Disneyland Resort Just Shared Its Festive Foodie Guide — Here’s What to Add to Your Must-Try List

The holidays at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim are finally here, and we cannot contain our excitement. The festivities kicked off on November 15 and run daily through January 6, 2025. This year, Disneyland Park will be dressed to the nines with sweeping garlands across Main Street, U.S.A., colorful lights on “It’s a Small World,” and so much more. Even better, Disney is giving fans a big gift with the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. 

Across the esplanade at Disney California Adventure, the park is kicking off the holiday season with the Festival of Holidays and its exciting Disney Viva ¡Navidad! celebrations. Of course, the Downtown Disney District and the three Disneyland Resort hotels are getting in on the holiday action, too, with scavenger hunts, meet-and-greets with Santa, and more. 

For foodies like us, a big part of the holidays at Disneyland is the food. “This year Disneyland has over 320 unique holiday-themed food offerings across their two theme parks, hotels, and Downtown Disney,” says Gavin Doyle, founder of Mickey Visit. “They keep adding more and more every year as the popularity of holiday foods grows.”

One aspect of the holidays at Disneyland that we’re the most excited about is the Festival of Holidays at Disney California Adventure. “Disney California Adventure is now home to a newer celebration called the Festival of Holidays, which honors Christmas, Navidad, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Three Kings Day. The festival uses these holidays as a jumping-off point for food and entertainment. There are so many fun dishes offered by Disney from a wide variety of cultures,” says Doyle.

With all the incredible food and drinks available around the resort you could spend an entire vacation eating, which doesn’t sound like a bad idea to us. But if you’re only planning to go to Disneyland for a day or two, these are the must-try dishes and dining experiences. Even better, we’ve divided our guide by location so you know exactly where to get each item on our list. And trust us, just like Santa, we’ve made our list and checked it twice to be sure all the best options are included. 

Disneyland Park

Disneyland Park is home to some iconic eats, but these are the ones worth trying this holiday season. 

Chicken al pastor pizza slice and alien reindeer macaron 

Your first stop at Disneyland Park should be Alien Pizza Planet for the Chicken Al Pastor Pizza Slice and an Alien Reindeer Macaron. The pizza is topped with a spicy red sauce, mozzarella cheese, roasted corn, and al pastor-marinated chicken. Then it gets a crema and tomatillo sauce drizzle and a sprinkle of cilantro for freshness. Pair the pizza with a sweet treat like the Alien Reindeer Macaron, which looks just like the little green aliens from Toy Story. The cookie sandwich is filled with salted caramel buttercream, chocolate ganache, and brownie pieces. 

Cookies and cream cheesecake and thanks-mas sandwich

At the end of Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll find Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe, which dishes up fantastic soups, sandwiches, and sweets. One dessert you shouldn’t pass up is the Cookies and Cream Cheesecake, topped with a cute poinsettia made from red and green mousse and yellow pearls. For something savory, try the Thanks-mas Sandwich, which has all of the best parts of Thanksgiving between bread. The hearty sandwich starts with rustic bread and is then topped with oven-roasted turkey breast, stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce. It’s served with house-made chips. 

Cranberry pomegranate mint julep

The Mint Julep Bar is one of the most popular snack places at Disneyland Park, thanks in part to the iconic Mickey-shaped beignets (which are dusted with peppermint powdered sugar for the holidays). But this year, the best thing to get is the Cranberry Pomegranate Mint Julep, a holiday take on the classic drink served at the quick service stand. It’s made with cranberry and pomegranate juices and is sweet, tart, and refreshing. 

Tinga enchiladas

After walking around Disneyland Park all morning you’re going to want to stop for lunch. One of our favorite spots is Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante in Frontierland. The restaurant’s signature dish for the holidays is Tinga Enchiladas, which are filled with cheese and topped with savory chicken tinga, poblano cream, and queso fresco. The plate is served with a side of rice and beans. This meal will give you all of the energy you need to keep trekking around the park.  

Santa’s vacation sausage potato

Baked potato lovers unite because Disneyland has two different loaded potatoes worth seeking out this holiday season. The first is Santa’s Vacation Sausage Potato, at Refreshment Corner. The baked potato is split in half like a hot dog bun and topped with grilled sausage, pickled pineapple, teriyaki sauce, and macaroni salad. It sounds like Santa took a trip to Hawaii with this one. 

Holiday beef dinner potato 

The other iconic baked potato can be found at Troubadour Tavern. The Holiday Beef Dinner Potato is a baked potato loaded with spinach-artichoke dip, sliced tri-tip steak, and demiglace, then garnished with crispy onions. Sounds like Christmas dinner all in one bite to us. 

Disney California Adventure

Disney California Adventure is our favorite park for Disney foodies. This year, you can try a plethora of holiday eats between the regularly available options and the snacks from Disney Festival of Holidays. 

