Parade Dining Package at The Plaza Inn

Updated January 5, 2023

I love parades at the Disneyland Resort.

Plaza Inn often offers a dining package to accompany the currently running parade, which can vary throughout the year.

Let’s see what this is all about.

Basic Scoop

  • With this dining package, you’ll dine at The Plaza Inn inside Disneyland between 1:00pm and 3:30pm.
  • The cost is $40 for adults and $25 for kids age 3-9. (Plus tax and gratuity.)
  • When you pay for your meal, you’ll receive a voucher for each guest to enter the viewing area for the first parade of the day. This dining package only works for the first parade.
  • The viewing area is standing room only, but if you arrive early enough, you can try for a spot on the curb.
  • Infants (up to age 2) are FREE. Children age 2 and under do not have to pay for the meal and do not have to have a voucher to enter the viewing area. A meal will not be provided to your child, but he or she can eat off your plate. When making a reservation with children age 2 and under, include them in your party count so that Disney can make seating accommodations for everyone in your group. (Meaning, if you have 5 people in your party and 1 person in your group is a child age 2 or under, you will only have to pay for 4 people. But, by letting Disney know there are 5 of you, you’ll be seated at a table for 5.)
  • Dining packages are always popular at Disneyland. Do not hesitate to book your package now. If you change your mind on using it, cancel within 24 hours of your dining time so that your credit card on file is not charged the $10 per person cancellation penalty. This package does not require pre-payment.
  • Magic Key discounts do apply to this dining package.
  • Dining packages can be booked 60 days out from the day you plan to dine.
  • Disney makes every effort to accommodate guests with dietary restrictions. If you call in to make your reservation, let the cast member know your requests. If you book online, enter your requests in the space provided.
  • For info on the menu, pricing and to book this meal, go here.

Check In

If you visit the Plaza Inn for lunch, you’ll most often stand in a long line to just get in the door. If you have a reservation for the dining package, you can bypass that long line and check in to the left, where you see the sign below.

You’ll pay at the kiosk outside and then move indoors to pick up your food.

Food

Here‘s the menu for this dining package.

Once inside, head over to this food line set up specifically for guests with this dining package.

Again, it’s lovely to bypass the big lines of people selecting food from the normal menu.

Setting

The Plaza Inn hosts my absolute favorite character meal in the park and I’ve attended it a dozen plus times.

While there, I never miss out on looking at all the gorgeous detail in this unassuming restaurant. Walt’s wife, Lillian, designed it.

You may dine outside if you prefer. I’ve done both and enjoy both. Most often, however, I choose indoor dining for lunch since I likely have been at the parks since opening taking advantage of the lower lines and enjoying attractions.

If you do sit outside, there are plenty of umbrellas to shield you from the sun.

Lanyard and Voucher or Return Ticket

When you check in and pay for your meal, each paying guest will receive a voucher and a lanyard. Disney calls your lanyard a “credential”.

Keep both. You can’t get into the viewing section with your lanyard alone. That’s just for fun. Your voucher is your way in.

Here are photos of the lanyard and the voucher from an older dining package at The Plaza Inn. You should receive something similar to this.

Viewing Section

The viewing section is located in front of the Main Street Railroad Station. Arrive an hour early for a front row spot on the curb. You should be able to sit on the curb if you arrive an hour early.

Remember, the first parade starts near “it’s a small world”, so give it 20 minutes to reach this viewing area.

Regarding the viewing section, Disney shares: “The viewing area is separate from the dining location. Your voucher lists the location of your viewing area, the time you should arrive at your viewing location and the show’s performance time. Early and late arrivals will not be accommodated.

Please ask a Cast Member if you need directions to the viewing area. All viewing areas are standing only, with accommodations for Guests with disabilities.”

Is the Plaza Inn Dining Package Worth It?

I enjoy the food at Plaza Inn, so this was an easy sell for me. However, to get a good view of the parade, you really need to arrive at the dining package viewing area an hour or more early, which kind of negates the whole idea of a dining package.

So, if you like the food, go for it. If not, follow my tips here for when to arrive and where to watch.

Notes

  • For guests wanting to book this dining package, an ideal day with food would look like this: Arrive an hour prior to official park opening. Enjoy attractions and have a light lunch (or just snack, snack, snack as you’re going through attractions). Save your appetite for this yummy dining package.
  • One adult may enter the viewing section with a blanket to secure his or her family’s space while another adult keeps kids busy until parade time. The blanket can never be left unattended. But, you can section off a bit of the viewing section for your crew. Be courteous, of course, and respectful of other guests needing their own space.
  • This dining package is super family friendly with a laid back lunch and then ample space in the viewing section.
  • Strollers, wheelchairs and scooters are allowed in the viewing area.
  • Disneyland is super accommodating with food allergies. If you have specific needs, share those when you book online in the section provided. If you call in to book, let the cast member helping you know your needs. Then, when you check in at your dining time, reiterate those details again.
  • In an ideal world, reservations for dining at Disneyland would open exactly 60 days out, as is the goal. This doesn’t always happen, so don’t panic if you don’t see availability on the 60 day mark. Keep checking back.
  • Don’t want to indulge in a dining package? Visit this link for my favorite spots to watch the parade. For free!
  • As with any event at Disneyland, cast members are working hard to ensure your experience is all you want it to be. Please be patient with them as they learn how to best manage the viewing sections. It changes occasionally.
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24 thoughts on “Parade Dining Package at The Plaza Inn

    1. Hi, Amber.

      You may! I recommend scooting around a bit and standing closer to Main Street so that you have a less obstructed view. But, the general area is just fine for fireworks.

      Have fun!

  1. Our family is coming October 29th, 2020 for the Halloween celebration. But we are wondering if we are still there until November 9th will be present for the switch over to Christmas? Thank you so very much.

  2. Ok so this is more related to the frozen dining package, as of today 10/15/18 they are not offering frozen dining packages after 11/7/18. This is for dinner and the live frozen show. Does anyone know if this is forever?

      1. Thanks!! that’s what I was thinking, but also hoping they were changing the show to Olafs frozen adventure for Christmas!!!

  3. I’ve noticed, on the Disneyland website, that they do not offer you to reserve for the Pixar Play Parade Dining Package at the Plaza Inn, after August 31, 2018. Does anyone know if the dining package is being discontinued beginning September 1st ? Thank you

    1. Hi, Doug.

      I haven’t heard of a cancellation, but it’s not often a crowded dining event. Keep checking the reservations to see if they simply haven’t added it yet. They’re sometimes late on such things.

      1. Thanks Casey. Been doing that as we will be at Disneyland September 30-October 7. I’m checking everyday. Thanks again!

  4. So torn on if we should do this not. I actually really like our usual parade spot, but the food looks delicious and I like the idea of a reserved spot. I’m just afraid sitting in the full sun for a parade in August is not going to be very fun!

  5. Do you have updated photo of the new viewing area during 3:30 parade? How’s the sun in the new area? I’m debating which parade to choose. Thanks

      1. I confused by the new viewing area? Is it in front of the Plaza Inn or is it across the street in front of the Jolly Holiday Cafe

  6. We attended this dining/parade option, and just before the parade started, cast members took down the rope that separated the viewing area from people watching who hadn’t paid. So, after paying money for the meal and viewing area, we were crowded by guests who had not. Sitting/standing on my daughter’s blanket, yelling in our ears, etc. Is this the norm? If so, I wouldn’t recommend paying extra to have a reserved viewing location, myself.

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