I am going to make PS reservations at the Carnation Cafe for December. Does anybody know when/if they stop serving breakfast? I have contemplating breakfast or lunch (I have read so much here about the Loaded Baked Potato Soup!!)
I wanted to do something early enough to satisfy the hunger after hitting EE and before the busy lunch crowds come. What is a good time to go? Thanks everybody!

I think they serve breakfast util 11. Not positive though...

11 would probably be a good time to get in before the lunch crowds. I LOVE The Carnation Cafe, especially for breakfast, though we have found that in colder weather, the food doesn't stay warm for long. Soup may be a different story, though.

Have fun!

For some weird reason I haven't eaten there. I'm planning on eating there in Dec. too. Thanks for asking the question, curious minds want to know!

The earliest I could make a lunch reservation at Carnation Cafe was 11:50. That was late August.
And the potato soup was wonderful, even on a 90+ degree day!

I believe the "changeover" time from breakfast to lunch is 11:30ish. We arrived for lunch at 11:25 and were asked to wait five minutes because their lunch service hadn't started yet.

And yes, even in the 90+ degree heat in August, the baked potato soup is definitely worth it!

I used to go there all the time with my family, but just made it for breakfast for the first time ever back in August. I got to meet Oscar and he gave me the recipe for the baked potato soup (it's pretty complicated!). I raved about his potatoes in the Oscar's Choice scramble and he came over with a blank piece of paper and dictated it to me. He's usually there until 1:00, I think. Ask if he's there and he'll gladly come out and say hi. I guess when you've been there 50 years you've earned the right to schmooze (to use a friend's term) with the guests more than actually cook the food. :)

WOW! I would LOVE that recipe PanFan!

I hadn't eaten there until my last trip (April of this year) and we ended up eating there twice! The breakfast was great (cinnamon apple pancakes ftw!) and my nephew loved that Oscar came out and talked to him.

...I got to meet Oscar and he gave me the recipe for the baked potato soup (it's pretty complicated!)...:)
Oh yes, please tell! ;)

I got to meet Oscar and he gave me the recipe for the baked potato soup (it's pretty complicated!).

I'd love to have that recipe, too! Are you willing to share, PanFan, pretty please? :)

I also have never eaten there. Do you have to make a resv. ahead of time ? Wow now I really want to eat there too~!

I made my PS reservations 60 days in advance by calling 714-781-3463

I also have never eaten there. Do you have to make a resv. ahead of time ? Wow now I really want to eat there too~!

We had PS once and the second time walked in with a wait time of 10 minutes. On a Monday and Wednesday, respectively, in April.

WOW! I would LOVE that recipe PanFan!

Oh yes, please tell! ;)

I'd love to have that recipe, too! Are you willing to share, PanFan, pretty please? :)

Part of the charm is getting it from Oscar himself. He has a bunch of printed copies and he'll autograph it for you. Just tell him you really like the soup and he'll bring one out for you. Sorry to be such a stinker :p but I don't want to rob you of that important part of the experience ;)

I made my PS reservations 60 days in advance by calling 714-781-3463

How does PS work? Which restaurants can you make reservations at?

Part of the charm is getting it from Oscar himself. He has a bunch of printed copies and he'll autograph it for you. Just tell him you really like the soup and he'll bring one out for you. Sorry to be such a stinker :p but I don't want to rob you of that important part of the experience ;)

I totally agree, PanFan!

DH & I had breakfast at Carnation Cafe earlier this year and were visited tableside by Oscar. It was such a treat to be able to meet him after reading about him on various Disney boards for so long. Getting that tasty soup recipe from him in person makes it all that more special. :)

Part of the charm is getting it from Oscar himself. He has a bunch of printed copies and he'll autograph it for you. Just tell him you really like the soup and he'll bring one out for you. Sorry to be such a stinker :p but I don't want to rob you of that important part of the experience ;)
I completely understand; I just wish I had considered asking him when we were there in August. Oh well; one of my best friends is going at the end of the month... Along with all the tips I've been passing on to her, I suggested that she NOT miss Carnation Cafe and the loaded potato soup. I'm sure she won't mind asking if she sees Oscar.
I'm just glad to know that it's okay to ask! And, come to think of it, I wouldn't post it on the internet, either. It's just nice that he's willing to share it with those that inquire.
Thanks for all your insightfulness, PanFan.

