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I'm flexible on dining reservations. I've gone to all those places and found something to eat. Disney does pretty good at offering me options. Love to do the Blue Bayou again if not just for the environment and the small of swamp water.

Cathaway would be cool too. Lounge or dinner is worth the experience.
Is anyone thinking about breakfast too? Plaza, Storytellers, Goofy's?
 
Joanie and I are staying at the Candy Cane with its free breakfast. Dave and Gillian are living in luxury at the Disneyland Hotel DVC Suites so I assume that are continously hand-fed peeled grapes. ;)

I'm in for Blue Bayou as well. I still haven't had a chance to research other dining options. I do know I want to visit the Hungry Bear to see how it compares to Flame Tree BBQ, and to get corn dogs at both the Castle and the Red Wagon. I have not yet visited Hank Pym's Kitchen either, but it's not a high priority.

I assume that Cathaway is code for Carthay Circle. Dining in the restaurant is pricey, but if the group is up for that, let's do it.

Our dining window opens July 20 for September 19.

In other news, I purchased a new ticket for four days. I'll save my three-day ticket for next year.
 
Jeff, we are doing Disneyland on Saturday Sept 19th and on Sunday the 20th we are doing Walt's Barn and whatever else. I'm renting an SUV so it will fit 5 people 3 in the back seat if all 5 want to go to Walt's Barn. Mon Starting at rope drop at Disneyland, Tuesday Trader Sam's at noonish, then Oogie Boogie Halloween party with 3:30 party entrance. Wed and Thursday are also Park days. Then Friday people are going home but hopefully I'll have a date with George Lucas at his new museum.

As for me I'm checking in to the Candy Cane Inn on Thursday the 17th after spending the days prior with my brother and the family. On Friday the 18th I was planning on visiting the Hollywood Museum Hollywood Museum which opens at 10 and then I was planning on something else which I haven't figured out yet. If you'd like to join me on Friday, I plan on leaving early enough to get to the Hollywood Museum at opening at 10 am. Then if there is something that you'd like to do we can make plans, so let me know what you are thinking.

Let us know what your travel days are.

~Joanie
 
Thank for the update, Joanie.

I'm scheduled for arriving Friday morning at LAX. I was thinking about visiting Universal to try out the new Hollywood Drift ride. I haven't purchased a ticket yet and don't know where I'd put my luggage if I head directly there from the airport. Maybe we could work out something. Hollywood Museum sounds interesting too. I fly back on Thursday, but that was because the timing and prices weren't looking good for flying Friday. I'll keep checking though.

The Sunday plan, I'm interested, but more because I'm sick all day Disney parks trips to LA and need to tour other things. I'm game.
 
5 days until Dining reservations open so it's time to nail down the dining schedule.

Saturday: Park ?
Monday: Park DL Blue Bayou Afternoon say between 1pm and 3pm??
Tuesday Trader Sams Noonish Oogie Boogie Bash party day
Wednesday: Park DL
Thursday: Park DCA

Restaurants that need to be scheduled for time and day are Carthay Circle (DCL) and Lamplighter (DCL)

What is the park of the day for Saturday?

Lets get consensus on this so we can proceed with the restaurant reservation plan.
@ExploringWDW @ddindy @Jeff Krause
 
The park of the day discussion was on page 2. It's not quite as important now that we can hop at any time, but we do need to pick which rope we drop. I suggest DCA on Saturday so we start two days in each park.

We can discuss it at the Zoom meeting, whenever that is.
 
Sorry I missed Dave's post stating that Saturday should be DCA.

Since 60 days prior to this date ( September 19th) is July 21st, I volunteer to get a Carthay circle reservation for that day, let's say at around 1:00 p.m.?
If I can't get that date I'll check and see if I can get a table at the Lamp light Lounge for around the same time and wait for Carthay to be available for reservations on Thursday at around 1:00 p.m.

How does that sound?

For Monday Sept. 21st. I'll try for reservations at Blue Bayou between 1:00 and 3:00. (Booking on the app on July 23rd)

Who wants to make reservations at Trader Sam's for Tuesday September 22nd?

Wednesday Sept 23rd might be a good day for Dennis's Hungry Bear Quick service.

And Thursday is either Carthay Circle or Lamp Light depending upon how Saturday works out. Since Carthay Circle is so popular I'm wondering if Saturday might be a tough day to get reservations there.

