Disneyland and California Adventure: Where to Eat, Stay and Play

Disneyland and California Adventure: Where to Eat, Stay and Play

Discover the Best Eats, Stays, and Plays at Disneyland and California Adventure - All in One Guide!

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!


Discover the Best Eats, Stays, and Plays at Disneyland and California Adventure - All in One Guide!
Discover the Best Eats, Stays, and Plays at Disneyland and California Adventure - All in One Guide!

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!

Discover the Best Eats, Stays, and Plays at Disneyland and California Adventure - All in One Guide!
Discover the Best Eats, Stays, and Plays at Disneyland and California Adventure - All in One Guide!

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?

Discover the Best Eats, Stays, and Plays at Disneyland and California Adventure - All in One Guide!

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!

Discover the Best Eats, Stays, and Plays at Disneyland and California Adventure - All in One Guide!
Discover the Best Eats, Stays, and Plays at Disneyland and California Adventure - All in One Guide!
Discover the Best Eats, Stays, and Plays at Disneyland and California Adventure - All in One Guide!
Discover the Best Eats, Stays, and Plays at Disneyland and California Adventure - All in One Guide!

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!


WHAT TO READ NEXT!


6 things to bring to Disney World

I feel like each time we go to the parks we realize one more thing and honestly other things that we thought we needed but never actually use! I wanted to create a list of our must-haves that we use when we visit the parks.

1. GOOD SHOES, I cannot stress this enough! DO NOT walk into Disney World with Old Navy flip flops.. you will be so sad! Imagine walking 7-9 miles a day or more in bad shoes!! I wrote a whole post on the shoes that I have worn in the parks that work great for me! You can read more about those here!

2. Portable phone charger, We have two of these chargers that we use, we’ve just found with how often we use them it is better to have two of them for the both of us. We use chargers for so many things when we are in the parks. We need our phones to use the My Disney Experience App, entertainment in lines, taking photos and texting if we get separated from each other.

3. Sunglasses and/or a hat. It is sunny in Florida regardless of what time of year it is, the lines for the rides aren't always covered by shade so make sure you have something to relieve the heat! We’ve brought one or the other if not both even when visiting in December! I bring these sunglasses and Dustin wears hats in the parks!

4. Plastic baggies! Those water rides won't be cautious of getting your phone wet. Just bring a small ziplock baggy to stick your phone in when you are riding Splash Mountain! Although recently we went on Splash Mountain and they gave us baggies. But we also went on Kali River Rapids and there weren’t bags for us to use. I would bring them just in case!

5. SNACKS, snacks are always important but especially at Disney World. You don't realize how much you are walking and it makes you so hungry! Things that we like to take with us into the parks are things like Larabars, peanuts/cashews, and pb&j’s, gluten free pretzels! We’ve found that gluten free breakfasts are harder to find so unless I eat before entering the parks I usually snack until lunch! I would say bring snacks especially if you have an allergy!

6. Mickey Ears! If its your first time going you might not be all for the Mickey ears, but once you get there you might regret not having them! This happened with me, I didn’t take any ears with me for our wedding and by the end of our trip I was so sad that I didn’t have any, I felt a bit left out! For our trip at Christmas I got a new pair of ears from Etsy! Side note: I saw a meme the other day that said “When you purchase from a small shop, the owner actually does a happy dance”, I love that! I love buying from small shops because you will most likely get something that not many other people have! See some pairs that I have and some that are on my wishlist below! You can read about more of my favorite Disney Etsy shops here!

4 of my Favorite Disney Etsy Shops

4 OF MY FAVORITE DISNEY ETSY SHOPS


HEIGH HO DESIGN CO.

This shop has created a shirt that I wish I could live in alllll day every day lol not kidding! I only have one shirt from them but its the perfect oversized tee that pairs with leggings, shorts and is great to wear in that Florida heat! I have the Kilimanjaro Safari tee but there are three others on my wishlist because I know that the quality is amazing and they are comfortable to wear all day at the parks! Which is your favorite?!

| ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR |


PLAY IT BY EARS

I have the alien ears and they are seriously the cutest! I got them before Dustin and I’s trip last Christmas and they were perfect for our day at Hollywood Studios! They are so well made and I will definitely be purchasing another pair from this shop. See below for some pairs that are on my wishlist! I am thinking the Dopey ears next!! But I also love the classic look of the Donald ears as well… Hmmm.. decisions, decisions!

| ONE | TWO | THREE |


MAIN STREET TILLY EARS

This is the shop that I get the cutest headbands from! I started buying these so I didn’t wear ears to the parks each day we were on vacation. Mainly because ears can be heavy and I end up taking them off halfway through the day. Main Street Tilly Ears have the perfect replacement, not only are they lightweight they are ADORABLE. You can also easily wear them at home, they aren’t just for the parks by any means. I’m not exaggerating about the comfort because I have 5 pairs and three more in my Etsy cart. You can click here to be taken to all of the headbands!