Part of the charm is getting it from Oscar himself. He has a bunch of printed copies and he'll autograph it for you. Just tell him you really like the soup and he'll bring one out for you. Sorry to be such a stinker :p but I don't want to rob you of that important part of the experience ;)

Well, thank you for letting us know it's possible to get the recipe, PanFan. I never even thought to ask Oscar when we saw him last August...and now I'll just have to wait until March and hope he doesn't retire before then!

I didn't even ask him for the recipe. All I did was tell him this was our first time coming for breakfast because I love the potato soup so much that we usually come for lunch or dinner. He said, "Have I given you the recipe yet?" and when I responded in the negative, he went and got it for me. He made me promise I would try it, though I said I would definitely need help (did I mention it's really complicated?). He said to keep trying and each time it will get better and better. When he came back after breakfast and asked how everything was, I told him the potatoes in the scramble were fabulous. He asked if I wanted the recipe and this time came back with a piece of white paper and a pen for me to write it down as he told me.

I don't know if he's the only one who gives out the soup recipe because it's obviously something they give out there a lot, so I don't think you'll necessarily have to go at a time when Oscar is there. But it definitely makes the experience that much more special :)

How does PS work? Which restaurants can you make reservations at?

I'm quoting here:
"CAN I MAKE RESERVATIONS?
The answer to that is yes and no. For table service restaurants, Disneyland does not accept reservations, instead they offer something called "Priority Seating." You are told to check in at the restaurant's podium at least 5-10 minutes prior to your seating time, and will receive the next available table for your party size. Depending on how busy the restaurant is, you may stillhave to wait 5-15 minutes before you are seated. You can make your Priority Seating for all Disney and Downtown Disney restaurants EXCEPT Rainforest Cafe by calling 714-781-DINE (3463) up to 60 days in advance. You may also make them on-site at Guest Services at the theme parks and the Disney hotels. Phone lines are open from 8 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Pacific time. (For Rainforest Cafe, contact the restaurant directly at 714-772-0413.)"

And a list:

Blue Bayou
Cafe Orleans
Carnation Cafe
Plaza Inn Minnie and Friends Breakfast
Ariel's Grotto
The Cove Bar
Wine Country Trattoria
Vineyard Room

Part of the charm is getting it from Oscar himself. He has a bunch of printed copies and he'll autograph it for you. Just tell him you really like the soup and he'll bring one out for you. Sorry to be such a stinker :p but I don't want to rob you of that important part of the experience ;)

I too understand PanFan. I will definately ask for Oscar when we go in December. One time my husband and I were talking to the waiter at Storytellers and we were talking about how much we loved the corn chowder and he said, "Really? Do you want the recipe?" He then went into the back and came out with a copy of it. I have not tried it making it yet. :rolleyes:

I didn't even ask him for the recipe. All I did was tell him this was our first time coming for breakfast because I love the potato soup so much that we usually come for lunch or dinner. He said, "Have I given you the recipe yet?" and when I responded in the negative, he went and got it for me. He made me promise I would try it, though I said I would definitely need help (did I mention it's really complicated?). He said to keep trying and each time it will get better and better. When he came back after breakfast and asked how everything was, I told him the potatoes in the scramble were fabulous. He asked if I wanted the recipe and this time came back with a piece of white paper and a pen for me to write it down as he told me.

We had the exact same experience when we were having breakfast in February. Our first breakfast there, previously only lunch and dinner. Oscar offered the soup recipe without our prompting and also came back and dictated the breakfast potato recipe. So funny. :D

When Oscar went to get the soup recipe for us, he went up to the hostess podium. I suspect the printed copies are there and the hostess may be able to give it to you if you ask (and Oscar isn't there for the personal service).

You can also get many of the DL recipes at City Hall. They have a binder full of them with extra copies in the sleeves. We perused the binder on that February trip and came away with a treasure-trove. :)

You can also get many of the DL recipes at City Hall. They have a binder full of them with extra copies in the sleeves. We perused the binder on that February trip and came away with a treasure-trove. :)

That's hilarious about the same experience at CC! Too funny!

I didn't know that about getting the recipes at City Hall (and my best friend works there)--I want the one for the chicken fusilli at Pizza Port!

What's dinner like at Carnation Cafe? Also -- is it all outdoor seating? How much of the restaurant is indoor?

None of the dining area is indoors. It is all outdoor seating.