When it comes to Monte Cristo sandwiches, this is such a great recipe! It’s like a grilled cheese meets French toast, perfectly fried golden brown.

The entire sandwich creates a savory combo that even a picky palate will love. I think of this as a triple-decker sandwich because of the steps and layers of this dish. 

I’ve even a lot of these in my days, and this makes the best Monte Cristo recipe out there.

I have no issue eating the whole sandwich, and I’ll happily make a run to the grocery store to stock up on the ingredients.

This is such a classic sandwich that you can pan fry in a jiffy. I also put it on a paper towel once I’m done to soak up some of the excess grease and to help the texture of the fried sandwich stay crispy.

You’ll love this original recipe loaded with deli meat and cheese. The salty ham and cheese combination is literally out of this world delicious! 

Give this copycat Disneyland Monte Cristo sandwich a try today – it’s the perfect Monte Cristo recipe!  

Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe

A delectable smash-up of a grilled ham and cheese sandwich and French toast, the Monte Cristo sandwich gained popularity thanks to Disney which has had this dish on its menu for over 50 years. 

When they finally released their official Monte Cristo recipe so that people could make it at home, I had to try it — and boy, is it a winner! 

The Monte Cristo at Disneyland is believed to be a twist on the French croque monsieur, which is a savory grilled sandwich. 

The addition of a crispy batter coating and powdered sugar really puts it over the top!

I also have versions of this Monte Cristo recipe featuring bacon instead of ham or in gooey, stuffed bread form  — and there’s no frying necessary.

Craving more famous sandwiches? Try my copycat version of Maid Rite’s Loose Meat Sandwich or a Chick fil A Crispy Chicken Sandwich next!

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Meat – You’ll need deli-sliced ham and turkey for this Monte Cristo sandwich recipe. With so many options available, feel free to experiment and find your favorite combo!
  
  I like to use leftover ham from holiday meals. It’s just a simple way to use up those slices of ham. 
  
• Cheese – A slice of Swiss cheese is the best choice, but Gruyere cheese or Jarlsberg would be just as tasty. Most cheeses will go just fine with the thick bread and ham. 
  
• Batter – A simple blend of flour, salt, egg, and water, plus baking powder to give the crispy layer some lift when fried. 
  
• Canola Oil – Use any neutral cooking oil that’s good for frying. Vegetable, avocado, and even peanut oil are great choices as well.
  
• Powdered Sugar – It’s not a true Monte Cristo Disneyland copycat without a dusting of this! That said, you’re free to leave it off if you find it too sweet.
  
• Fruit Jam – The original version comes with blackberry preserves for dipping, but raspberry jam or red currant jam are popular alternatives.

Best Bread for Copycat Disneyland Monte Cristo

Disney traditionally uses white bread for their version of this Monte Cristo recipe. 

A few visits ago, I talked to the chef and was told that they use sliced Hawaiian bread — it really makes a world of difference, in my opinion.

If you cannot find this, look for a thick-sliced style of sandwich bread rather than the thin kind. 

You want something that is thick enough to stand up to deep frying. Even challah-style bread will work well.

Monte Cristo Recipe Tips and Variations

• Don’t forget the toothpicks!

These will hold each sandwich triangle together while they are being fried. You can remove them once cooled.

• Cook in batches. 

Too many in the pot, and you’ll lower the temperature of the oil too much. This will cause your Disneyland Monte Cristo to soak up the oil instead of getting crispy. 

Also, be sure to bring the oil back up to temperature before you start the next batch.

• Drain before dusting. 

Allow each sandwich to cool on paper towels, or even better, a wire rack! You want as much of the extra oil gone before adding the powdered sugar.

• Add some mustard.

While not in the original Monte Cristo sandwich Disneyland recipe, other versions recommend smearing just a bit of Dijon mustard onto the bread before adding the meat and cheese.

It’s a simple addition that helps to balance the overall sweetness of the sandwich.