SWEET PENNY CREATIONS

These are the cutest straw toppers I have found so far! They have so many options, my favorite are the food items like the Mickey pretzel and the Mickey waffle! But they have tons of other options like plain Mickey ears, characters from your favorite Disney movie, holiday toppers and even toppers for the different parks. They also have other products like wall mounts for your Mickey ears at home, magic band sliders and clothing accessories! Be sure to check them out to make your Starbucks cup from Disney even cuter!

| ONE | TWO | THREE | FOUR |


If you decide to check out any of these shops for your next trip I would love for you to let me know and to show me what you got!! They all have so many cute things *insert heart eye emojis*! Which is your favorite shop from the list?!


WHAT TO READ NEXT!


Our First Time at Disneyland!

www.tarynintotravel.com | Our First Time at Disneyland | Disneyland Trip | Disneyland Day | First Time at Disneyland | Disneyland

Its no secret that we are a bit Disney obsessed, I mean hello, that's where our wedding and honeymoon was. TIP: One of the things that we do when we are looking for a weekend getaway is to use Kayak and select “no specific destination”. That way we can just enter our max budget and the max amount of time we want to spend in the air and then get all of the estimates for all of the locations around us. This is what we did for Anaheim, we found really cheap flights to Los Angeles and then decided to spend the weekend at Disneyland!

WHERE WE STAYED

We stayed at the Majestic Anaheim Garden hotel. It was so cute, it looked like a Seven Dwarfs cottage from Snow White. It was so close to the parks and there was a shuttle. It was a win, win, win lol, we would definitely stay again! The shuttles ran on the half hour and it was never too crowded on the bus, we always were able to get on right away. We arrived at our hotel at about 1:00 PM, changed and hopped on the next available shuttle to the parks.

BREAKDOWN OF OUR DISNEYLAND DAY

www.tarynintotravel.com | Our First Time at Disneyland | Disneyland Trip | Disneyland Day | First Time at Disneyland | Disneyland


When we got there I hadn’t realized that it was the opening weekend for Pixar Fest. Our first day we spent at Disneyland. We had from about 2:00 PM-12:00 AM. When we first booked the trip, I was really worried about not being there right away in the morning but we had ample time to enjoy our day and explore!

We were starving so our first stop in the park was at Alien Pizza Planet in Tomorrowland for a slice of pizza.. they also had the CUTEST green alien macaroons at Pizza Planet! I am noticing a trend of us eating at the first chance we get when we arrive places... Anywho, while we were eating lunch we got on the Disneyland App and snagged our first fast pass! When it came to food though, I really found about 1000 more treats I would have liked to try after I left. Need to plan a trip back!

TIP: The extra $10 to get the fast passes was worth it, it was all on our phones and very easy to use. Coming from Disney World and having to pick fast passes a month or two in advance, I was a little stressed out that we might not get any, but we had zero problems.

FAST PASSES THAT WE GOT AT DISNEYLAND

www.tarynintotravel.com | Our First Time at Disneyland | Disneyland Trip | Disneyland Day | First Time at Disneyland | Disneyland

Throughout the day we got fast passes for Big Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Soarin’ and Star Wars ride. Other rides that we just stood in line for were the Matterhorn ride, Finding Nemo submarine, Indiana Jones’ Adventure, the Jungle cruise and so many more. Our main objective was to ride all of the rides that weren’t at Disney World first and then add in ones that we’ve been on before. Both of our favorite rides were Space Mountain, but I did really like the Indiana Jones Ride!

After our full day of travel, we turned in around 9:00 pm, it turns out we didn’t need a full day at Disneyland after all. One thing we would definitely do differently if we went back would be to get the park hopper pass so we could go between California Adventure and Disneyland as we pleased. On the second day, we found ourselves wishing we could go on some of the big rides at Disneyland again!


WHAT TO READ NEXT!