disney at christmas

[MinnieMama09]

Thanks again, Sherry for all the info! I've been checking the DL website waiting for all these type of details...I hadn't seen it yet!

 

[kylie71]

Yum, Tamales! Yum Chocolate Mint Cuppycakes!
Oh MY!

 

[Flitterific]

Wow...thanks Sherry for all of the holiday information. It makes me wish that I will be going with more people instead of just DBF so I can try all the goodies that you mentioned I seriously cannot wait to go back and experience Christmastime at Disneyland

 

[Christina-B-Na]

Yes, Thank you for the updates! I am getting so excited for our upcoming trip!

Here are some photos of Downtown Disney from last November

 

[ado121]

is there a holiday dining surcharge from dec 5 onwards? we have 3 character meals booked and was thinking it would save me some money to prebuy the vouchers at last minute travel so that i don't have to pay the surcharge, if there is one.

thanks!

 

[Halloweenqueen]

is there a holiday dining surcharge from dec 5 onwards? we have 3 character meals booked and was thinking it would save me some money to prebuy the vouchers at last minute travel so that i don't have to pay the surcharge, if there is one.

thanks!

Would like to know this too! TIA

 

[kylie71]

Thanks for the pics!! super pretty!

 

[Sherry E]

The rates for at least some of the character meals go up during peak season, which would include the holiday season. For example, the price of the Storytellers buffet is something like $22.99 (including tax but not including tip) during the off-peak season, and it goes up by a few bucks during peak seasons. Goofy's Kitchen breakfast is in the range of $32 and some change (including tax and tip) in the off-peak season, but it climbs to $37 and some change (with tax and tip included in that total) in peak season.

I'm pretty sure that all the character meals have price fluctuations like these depending on the season, but I don't know the exact amounts for Minnie's, Surf's Up and Ariel's in December.

So you may be able to save a small amount by purchasing vouchers - not a tremendous amount, but something is better than nothing!! Because Goofy's, Ariel's and Surf's Up are the most expensive meals, the vouchers would probably make the most difference at any of those places and not so much at Minnie & Friends or Storytellers.

 

[amamax2]

is there a holiday dining surcharge from dec 5 onwards? we have 3 character meals booked and was thinking it would save me some money to prebuy the vouchers at last minute travel so that i don't have to pay the surcharge, if there is one.

thanks!

There was a thread on this topic a few weeks ago: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2570411&highlight=seasonal+meal+pricing

A poster on the thread said last year seasonal pricing (in Dec) started Dec 18...but that they called DL to get the info, so probably your best bet too because it could be different this year....

 

[Goofy_Mom]

The rates for at least some of the character meals go up during peak season, which would include the holiday season. For example, the price of the Storytellers buffet is something like $22.99 (including tax but not including tip) during the off-peak season, and it goes up by a few bucks during peak seasons. Goofy's Kitchen breakfast is in the range of $32 and some change (including tax and tip) in the off-peak season, but it climbs to $37 and some change (with tax and tip included in that total) in peak season.

I'm pretty sure that all the character meals have price fluctuations like these depending on the season, but I don't know the exact amounts for Minnie's, Surf's Up and Ariel's in December.

So you may be able to save a small amount by purchasing vouchers - not a tremendous amount, but something is better than nothing!! Because Goofy's, Ariel's and Surf's Up are the most expensive meals, the vouchers would probably make the most difference at any of those places and not so much at Minnie & Friends or Storytellers.

How sure are you? I remeber (some years back so things could have changed) the vouchers price was baised on Goofy's kitchen and Ariels. If you didn't eat at one of these resutruants you'ld acutually loose money.

 

[Sherry E]

For December - the date the seasonal prices go into effect this year is December 10th - and it stays that way until January.

There is also a week in November when the prices go up (probably over Thanksgiving), then they drop back down until 12/10.

 

[Sherry E]

How sure are you? I remeber (some years back so things could have changed) the vouchers price was baised on Goofy's kitchen and Ariels. If you didn't eat at one of these resutruants you'ld acutually loose money.

How sure am I of what? I am saying that the prices for Goofy's, Ariel's and Surf's Up are higher to begin with, so with the seasonal increases which will make them even higher, the voucher would be better used on one of those three places IF it is advantageous at all. Personally, I don't bother with the vouchers because I don't think they are worth it for me.

I don't think the vouchers are a good deal at Minnie & Friends or Storytellers - IF they can even be used at all at those places. As you said, they could end up losing money or it could end up costing more money to get the vouchers for certain places. But during the off-peak seasons, the vouchers are not worth using for Goofy's (not sure about Ariel's or Surf's Up) because the Goofy's price is lower and the voucher doesn't even make a dent.

Keep in mind that I added the tax and tip into the amounts I quoted for Goofy's above. Sometimes people get a rate for the vouchers that they think is good, and they find out later that it didn't include the tax and tip and they realize they didn't save any money!

 

[Sherry E]

Forgot to add above - the Goofy's dinner during peak season is the most expensive of the Goofy's options (whereas a Goofy's breakfast during off-peak is the cheapest). I cant recall the exact total, but if their peak season breakfast w/tax and tip is in the range of $37 and some change, then I imagine the peak season dinner with tax and tip would be at least $5.00 more than that. Probably more like $6 or $7 more.

So maybe the vouchers would be the most beneficial to use for the Goofy's peak season dinner? Maybe that's where the most money would be saved? I'm not sure.

 

[Goofy_Mom]

I was exploring Disney's website, they have their holiday info up. They mentioned some traditions that are new. The ginger beniges (sp) only at Cafe Olreans served with apples and cinnimon sauce and eggnog. Sounds yummy but I thought I read some of my fellow Dis-ers have already enjoyed these. They also mentioned Mickey santa dimsteese (again sp) and holiday popcorn buckets. With the overwellming positive responce they got with the mickey ghost buckets I hoped they ordered enough.