Serving Suggestions

If you’re wondering what you should serve with this Monte Cristo sandwich recipe besides the jam or preserves, you have several options.

The Monte Cristo at Disneyland comes with a side of fresh strawberries and grapes. 

We also like to order some pomme frites, and I’ll let you in on a little secret — they’re just French fries!

Potato chips would be just as tasty if you’re craving a lighter lunch, or why not add a bowl of fruit salad?

Monte Cristo Sandwich Disneyland FAQ

Storage and Reheating

These crispy sandwiches are best served warm, so the cheese is all melty when you bite into it.

If you happen to have leftovers from this Monte Cristo sandwich recipe, wrap them in aluminum foil and refrigerate for 2 days.

To reheat, remove from foil and warm in the air fryer so it gets nice and crispy again. Or, place on a wire rack set in a baking sheet and reheat in the oven. 

Enjoy!

With love, from our simple kitchen to yours.

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Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe (Disneyland Official) + Video

Disneyland Monte Cristo is the perfect balance of savory and sweet and is fried to crispy perfection. Don't forget a side of jam!

Course Main

Cuisine American

Method Mixed

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 136cal

Author Donna Elick

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 1/3 cups water
• 1 egg
• 1 ounce sliced white meat of turkey
• 1 ounce sliced Swiss cheese
• 1 ounce sliced ham
• 2 slices white bread
• powdered sugar garnish
• raspberry jelly garnish

Instructions

• Sift flour, salt and baking powder together.
• Add water to beaten egg and add to flour mixture and mix well. Set aside.
• Make sandwich using first turkey, then Swiss cheese, and then ham. Cut sandwich into quarters using toothpicks to hold sandwich together.
• Dip sandwich in egg batter and fry in 360°F oil until golden brown.
• Remove toothpicks and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
• Serve with raspberry jelly.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 136cal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 363mg | Sugar: 1g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 141mg | Iron: 2mg

Originally published May 2020, updated and republished July 2025

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

The post Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe (Disneyland Official) + Video appeared first on The Slow Roasted Italian.

Who doesn’t love giant cookies? Those crispy edges and chewy center full of golden brown goodness show why this big giant cookie recipe is one of the best!

I’m so obsessed with the original recipe, and I have no problem making this a second time right after the first! 

You can whip these soft cookies any time of year! For the best results, store leftovers of these chocolate cookies in an airtight container so that they’re soft and yummy the next day.

You can also put some vanilla ice cream in between two chewy chocolate chip cookies to make the ultimate ice cream sandwich! 

Don’t forget that you can add more to the tops of the cookies. These crispy chocolate chip cookies have space for semi-sweet chocolate chunks, mini chocolate chips, and more!

The only thing that I don’t add to the top is sugar – because I think that they’re already sweet enough! 

Gather the simple ingredients needed to make this giant chocolate chip cookie recipe.

It’s the perfect chocolate chip cookie for bake sales, weekend snacks, or for enjoying easy cookie recipes at home. The recipe card gives you all the details below! 

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies

You really can’t beat the classics! 

There’s a reason why the chocolate chip cookie is still crowned the king of desserts, with recipes coming out day after day with the “best ever” recipe… 

You can stop browsing for it, because this is truly the most soft, tasty, and best Disney chocolate chip cookies copycat around!

Why not make the whole Disney experience while you’re at it?? Corn dogs, cupcakes, churros… a roller coaster of flavors with no lines or entry fees!

Want more indulgent chocolate cookies? Try our fudgy Death by Chocolate Cookies or Oreo & cookie dough loaded Cookie Monster Cookies!

Or try our swirled vanilla-chocolate Chocolate Pinwheel Cookies or tart Cranberry Chocolate Chip Cookies for standout cookies on any dessert tray!

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

The ingredients below are all that is needed to make the best chocolate chip cookies! 

• Salted Butter – Using salted butter makes these radically rich and beautifully buttery. And if you’re using unsalted butter, compensate with a pinch of salt.
  
