A Newbie’s Guide to Disneyland

The topic of Disneyland boasts a vast catalogue of dedicated media. Articles, blogs, round-ups, listicles, and vlogs are so abundant one wonders if another is needed. Probably not, but I love snacking my way through almost anywhere so here we are!

It’s important to state at the outset that I am a true Disneyland newbie. I hadn’t set foot in a park since a few childhood trips two decades ago. Without experience on my side what I did have was research and lots of it. I planned this day meticulously and extensively in the hopes that other first timers can get the most out of their day.

Upon entry, the first order of business was breakfast chimichangas (naturally). Located at Ship to Shore in Frontierland, the breakfast variation is available each day till 11:00 or till sold out. These can be quite popular, so if they pique your interest make sure to prioritize them.

Golden, crunchy, and savory this was a perfect start to the day. What is it about frying tortillas that makes them truly magical? It’s a good time to clarify that for the duration of the day, my husband and I split each dish to maximize our snacking. While a half portion was delightful, a whole one might be a heavy start to the day so consider sharing. Also, the salsa is sold separately and carries an upcharge but don’t skip it.

It’s no surprise that our first ride of the day was Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. True, the wait times can be really long but it’s also true that this attraction is worth it.

As a reward for waiting in that line it was time to capitalize on our location in Galaxy’s Edge and snag a ronto morning wrap – the less buzzed about sibling to the fan favorite ronto wrap (spoiler, we came back for that later).

This was delicious! I loved both breakfast items but if you’re only going to get one, I recommend the ronto morning wrap (served until 10:30). If you’re visiting with a significant other or partner in crime, do as we did and split both.

Next up, our day took a very magical turn. We were lucky enough to dine as guests of a Club 33 member in Le Salon Nouveau. All Disney aficionados know Club 33 as the exclusive, members only restaurant located in the heart of New Orleans Square. As this is a private experience, the following shot is the only one I can share.

My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary so lunch in this setting felt extra special.

For lunch, we were presented with a le carte choices but dinner guests can expect a multi-course prix fixe menu. Even with the lighter fare, our meal still started off with complimentary warm, candied cashews and hot rolls with herb butter. For my entrée, I opted for a creole pot pie. A mixture of chicken, andouille sausage, vegetables and beans was tucked under a pillowy, puff pastry canopy. My husband and our host both opted for the pulled pork sandwich featured under the rotating, seasonal options.

After saying goodbye to the upscale and dreamy Club 33, we made our way to Main Street for a corndog because we don’t discriminate against food at any price point.

I have mixed feelings about our Little Red Wagon experience. There’s no question that this is a great corndog but it fell short of the hype surrounding it. Perhaps there are simply limits on how great a corn dog can be? If you’re looking for the greatest hits I would consider this missable. But if you’re compelled to have one due to its classic status, do yourself a favor and pair it with the wagon dipping sauce.

Our next snack was one of the rare disappointments of the day. We visited another Main Street landmark, Candy Palace, for a “100 Celebration” cake pop. While all cake pops are dense, the chocolate cake filling surpassed cake territory and moved into fudge. A rich, chocolatey treat but ultimately too rich to enjoy.

Ready for a break from snacking we navigated to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

The projection mapping and technicality of this attraction is so impressive and I’m a fan of trackless rides. However, the wait times on this newly opened attraction are steep and the payoff may not feel worthwhile for everyone. Exiting Toontown did deposit us in Fantasyland though where we made a pitstop at Troubadour Tavern.

This was one of the best things we ate all day. Secretly, this was even better than the pot pie I enjoyed at Club 33.

Similar to a samosa, this potato sambusa is a delectable filled pastry and the included mango chutney makes each bite the perfect bite. While curry spices are present, they are very mild so samosa connoisseurs should set their expectations accordingly. I’m a massive samosa fan and didn’t find this the least bit disappointing.

Ready for a pick-me-up, we headed back to Galaxy’s Edge for the ever popular cold brew topped with sweet cream cheese and chocolate puffs at Docking Bay 7.

