Jolly Holiday Bakery Opens at Disneyland Park

Dana Thompson is a photographer and part time TouringPlans.com Disneyland researcher. She visited the new Jolly Holiday Bakery in Disneyland this weekend and was gracious enough to write up the following review. You can see more of Dana’s photography at www.danatphotography.com.

The Annual Passholder Center at Disneyland was a bit of wasted space… (Except when my Grandma Susan had to go turn her paper into a pass.) I was quite happy to see a very creative and tasty change happen so quickly in what is some of the best real estate that Disney has to offer. Jolly Holiday made its debut last week as a restaurant/bakery/coffee shop. The location is prime, and with much of Main Street dining going through some temporary closures, the lines at this new joint are long. We sampled Jolly Holiday on quite a busy weekend and waited about 30 minutes to reach the counter.  I do recommend that if the park is crowded, have someone from your group secure a table!

The decor is charming. A throwback to Mary Poppins, the penguin waiters are the focal point of the cuteness of this restaurant. The interior screams shabby chic in a way that is endearing, and should be a very timeless edition to Disneyland.

Location  –  Right at the edge of The Hub (Where the Partners statue is of Walt & Mickey). This spot is also opposite from the Plaza Inn and easy to get in and out of. However, this could also prove to be a very difficult navigation when the mass exodus occurs right after fireworks. If you are going to try and grab a spot of tea around that time – plan for a wait! This cute little bistro-esque location is practically perfect in every way.

Decor  –  Without really having to do much, Disney was able to capitalize on some bistro chairs, and the victorian charm this building already had.

Pricing – Sandwiches and salads are in the $7.50 – $10 range. Kids meals are $5.99. Bakery items are $2.79 – $4.19. Annual passholders are eligible for the normal dining discounts.

Food  –  So impressed! The selection of sandwiches and desserts is amazing, and I hear the quiche is great too. I am happy to see that there is not another burgers/fries establishment. The creativity and execution in the menu is refreshing. I can’t wait to go back and sample the new stuff.

We tried the roast beef sandwich and “the combo” which includes a grilled cheese sandwich and tomato soup. We were very pleased to have a hint of spice in the soup and a small bit of horseradish in the sauce on the roast beef sandwich – definitely not bland!

For dessert, we tried the new Strawberry Lemon Cupcake. The cake is lemon, and the strawberry is the fruit on top. The buttercream frosting is rich and sweet. Perfect for sharing! (The Hungry Bear Lemon Cupcake is a cream cheese frosting for those who prefer the cheesy-ness!)

Collectively, I think Disney has a dynamic new counter service stop on their list. With the great selections and the perfect spot, I can’t wait for character meet and greets with Mary Poppins and Bert!

Have you tried the new bakery? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!