The Disneyland Turkey Leg - Channeling The Inner Fred Flintstone

There are certainly some iconic foods around Disneyland, legends in their own time. There is the infamous churro of course, the Monte Cristo sandwich, the Little Red Wagon's corn dog, Mickey Mouse ice cream bars, but none of them probably stand up to legendary status of the Disneyland turkey leg. It's hard to explain but there seems to be kind of an addiction to these things. I once had a seat on a bench near the turkey leg cart at the Disneyland Hub and listened to the cast member attendant tell guest after disappointed guest that he was currently out of turkey legs and was expecting a delivery of more shortly.

I have to say, when it comes to turkey, I am not a leg man. Like most sane people, I go for the turkey breast. In fact, come Thanksgiving, I would have to say that the first turkey meat that goes into the day-after turkey soup is what comes off the legs. Once in a while, the Boy may gnaw on leg but I think its mostly for showing off.

That I recall, I have had a Disneyland turkey leg one time and it was wisely split among 3 people I think. Yes, it was juicy, smokey, salty, and quite good but still, I felt guilty about eating it. Never mind the nutritional facts. Turkey is healthy, right? Well, I think I read somewhere that the Disney parks legs have close to 1200 calories, a days worth of fat intake, and enough salt from the brine the legs are soaked in to last the normal human a few days. That should scare a few people off. My reservation about the turkey legs is that it makes me see an image of myself as some dark ages carnivore glutton or perhaps some sort of neanderthal man chomping down on a massive piece of meat with one hand tied behind my back. To me, there is just something that seems kind of primitive about eating a turkey leg. Maybe its from watching too many Fred Flintstone cartoons as a kid or seeing countless caricatures of King Henry VIII which almost always show him with a large turkey leg in hand.

I don't hold anything against anyone eating a turkey leg at Disneyland. They seem to enjoy themselves thoroughly as they gobble down (pun intended) the juicy legs. But if I were to eat one, my self-conscious self would be thinking that every one that passed by me would muttering to themselves "look at that pig eating that big ol' turkey leg". No, that's no good. I'll go get a corn dog instead. Handheld food on a stick trumps handheld food on a bone in the civility department.

What If In-N-Out Burger Met Disneyland?

Mrs. DisneylandTraveler comes up with good ones sometimes. We're walking around Disneyland or DCA and she'll get a moment of frustration that usually ends with "Why couldn't they (meaning Disney) just - _________ (fill in the blank)". We're all probably guilty of the same thing I'm sure. Every fan of Disneyland thinks they have a better idea. Like -

We're in our 5th hour of camping out a spot waiting for Fantasmic when Mrs. DLT says "I don't know why they just couldn't build seating like they do when there is a movie premier in the park?" It's a good question. Of course the answer is Disneyland is space challenged and there is no room for any kind of permanent Fantasmic seating. To which Mrs. DLT may respond "Well this is Disney, they can do anything, why not just have the seats raise out of the ground before showtime?" Well, this is Disney, almost anything can be done but it all cost $$$$ - lots of it.

She'll apply same question when waiting for World of Color over in DCA. Since the viewing area of WOC is new she'll ask the question again "Why didn't they just build some seating?" The same answers apply not to mention that empty seats during the day are pretty much of an eye-sore. But I understand her point. You wait to get into your section. You show up early so you can get the best viewing spot. After waiting there, you are ushered into your section where you begin waiting again. Many hit the ground and sit on the concrete. Been there, done that. At this point of our lives, Mrs. DLT and I have retired from sitting on concrete. It's for the younger and more nimble.

So you've had hours upon hours of park activity culminating in watching World of Color in DCA. You are dog tired and ready to get back to your hotel. World of Color sits at the back of DCA and so begins that slow march to the exits with the dispersing throng. So Mrs. DLT comes up with "Why didn't they build an around park transportation system like the Disneyland Railroad?" I really don't have an answer for that one because an around DCA transportation system would be welcomed and probably needed. Probably because nothing seems more boring in a theme than a slow moving transportation system. You could hardly build a summer marketing campaign around something like that. Besides, DCA still has a bit more room to expand if they wanted to. The boundaries are not set in stone.

Here's the big one. After so many trips to Disneyland and so many meals, Mrs. DLT and I pretty much know what to eat, where to eat, and what to stay away from. Chances of getting a really good burger at Disneyland is rare because they cook the living daylights out of the things for health and sanitary reasons. A breakout of e-coli would not look good. So what you end up with is a burger that is something approaching the consistency of shoe leather. Disney has gotten wise over the years covering their horrible burgers with chili (Hungry Bear), pastrami (Village Haus), and blue cheese (Taste Pilot's Grill) and for some people that has helped out. But Mrs. DLT asks the question "Why couldn't Disney just put an In-N-Out Burger in here, after all, they now have a Starbucks and they used to have a McDonalds in the park?". For those who don't know, In-N-Our Burger is a Southern California legend making perhaps the best fast food cheeseburger you will ever have at a price that is actually below affordable. And that's all they serve - burgers and fries (though you can get them to make you a grilled cheese that is not on the menu). And don't ask for bacon or avocado or any of that - not an option at In-N-Out. If you ask someone who grew up in Southern California but has moved on to other parts of the country "What's the first thing you want to do when you get off a plane?" 9 out of 10 will tell you "I need to go to In-N-Out".