There are several speciality coffees sprinkled throughout the park but this is a can’t miss for any coffee lover. Also, we may have just stopped by at the perfect time of day (between meals) but there was plenty of available seating – something that can’t be said of many other quick service eateries.

Continuing with the Star Wars theme, we boarded Smuggler’s Run but this immersive, video game style attraction was dizzying and firmly cemented itself as something I won’t repeat. Looking for redemption, we doubled back to Ronto Roasters for their classic ronto wrap which did not disappoint!

Snacking size when shared this could easily be a light meal for one. The consistently short lines here make this a great choice for a bite on the go! Shaved pork, pork sausage, and tangy coleslaw are enveloped in a flatbread then slathered in a mildly spicy sauce. Easily a standout of the day this is one I can’t wait to revisit.

We left Galaxy’s Edge behind and entered Critter Country in search of loaded onion rings. Our stop at Hungry Bear doubled as a chance to sample mickey beignets. Traditionally served at Mint Julep Bar, the beignets have appeared at both Hungry Bear and Royal Street Veranda while Mint Julep is closed for refurbishment.

The onion rings were topped with a bacon cheddar sauce then sprinkled with both green chile and green onion. The bacon was sparse and the green onions were a bit heavy handed but all the flavors worked well together. Not surprisingly, this felt the most like theme park food of any dish we tried and for that reason it ranks pretty low.

On the other end of the spectrum, I give a standing ovation to those warm, iconic beignets. Although not in their usual spot, they are absolutely worth seeking out.

A fried, doughy concoction within the donut family these are showered in powdered sugar but somehow still managed to avoid sugary overload. Remember to shake the bag to ensure even coating.

Next on the agenda was Pirates of the Caribbean, but we ducked into Harbour Galley for a quick lobster roll while the ride was temporarily unavailable.

Lobster rolls fall into two categories – a butter forward variation which is served warm, and a mayo salad style which is served chilled. Since Harbour Galley offered no description in the app, I was hoping for the former but received the latter. The sweet lobster was tossed with mayo, celery, and onion. A nice, light meal but not the culinary experience I was hoping for.

On the day we visited, Pirates of the Caribbean was temporarily closed at least three times so timing this ride can be tricky. We lucked out and joined the line shortly after a reopening so we sailed through the short wait. We disembarked feeling too full to keep ticking items off our dining list so we closed out the day at Jungle Cruise.

These last two attractions each rated as favorites. Heavy on theming, light on thrills, these are just the types of rides I’m looking to pair with a day of eating. Gentle and beautiful – especially around sunset – I look forward to riding them over and over.

Picking the best dishes is difficult, but if your dining schedule is less ambitious than ours I recommend prioritizing the ronto wrap in either variation (or both!), the potato sambusa, and the beignets. And be sure to get your coffee fix from Docking Bay 7!

Lastly, a few tips for planning your own dining. I started out by reviewing restaurants online which is a great way to familiarize yourself with menus and pricing as well as make reservations. However, the complete list available here is not actually complete.

Before your visit be sure to download the Disneyland app. This app offers a variety of helpful features but I spent most of my time on the map tab. Here, you can choose your desired overlay for up-to-date information. With the dining overlay applied, tap “show list” to see all dining options. Unlike the website, this list will include carts. This is a great way to see every possible option for a quick snack or even a bottle of water.

This also lets you preview cart menus which I highly recommend. For example, five out of the eight churro carts in Disneyland are currently offering unique or seasonal churros. If you’re after a specific churro flavor (or pretzel flavor, popcorn flavor, etc) be sure to look carefully at each cart’s menu.

Lastly, the app facilitates mobile ordering (not available at all quick service options) which can be initiated from the map tab or by launching the plus menu. Mobile orders can be placed for the first available time slot or a specific, future time slot. However, food will not be prepared within that time slot until requested. Once your allocated window opens, be sure to actually start the order from within the app.

Whatever you choose to eat, I wish you happy dining on your magical day!