Storytellers Cafe is one of the table service restaurants at Disneyland’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. This dining experience is known for having some of the best food at all of the Disney character dining experiences.
Storyteller Cafe also offers an “all you care to enjoy” dinner experience which features some of the most high quality, filling food options you can find for dinner at the Disneyland hotels.
We recently experienced the Storyteller’s Cafe Holiday dinner which is just a twist on the typical dinner experience with a few seasonal food items added in and this restaurant may now be one of my favorite places to dine!
Storyteller Cafe Holiday Experience
The Storyteller Cafe Holiday dinner is a seasonal offering for the holiday season at Disneyland. This dinner is offered tNovember 19, 2024, through January 1, 2025. Characters will not appear during this dinner, only during breakfast and brunch.
Disney Ride Closure ALERTS, Major Changes, Secrets Revealed
Get alerts on closures, park changes, exclusive discounts, and free printables. Trusted by 100,000+ Disney fans & planners.
The menu includes items like the flatbread of the day, braised beef short ribs, roasted chicken, seasonal fish, a rotating chef’s selection of small plates, and more. Guests can enjoy selections from the pasta station, prime rib from the carving station, or the seasonal soup. Kids can enjoy options like chicken fingers, macaroni and cheese, and assorted flatbreads.
The cost of this dinner is $58 plus tax per adult (ages 10+) and $30 plus tax per child (ages 3-9). Prices do not include tax and gratuities. Let’s get into our experience with this holiday dinner and if I feel like it’s worth building into your holiday dining plans.
Storyteller Cafe Offers Cozy Atmosphere
I love the atmosphere of Storyteller Cafe and it’s perfect for the holiday season with this seasonal dinner. This is a dinner that is offered year round so the only difference for the holidays is just the addition of seasonal and holiday dishes. The restaurant is cozy and features large fireplaces in the middle of the dining spaces. This is such a large restaurant that is pretty easy to get a reservation for dinner so this is a great option if you’re looking for a last minute place to eat.
So Many Salads!
First up are the selection of salads with so many to pick from! In this part of the buffet alone there were three salads: Mixed Greens, Roasted Beet Salad, and Broccoli Salads. There were also a variety of pasta salads available to along with plain spring salad. My favorite out of these was the Broccoli Salad.
Shrimp Cocktail Appetizer
Along with the lineup of salads, you have the option of another appetizer with a Cocktail Shrimp. The dining at Storytellers Cafe is slightly elevated than the other Disneyland hotels with offerings like these.
Holiday Main Courses
As for some of the seasonal holiday dishes, two of our group’s favorites included the Pot Roast and the Gochujang Pork Belly. All of the main entree options were high quality and on par with the type of food you’d expect at the Grand Californian.
Chicken and Salmon Main Courses
There are also some other main course options like Barbecue Chicken and Baked Salmon. This is really an extensive buffet with so many different high end dishes.
Vegetarian Main Dishes
There’s also a wide selection of vegetarian options like Roasted Vegetables, Pesto Tortellini, Mac and Cheese, and more. I found there were plenty of options for myself as someone who doesn’t eat meat. And they were all great and more exciting than just the typical ‘have a salad’ option many restaurants offer.
Flatbread Options
There is also a selection of Cheese and Pepperoni flatbread to pick from which is great for the kids in your groups or any adults that enjoy pizza1
Picky Eater Options
Speaking of kids and picky eaters, there’s plenty of options in addition to pizza flatbread like chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp, and fries.
So Many Dessert Options
There’s a wide dessert selection of cupcakes, cookies, and this delicious Berry Lemon Posset.
Including Pumpkin Pie!
No seasonal holiday dinner would be complete without pumpkin pie and I was excited to see these miniature Pumpkin Pies offered.
Beautiful Fruit Selection
There was also a large fresh fruit selection too if you wanted an healthier option for dessert. All the fruit was extremely fresh!
Is Storyteller’s Cafe Worth It?
At $58 per person for an all you can eat buffet option, I definitely feel the price is worth it. The food here does not feel like a cheap buffet option since it is hosted at the Grand Californian which is known for its higher quality restaurants. This is an experience I would revisit again year round, not just during the holiday season. Storytellers Cafe is available for dinner year round although if you are interested in the character dining, you should opt for breakfast or brunch instead.
READ MORE – 10 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid When Booking Hotels for Disneyland
We’ve seen first-time visitors make some completely avoidable mistakes when booking hotels for Disneyland that can end up costing them. See the 10 rookie mistakes to avoid when booking hotels for Disneyland so that you don’t end up making any of these!
READ MORE – Sadly Stolen Strollers Do Happen at Disney—Here’s How to Avoid It Happening to You
Although relatively rare, cases of stolen strollers do happen at Disney. There’s no worse feeling than coming back to where you parked your stroller and seeing it is gone. See the top tips for preventing your stroller from being taken at Disney and finding it more easily if it’s moved!
