While Ariel’s Grotto at Disney California Adventure park is a frenzy of satin, chiffon and glitter as a favorite spot for breakfast and lunch with the Disney princesses, at dinnertime the dining room takes on a decidedly different ambiance. With no Disney characters, it’s an ideal spot for an evening cocktail with a view of Paradise Pier through the windows. Best of all, a preferred viewing FASTPASS for “World of Color“ is part of the deal.
Ariel’s Grotto recently got a nod from the Southern California Restaurant Writers with a “Gold” award (Four Stars), judged on food, service, ambiance and beverages and achieving between 95 and 100 points by a vote of the members.
Relax with a superfruit martini (blueberry vodka, pomegranate liqueur, cranberry juice, agave nectar and fresh lemon juice) or an agave nectar margarita (tequila, agave nectar and fresh lime juice). Dinner is fixed price, else we’d make a meal of the Antipasti Tower – one is grilled veggies and cheeses, the other adds clams, shrimp, prosciutto and chorizo.
Move on to a favorite entrée: sustainable fish with wild rice and sweet pineapple chutney; pasta with Italian sausage; herb-crusted chicken breast with cheddar mashed potatoes; tender tri-tip slow roasted over rock salt, cioppino with lobster, fish, scallops, mussels, shrimp and chorizo; or spinach and ricotta agnolotti (ravioli) in a light mushroom broth.
Dessert is to be shared, but we find that the warm chocolate cake goes first. Nibble green apple mousse in a cone, tiramisù chocolate cups, French macaroons, passion fruit quenelles, chocolate ganache crunch triangles and white chocolate with fresh berries. You won’t leave hungry.
You can make reservations up to 60 days in advance. Cost is $39.99 for adults, $20.99 ages 3 to 9. And Passholder discounts apply! Call 714-781-DINE (3463).
Have you tried Ariel’s for dinner?
Comments
My DW and I had the pleasure of eating at Ariel’s Grotto in Oct 2010 during our trip to Disneyland (we are Floridians so this is not an everyday opportunity for us) and I can say that the food was excellent and view is really nice… the World of Color fastpass is also a wonderful bonus….
We both agree that we would eat there again in the future if the opportunity presents itself!
We did this last year for our first WOC viewing! It was wonderful! It was especially nice to have a delicious and relaxing dinner after running around both parks and then to walk up to the show, in a great viewing area a few minutes before it started. Much better than running to get the passes when the park opens, waiting in the holding area and being escorted over. Did I mention the dinner was delicious? I highly recommend the tri-tip!
Speaking of World of Color, is there, or are there plans for, a soundtrack CD? I fell in love with the soundtrack the moment I heard it, and would love a CD.
Preferred seating for WOC was fantastic, dinner…not so much. Great antipasto tower followed by main course no more than 2 minutes later. Asked them to bring main course about 15 minutes later so we could enjoy the appetizer and they did, the exact same plates they let sit at room temp for 15 minutes. Talked to manager and was told that the timing was something they needed to work on. Felt rushed the whole time. Worst Disney dining experience ever, and they didn’t seem to care.
So do you watch the WOC show during dinner, or do you eat and then make your way over to the seating area?
Nathan, I was not thrilled with the food choices either.
Here is another way to get your WOC passes.
You can eat Breakfast at the Story Tellers café ( character breakfast ), take the receipt from breakfast to the side entrance into Californian Adventure and get in up to 1 HR early. This allows you to get to the World of Color fast pass line at Grizzly river rapids.
A tip for WOC.
I don’t think it matters to much if you get blue/left, yellow/center or red/right viewing area. The right side of blue and left side of red are right next to the yellow area. I have been in yellow and red and both were good.
The trick is to get there early and when you get in, to get a place at a railing. That way there is no one in front of you, just the garden and fountain that lights up as part of the show.
You could spend time and money to get your yellow pass but if you are not there early you will end up in the middle or back of the area and have to try and look over the people in front of you and hope the the dad does not have his kids on his shoulders so they can see.
Oh my gosh! Sounds absolutely delicious! This is not to be missed, and with a FastPass for World of Color to boot! Can’t wait!
Just made our reservations 15 minutes ago. Looking forward to this in Aug.
I am so excited ! doing this in july!
OH MAN! Im doing this in july!!! I can not wait to hear “WALT DISNEY PRESENTS” for the first time ever LIVE…..goosebumps. I wanted to last year but lots of things happened excited
Went a year ago and would do this again. It was a very memorable experience!! Food and drinks were delish and the desserts were out of this world. It was a nice way to end a long day spent at both parks. The preferred viewing for World of Color was fantastic!
Ariel’s Grotto is the only Character Dinner I haven’t tried, but I didn’t know it was “spiffed up” for World of Color. I’ll have to try it twice now!
My apologies for being off-topic, but I wanted to ask the blogger how she got this position as being a DisneyParks blogger? Is there an email I can reach her at?
Went here last year for a special occasion and the prixe fixe dinner was great! My boyfriend and I were concerned that we would still be hungry (since most Disney joints seem to leave us hungry), but not here! And on top of that, preferred viewing of World of Color! It doesn’t get better than that!
Went here last year for a special occasion and the prixe fixe dinner was great! My boyfriend and I were concerned that we would still be hungry (since most Disney joints seem to leave us hungry), but not here! And on top of that, preferred viewing of World of Color! It doesn’t get better than that! We had the most amazing time and we plan to definitely do it again in the future!
Just ate their first time two weeks ago! Food was wonderful and you definately do not leave hungry! And the Black Pearl drink is amazing! Great for first time viewers of World of Color or even your 100th viewing!
I wish there was an option at these World of Color dinner for (REALLY) picky eaters like myself. I’m more of a cheeseburger and pizza kind of guy.
Comments are closed.