Which gets back to Mrs. DLT's question why not put an In-N-Out in Disneyland? Well people would be taken aback when that double-double (double meet, double cheese) that is less than $4.00 outside the park is now about $9.00. The other reason I tell her - if you think that 2 or 3 hour wait to get on Radiator Springs Racers is bad, how would you like to have the same wait for a burger. "Where's the end of the In-N-Out line?"  

"It's a couple of hundred yards down that way."

More Great News - The Carnation Cafe Reopens Today

Chef Oscar at the remodeled Carnation Cafe now indoor seating
A MiceChat Photo

And still more great news. After a six month refurbishment, the Carnation Cafe has reopened with an all new indoor dining area to go along with the traditional outdoor patio dining. The indoor dining area of the Carnation Cafe was created by the moving old Blue Ribbon Bakery to the new Jolly Holiday Bakery found at the end of Main St. The updated menu features some new items along with some Carnation Cafe traditional favorites.

And right back where he belongs is Chef Oscar back home at the Carnation Cafe, charming guests with his warmth and friendliness, a Disneyland ambassador of good will of the highest regard. If you are new to this blog or not acquainted with Chef Oscar, he is Disneyland's longest tenured cast member. I believe he started 1957 just a short time after the park opened. 1957 - 2012, you can do the math but I believe he has worked at Disneyland for 55 years. Now, he isn't a real chef. Maybe he was at one time but for now, he just makes sure your Disney day and a visit to the Carnation Cafe is as pleasant as possible.

Did I mention that the Carnation Cafe is the mine and Mrs. DisneylandTraveler favorite place to eat at Disneyland yet? A classic Disney dining experience that will not break your budget.

Making Bengal Bar-B-Que's Safari Skewer at Home

As I have been reporting this week, my little sister and her husband are at Disneyland and have been kind of taking me along by sending back frequent text messages and pictures. On Monday, she stopped by Adventureland's Bengal Bar-B-Que and had a Safari Skewer (bacon wrapped asparagus touched off by a squeeze of lime)  "for me" as she is not a huge fan of the $3.89 morsels of goodness. One of her complaints - the Bengal Bar-B-Que didn't have mayonnaise for her to dip the asparagus in. That's kind of .... nuts. Anyway she sent me back a photo (not the one above, that's one of mine) of the skewer either to salute me or stick it to me - I'm not sure which. 

I always have a Safari Skewer or two when I make my trips to Disneyland and there are others like me. For many people, it's one of the small hidden food gems that you can find at Disneyland though admittedly, some people don't like them at all (Mrs. DisneylandTraveler). If they are made correctly, it's a great snack with tender grilled asparagus wrapped in bacon that is just crispy enough then highlighted by a squeeze of fresh lime - good, good, stuff. The problem is Bengal Bar-B-Que tends to be inconsistent when making the skewers and sometimes you can get tough, stringy asparagus wrapped in flabby bacon sorely lacking in cooking time or care by the griller. If I had to guess, for every 4 skewers I have eaten, 1 may end up being sub-par and disappointing. You pay your money and takes your chances sometimes.

So yesterday morning I'm thinking about the bacon wrapped asparagus my sister ate at the park the previous day and held over my head. I'm thinking to myself "You know this isn't complicated, you can make this at home you idiot - go to the store and get some bacon, asparagus, and lime". So here is the recepe for my version of Bengal Bar-Que's Safari Skewer:

1 bunch of asparagus

1 12 oz. package of bacon

A little Olive Oil

Montreal Steak Seasoning

Lime wedges

Complicated, isn't it? Why haven't I made this before? (answer below)

Preparation: Preheat charcoal on a bar-b-que (I have a gas grill but for most foods, I use a charcoal Weber - a fine American made product if there ever was one). Cut about an inch or two off the base of the asparagus stalks and toss in the trash (or compost for you green people) as these really do tend to be tough and stringy. Cut the remaining asparagus spears into about and inch or inch and a half pieces. Throw the cut asparagus into a bowl and toss with a little olive oil and the Montreal stake seasoning (this is a great all purpose seasoning for just about everything that's primarily salt, pepper, granulated garlic, and some other stuff).

I should have said, you need to soak some bamboo skewers in water for about a half an hour before using them. Soak them while the charcoal is heating up. Cut up the bacon slices in pieces large enough to wrap around asparagus pieces. I didn't do it but putting the bacon in the freezer for a few minutes may make it a bit easier handle when forming around the asparagus (or maybe really good bacon may help). Skewer each piece of bacon wrapped asparagus. I did about 5 or 6 per skewer - the pieces should not touch each other on the skewer for better all around cooking. And here is probably why I have not done this at home - this is one slippery, greasy, time consuming job especially for someone who doesn't have cook's hands. More than piece of asparagus missed the skewer, hit the cutting board and slid off to the floor.

Cooking: I took my first skewer and threw it right over the charcoals which I had set up for both direct and indirect cooking. As one would suspect, the skewers laced with bacon fat and olive oil immediately began to flame up. This wouldn't work as the bacon would burn to a crisp long before the asparagus had a chance to cook correctly. So I dropped the skewers on the indirect part of the grill (no charcoal underneath) and covered with a lid. I was going to cook these slowly with the grill serving more as an oven. I let the skewers cook about 7 minutes, then flipped them over and reversed them so the skewer that was furthest away from the charcoal now became the closest, again covered the skewers and opened another beer (forgot that part before). So I cooked them about 7 more minutes. I reversed them one more time for seven minutes so now we are at a little over 20 minutes cooking time. Before removing the skewers from the grill, I moved them on to the direct charcoal heat for a little less that a minute the flipped them one time for a few more seconds of high heat. This helps in the final crisping process. Most of the fat will have been rendered out by this point which is probably a good thing.

