you may want to put it in storage so you dont get comfy. i know a place where the first month is free,and if you move all your stuff out within the first month you only pay like $20
good luck.

A LOT! The cost of living is Extremely high. If you are going to rent, you must have first, last, plus deposit. Be prepared to pay (depending where you chose to live) $1400.00-2500.00 a month for rent. My daughter pays 1400.00 for a studio apt. The tags for your car, are Extremely high too, along with getting your car thru _smog check_ and your car will NEVER run the same again.......I suggest you REALLY give this move some thought....Good Luck to you.

a lot.

living expenses are ridiculously high here, i_ve seen small, two bedroom apartments up for over $1000 a month.

i think it depends what area you_ll be moving to, though. near the beaches and downtown, the costs will be higher.

It is possible to find apartments in good neighborhoods for about $800/mo. I say bring $3,000 if you can.