• Brown Sugar – Moist, delightful sweetness is guaranteed when brown sugar is listed with your treats! 
  
  Pack the sugar, meaning you need to press it firmly into the measuring cup, to get the same consistency as the original Grand Floridian chocolate chip cookies.
  
  You can also use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar. 
  
• Powdered Sugar – Did you know powdered sugar makes a cookie more tender? Perfect for gooey jumbo chocolate chip cookies!
  
• Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips –  These giant chocolate chip cookies can also be made with dark chocolate chips, milk chocolates, white chocolate chips, and any combination of the three.
  
  If you use chocolate chunks, you’ll also have a delicious chocolate chunk cookie recipe. 

Tips for Delicious Disney Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Chill the dough to avoid spreading.

Since jumbo chocolate chip cookies have a pretty significant footprint, there’s the potential for pretty significant spreading while they bake. 

This is almost guaranteed to happen if your butter is very, very soft.

Chill the dough for 15 to 30 minutes to reduce the amount it spreads in the oven.

• Combat the sweet with some salty or spicy flavor!

There are a few ways to introduce additional tastes to your treats so that it’s not sugar, sugar, sugar with each bite.

A sprinkling of flaky sea salt on each cookie once it comes out of the oven is heavenly! 

The salty-sweet combo is totally drool-worthy, and that little bit of crunch when you chomp down is addictive to say the least.

And have you ever had Mexican chocolates? 

They contain cinnamon and chili peppers–and trust me, it’s a whole new ball game with chilis and cocoa! A little bit of cayenne pepper (¼ teaspoon or less) does the trick.

• Cool completely before transferring to a plate!

If you think waiting for regular desserts to cool is hard, get ready to test your patience with Disney chocolate chip cookies. 

Because they’re so large, the “droop” risk is very real. 

Unless you have a very large flipper, you’ll want to wait a good while for your giant chocolate chip cookies to cool — at least 10 minutes, but ideally until they cool completely.

Storing and Freezing

These giant chocolate chip cookies can be safely kept at room temperature for up to a week. 

They become less soft and tender as they sit, however, so I really recommend enjoying these right away.

And the dough lasts for up to 3 months in the freezer! Ball them up, freeze them briefly on a baking sheet, and store in a freezer bag. 

Thaw a few at a time for speedy sweet cravings, or place the bag in the fridge for a few hours to bake all of them at once later on!

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

• Sieve – Great for straining liquid or sifting dry ingredients to prevent clumps. You can even use it to dust powdered sugar over desserts!
• Stand mixer or large mixing bowl with hand mixer for creaming the butter and sugar.
• Cookie Scoops – Great for meatballs, cookie dough, ice cream, and portioning out leftovers. I’ve had this set for years and use them all the time.

Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies FAQ

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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Grand Floridian Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

These Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies are Disney delicious! Snack on chewy, tender jumbo chocolate chip cookies to satisfy your inner child.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Method Oven

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 17 minutes minutes

Total Time 32 minutes minutes

Servings 36 cookies

Calories 151cal

Author Donna Elick

Equipment

• baking sheet
• parchment paper
• mixing bowl
• electric mixer
• cookie scoop

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 10 tablespoons salted butter softened
• 1 cup light brown sugar packed
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 330 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
• Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl and set aside.
• Cream the butter, light brown sugar, and powdered sugar in a separate bowl until light and fluffy.
• With the mixer running, add eggs, one at a time, then add vanilla. Mix until combined, scraping sides of bowl.
• Slowly mix in the flour mixture, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed. Stir in chocolate chips.
• Use a medium or large cookie scoop to portion out the dough onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until light golden, 10 to 12 minutes for medium cookies, 14 to 17 minutes for large.
• Recipe Notes:
• They took longer than the initially indicated time according to the original disney recipe. About 14 to 17 minutes for the large cookies, this gives them a nice chewy center. If you prefer firmer cookies, you can add a couple additional minutes to the bake time.
• Using salted butter gives these cookies a rich buttery taste.
• The original recipe calls for cooking the cookies directly on the baking sheet. This does change the texture slightly but I preferred the parchment method and easier cleanup.
• If readers do not have an oven that can bake at 330, 325 is a safer option than 350 for these cookies.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 151cal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 94mg | Sugar: 12g | Fiber: 1g | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Originally published August 2023, updated and republished September 2024

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

The post Grand Floridian Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe appeared first on The Slow Roasted Italian.