Squeeze with lime and serve to the Boy. He was impressed. I told him to take a few pieces to Mrs. DLT and surprisingly she ate them and loved them. She wouldn't touch it a Disneyland but she ate mine. She was impressed. And when I sat down to eat mine, so was I.

The Bengal Bar-B-Que has got nothing on the Safari Skewers I made last night - they were as good if not better.

Disneyland Dining - Rancho del Zocalo

The flowering bougainvillea that laces over the trellis above the outdoor dining of the Rancho del Zocalo counter service restaurant is one of the most beautiful, stunning sites in Disneyland. Just gorgeous. If you are dining below with meal from Rancho del Zocalo then beauty may be the furthest thing from your mind.

Of all the dining places Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I have frequented in Disneyland over the last couple of years, Rancho del Zocalo has been the most consistently disappointing. Disappointing to the point where we don't even bother to go there anymore. Now Mrs. DLT love Mexican food but what Rancho del Zocalo tries to pass off as true Mexican cuisine well, you'd probably get a better meal from Taco Bell.

At one time Rancho del Zocalo was a hybrid restaurant with one side serving Mexican dishes and the other side serving up Bar-B-Que which was actually pretty good in the days before Big Thunder Bar-B-Que. But even back in those days, the Mexican food was sub-par. Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I have made 3 or 4 visits to Rancho del Zocalo over the last 10 to 12 years and our impression has always been the same - bad food, cheaply made, poorly made, and typically overpriced. We have dined on the carne asada & cheese enchiladas with the beef typically being overcooked (quite common in Disneyland's preparation of beef dishes of any kind), stringy, and tough while the cheese enchiladas were nothing more than supermarket shredded cheese wrapped in a tortilla and served with what tasted like a canned sauce. The chicken soft tacos were better but not by much. The typical rice and beans are served with the plates but these are nothing special in the least.

As mentioned in a post from earlier today, my sister ate at Rancho del Zocalo yesterday and had the chicken fajita tostada salad and said it was way to spicy to the point where she could not eat it and had to throw most of it away. Sad and a waste.

In my journeys about Disneyland through cyberspace, many Disneyland bloggers and forum posters say that if you go to Rancho del Zocalo, try the citrus grilled chicken which seems to get favorable reviews. The French Market in New Orleans Square serves up a version of citrus grilled chicken as well that Mrs. DLT and I have enjoyed and if Rancho's version is as good as that one the maybe it may be worth going back sometime. I said 'maybe'.

Rancho del Zocalo is a beautiful site for a restaurant. Open, airy, spacious, it's quite inviting to give it a try. We have and come to realize that beauty is only skin deep but lousy goes right to the core. Connected to Rancho del Zocalo is a little area known as Zocalo Park where certain times of the year thematic pieces celebrating Mexican heritage are put on display. Very nice, charming in fact, but the food, oh that bad food.

It should be noted that the Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill across the way in Disney California Adventure serves much the same menu as Rancho del Zocalo (with much the same results) with one very notable exception - Cocina Cucamonga serves a chicken tamales plate that is actually quite good. They also server beer over there which can sometimes make up for what the food may lack in quality and taste.

Indiana Jones & the Juxtaposition of Life

I got up out of bed yesterday morning, let the dogs out, made some coffee, worked on this blog a little and proceeded to spend the rest of the day watching NBA playoffs, some NASCAR racing, and even got a little baseball in. Sometime late in the afternoon, tiring of wall to wall sporting events on TV, I began to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark that I had sitting on my DVR recorded a few weeks ago.

So while I'm sitting there watching Indy's greatest adventure I get a text message from my sister at Disneyland saying her and her husband were on their way over to the Indiana Jones Adventure to use their fastpass. And there it is - I'm watching Indiana Jones on TV, my sister is walking over to IJA in Disneyland for a for different Indy experience. Such is the juxtaposition of life. Who would you rather be?

I probably exchanged 150 text messages with my sister yesterday as she made her way around Disneyland. She got a late start and didn't even get in the park until after 11 (it opened at 9:00am). So while I'm sitting around being a sporting vegetable my sister sends me a picture of Winnie the Pooh from the meet and greet outside of Splash Mountain for which she was getting in line. From Splash, she went to the Pooh ride, then Haunted Mansion, Pirates, then used their first Indiana Jones fastpass, got off the ride and got another IJA fastpass. She then went to the Tiki Room, got a pineapple float (and whip), headed to the Jungle Cruise, and then it was over to Billy Hill grabbing a couple of corn dogs and fries from the Stage Door Cafe before the show. Somewhere in there she also texted me a picture of the Safari Skewer, the bacon wrapped asparagus from the Bengal Bar-B-Que, a personal favorite of mine.

After the show, they went and grabbed Thunder Mountain Railroad fastpasses then headed to Tomorrowland for Buzz, a monorail ride, a fastpasses for Star Tours (they must of been hitting the machines just right because they now had fastpasses for 3 attractions). With exhaustion setting in, they went back to the River Belle Terrace to grab a table for Fantasmic stopping off to use their fastpasses for Indiana Jones before squatting the table which is the time she texted me while I was watching Indiana Jones on TV.

If she would have asked I would have warned her but she went over to Rancho del Zacalo to get a Chicken Taco Salad and the Carne Asada Enchilladas to bring all the way back to their table at the River Belle. She said the salad was horrible, way to spicy, and generally not good so she said she ended up throwing most of it away and complained about the waste of money it was. Like I said, if she would have asked, I would have warned her. I have never enjoyed a meal from Rancho del Zacalo and don't even bother going there anymore. Too many better choices.

So they watched Fantasmic, but now cold and tired, they walked over the Thunder Mountain Railroad to ride the coaster as the fireworks shot off overhead - way cool she said. From there it was over to Star Tours and getting off that, she said the Nemo wait was only a few minutes so for the last ride of the night was a sub ride - exhaustion, soreness, hotel, bed.

She crammed a lot of action into her first Disneyland day (and she's there for a week) while I sat here and jealously followed her almost every step of via text messages and pictures. It was almost like I was at Disneyland. No it wasn't.

Coming To Disney Parks - Yes, Starbucks!

Within a mile in each direction of where I write this in my home, there are at least a half dozen Starbuck's Coffee places.  They're everywhere though in recent years with families struggling to pay grocery bills one of the Starbuck's coffee stops in my area did close. Unfortunately, it was the one closest to my house and located inside a supermarket.  So much for convenience, picking up a loaf of bread and a latte.

For years there have been rumors about a Starbucks going into Disneyland, possibly taking over our beloved Market House coffee stop.  The deal was never brought to fruition with the rumor that Starbuck's really has a pretty demanding training program for the people that serve up their beverages.  If there is was going a Starbucks in Disneyland, the baristas had to go either through a Startbucks training program or if Disney was going to provide the training, it had to be up to Starbucks high standards. Disney doesn't liked to be pushed around and told what to do so no deal - until today. Differences apparently have been resolved.

For a few weeks now, Disneyland websites have reported on the rumor that there would be a Starbuck's Coffee station in the revamped Disney California Adventure located in the new Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Cafe (yeah, the name doesn't exactly roll off the tongue) on Buena Vista Street.  Like most of the best Disneyland Resort rumors, it came from MiceAge's Al Lutz whose track record on things coming true is pretty darn good.  Al went on his reporting that Disney CEO Bob Iger himself requested (well, probably more insisted) that a large tree in front of the new cafe be moved so the Starbuck's logo could be seen more prominently.  So yes, we new a Starbucks was coming to DCA but what Disney announced this morning went far, far, beyond that.  Not only is there going to be a Starbucks in DCA but also in Disneyland as well and for the heck of it, why not stick a Starbucks in the 4 Walt Disney World theme parks.  Oh yes, the iced mocha's will be flowing and the cash registers ringing.

Now I like Starbucks.  I like a Starbucks mocha or latte hot or served over ice.  Starbucks produces a fine product.  But regular readers of this blog know that I have a certain fondness for starting my Disney day with a good old fashioned cup of coffee from the Market House.  This is old school stuff, this is tradition.  I don't know where the Starbucks is going to be located in Disneyland, in the Market House? The Jolly Holiday Bakery?  Somewhere new?  All I know that if it isn't in the Market House my simple start to a Disneyland day may have to begin with a tough decision.  Crap.

Sort of an Homage to the Humble Churro

Ah yes, the humble churro, a legend in its own time, possibly Disneyland's favorite snack food sold from churro carts which sometimes seem to be every 20 feet from one to the next.  Its a strange simple concoction, the Mexican equivalent of an American donut.  A churro is basically fried dough sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon. 

Whenever the topic of Disneyland food comes up in a forum or discussion board, people will begin to sing the praises of getting a churro and enjoying its sweet goodness while strolling around the park.  Unlike other food items, the churro is good walking around food. You will have to stop to buy one but you don't have to stop to eat one. Its food subsistence that doesn't drag your Disney day to a grinding stop. 

I enjoy a good churro from time to time in my journeys around Disneyland.  Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I usually split one.  Its a nice compromise when you just want a little something sweet.  I like a churro but I'm not in love with a churro as many seem to be. You see, I used the qualifier earlier of "a good" churro.  When the churro is fresh and warm it can be delectable goodness, a little crunchy on the outside, nice and chewy on the inside.  But these things can from fresh and warm to stale and hard at the drop of a hat.  Once they are ready to go, the churro is immediately on the clock as far as its shelf life goes.  A churro that has reached its point where it crosses over into the realm of passed its prime can, as they say, "poke your eye out with that thing".

There is the old episode of The Simpsons where Homer jumps the fence, by all appearances, of Disney World to save the price of admission. In his joy of beating the high cost of a Disney parks admission you can hear Homer holler out "Woo-Hoo!!!" then from the other side of the fence you hear Homer walking up to a churro cart vendor and say "One churro, please" to which the vendor replies, "That'll be fourteen dollars" to which Homer invariably exclaims "D'oh!".  So much for beating Disney prices.  Now a churro does not cost fourteen dollars.  It will set you back 3 bucks and some change last I looked.  Is it worth it? All things considered it probably is but is it worth its status as a great Disneyland food?  Not even close.

Disneyland Dining - Cafe Orleans

Walt himself enjoying a cup of coffee at the Cafe Orleans - A Disney Parks Blog Photo

Its surprising that when I talk about Disneyland's Cafe Orleans I often get the response "I've heard of it and know where it is but I just haven't bothered to go in there yet". Yes, the Cafe Orleans is the New Orleans Square table service restaurant people kind of conveniently forget about as they make their plans to go to the neighboring Blue Bayou. Often times, when the Blue Bayou is booked up for the day, a trip over to the Cafe Orleans will allow you to get a table in a relatively short amount of time as a walk-up guest (though, as with all Disneyland table service restaurants, its always a good idea to call ahead for dining time).