 

[Sherry E]

I was exploring Disney's website, they have their holiday info up. They mentioned some traditions that are new. The ginger beniges (sp) only at Cafe Olreans served with apples and cinnimon sauce and eggnog. Sounds yummy but I thought I read some of my fellow Dis-ers have already enjoyed these. They also mentioned Mickey santa dimsteese (again sp) and holiday popcorn buckets. With the overwellming positive responce they got with the mickey ghost buckets I hoped they ordered enough.

Check out the last 2-3 pages of this thread - I posted all that stuff from the DLR website (minus one section that wasn't necessary) yesterday. And two or three pages ago I posted a cool press release from the News website!! We're all so excited!!

The beignets came out for Halloween Time and will stay for the holidays, and the Demitasse dessert is otherwise known as the "peppermint pot cake"!!

 

[ado121]

Plaza Inn on Main Street, USA-Disneyland Park, Celebration Roundup and Barbecue at Big Thunder Ranch, Disney's PCH Grill, Storytellers Cafe, Disney's Paradise Pier, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Cafe Oreleans, Carnation Cafe, Disneyland Park, Wine Country Trattoria, Disney's California Adventure, Steakhouse 55, Breakfast only: Disneyland Hotel.

the vouchers are for the above meals: $30.66 usd for adults and $15.82 usd for children includes tax and tip
the current meal prices for the plaza is $28 adult and $14 children plus 8.75% tax and for our party of 6 is another 15% tip

Ariel's Disney Princess Celebration - Ariel's Grotto, Disney's California Adventure, Park and Goofy's Kitchen - Disneyland Hotel.

the vouchers are for the above meals: $37.58 usd for adults and $19.78 usd for children includes tax and tip
the current meal prices for ariels grotto breakfast is $35/$19 and lunch $34/$21, and goofys is breakfast $30/$16 and dinner $36/$16 plus 8.75% tax and a tip of 15% for our party of 6.

 

[Sherry E]

Plaza Inn on Main Street, USA-Disneyland Park, Celebration Roundup and Barbecue at Big Thunder Ranch, Disney's PCH Grill, Storytellers Cafe, Disney's Paradise Pier, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel, Cafe Oreleans, Carnation Cafe, Disneyland Park, Wine Country Trattoria, Disney's California Adventure, Steakhouse 55, Breakfast only: Disneyland Hotel.

$30.66 usd for adults
$15.82 usd for children

Ariel's Disney Princess Celebration - Ariel's Grotto, Disney's California Adventure, Park and Goofy's Kitchen - Disneyland Hotel.

$37.58 usd for adults
$19.78 usd for children

Inclusion
Taxes.
Gratuity.

Is the $30.66 the voucher amount for all the meals you listed, including Goofy's and Ariel's, or is the Goofy's and Ariel's voucher amount the $37.58 and $19.78?

It looks like using the voucher for Goofy's will not save you any money (if the voucher is $37.58), as their off-peak season breakfast adult prices with tax and tip are $32 and change, and their peak season breakfast adult prices are $37 and some change. The vouchers would do nothing in that case except get it paid for in advance.

As for the other meals, I don't know if it's worth it or not because I'm not as familiar with their regular prices.

 

[Sherry E]

I was exploring Disney's website, they have their holiday info up. They mentioned some traditions that are new. The ginger beniges (sp) only at Cafe Olreans served with apples and cinnimon sauce and eggnog. Sounds yummy but I thought I read some of my fellow Dis-ers have already enjoyed these. They also mentioned Mickey santa dimsteese (again sp) and holiday popcorn buckets. With the overwellming positive responce they got with the mickey ghost buckets I hoped they ordered enough.

This is what I posted here on Sunday and yesterday - the first link is the press release from the Disneyland News website:

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38789133&postcount=2015

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=38796750&postcount=2035

 

[MinnieMama09]

For December - the date the seasonal prices go into effect this year is December 10th - and it stays that way until January.

There is also a week in November when the prices go up (probably over Thanksgiving), then they drop back down until 12/10.

Hi Sherry! Have a question maybe you can help with...when I called Disney Dining # the other day to compare prices for Goofy's Kitchen and Minnie & Friends for our trip in Dec. (specifically asked for Dec. 15th), the CM said it was $27 for Minnie's and $29 for GK. Maybe he was giving me current prices, because that seems low for what you mentioned about seasonal prices?

 

[Sherry E]

Hi Sherry! Have a question maybe you can help with...when I called Disney Dining # the other day to compare prices for Goofy's Kitchen and Minnie & Friends for our trip in Dec. (specifically asked for Dec. 15th), the CM said it was $27 for Minnie's and $29 for GK. Maybe he was giving me current prices, because that seems low for what you mentioned about seasonal prices?

I think you might be right. It sounds like he either just looked at the current off-peak rates and gave them to you, OR maybe he didn't realize that the "peak season rates" for December begin on December 10th this year.

I called the Dining number earlier today (and man, I wish they could shorten that long intro message - yikes!) and was told the December peak rates begin on 12/10 this year. In my experience with Goofy's in the past, the peak breakfast prices were $37+ (incl. tax and tip), while the off-peak rates were $32+ (incl. tax and tip). So I'm thinking that CM just didn't know that 12/10 was the day they increase at the time you asked him.

ETA: Scratch what I just said! I just did the math using the $29 amount the CM gave you for Goofy's, and I added in tax and tip - and yes, I think he gave you the accurate total, because once you tack on the tax and tip to that $29, it comes in at around the $37 I mentioned for peak season breakfast!