Chicken pesto cone

The Cozy Cone Motel in Cars Land is known for its bread cones stuffed with macaroni and cheese. During the holidays though, the bread cones are loaded with creamy pesto Alfredo pasta and marinated chicken. The dish is garnished with balsamic glaze, bruschetta tomatoes, and Romano cheese. We love this as a light lunch or a snack to share among friends. 

Hatch chili burger

Across the street from the Cozy Cone Motel is Flo’s V8 Cafe. Here, you’ll find the Hatch Chili Burger, a spicy take on a classic cheeseburger. The sandwich starts with your choice of an Angus beef and mushroom patty or a plain Angus beef patty. It’s then topped with chorizo cheese sauce, hatch chili relish, and iceberg lettuce. Take this to the outdoor seating at Flo’s to watch the cars from Radiator Springs Racers go by. 

Santa Baymax macaron

One of the cutest treats available this year is the Santa Baymax Macaron, which looks like the lovable healthcare companion from Big Hero 6. The macaron is filled with peppermint buttercream, chocolate ganache, and dark chocolate crunches. Find it at Lucky Fortune Cookery. 

Barbecue pulled pork cornbread bake

At the Twist on Tradition Festive Food Marketplace, which is part of the Festival of Holidays activation at Disney California Adventure, you’ll want to try the Barbecue Pulled Pork Cornbread Bake, which takes the traditional southern bbq meat and side and combines it into one savory and sweet bite. The dish is served with a creamy slaw. 

Sticky toffee pudding macaron

At the Favorite Things Food Marketplace, the Sticky Toffee Pudding Macaron is almost too cute to eat. The Mickey-shaped chocolate macaron is filled with vanilla buttercream, date cake, and salted toffee sauce. This is a great take-home treat if you want something to snack on in your hotel room or on the plane ride home. 

Café de Olla cold brew 

When you need a pick-me-up head to Grandma’s Recipes Marketplace to get a Café de Olla Cold Brew. The coffee drink is made with Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Mexico Origin Coffee mixed with low-fat and condensed milks. It’s also got house-made spiced syrup with star anise, clove, and cinnamon favors. The coffee drink is topped with a chocolate dulce de leche sweet cream and a mini-pan dulce. 

Peanut butter-marshmallow churro

Disneyland and churros are an iconic duo, and the holiday season brings some unique takes on the sweet treat. One that’s worth trying is the Peanut Butter-Marshmallow Churro, which can be found at Willie’s Churros and the cart near the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. The churro is a traditional cinnamon churro topped with marshmallow cream, peanut butter sauce, and chocolate chips.  

Korean fried chicken slider

Studio Catering Co. often has some of the most creative food options at Disney California Adventure. This holiday season, the eatery is debuting a Korean Fried Chicken Slider. The sandwich takes crispy Korean fried chicken and tops it with a spicy gochujang sauce, kimchi coleslaw, and pickled onions, all on sweet Hawaiian bread. 

Disneyland Resort Hotels

If you only do one thing at the Disneyland Resort Hotels this holiday season, it should be dining at Goofy’s Kitchen for Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Winter Holidays. The festive meal takes place for breakfast, brunch, and dinner every day from November 19 through January 2. During the meal, you’ll get to meet Goofy and his pals dressed in their holiday best.

Breakfast highlights include Mickey waffles, duck confit chilaquiles, and maple-glazed pork belly Benedict with butternut square hollandaise sauce. Brunch has the same breakfast items plus a carving station featuring herb-marinated turkey breast and beef sirloin chateau roast. Dinner is filled with incredible options like a cold bar with shrimp cocktail and crab claws, short rib ravioli with wild mushrooms, and a prime rib carving station. 

Novelty items to make room in your suitcase for

Disney fans, including us, go wild for the novelty items like popcorn buckets and straw toppers that are available throughout the year at the Disneyland Resort. This holiday season may be some of the cutest yet. 

Elf Stitch bottle topper

Stitch, the adorable blue alien from Lilo & Stitch, is dressed like an elf popping out of a Christmas present on this bottle topper. It can be added to your beverage purchase at locations around Disneyland Park, like Alien Pizza Planet, Little Red Wagon, and Troubadour Tavern. Other locations to purchase this include some churro carts at Disney California Adventure and Tangaroa Terrace Tropical Bar & Grill at the Disneyland Hotel. 

Mickey and Minnie gingerbread house popcorn bucket 

One item we can’t wait to get our hands on is the Mickey and Minnie Gingerbread House Bucket. The popcorn bucket is covered in pastel colors to showcase the look of a classic gingerbread house. It’s available at locations across Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. Additionally, you can buy it at the Grand Californian Great Hall Cart at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa.