Thanksgiving Feeding Frenzy: Eating Your Way Through Disneyland

As I slave over a hot stove preparing my Thanksgiving Feast, I thought I'd share a few food photos to get YOUR appetites started. I take no responsibility for the hunger that this post might induce or the fact that some of these items might not be available any more.

Nothing could be finer that breakfast with Aunt Jemima (If you pronounce it the right way, I am sure you could make that last sentence rhyme!).

Since Aunt J's is long gone, you can get your pancake fix taken care of over at The Disneyland Hotel's Steakhouse 55:



Mickey Waffles are available over at the Storyteller Cafe:



Beignets from Cafe Orleans would also make a nice start to the day:



Just make sure you wash them down with a nice wholesome paper cup of milk:



Shifting away from breakfast towards lunch, perhaps a bag of Frito's would make a nice transition snack?



If you feel guilty about eating turkey...



then Silver Banjo BBQ might be your "thang"...



Oh, that's right. That place closed YEARS ago. The Celebration BBQ meal at Big Thunder Ranch would make a fine substitution.



Or perhaps Pork Loin & Coca-Cola BBQ sauce from Flo's:



If seafood is your "dish," you can't go wrong with Walt's personal recommendation of a Tuna Boat Salad:



Served by these lovely cast members (I wonder if they get time-and-a-half for Thanksgiving?):



If fried food is your weakness, then The Plaza Inn might be your choice, as they serve the best fried chicken:



For the ultimate in splurging, a deep-fried Monte Cristo at the Blue Bayou is about as good as it gets.



For dessert, how about a tasty blueberry pie at the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Critter Country?



Or perhaps a cupcake?



Jolly Holiday also carries cupcakes:



Caramel Apple Pie from Plaza Inn is always a Daveland fave:



The Golden Horseshoe holds its own when it comes to apple pie:



If paper plates aren't your thing, then go over to the Napa Rose for both taste and presentation:



If variety is what you need, you can stop by Marceline's for a sweet treat on your way to the tram:



Dole Whip might help calm your tummy a bit after all the indulging:



By the time you've done all your eating, you might need a cocktail to calm your nerves! Make sure it has the perfect ice cube from 1901:



I hope your Thanksgiving is also filled with friends, family, and blessings that can be shared with those that you care about!

See more vintage and current Disneyland photos on my Disneyland web pages.

Disneyland Halloween Trip Report: Pt. 1

I was beginning to go through withdrawals as it has ALMOST been two months since my last visit to the Happiest Place on Earth! Arriving the night before Mickey's Halloween Party, I had planned to meet my friends D&G and finally try Flo's V-8 Cafe. Cutting through the Grand Californian (because I just love seeing that hotel, even if I'm not staying there!), I ran into D&G who were parking their car there. They introduced me to some of the valets who are (typical of most Disney cast members) super nice and attentive to the guests.

Flo's did not disappoint. Besides the atmosphere and decor, the food was actually quite tasty.







Once again, a very friendly staff! You could really sense the camaraderie. Even the cashier was helpful with suggestions and genuine banter. Every bit adds to a positive experience.



Love the menu boards!



I ordered the Pork Loin, which came with a roll and two sides. The pork itself was just a smidge dry, but the bbq sauce more than compensated for that. The cole slaw was fantastic; instead of being mired in mayonnaise, it had more of a tangy/vinegar "sauce" to it. Right up my alley!



There are plenty of spacious dining rooms, with lots of small (and not so small!) details to marvel over:





Even the wallpaper is themed:



How about a rear-view mirror like this? I don't think you'd miss much!



What a view!



By the time we were done eating and gabbing, the park was closing down. I snapped a few Cozy Cone shots while exiting:





Come back tomorrow for more trip report fun!

See more Disney California Adventure Flo's V-8 Cafe photos on my Flo's web page.

Trip Report Pt. 3: Cars Land and Carthay

I was starting to get hungry for dinner, but thought I'd take a spin through Cars Land and see what the crowd levels were like (just in case I could squeeze a Radiator Springs Racers ride in!).



The line looked ridiculous, so I decided to just "take a lap" and get a few photos. Overall, Cars Land seemed a little more breathable, other than the plethora of cast members with clipboards, looking very important.









I ventured into Flo's for dinner, and although it looked fun and I have been wanting to try it, I decided to take my chances at Carthay instead. It should come as no surprise that I still managed to get a few photos.







There was a bit of a wait in the lobby of the Carthay, but needless to say, the time flew by as I attempted to capture as many details with my camera.





As for the decor, I cannot say enough positive things about. It is hard to imagine that this building is new, as opposed to a historic structure that has just been recently restored.



And the light fixtures; I could have spent hours on those alone.









As for the food...it was so delicious, that I didn't bother with photographs. They couldn't have captured how tasty it was, and with the low lighting, it just wasn't worth the time and effort! Since I am still in training for the Disneyland Half Marathon, I didn't want to go too crazy on my meal, so I had the caprese for my appetizer/salad and the pappardelle pasta with chicken meatballs. The caprese was delicious; it had an unexpected element of lemon ice which added a wonderfully crisp zest. The pasta was also tasty, with just the right amount of spice to the meatballs. Yum! My big downfall...choosing the biscuit "upgrade" instead of the bread. I ate the entire basket of biscuits. Oh Good Lord were they out of this world. Obviously, I had to skip dessert. The service was friendly and attentive; my water glass was always full, and the waiter checked back just enough times to make sure my meal was going well.



My table was on the balcony upstairs, which gave lovely views of Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land. None of my photos came out too well; there were enough trees, wires, and tourists to keep them from being gems. Still, in person, the view is spectacular.

The real showstopper of the restaurant is this ceiling mural. I plan on coming back not only for the food, but to get some more shots of this:



For Connie, I had to take a restroom photo (she has the same "sickness" of documenting as much of the park as possible!):



Overall, my dining experience was fantastic, and I found it sad to leave Carthay. As our former Governor says, "I will be back!"



One more installment to go!

See more vintage and current Disneyland/DCA photos on my Disneyland web pages.