Pacific Wharf at Disneyland California Adventure

Pacific Wharf is amazing. It’s one of the most interesting places in all of California Adventure. Essentially, this area is a food court; but you would never think it, as Imagineers immerse you in the theming here and sweep you away to the Pacific Ocean.

Make sure you check out the other California Adventure Restaurants in our Cars Land Dining Guide.

Our legend for Disneyland Pacific Wharf Dining:

Annual Passholder discounts available ask cashier

Mobile Ordering available on Disneyland mobile app check it out here

Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop

Ghirardelli features 12 flavors of ice cream and 12 different toppings. They also have chocolate bar infused shakes, ice cream floats, and hot chocolate. Among the specialties are the Intense Dark Chocolate line up of sundaes featuring Ghirardelli chocolate squares and dark chocolate fudge.

Not to mention, you can pick out your own chocolate variety to take home, from their massive assortment of Chocolate squares. The sundaes on the menu are within range of $12-$16. A single scoop of ice cream starts at $5.95 with a choice of a cone or waffle bowl.

You can check out the current Ghirardelli’s menu here.

Pacific Wharf Café

Trademarked as the original San Francisco Sourdough, Boudin adds another authentic ingredient to the Pacific Wharf dining in California Adventure.

Here you can have salad or soup in a sourdough bread bowl, buy a freshly-baked loaf or round, or seasonal bread pudding. Salads run $11.49 and include Chinese Chicken Salad and Chicken Apple & Walnut Salad. Another specialty, is the Turkey Pesto Club, served on sourdough, for $9.99.

They also have a turkey sandwich for kids and a Yummy Cheesy Macaroni toddler meal. This counter-service restaurant also offers a small variety of desserts and beer choices.

You can check out the current Pacific Wharf Cafe’s menu here.

Rita’s Baja Blenders

This rehabbed water tower, once owned by a now-defunct fishing warehouse is the go-to place in California Adventure for excellent margaritas and so much more! Strawberry or Lemon-Lime Margaritas for $10 are the most popular items here. You can even add Grand Marnier for an extra $2.

They also serve sangria here and non-alcoholic frozen drinks like the Tripicool Strawberry, Lemon Lime and a feature flavor for $5.49. Rita’s also serves up a large bag of chips to munch on while you sip.

You can check out the current Rita’s Baja Blenders menu here.

Cocina Cucamonga Mexican Grill

Across the Wharf from Ritas is the Mexican counter service restaurant. They feature a variety of hearty dishes and healthy salads to choose from. This is a great place where everyone can usually find something to eat.

Street Taco Plates (my favorite choice) and Fish Taco Plates are served with rice and beans to make a great meal! About $13 each. You can also get a Cocina Bowl for the same price with the same meat and vegetarian options as the tacos.

Kids also get a choice of a taco or bowl of their choice. They also have a quesadilla option on the menu and a Chicken with Rice option for toddlers.

Other entree options include Torta Ahogada Al Pastor, Marinated Half Chicken, and Chicken Salad.

For a side, you can order Chips and Salsa, Guacamole and Chips, and Fruit Salad. Beverage offerings include Mango Agua Fresca, and a selection of Mexican imported beers including a house-made Citrus Michelada made with Modelo Negra or Pacifico for $9.25.

Portions here are very large. It is a great value and an excellent place to split dinner to save room for the Ghirardelli’s sundaes!