I've had some people tell me that the didn't even know where the Cafe Orleans was. Really?  While the entrance (which has recently been moved) may be small, unassuming, and a bit out of the way, the restaurant itself  has quite a presence with the dozens of tables and chairs that sit on an outside dining patio with a wonderful view overlooking the Rivers of America from New Orleans Square.  (Oh, that place.....) The Cafe Orleans also has an inside dining section but from a quick view, the larger dining section is what you see outside.

For Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I, it took many trips before we actually made it into the Cafe Orleans.  If we were going to splurge on table service dining in New Orleans Square, it was the Blue Bayou or nothing.  That and the fact, the cajun inspired menu of the Cafe Orleans didn't really match Mrs DLT's sometimes rather bland palette.  Then one day a few years ago, we just decided we wanted to eat lunch at the Blue Bayou.  This was one of those times we didn't call ahead and so we were politely told the restaurant was booked up for the day.  Darn it!  And then we made the choice, let's just go try the Cafe Orleans.  We were seated in about 30 minutes, maybe less.  I waited while Mrs. DLT marched her way through the New Orleans Square shopping establishments.

Old entrance to Cafe Orleans across from the Blue Bayou

Once we were seated, we were greeted with one of Disneyland's best food offerings. We ordered Pommes Frites as our appetizer.  You can call them Pommes Frites if you want but for us Americans, these are garlic fries and for me anyway, they may be the best I ever had which is saying something for Disneyland food.  Served nice and hot, the fries are liberally coated with a delicious mixture of garlic, Parmesan cheese, parsley, and a little olive oil.  They are also served with a cajun dipping sauce but I have always enjoyed them better without the accompanying sauce.  While you are enjoying your fries take a good look at the neighboring tables around you.  At least half of them will have a basket of these fries.  Many Disneylandphiles know a really good thing.

Since Mrs. DLT isn't a fan of spicy foods, she usually opts for the legendary Monte Cristo sandwich.  Cafe Orleans delivers this popular favorite for several dollars cheaper than the neighboring Blue Bayou.  If you never had one, try it here and save a few bucks.  They aren't for everybody mostly because these things are so rich and decadent, I think its kind of hard for one person to eat a whole one.  What is a monte cristo?  Think of it as ham, turkey, and swiss cheese served between two pieces of french toast, then deep fried, covered in powdered sugar, and served with some kind of jelly.  Wow!  Who came up with this concoction?  But it is good in a perverted kind of way and you can see why they are a favorite and have been on Disneyland menus for years and years.  If you eat one, you just kind of have to put the number of calories and fat content out of your mind.  When Mrs. DLT go the monte cristo route invariably, a chunk of it is bagged and taken to go.

The Cafe Orleans Monte Cristo sandwich.  Good luck trying to finish it.

I'm a crepe guy.  What the Cafe Orleans serves that you cannot get any place else in either park are crepe dishes.  I've had both Seafood Crepe and Chicken Gumbo Crepe and have enjoyed them both.  Both are quite filling with the cream sauce on the Seafood Crepe being, to me anyway, the little richer dining experience of the two.  You can't go wrong with either.

Seafood Crepe - Cafe Orleans Disneyland

I haven't tried it yet but I'm told the French Onion Soup is also very good so that is on my list of things to try next time I am at the Cafe Orleans.  French Onion Soup and Pommes Frites, that'll work.  At the top of this post is a picture of Walt Standing in front of a copper coffee pot.  The pot is still in the Cafe Orleans taking a prime spot in the inside dining portion of the restaurant.  Look at this  photo, go to the Cafe Orleans and look at the actual pot.  Make the connection.  You will be glad you did.

My Favorite Cup of Coffee

Like most mornings on my days off, I got up early and made a pot of coffee. I'm enjoying a cup right now. And on the mornings I go off to work, the first thing I do when I go through the front doors of the building is made a sharp left hand turn and head for the cafeteria to pick up a cup of coffee before I do anything else. I'm just one of those people who happen to think that mornings and a nice cup of coffee just go together.

But what is my favorite cup of coffee? Easy question. I head over from my hotel room to Disneyland just as the park opens and go to the Market House on Main St. Forget the fact that I may have already had two or three cups of coffee back at the hotel, there's just something quite special about starting a day at Disneyland with a cup of coffee from the Market House. 

There's a few tables and chairs in the little alley way outside of the Market House. I grab a seat and spend a few minutes sipping the hot coffee and watch the Disneyland early risers plow their way up Main St. When most people think of Disneyland, they think about the rides, the attractions, the food, the shopping, and I'm no different. But I would also count the few minutes I spend with that nice cup of coffee as special as anything else I'm going to do in the park that day. Sometimes it really is the little things.

Interior of the Market House. Main St. Disneyland

Just Look Up

While looking for some other photos I came across the one above.  Any guesses?  That's what's painted on the overhanging structure that is above the Tomorrowland Terrice counter service dining facility and reason number 2,178 as to why Disneyland is so special.  Who else is going to a mural like that on what is essentially the ceiling of a mostly open air everyday dining place.  I want that on the painted on the ceiling of my bedroom.

One More Disney Day? ... I'd Go For the Food

Cafe Orleans Special - Lump Crabmeat Quiche - A Disney Parks Blog Photo

To commemorate Leap Year, Disneyland will stay open 24 hours beginning at 6:00am on Wednesday, February 29.  Does the thought of being able to ride Splash Mountain at 4am in the morning sound like bring a happy dance to your head?  Screw all that and check out what is on the special late night/early morning menu(s) for the One More Disney Day party as given to by Disney Parks Blog >>>  Late Night Dining For One More Disney Day.  I wish some of these things would make it to the permanent menus.

The Tiny Disneyland Tradition

People have all kinds of Disneyland traditions (even superstitions) when they make a trip to the park.  These are things one feels they must absolutely have to do each and every time they visit Disneyland.  It's a topic certainly worth exploring in this blog.  For now I'll mention my tiny Disneyland tradition.  Every time we travel down to Disneyland, I'll always stop by the Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner to get a real cherry coke.  This isn't that concoction that Coke sells already mixed for you.  This is the old school stuff where a coke dispensed from a fountain gets significantly enhanced by a pump of cherry syrup (additional charge of course). Just plain old fashion good stuff.  It's the only place in either park that serves it.

Which brings me to a trip a few years back where I showed up a the Refreshment Corner counter and asked for a cherry coke.  "We're out of cherry syrup.  Would you like raspberry or vanilla?"  Huh?  I tried the raspberry but it's just not the same.  Not even close.  So I went back to the Refreshment Corner the next day and asked for my cherry coke. New cast member - same response - "We're all out of cherry flavoring".  I think I stopped by the Refreshment Corner 4 or 5 times that trip and got the same "Sorry, we're out" each time.  Are you kidding me?  This is Disneyland.  This is a place that produces bushels full of umbrellas and panchos in sunny California if two drops of water fall from the sky.  How can Disneyland be out of anything, ever?  

This is all kind of a backdrop because the Coca Cola Refreshment Corner is do to open up here any day after being closed several weeks for a refurbishment and people will be lining up once again for the Disneyland tradition of an old fashioned cherry coke and maybe listen to a little ragtime piano that plays on the patio right outside.  I'm sure they will be plenty of cherry syrup available. 

My Disneyland Bucket List - Item #2

This is at the almost opposite end of the dining spectrum from having dinner at the Napa Rose restaurant.  Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I have eaten at almost every table service and counter service restaurant in Disneyland except one.  We have never eaten a meal at the Plaza Inn restaurant.  Now to be fair, we have gone there and had dessert (while watching fireworks), we just haven't had a meal there.

And having a meal at the Plaza Inn really only means one thing (though they do have a few selections).  The Plaza Inn is noted for their "broasted" fried chicken.  People I know personally, people on the internet, they all rave about the chicken served up in a portion so big its easy enough to share.  Why haven't we gotten to the Plaza Inn?  The only thing I can really think of is that in recent years, we've become such big fans of the Carnation Cafe and its only a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Plaza Inn.

Mark it down, a broasted chicken lunch or dinner from the Plaza Inn is now officially #2 on my Disneyland bucket list.

How To Keep Your Belly Full For About 25 Bucks

Now doubt about it - eating at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure can be an expensive proposition. Trying to keep the food costs down while remaining in the parks is a bit of a challenge. Here are the Disneyland Traveler's choices for filling food that will last you while remaining on a tight budget. If you are on some kind of diet and watching calories, carbs, or cholesterol, you might as well stop reading now because none of this would probably be looked up as good dietary choices by your family physician. Also keep in my I'm leaving off drinks and taxes. Your on your own for adding that in.

In the morning, try a giant cinnamon roll, sticky bun, or a muffin from the Blue Ribbon (soon to be Jolly Holiday) Bakery. Some of these items may also be available at one of the more adventurous coffee kiosk stands as well. It will run you around 4 bucks give or take a bit.

For lunch, go for the gut busting corn dog from the Little Red Wagon on Main St. or Corn Dog Castle in DCA. At around 6 bucks, you might not even be able to finish the thing before the grease kicks in. It comes with either potato chips or apples. Get the apples if you want to cut the grease a little bit. Get the potato chips if you just don't care and have a cast iron stomach.

Dinner? Nothing fills you up like soup in a bread bowl especially if you can finish it off. Clam Chowder and Gumbo are the popular choices though the Pacific Wharf Cafe changes it up a bit with Corn Cowder or Broccoli and Cheese for some variety. The Boudin sourdough bread vessel is sometimes better than the soup itself. The bread bowl soups run around 9 bucks

A nice filling snack to eat on the run? - try a Mickey Mouse pretzel from one of the numerous locations it is available. I like the one stuffed with cream cheese and jalapeno and runs around $3.50.

The four items mentioned above should last you for the day and keep you on the move (providing they also don't induce the sudden need for taking a nap following consumption). Some other good choices for cheap filling food would be stuffed potatoes served at the Troubadour Tavern in Fantasyland (around $7) and pastas that come from the Pizza Port in Tomrrowland or Boardwalk Pasta and Pizza over in DCA (closer to $10). The ones ladened with cream sauces are especially filling (can anyone picture the episode from The Office where Michael Scott feels the need to load up on carbs before a 5K fun run so he poishes off a large order of fettuccine Alfredo? - hysterical).

There you have it. Far easier on the wallet than a Monte Cristo sandwich from the Blue Bayou which runs almost $25 by itself.

The Tiki Room Is Not An Excuse To Eat Ice Cream

So, Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I are at Disneyland.  It's getting mid-afternoon, lunch was a few hours ago, the temperature is warming up, the feet are getting tired and then one of us will say 'Do you want to go to the Tiki Room?".  "Sure!" the other one of us that didn't ask the question will say.  There seems to be a lot of code words that float around Disneyland. Say "Tiki Room" first thing in the morning might not mean anything at all.  It probably doesn't even get said.  Say "Tiki Room" in late afternoon and it can mean only one thing for me and Mrs. DLT:  let's go get some pineapple ice cream - a whip for Mrs. DLT and a float for me.  

