Can you dine at a park restaurant w/o paid park admission?

[PrincessTink]

I'm just trying to get an idea of where we want to go, what we want to do, etc. There are some days where we might do something during the day, and then want to have dinner at a park at night. Is this allowed?

[SorcererMickey]

No, unfortunately you have to use an admission ticket into the park to be able to dine at the restaurants...

[Keith]

...but to be honest, the restaurants at the resorts tend to be much better and you don't need to use park admission to go and try them! there are wonderful ones like yachtsmans steakhouse, chef mickeys if you like character meals, 1900 park fare and all sorts! Once you look into those, you won't miss the ones in the park at all.

[SorcererMickey]

I agree with Keith, with two exceptions... (just my opinion)

Brown Derby at the Disney/MGM Studios - if you go for lunch, get the Cobb Salad.

Le Cellier at Epcot

You should really consider these when you visit these parks.

[Vikki]

Ok, have wondered this since the quote in the Lion King, but what is a Cobb Salad?

[Bambi]

Vikki,
I haven't ever had a cobb salad but it has chopped greens, turkey breast, egg, bacon, tomatoes, bleu cheese, avocado, chives, and cobb dressing and chicken can be added to it. Follow this link to view a picture of the cobb salad. Does sound pretty good.
http://www.wdisneyw.co.uk/menuhbdl.html

[Vikki]

Oooooo, might just have to try one of those on our next WDW visit :)

[Keith]

I agree with Keith, with two exceptions... (just my opinion)

Brown Derby at the Disney/MGM Studios - if you go for lunch, get the Cobb Salad.

Le Cellier at Epcot

You should really consider these when you visit these parks.

definitely agree... le cellier particularly is excellent... must say though, I wouldn't pay park admission just to go to either of them with the resort choices for free ;-) but yep if you happen to already be in the park, they're both good.

[Meezers]

You can go to the Rain Forest Cafe at AK without going into the park. Plus they take PS's...unlike the one at DTD.

[Keith]

didn't realise that meezers! Good tip thanks... it's a pain that the dtd doesnt do ps

[SorcererMickey]

Oooooo, might just have to try one of those on our next WDW visit :)

You definitely have to :yes:

We usually make a PS in between 1:00pm and 2:00pm during the lunch menu. The Cobb Salad is so delicious, big and filling that we usually don't get hungry again 'til very late in the afternoon.

[uscwest]

Another name for the Cobb Salad is Chef's Salad. But the way that the Brown Derby does theirs up is amazing. It is indeed a meal in itself, though Donna and I did split one for dinner on our last trip. It is very good.

[Johnie]

a little Cobb Salad history :) it is a yummy salad

One of the most famous dishes in American culinary history was created on the spur of the moment.

Cobb salad was created at the Brown Derby in Hollywood. Here's the official story ... or legend, if you will ... as recorded by the Brown Derby itself:

"One night in 1937, Bob Cobb, then owner of The Brown Derby, prowled hungrily in his restaurant's kitchen for a snack. Opening the huge refrigerator, he pulled out this and that: a head of lettuce, an avocado, some romaine, watercress, tomatoes, some cold breast of chicken, a hard-boiled egg, chives, cheese and some old-fashioned French dressing. He started chopping. Added some crisp bacon -- swiped from a busy chef.

"The Cobb salad was born. It was so good, Sid Grauman (Grauman's Chinese Theatre), who was with Cobb that midnight, asked the next day for a 'Cobb Salad.' It was so good that it was put on the menu.

[Johnie]

and the recipe from Food Maven


1/2 head lettuce, about 4 cups

1 bunch watercress

1 small bunch chicory, about 2 1/2 cups

1/2 head romaine, about 2 1/2 cups

2 medium peeled tomatoes

6 strips of crisp bacon

2 breasts of boiled chicken

3 hard cooked eggs

1 avocado

1/2 cup crumbled Roquefort cheese

2 tablespoons chopped chives

1 cup (approximately) Original Cobb Salad Dressing



Cut lettuce, half the watercress, chicory and romaine in fine pieces and arrange in a large salad bowl.

Cut tomatoes, bacon, chicken, eggs, and avocado in small pieces and arrange, along with the crumbled Roquefort cheese, in strips on the greens.

Sprinkle finely cut chives over the Cobb salad and garnish with the remaining watercress.

Just before serving mix the salad with the Cobb salad dressing.


Original Cobb Salad Dressing
Makes 1 1/2 cups

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 teaspoons salt

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1/4 teaspoon dry English mustard

1 small clove garlic, finely minced

1/4 cup full-flavored olive oil

3/4 cup salad oil



Blend all ingredients together, except oils. Add olive and salad oils. Mix well.

Blend well again before mixing with salad.

A note from the Brown Derby: "The water is optional, depending upon the degree of oiliness desired in the dressing."

[SorcererMickey]

You guys keep tempting me into asking Mrs. SM to go to the Brown Derby for a Cobb Salad for dinner... :eat:

[Vikki]

You definitely have to :yes:


Ok, will make that a definate for 2006 then :)

I tend to eat mainly salads when I'm anywhere hot, much lighter :) Although I'm not too sure about that one being light :)