Disneyland’s holiday character meals at Goofy’s Kitchen and Storytellers Cafe run Nov. 16 to Jan. 3. The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day buffets don’t open for booking until Nov. 12.
If you want Goofy in a Santa hat with your waffles, here’s the plan. Disneyland’s holiday character dining runs Nov. 16, 2026, to Jan. 3, 2027, at Goofy’s Kitchen and Storytellers Cafe, according to Disneyland’s official dining pages.
The Christmas Eve and Christmas Day buffets work differently. Those two days don’t open for booking until Thursday, Nov. 12, the pages say.
That clears up a mix-up from earlier this week. Some fan sites said holiday dining was bookable now, and others pointed to Nov. 12. Both were partly right, depending on which meal you mean.
When does Disneyland holiday character dining start?
The regular holiday meals start Monday, Nov. 16, and run through Sunday, Jan. 3, 2027.
That’s a few days after the Disneyland Resort holiday season itself kicks off on Friday, Nov. 13. The season runs through Jan. 6, 2027, per Disneyland’s press site and Disney Tourist Blog.
Before then, the fall menus are still running. Storytellers’ Autumn Adventures meal wraps Nov. 15, and Clarabelle’s Halloween meal ends Oct. 31, per the official page. So there’s a short gap between the pumpkins and the tinsel.
The holiday meals are listed as regular seasonal events, so you can try to book them through the restaurant pages or the Disneyland app now.
Here’s a look inside Goofy’s Kitchen from Caesar Cinema, filmed before the holiday decor went up:
What is Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast at Storytellers Cafe?
Storytellers Cafe is the buffet at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Its holiday dinner is Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast, which runs Nov. 16 to Jan. 3, per the restaurant’s page.
The name comes from the 1983 featurette “Mickey’s Christmas Carol,” where Scrooge McDuck plays Ebenezer Scrooge. Characters from the cartoon are the draw here.
Storytellers also does a Thanksgiving Day brunch and dinner on Thursday, Nov. 26.
Then comes the all-you-care-to-enjoy Christmas buffet on Dec. 24 and 25, with booking from Nov. 12.
What does Goofy’s Kitchen do for the holidays?
Over at the Disneyland Hotel, it’s Goofy’s Kitchen Celebrates the Holidays!, also Nov. 16 to Jan. 3. Goofy is the host, as always, so expect a lot of dancing at the dessert bar. If you’ve never been, the characters make the rounds to the tables while you eat.
Goofy’s Kitchen has its own Thanksgiving Day meal on Nov. 26.
Christmas at Goofy’s Kitchen runs Dec. 24 and 25, again with booking from Nov. 12.
How much is Disneyland holiday character dining in 2026?
Disneyland hasn’t posted exact 2026 prices yet. The official pages show only ranges. Breakfast falls in the $35 to $59.99 band, and brunch and dinner are listed at more than $60 per adult.
For a rough idea, Laughing Place reported last year’s Mickey’s Christmas Carol Feast at $79 per adult and $42 per child. Those were 2025 prices. Expect this year’s to be the same or higher, because, well, it’s Disneyland.
Is there a holiday parade dining package at Disneyland?
Yes. Plaza Inn on Main Street, U.S.A., lists A Christmas Fantasy Parade Dining Package. It’s lunch plus a reserved spot to watch the parade.
Disneyland’s page doesn’t show dates for it yet. Parade packages tend to go fast once they’re live, so keep checking the app.
What’s happening at Downtown Disney for the holidays?
Downtown Disney is getting a Winter Village with a paid ice rink, Disney Tourist Blog reports. Disney hasn’t posted official dates for it yet.
Daisy’s Holiday Pajama Party, a past holiday breakfast at Storytellers, shows up in Disney Tourist Blog’s 2026 guide. It isn’t on the official Storytellers page right now, so we wouldn’t plan a trip around it until Disney lists it.
How do I book Disneyland holiday character dining?
Use the restaurant pages on Disneyland’s website or the Disneyland app. For the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day buffets, set an alarm for Nov. 12.
Christmas week is one of the busiest stretches of the year at the resort. If you’re flexible, a weeknight in early December is probably your best shot at a table, and maybe a less crowded hug from Goofy.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Disneyland Resort (Oct. 2026), Storytellers Cafe and Goofy’s Kitchen dining pages, dates and booking
Disney Tourist Blog (Sept. 2026), holiday season dates and Downtown Disney
Laughing Place (Oct. 2, 2025), 2025 holiday dining prices
Caesar Cinema (May 31), Goofy’s Kitchen video
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