You can check out the current Cocina Cucamonga’s menu here.

Lucky Fortune Cookery

The specialty at Lucky Fortune Cookery is made to order Asian Rice Bowls. The menu at Lucky Fortune Cookery is short but sweet. Among the bowls, you can choose from are Chicken, Tofu, and Beef with a price range of $12.49-$13.49.

For some inexpensive sides, you can order Chicken and Vegetable Potstickers, Edamame, or fresh sliced Mango. The Kids menu is Disney Check only, just like the other wharf options. This kids meal is chicken and brown rice served with applesauce, a mandarine, and choice of beverage.

In addition to the fountain beverages, Lucky Fortune Cookery offers a specialty black tea with passion fruit and mango topped with flavored foam; and Sapporo as an alcoholic option for $8.50.

Chad and I have eaten here a few times. Being the kid’s menu is limited we usually have to go somewhere else for Munchkin, which is a bit of a hassle (standing in line twice), so we tend to eat somewhere we all enjoy.

You can check out the current Lucky Fortune Cookery menu here.

Pacific Wharf Distribution Co.

Karl Strauss hand crafter beers from San Diego are on tap at the Pacific Wharf Distribution Co truck, along with fresh-baked soft pretzels. Beer $10, Pretzels $5-6.

You can check out the current Pacific Wharf Distribution Co’s menu here.

Wine Country Trattoria

This lovely Mediterranean-style winery is set back in a lovely Tuscan villa setting across from the Pacific Wharf food court and offers a beautiful indoor or patio dining experience. Wine Country Trattoria is a table service restaurant and one of only three places for which you can make reservations.

The restaurant serves three courses of Italian cuisine and even has antipasti and dessert offerings on the kid’s menu. A majority of the entrees is various kinds of pasta. However, rib-eye, salmon, braised lamb, and chicken Parmesan are among the other Italy inspired offerings.

The wine menu consists of Sangria, an Italian wine flight, and a Californian wine flight. They also list bottled beer and nonalcoholic beverages. The meal includes coffee or soft drinks of choice. A three-course meal consisting of the Soup Del Giorno, Spaghetti Aglio Olio, and Wine Country Tiramisu would cost $33 plus tax. And the price range goes up to $56 per person, not counting alcohol.

You can check out the current Wine Country Trattoria’s menu here.

Alfresco Tasting Terrace

On this rooftop ‘lounge’ created just for wine lovers, you can find a great selection of wines and cocktails with a small offering of appetizers and incredible views. They are only open from 12pm or 2pm (depending on the park hours). Get there early, the tables tend to fill up.

They have a variety of “Disney Family” wines which include Chardonnay from Kurt Russell’s Gogi Wines, Fess Parker (Davy Crockett) Syrah, MacMurray Estate Pinot Noir, and Lasseter Family Winery Rose. These wines sell for between $14 and $20 per glass and are sold by the bottle for $59-$89.

Cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages as well. Among the small bites and appetizers are flatbread, bruschetta, Chicken Caesar Piadina, Meatballs Marinara, and a Charcuterie and Cheeseburger Board. Priced $8-12

You can check out the current Alfresco Tasting Terrace’s menu here.

Mendocino Terrace

A lovely patio wine bar, Mendocino Terrace offers wine and port flights, wine by the glass and a cold cut or cheese plate, $12-13.

The lounge provides the usual array of nonalcoholic beverages and a handful of bottled beer and cider options, Mendocino Terrace is much more wine-focused, and they offer a lot.

Wine is sold by the glass giving you the opportunity to sample a few varietals. There are 11 white wines. Two of which are from California. Most are from other countries such as New Zealand, Germany, and France.

The price per glass ranges from $8.50 to $16.00. There are 9 options in the sparkling and Rose category. Most of which are from Italy with a price range of $8-$19. There are 19 red wines to choose from. The cheapest glass is $9.50, and the most expensive is a Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon at $17.00.