I don't believe Mrs. DLT and I have ever gone to the Dole pineapple stand without going in to see the show in the Enchanted Tiki Room.  I don't believe we have ever gone to the Tiki Room show without getting ice cream.  The two seem to go together so well.  It's tradition. On our trips, we usually end up seeing the animatronic bird show two, sometimes three times.  "Don't you ever get tired of seeing that show?" one might ask.  "Nope, doesn't matter, I got my float and I'll finish it off while seeing the birds perform and all will be right with my Disney world".  This is what Disneyland is all about.

But there's another reason for my love for Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and it has nothing to do with ice cream at all.  My parents passed away long ago as did an older sister and brother.  The places we lived and shared our lives together are a distant past.  But there is a room a little over 400 hundred miles away from where I write this where we went in together to see birds that could talk and sing.  It is the same now as it was many, many years ago.  Sitting in the Enchanted Tiki Room now connects me with a place I sat with my parents and my brother well over 40 years ago and with my sister 10 years ago.  They are no longer around, but my Disneyland memories with them have not faded.  It's so special, magical, and powerful.  We all have Walt Disney to thank for that.  He knew these things.

Walt Disney and Jose at the Tiki Room - A Disney Parks Blog Photo

Let's Have Lunch - Club 33 Perhaps?

I mentioned in a previous post that my friend from work, Mike, had his birthday lunch at Club 33 last week in Disneyland.  No, he is not a Club 33 member.  Yes, he does have connections.  He's probably eaten there at least a half dozen times or so from the time I began working with him about 12 years ago.  He always brings back pictures for me to ogle over.  A dastardly deed to be sure.

Last week's lunch for Mike and his wife began with a trip to the salad bar where he promptly had a plate of lobster tails, crab claws, chilled shrimp, cheese, and oh yeah, some green leafy stuff.

He proceeded on ordering up some mighty fine looking lamb chops served over creamy polenta while his wife ordered a delectable sable fish which is similar to cod.  Both had high marks for their entrees enjoying them completely.

And it doesn't stop there.  On Mike's dessert plate he showed off the obligatory macaroon with mickey ears, a delicious looking chocolate eclair, and one of my all time favorite desserts, creme brulee.

Can it get any better than this?  This lunch set Mike back about 200 bucks after a cocktail, tax, and tip were added but as an invited guest of a Club 33 member, they also got free admission to the park.  It's actually a pretty good deal.  Mike and I live several hundred miles away from Disneyland but someday, just maybe, we may find ourselves both in Anaheim at the same time.  He'll hook me up.  I think a trip to Club 33 is on my bucket list.

Another Recipe - The Loaded Baked Potato Soup

I sang the praises of Disneyland's Carnation Cafe Loaded Baked Potato Soup almost literally in an earlier post titled In Praise of a Bowl of Soup.  Tried the recipe and the family loved every last mouth watering calorie and there are plenty of them.  While I was posting the pumpkin muffin recipe in my previous blog entry, I thought it best to capture the soup recipe as well so I can keep these handy on this blog rather than having to go search for them.  So here is the Baked Potato Soup recipe.

Note: 32 oz. of half and half may work out better than the heavy cream and save a calorie or two. The heavy cream version is very rich.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Yield: six 8-oz portions

Ingredients:
4 large Russet Potatoes (peeled and small diced)
4 medium Red Potatoes (small diced)
6 oz (2 large stalks) Celery (small diced)
6 oz (1 large or 2 small) Carrots (peeled and small diced)
I medium yellow Onion (small diced)
2 oz unsalted Butter
1 lb. bacon (rough chopped) (*tip: place slices of bacon in the freezer to make it easier to cut. Will slip less)
16 oz Chicken stock or vegetable stock
32 oz Heavy Whipping Cream
2 oz Flour
1 oz vegetable oil
Salt/pepper to taste
*Small dice is ¼ In. x ¼ In.

Garnish with these items if desired:
Chives (chopped)
Bacon Bits
Sour Cream
Cheddar and Mozzarella Cheese (shredded)

PROCEDURE:
1. Place stock pot, (6-8 quart pot) over medium heat. Add the vegetable oil, butter and bacon. Start rendering the bacon (process of releasing the fat through cooking). The bacon will start to release its fat. Do not allow it to burn.

2. Cook bacon until crispy, remove and set aside on a paper towel; leaving the fat from the bacon in the pan. Add onions, carrots, and celery. Traditionally these 3 items are called the MIREPOIX. Sweat the mirepoix until the onions turn translucent. Add potatoes and cook for 4 minutes. Add the flour to make roux. Cook roux until blond in color, (about 5 to 7 minutes), while stirring constantly. Add chicken stock and half of the bacon back into the pan. (Reserve the rest of the bacon for garnish.) Season with salt and pepper.

3. Turn the heat to medium high, bring the soup up to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes or until the potatoes are soft and tender. Mash some of the potatoes for thicker, creamier texture. Add whipping cream and simmer for 5 minutes.

4. You can adjust the thickness by adding water or stock for a thinner soup. It should have a creamy consistency. Adjust your seasonings.

