The holiday season is in full swing at the Disneyland Resort, and that means that festive decorations, yummy snacks, and big crowds have all made the return. While the parks offer many tasty treat options, sometimes trying to maneuver through the stream of fellow guests to get to the good food can end up taking all of the fun out of the experience. When the parks get too crowded, the best place to satisfy a holiday food craving is Downtown Disney.
This year, the eateries of Downtown Disney offer a wide variety of options such as “glowing” holiday cocktails, seasonal ice cream flavors, specialty desserts, and a savory 3-course meal, just to name a few. Holidays dining can be both fun and exciting in Downtown Disney. Let’s take a look at some of our new favorite things.
New Downtown Disney Restaurant Arrivals in 2019
Downtown Disney welcomed several new restaurants in 2019 and they all offer festive food items for the season. If you have not been able to try out the recently added locations, now might be the perfect time to check them out. Here is a list of the Downtown Disney additions in 2019, along with their holiday season menu items:
Ballast Point Brewing Co.
Holiday-inspired Ale Nog – a creme ale brewed with nutmeg, lactose, and vanilla
Black Tap Craft Burgers and Shakes
The Chocolate Peppermint CrazyShake – served in frosted glass with a chocolate-covered rim, covered in crushed peppermint with a slice of Peppermint Chocolate Chunk Cheese Cake on top of it all (Valid Dec. 9th – 31st)
In addition to the seasonal shake, Black Tap Anaheim has released three exciting new menu items:
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders will come with Black Tap’s delicious buttermilk-dill, Korean BBQ and lime honey mustard.
VEGAN Nashville Hot, Black Tap’s vegan-spin on the popular Nashville hot chicken sandwich. Made with breaded Portobello mushroom, Nashville hot sauce, coleslaw, and pickles – They’re giving Popeyes Chicken Sandwich a run for their money!
-The Old Fashion Burger is a prime burger, crimini mushrooms, swiss, caramelized onion, horseradish sauce.
Salt & Straw
Three new holiday ice-cream flavors are available this Season to please your palate. Apple Brandy & Pecan Pie, Peppermint Cocoa, and Gingerbread Cookie Dough to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sprinkles
Give the gift of cupcakes this year with this new festive creations box filled with Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake, Christmas Cookie Cupcake, and Gingerbread Cupcake. They had me at “Sprinkles!”
Were you able to try any of these new food options that were introduced in 2019?
Downtown Disney Classics
There are plenty of long-time favorite Downtown Disney Restaurants that are also spreading Christmas cheer with limited-time holiday menus and treats.
Catal Restaurant
Catal is a great place to be this holiday season with various offerings for the entire family to enjoy. Be sure to make reservations early as they tend to fill up fast.
Breakfast with Santa at Catal
Enjoy breakfast with jolly old Saint Nick and his merry band of elves during the holiday season at Catal Restaurant! The menu includes family-style food offerings, bottomless mimosas for the adults, and cookies and milk stations for the kids to enjoy!
After breakfast, each child will get to meet with Santa Clause and share their holiday wishlist with him. They will receive a stuffed animal as an early Christmas gift along with a personalized stocking. This is a holiday event that your family will not want to miss!
Click here for more information and to purchase tickets
Christmas Eve at Catal
3-Course Christmas Eve Dinner consisting of Filet Carpaccio; Mini Lobster Salad; Honey-roasted Pork Belly; or Tomato Soup and Fennel for the first course, Roasted Chicken; Filet; Baja Bass; Braised Short Rib Pasta; Lamp Loin; or Diver Scallops for the second course, and Egg Nog Pot de Crème or Chocolate Raspberry Mousse Cake for the final course.
New Years Eve at Catal
4-Course New Year’s Eve Dinner consisting of Beef Carpaccio; Deviled Eggs; or Tomato and Fennel Bisque for the first course, Shrimp and Scallops; Butter Poached Lobster; or Endive Salad or the second course, Filet Mignon; Baja Bass; Maple Leaf Duck Breast; or Lamb Chops for the third course, and Butterscotch Pot De Crème or Tres Leches Cake for the fourth course.
Earl of Sandwich
The Holiday Turkey Sandwich consisting of Turkey, Cornbread Stuffing, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce and Mayonnaise. This one is a must-try folks. Yum!
Kayla’s Cake
Kayla is offering some delicious holiday Gingerbread, Snowman and Peppermint Ganache macarons.
Specialty Drinks
In addition to all the amazing food and sweets, various locations in Downtown Disney are offering “Glow” Cocktails to complement the new “Let it Glow” trees in Downtown Disney.
Glow Mega Sangria at Catal Restaurant
Stay warm this holiday with the Glow Mega Sangria offered at Catal Restaurant, made with Western Son blueberry vodka, house-made sweet n’ sour, and Cabernet Sauvignon ($45).
Glow Spritz at Naples Ristorante e Bar
Bring on the joyous spirit of the season with the Glow Spritz at Naples Ristorante e Bar, consisting of Ruffino Prosecco, Lillet Rosé, Svedka vodka, and delicious raspberry purée ($17).
Glow Tamarindo Margarita at Tortilla Jo’s
Only available at Tortilla Jo’s, the Glow Tamarindo Margarita is sure to bring holiday cheer with Dulce Vida organic tequila, organic margarita mix, fresh tamarindo, and tamarindo-tajin rim ($17.75).
What do you think of these “Glow” Cocktails? Perhaps it takes alcohol to properly enjoy the new decor in Downtown Disney?
Wetzel’s Pretzels
Light-up, reusable mason jar that can be taken home and used for other holiday drinks. The jars will come in 8 different colors.
A great way to celebrate the season is to enjoy a favorite winter treat with the people that make you feel happy! Downtown Disney offers plenty of options for everyone in your party and is sure to satisfy even the biggest sugar-fanatic’s sweet tooth. The Christmas season will be gone before you know it, so don’t wait for these items to be packed away with the last of the disco trees before giving them a try.
It’s Disney Vacation Time!
We’ve got some great news for you. Our partners at Get Away Today are helping you save money on Disney theme park tickets and travel packages. AND, through Christmas, they’ve got some great ways for you to gift Disney trips for a reduced deposit:
- For Discounted theme park tickets and travel packages, always start HERE: Get Away Today (When calling, always mention MiceChat so you get your special rates and deals!)
- For a limited time, MiceChat readers can book a trip for just $99 down with an interest-free Layaway Plan!
- Layaway Plans must be booked by December 25, 2019 to get the $99 reduced deposit.
- Book for travel for dates through December 31, 2020.
- Payments can be made at any time and in any amount, with final payment due just five days before travel.
- Layaway Plans can be used for any of our Southern California vacations and can be combined with any of our specials – like Extra Day Free Tickets and Extra Night Free Hotel Specials.
Just imagine giving the gift of a Disneyland vacation to someone special in your life:
And if giving the gift of a Disney vacation sounds like the perfect Christmas gift, here are some GREAT ideas on how to it (we even have things you can download to make gifting easy) – HERE
Let’s Hear From You
Have you had any of these seasonal treats? Do you have a favorite that didn’t make our list? Are you planning to visit the Disneyland Resort for Christmas or New Years? Let us know in the comments below.