You can check out the current Mendocino Terrace’s menu here.

Sonoma Terrace

The perfect shady spot to cool down and enjoy a selection of Golden Wine Winery’s California wines and craft brews. They also serve cocktails, beer, cider and have a small snack menu. Bavarian Pretzel for $6.99 ($7.98 with cheese), a Meatball Sandwich ($10.49)or Baked Brie with Blackberry Jam ($7.50).

You can check out the current Sonoma Terrace’s menu here.

Originally published July 2019.

Disclosures: Prices and menu items are subject to change. We recommend you check the current menu for each location for the most up to date information. 

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link, your price will remain the same, and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

The post Pacific Wharf – Disneyland California Adventure Restaurants appeared first on The Slow Roasted Italian.

If you are wondering where to eat in Cars Land California Adventure at Disneyland Resort we have got you covered!

Cars Land is probably my favorite of all the Disneyland Resort lands. Probably the first time anyone entered a theme park land and felt transported to a specific movie was in 2012. This was when Cars Land opened at California Adventure. Cars Land drops you in the middle of Radiator Springs and brings that movie world to life.

Through Cars Land dining shops and attractions Disney captivates guests by transporting them into the Cars world. In Cars Land, you are in Radiator Springs. It’s a real place, and you are there.

This is our legend for Disneyland Dining:

Annual Passholder discounts available ask cashier

Mobile Ordering available on Disneyland mobile app check it out here

Cars Land Dining and Food Options

The slight of hand with which they do this is pretty remarkable. The Cozy Cone Motel, for instance, is pretty impressive to look at, and it makes a nice photo location to meet Mater and Lightning McQueen.

Guests can’t sleep in the cones, right? So, they realized guest don’t need to sleep in the park, but they do need to eat. Suddenly, they had a themed dining location that perfectly utilizes the space.

Another area that was seamlessly recreated is Flo’s V8 Café. In the movie, this place is a gas station made to look like a diner.

When Radiator Springs welcomed park guests to their town, they couldn’t serve gasoline. They needed to accommodate them with real food. Thus Flo’s gas station is seamlessly converted into the diner it was always meant to look like.

Cars Land is best experienced in full, Radiator Springs Racers is half of the experience, but the other half is in the flavors of cars land. Come back for dinner and see what the town looks like when lit.

Fillmore’s Taste-In

The very first thing you see as you turn the corner into Cars Land is Fillmore’s Taste-In. The perfect name for a fruit cart themed to a hippie Volkswagen Bus.

At this cart you will find all the usual grab and go items including whole fruit and pickles for $3.99 each. For a cheap snack, you can pick up assorted chips at $3.49 per bag.

Additional snack options include a three pack of Cuties mandarin oranges for $4.49 and a six count of Mini Babybel Cheese. This is also a good place to pick up a bottled beverage from an assorted variety.

Filmore’s is a great place to grab a quick bite before going straight into Radiator Springs Racers, the three-attraction land’s E-ticket ride.

It’s also the perfect grab-and-go option if you just need some fuel while you pass Cars Land on your way to Pixar Pier to ride the Incredicoaster. If you are hungry for some more substantial food, though, you should stop and stay awhile, because there are two really great options inside Cars Land.

You can check out the current Fillmore’s Taste-In menu here.

Flo’s V8 Cafe

Flo’s is a gorgeous adaptation of the gas station in the movie Cars. My absolute favorite view is when it is dark out and the neon lights glow against the darkness of the sky just like it did on the movie screen.

When you get inside, the classic diner feel of the station takes over and transports you right into the movie.

Inside the decor tells the story of Flo’s past in a touring singing group. The huge windows offer a panoramic view of Ornament Valley, the sight of Radiator Springs Racers. It’s one of the best views in the park and the food is pretty good, too.