5. Garnish with your desired toppings.

Sign of Autumn - The Return of the Pumpkin Muffin

Well, it's official. Disneyland has officially rolled into the Autumn season when the Pumpkin Muffin made its first appearance at the Blue Ribbon Bakery yesterday. Somewhere Mrs. DisneylandTraveler is doing a happy dance because she loves these things. We're probably not going to make it down there this HalloweenTime but depriving Mrs. DLT of the beloved muffin is not an option. Thanks to the wonders of the Internet, here is the Disney parks pumpkin muffin recipe:

Recipe:

Pumpkin Muffins with Cream Cheese Icing

Pumpkin Muffins:
2 cups pumpkin puree (canned)
1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
3/4 cup canola oil
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1-1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 325 F.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together pumpkin, sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla until well blended.


Sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg over the pumpkin mixture and whisk until just blended. Overmixing may result in less tender muffins.

Fold in the raisins until consistently distributed.

Portion mixture into muffin pans and bake at 325 F for 25 minutes.

Insert a toothpick into center of muffin and remove. If toothpick is clean, the muffins are ready. If not, allow muffins to cook an additional 1-2 minutes or until toothpick is clean. Allow muffins to cool for 30-60 minutes.

Cream Cheese Icing:
1 cup unsalted butter
1-1/2 cups cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

Allow cream cheese and butter to soften at room temperature for about an hour.

Mix cream cheese and butter together until smooth.

Add vanilla extract, powdered sugar and cinnamon, and mix until well blended.

Remove from mixer, and cover and refrigerate until needed.

Fill a pastry bag fitted with a star tip with icing.

Poke a hole into the center of each cooled muffin and squeeze icing directly into the middle of the muffin, finishing with a rosette on the top.

Some Disneyland Dining Tips & Tricks

During our trips to Disneyland, Mrs. DisneylandTraveler and I have to budget our Disney spending pretty closely.  Some trips are a little more tightly funded than others.  Over the years we have come to learn a few things.  First of all, once we are in Disneyland or DCA, we generally do not like to leave the park to eat somewhere cheaper off property.  If we do leave the park during the course of a day to eat, we generally go to Downtown Disney.  Now this doesn't include running over to McDonald's for breakfast before we start our day or leaving the park early once or twice and going back to a room and ordering in a pizza. But generally once we are in Disney, we eat Disney.  Here are some lessons learned (mostly by trial and error).

Never order a burger at DL or DCA.  They tend to be overcooked and dry and this probably has more to do with health and safety than anything else. A juicy medium rare burger in Disneyland is non-existent. Now Disney has tried to cover this in recent years by topping their burgers - chili and bacon at the Hungry Bear, and pastrami of all things at the Village Haus.  Many people have said that adding additional toppings to the burgers have improved them.  I haven't had the desire to try one and find out after several disappointments.

Most of the dining places that offer burgers also offer a chicken sandwich. Go with the chicken, they generally are better.

Disney has been trying to upscale and diversify their menu options.  A lot of research goes into adding something new and different to a menu.  If you go to a dining facility that offers something new on their menu, try it.  At least Disney thinks they have hit on something people might like - fried green tomato sandwich at the Hungry Bear, flat bread pizza at the Village Haus, stuffed baked potatoes at the Troupador Tavern.

Large portions served at the French Market and Plaza Inn may be worth splitting.  Generally these two places serve up very good quick service food.

Just because it's a table service restaurant does not mean the price is outrageous.  You can have a reasonably priced meal at the Carnation Cafe, Cafe Orleans, and the Wine Country Trattoria over in DCA.  The overall price would not be that much more than one of the better quick service dining places.

The Big Thunder BBQ is expensive running 20 bucks for lunch and 25 for dinner - fixed menu at a fixed price.  The thing about Big Thunder is the food is quite good and it is "all you can eat."

The Blue Bayou is expensive but dinner runs about 5 bucks more than lunch so you can save a bit by going during the lunch time hours.  If you have never been to the Blue Bayou - go, at least once.  It's about as much about the dining experience as it is about the food.  Both deliver.  I have heard of people going to the Blue Bayou just for desserts.  Don't think I would do this. You can also split a plate, but it is costly.

The Riverbelle Terrace serves up great carved sandwiches but they are very expensive at about $13 each.  If we go there Mrs. DLT and I will generally split a sandwich.

For quick meals, there is the infamous corn dog - greasy and good and big enough to split. There is also the skewers at the Bengal BBQ - I love the bacon wrapped asparagus.  There are hot dogs around but they tend to be overpriced, same with slices of pizza.  There are better options.  We also avoid the grab and go turkey legs and chimichangas.

We tend to avoid the greasy deep fried food served at the Golden Horseshoe and adjoining Stage Door Cafe. You mostly end up tasting grease.

Both DL and DCA have Mexican dining places - I think the DCA place is better as long as you stay away from the beef which again, tends to be overcooked and dry.  I like the chicken tamales myself.

Soup in bread bowls is a popular choice because it is filling and fairly reasonably priced.  My issue has always been that the soups are kind of mediocre in taste and generally not served hot enough.  The Boudin bread though is very good.  Over at the Pacific Wharf in DCA, they serve salads in a bread bowl.  My sister loves these, especially the bay shrimp salad.

Disney bakers make some excellent baked goods and treats, same with the candy makers. Some of these goodies are pretty reasonably priced, some are not.  Always worth taking a look though.

If you are a coffee drinker, get a cup at the Market House.  Free refills all day with receipt.

Meals in Downtown Disney can be pricey as well but several of the restaurants have adjoining walk-up dining service for reasonable prices.  This is a pretty nice option.

Well, that's a few thoughts on food.  Make a dining plan when you go on a trip.  A website like allears.net has all the menus online.  With a little planning, your dining at Disneyland can be an enjoyable experience and not a "rip-off" as some people tend to believe.