Disneyland and California Adventure: Where to Eat, Stay and Play
We just got back a couple of weeks ago from a long weekend at Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure, and we seriously had a blast! It’s one of those places that feels like magic, even as an adult and we got to spend a few days hopping between the two parks, soaking up the rides, food, and all the little details that make it such a special place! We went to both parks back in 2017 and we had fun but there was something about being there a little bit longer that let us relax and do the parks at a slower pace which was so nice and I think made our experience just better overall! I really think that anyone can enjoy these parks whether you're a thrill-seeker or just want to enjoy the atmosphere, there is so much to do and see!
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Anaheim by IHG and it was pretty perfect for us for the trip we were on. It was clean, they had friendly staff, very close to the parks and close to Target as well. We liked that there was a fridge and a microwave for snacks so we didn’t have to eat out for every meal. There was a pool and a hot tub, note that the hot tub was SO HOT, so just be careful! There was also a splash pad and a snack bar for guests. There wasn’t complementary breakfast but they did have breakfast buffet available for purchase. Like I said it was close to Disneyland, about a 15 minute walk and then about a 3 minute drive to Target. The only downside was we weren’t aware of the daily parking fee, which was our fault but just so you aren’t surprised by it, there was about a $30 per day parking fee that they charged. Overall, we would definitely stay again!
5 Favorite Rides at California Adventure
Gluten Free in Disneyland
Galactic Grill - We had lunch here on our first day in Disneyland and it was really what we picked because I could tell from mobile ordering that they had gluten-free options and I was starving so I didn’t put much thought into it. I got the Cheeseburger and it had lettuce and cheese on it with a gluten-free bun. The bun was a little weird and not like any gluten-free bun that I have ever had in Disney World but it was okay. I ate it but I probably would have tried something else if we went back there. I also got a side of fries and those were really good! I would rate it a 6/10 overall! I also didn't get a photo but I will share the menu below for you guys to look at it.
Gluten Free in California Adventure
Flo’s V8 Cafe - We ate lunch here one day when we spent the morning in Disney’s California Adventure. It was really cool because we chose a seat outside and got to watch the Radiator Springs Racers ride go by which I really liked! They had mobile ordering which makes ordering gluten-free options just a little bit easier. I got “Ramones Low and Slow Club” which was yummy and had turkey breast, bacon, avocado-bacon mayo, lettuce and tomato on it with a side of steak fries which were also good! Overall, I would rate this meal a 9/10, only because I think it could have used just a little bit more of the sauce that it came with!
Mendocino Terrace Wine Tasting - This doesn’t need to be under “gluten-free” by any means but we frequented this spot in the few days that we were in the parks. They had a huge wine selection and they also had beer and cider options as well. I didn’t even know they had a cheese plate until I was writing this blog post so I feel like we missed out. But I love wine so this was my go-to choice for a drink in the park! I liked the Martin Ray Pino Noir, but also tried the Craftwell Peach Mojito one day and that was really good and refreshing. Dustin tried the Mango Mule and said that was good as well. They really had something for everyone here!
Pym Test Kitchen - First of all, walking into this restaurant is just overall a really cool experience. If you look up when you’re in here, you see a machine with pretzels going in one size and coming out either smaller or larger which a fun interactive touch they added. But like the other spots we tried, they had a mobile ordering option which was helpful. I got the Reactor Melt which was garlic pesto toasted sourdough that had mozzarella, basil and tomato on it and it came with potato bites. I thought the food was pretty good and I appreciated the fun touch with the bread, usually they leave that off when it comes to allergy friendly food. I would rate the meal a 7/10!
Gluten Free in Downtown Disney
Centrico - We landed at LAX, went straight to our hotel to drop the car off, walked to Downtown Disney and ended up here with a margarita in hand just in time for lunch. We had a really early flight with no breakfast so we were pretty hungry. We started with the chips, guacamole and salsa which was so different but so good. It was house made salsa and delicious. Then for our main meals, Dustin got the quesabirrias which was lamb barria, cheese, guacsalsa and red onion on a corn tortilla and it was SO yummy! It was gluten free so I got to try it and YUM! For my main meal I got the Conchinita Pibil tacos which had Guerrero-style pork, a black bean puree, pickled onions, salsa on corn tortillas which were also very very good and gluten-free! The meals were so good, I would rate them a 9/10 and it would have been a 10/10 if there weren’t SO many pickled onions on my tacos, I had to take soooo many off!
Naples Ristorante e Bar - Eating gluten-free at Naples Ristorante e Bar in Downtown Disney was actually a pleasant surprise and we ended up eating there two times while we were in the area! The menu had marked gluten-free options that were available which was nice, mostly pasta options and then salads. But it was nice that there were a few different things to choose from. I felt comfortable eating here but just to note, they don’t have a dedicated area for cooking so definitely eat here knowing that risk. On the other hand of regular food, Dustin also loved his food and it was a great spot to have some Italian food after a ton of walking! Plus, the location right in Downtown Disney made it super convenient to be able to walk to after the park!
ARE FAST PASSES WORTH IT?
The Lightning Lane option at Disneyland and California Adventure can be a real game-changer, but it had its pros and cons. On the plus side, it let us skip the lines for some of the busier rides at the park which saved us time to get to more things there. I liked that you were able to purchase the Lightning Lane pass, choose the ride and as soon as you scanned into the ride time you could choose your next pass. We only got the Lightning Lane Passes one of the days that we were there and we got them for California Adventure. For us, it was especially worth it for high-demand rides like The Incredicoaster and Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT, where wait times were a little bit higher than others. However, the downside is the cost and then the fact that you can only use them in one park even if you have a park hopper option on your ticket. There is an additional fee on top of your regular park tickets, the cost was $32 per person and that added up quickly and we are only two people. Another con is that the Lightning Lane isn’t available for every ride, so we still waited in line to ride some of the other rides. If you’re someone who doesn’t mind a little waiting or wants to save some money, it might not be as necessary, but for those looking to maximize their park time, it’s definitely convenient. Like I said we only used it one of the three days we were there and we still got to ride everything that we wanted to so take that into consideration when you are choose whether or not you want to add the Lightning Lane Passes to your day!
Like I mentioned before, we had been there before but getting to spend a little bit more time there made it such a fun weekend! Between the nostalgia of Disneyland and all of the new and exciting rides at California Adventure, it was the perfect mix of fun, adventure, and relaxation. Honestly, I can’t wait to go back and explore even more—I can definitely see us trying to visit Disneyland more often! Have you ever been to Disneyland and California Adventure? What was your favorite part or something you hands down recommend doing? If you have any questions at all you can comment below or email me at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible with a response!