Flo’s is a quick service restaurant with indoor seating and outdoor seating out front. They serve up traditional diner style food from a Ka-Cheeseburger to a Fin-Tastic Tuna Sandwich.

The menu includes a pot pie, a Cobb salad, fried chicken and a club sandwich with prices ranging from $10.99 to $17.99. There are always seasonal favorites like this roast beef sandwich too.

Although, these are full meals with sides, you can also order steak fries separately and don’t forget the adult drinks. You can grab a variety of beer, wine and a fruity sangria at Flo’s. For dessert you can get a classic milkshake with or without a souvenir glass.

They also have a great kids menu with a cheesy Mack’s Mac and Cheese (which you know Munchkin eats every time we go). She is a mac and cheese connoisseur of course. They also have a Micro Burger and the Chicken Fenders priced from $7.49 to $7.99! 

Make sure you check Flo’s out for breakfast. The brioche French toast is so good it has a cult following. You can check out the current Flo’s V8 Cafe menu here.

Cozy Cone Motel

The cozy cone is a series of snack windows that ingeniously serves food in cones. There are tables at the Cozy Cone Motel, but these food options are awesome to grab and go.

I like to eat while walking around or waiting in line. All Cozy Cones serve beverages and many seasonal offerings pop up throughout the year like this Birthday Hat Macaron available during the Get Your Ears On celebration.

Cozy Cone #1 serves the most adorable cone full of 2-bite churros. The churro menu changes from season to season. This summer they are serving the traditional churros with dipping sauce and a graham cracker sugar churro with strawberry sauce and cream cheese icing. Churros are $5.29.

Cozy Cone #2 is the soft serve palace. You can get a vanilla, chocolate or twist. They also offer toppings for an additional charge. $4.49. During the holidays they offered peppermint toppings. Isn’t it perfectly festive?

Cozy Cone #3 is known for their bacon mac and cheese served in a bread cone. They also serve Chili Cone Queso and seasonal favorites. This summer they are serving Red’s Hot Chicken Cone. $8.99-$9.49. Cone 3 is also the go-to for adult cocktails, with vodka lemonade options to quench your thirst for $9.75.

Cozy Cone #4 offers up bite size pretzels with cheese sauce, my favorite item at this cone. They also have savory and sweet twists. $4.29-$5.79. Another menu item, Red’s Apple Freeze and Minute Maid Frozen Lemonade are thirst quenching drinks perfect for those hot summer days $5.49.

Cozy Cone #5 serves up an adorable Pop Cone filled with…. You guessed it, popcorn! But, it’s not just any popcorn. There are so many flavor options, it will make your tires spin $5.59. Recently Cone #5 also added Cozy Corn (Mexican street corn) to it’s menu $6.49.

Check out the current Cozy Cone Motel menu here.

Disclosures: Prices and menu items are subject to change. We
recommend you check the current menu for each location for the most up
to date information. 

Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a
product through an affiliate link, your price will remain the same,
and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small
commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new
recipes.

The post Cars Land Dining at Disneyland California Adventure appeared first on The Slow Roasted Italian.

Disneyland Character Dining Experience

When we decided to treat our daughter to a character dining experience we really looked all over the Disneyland parks to decide which one we thought was best. There are so many to choose from and we will be reviewing them all with you.

So be sure to follow our Disney travels and adventures on Instagram.

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We really wanted to find a Mickey experience with as many characters as possible and Mickey’s Tales of Adventure at Grand Californian really fit the bill. As soon as we booked our hotel we scheduled breakfast at Storyteller’s Café.

The Grand Californian

Of all the hotels at the Disneyland Resort, the Grand Californian is absolutely our favorite. Not only does it offer the best access to the parks, but it is homey and luxurious all at the same time. I could honestly give you 100 reasons why we love the Grand Californian. And we have also stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, Paradise Pier Hotel and off site hotels.

Storyteller Cafe

A perfect example of Disney’s blend of luxury and family focus is Storyteller Cafe.  This restaurant is a beautiful dining hall with craftsman style decor and Large framed art pieces showcasing Californian folklore.

