After missing out on all of the fun holiday festivities last year, Disneyland Resort was once again able to celebrate the merriest time of the year, with an extensive menu of holiday food and the return of the incredibly popular Festival of Holidays. Festival of Holidays happens at Disney California Adventure Park and offers Guests the chance to purchase different types of themed food representing different holidays like Christmas, Hanukkah, Diwali, and Kawanza. This year, the Festival will take place from November 12 through January 9.
This year, as in years past, Disney is also giving Guests the chance to purchase the Festival of Holidays Sip and Savor Pass. The Sip and Savor Pass is also usually offered at Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival. The cost of the Sip and Savor Pass for this year’s Festival of Holiday is $56, but Magic Key Holders are eligible for a discount on the pass.
The Sip and Savor Pass comes with eight tabs that you can use at most of the Festival booths for various foods and non-alcoholic beverages. Here, we will tell you what foods you can purchase in order to maximize the value that you get for your Sip and Savor Pass.
Note: There are no drinks on this list as most of the non-alcoholic drinks are cheaper than food offerings and will not help you maximize the value of the Sip and Savor Pass.
Favorite Things
Holiday Stuffing Mac & Cheese
This booth offers a Stuffing Mac and Cheese (one of this writer’s favorites) and a Chana Masala that is served with garlic naan. Chana Masala is like a chickpea stew or dip. The garlic naan is the perfect vessel to hold a huge bite of Chana Masala.
If you would like to use a tab to purchase food at this booth, it is best to go with the Holiday Stuffing Mac and Cheese. This delicious dish is a traditional macaroni and cheese that is stopped with stuffing seasoned bread crumbs.
Grandma’s Recipes
Impossible Arepa Encantada
Grandma’s Recipes offers a new, modern twist on some holiday classics. At this booth, Guests can dine on a delicious Mickey Gingerbread Cookie or a South American arepa that is made with Impossible Meat. There is also a Berries ‘n’ Crema that is made with Huckleberry, strawberry, and raspberry house-made syrup, condensed and whole milk, and fruit-flavored cereal topped with house-made strawberry whipped cream.
Again, the offerings here are not the most expensive, but if you would love to eat from this booth, go with the Impossible Arepa Encantada, which will set you back $7.50, so it is still a good value for the tab that you have paid for.
Holiday Duets
Shrimp & Grits With Andouille Sausage
Holiday Duets is one of the most popular booths at the Festival, as both of its dishes are some of the tastiest you can get. In addition to the Shrimp & Grits With Andouille Sausage, Holiday Duets also offers a Braised Pork Belly Adobo served on garlic rice that is absolutely incredible.
While the Shrimp & Grits dish is the best value for your Sip and Savor Pass as it comes in at $8, the Braised Pork Belly will also get you a good value for your tabs, as it costs $7.50.
Merry Mashups
Carnitas Mac & Cheese OR Holiday Spiced Wings
Merry Mashups actually offers three dishes, and two of them are a really great value if you are using a Sip and Savor tab. First, there is the Esquites Carnitas Mac & Cheese featuring Oaxaca and Cotija cheeses with spiced puffed rice. This mac and cheese is super creamy and offers a different flavor profile, as it uses Oaxaca and Cotija cheeses for the creaminess. The Carnitas Mac and Cheese costs $8, so it is perfect to pay for with a tab.
The second great value offered at Merry Mashups are the Holiday Spiced Wings served with citrus cranberries. This dish has received mixed reviews, but if you love wings and want to give them a try, use a Sip and Savor tab, as these wings also cost $8.
There is a Holiday Mix also available for purchase, which is like a holiday trail mix made up of things like pretzels, peanuts, and chocolate candy. It isn’t recommended using a Sip and Savor tab on the Holiday Mix as it only costs $6.50.
A Twist on Tradition
Reimagined Beef Brisket Wellington
Both dishes being offered at A Twist on Tradition will offer you great value if you are using a Sip and Savor tab. However, the best value will come if you purchase the Reimagined Beef Brisket Wellington — which is also Mickey-shaped! This delicious dish will set you back $8.50, making it one of the best things to purchase with your Sip and Savor Pass.
Also offered at A Twist on Tradition is the Reuben Potato Bites with Russian Dressing & Rye Toast Crumble. While not the best value, it still costs $7, which is just on the cusp of value for the tabs.
While it is not something that you should use a tab on, we HIGHLY recommend trying the Churro Toffee Cold Brew Coffee. It is absolutely delicious with the perfect amount of churro flavor and spice. This writer is not a big coffee fan, but I do have a big sweet tooth, and this Cold Brew was just absolutely delicious and checked all the boxes. Plus, it will give you that caffeine kick you need to get through a long day at the Parks.
Winter Sliderland
Beef Pot Roast On Potato Roll
Just like the Reimagined Beef Brisket Wellington, the Beef Pot Roast is one of the top values for one of your Sip and Savor tabs. This Beef Pot Roast is made of tender sliced beef, dipped in a delicious au jus, and served with a drizzle of horseradish sauce. It is also a large enough portion to make you feel satisfied when you are done. The Beef Pot Roast roll costs $8.50, so definitely use a tab for this.
If you are not a Pot Roast fan, you can still use a tab at this booth for the Nashville Hot Chicken slider, which is served with a dill pickle and costs $7.50
Making Spirits Bright
Skip
To be honest, if you want to get the most money for your Sip and Savor Pass, skip this booth. The Cinnamon and Sugar Holiday Tart only costs $6.50 and the “Hot Cocoa” Marshmallow Macaron is only $5.50. While we wouldn’t use a Sip and Savor tab on this booth, absolutely don’t skip it. The macaron is quite big and a good value for the $5.50 price tag.
What are you most looking forward to trying at Disneyland Resort’s Festival of Holidays?