Hello there, Fiorella, and welcome to planDisney!
Disney Gift Cards are a great way to stay on budget during a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth! I often recommend to family and friends to load one up to use while visiting the Disneyland Resort - they're just so easy and convenient. However, while you can use them for practically all things Disney, they are limited to Disney-owned-and-operated properties. Unfortunately, this means that you are not able to use them at restaurants in the
Downtown Disney District.
There are some very delicious restaurant options in the Downtown Disney District, but if you're looking to try a meal outside of the parks and need to stick with Disney Gift Cards for payment then I would recommend trying one of the equally fantastic
restaurant options at the hotels of the Disneyland Resort!
My family and I love starting our day with breakfast at
Goofy's Kitchen at the
Disneyland Hotel! There are so many different food options, but I especially love the omelet bar. If you're looking for a fine-dining experience for dinner, then I would recommend
Napa Rose at
Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. It's an elegant setting with a (kindly requested) dress code and award-winning cuisine - overall a great way to wind down after a hectic day in the parks (or maybe for a quick break before going
back to the parks in the evening!).
If you have specific dates picked out for your trip, you can start making
dining recommendations 60 days in advance of your arrival. While you might get lucky with a walk-up option when you arrive, I always recommend trying to make reservations if you're able.
We've barely scratched the surface on one of my favorite topics about the Disneyland Resort - the food - but hopefully this was helpful to start thinking through all the different options during your visit. While you cannot use Disney Gift Cards at the restaurants of the Downtown Disney District, there are still plenty of other places they are accepted, so you will not go hungry on your visit!
Thank you again for your question, Fiorella! Come back and see us here at planDisney with any follow-up questions you think of. We'd love to help as you continue to plan your trip!
Have a Magical Day,
Greg