Does this plan sound good or do we want to go in a different direction?

From Plan Disney:"
The booking window for most Disneyland Resort restaurants opens 60 days in advance at 6:00 a.m. PST. However, in my pals' experiences, they have found that occasionally, you might be able to start your search and find some availability for certain restaurants as early as 3:00 a.m. PST. On the flip side, you might find that some availability will not be released until later in the day and even days later."
 
I keep forgetting about Sam's not taking reservations anymore. It's almost inconceivable with how popular that place is.

Which reservations would you like to do?
 
I'm willing to try to get anything you want me to. It looks like the only one you haven't claimed is the Thursday Lamplighter or Carthay Lounge reservation, so I can try for that one unless you want to hand off one of the others.
 
Joanie Eddis-Koch said:
Sorry I missed Dave's post stating that Saturday should be DCA.

Since 60 days prior to this date ( September 19th) is July 21st, I volunteer to get a Carthay circle reservation for that day, let's say at around 1:00 p.m.?
If I can't get that date I'll check and see if I can get a table at the Lamp light Lounge for around the same time and wait for Carthay to be available for reservations on Thursday at around 1:00 p.m.

How does that sound?

For Monday Sept. 21st. I'll try for reservations at Blue Bayou between 1:00 and 3:00. (Booking on the app on July 23rd)

Who wants to make reservations at Trader Sam's for Tuesday September 22nd?

Wednesday Sept 23rd might be a good day for Dennis's Hungry Bear Quick service.

And Thursday is either Carthay Circle or Lamp Light depending upon how Saturday works out. Since Carthay Circle is so popular I'm wondering if Saturday might be a tough day to get reservations there.

Does this plan sound good or do we want to go in a different direction?

From Plan Disney:"
The booking window for most Disneyland Resort restaurants opens 60 days in advance at 6:00 a.m. PST. However, in my pals' experiences, they have found that occasionally, you might be able to start your search and find some availability for certain restaurants as early as 3:00 a.m. PST. On the flip side, you might find that some availability will not be released until later in the day and even days later."
Click to expand...
Sounds good.

Is there anything good at Downtown Disney District? Am I missing any dining experience there?
 
ddindy said:
I'm willing to try to get anything you want me to. It looks like the only one you haven't claimed is the Thursday Lamplighter or Carthay Lounge reservation, so I can try for that one unless you want to hand off one of the others.
Click to expand...
Ok, you can get Thursday's reservation. I'll post as to which one I got for Saturday so we can go from there.
 
Jeff Krause said:
Sounds good.

Is there anything good at Downtown Disney District? Am I missing any dining experience there?
Click to expand...
I'm out of the loop for Disney California dining.
You should take a look at what restaurants are in Downtown Disney and then figure out if anything sounds interesting to you. Let us know as soon as possible because we start to make dining reservations Tuesday July 21st..
 
I've made my park reservations for DCA Sat and Thu and DL Mon and Wed.

As a test, I checked dining availability for Carthay and Lamplight Lounges for the week before we arrive and found plenty of open time slots. With luck, that means we should have no problems getting those ADRs.

At some point we need to link everyone's tickets to our apps so any one of us can get Lightning Lanes for the whole group. Once we're there {possibly Friday evening), we need to get a Photopass card to share all of our ride and group photos. We can do that at the Photopass Concierge booth outside the Disneyland entrance.
 
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Saturday, September 19, 2026
Carthay Circle Lounge – Lunch
Disney California Adventure Park
Buena Vista Street
Lunch at 2:00 PM
6 Guests

And yes, I know it says 6 guests. With our history, that number favored any last minute addition that might pop up.
 
On Saturday I'll try to get Lamplight Lounge for Thursday, Sep 24, between 1 and 3 pm, for 6 people. Sound good?

Correction: I'll get that ADR on Sunday, July 26. Apparently old age is reducing my ability to count.
 
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ddindy said:
On Saturday I'll try to get Lamplight Lounge for Thursday, Sep 24, between 1 and 3 pm, for 6 people. Sound good?
Click to expand...
I know there's five of us going now, but I think in case we have a last minute addition, it would just be prudent to have the extra seat, which we can always downgrade when we get to the restaurant.
 
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