The theme simultaneously pays homage to Disney’s tradition of storytelling, while telling the story of California, all as a mere backdrop in a buffet style restaurant.

This restaurant is where kids can also experience character dining at the Grand Californian.

Character Dining at Grand Californian

Storyteller Cafe offers Character dining, but it is not exclusively a character restaurant as is the case with Goofy’s Kitchen.  It is common for Disney restaurants, particularly buffets, to offer a character dining experience only at breakfast.  This is definitely the case at the Disneyland Resort, where all character dining experiences other than Goofy’s Kitchen are breakfast only.

Storyteller Cafe Character Breakfast

Morning at The Grand Californian is lovely, whether you enjoy a cup of coffee on a park side balcony or head downstairs for a big breakfast.

The main dining at Grand Californian all have entrances in the same outdoor location surrounding the pool.  This is great because it forces all guests to experience the outdoors and the nature that inspires the dining areas within.  Inside more of that Arts and Crafts era design shines through.

Phrases like “Hearth and Home,” and “By hammer and hand do all things stand” line the walls.  The buffet area stands centered behind the check-in counter and is flanked on both sides with deep dining halls lined with cozy booths and wooden tables.  Large lanterns hang from arched beams in the high ceiling.

For Grand Californian character dining, Mickey and his friends meet with guests at every table during the Mickey’s Tales of Adventure Breakfast (or Brunch) Buffet.

Mickey wears a special adventuring costume for this character meal, that is exclusive just to this event.  The theme is adventure, another tie in with California Adventure.

Though you can expect Mickey’s usual companions to show up, the lineup of characters is not guaranteed and subject to change.

It is recommended that you make reservations up to 60 days in advance. You don’t have to be a hotel guest to dine at Storytellers and you can even have 3 hours of complimentary parking with validation from the restaurant.  Otherwise, Parking is expensive, starting at $20 for just the first hour and $10 per hour thereafter! You can book here.

Storyteller Cafe Breakfast Menu

The breakfast buffet is a little bit overwhelming. There are so many delicious options to choose from.

There are plenty of breakfast meats and eggs.  The highlight is the custom omelette station. You get to choose your own fixin’s. I love cheese, bacon, onion and jalapenos but you can expect to be offered mushrooms, and other veggies and meats as well.

With an entire bar of breakfast potatoes, sausage and piles and piles of Applewood-smoked bacon if you are looking for a hearty breakfast this is it! These breakfast potatoes are amazing!

My absolute favorite is the Chilaquiles with Fresh Eggs and Tomatillo Salsa . It is divine. I didn’t get a photo this time but look for a copycat recipe coming up!

There is also a delightful array of sweet breakfast foods to choose from with everything from Mickey waffles, pancakes, french toast with an incredible specialty syrup (think bananas foster) and entire pastry bar, oatmeal, and cereal.  Bagels are also offered with lox.

The buffet also includes parfait, fresh fruit and a quiche of the day.  Beverages include specialty coffees and morning cocktails for an additional price.

Storyteller Cafe Brunch Menu

The Brunch menu is like the breakfast menu, only the extended offerings include French toast, pastries, muffins, pancakes and waffles.  Plus you can get dessert.  The downside of Brunch is that it is served from 11:30-2:00, which cuts into your day if you plan to visit one of the parks.  The Breakfast Buffet starts at 7:00AM and ends at 11:25AM.

Enjoy!

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Paradise Gardens is the Perennial festival center for seasonal events that take place in Disney’s California Adventure Park.  Located on the banks of the bay, adjacent to Pixar Pier, Paradise Gardens offers food and entertainment with seasonal changes.

With marketplaces, live entertainment, characters, cavalcade and event merchandise the Lunar New Year Celebration pulls out all the stops.

Disney’s California Adventure park is the place to be from January 25 – February 17 to celebrate the Lunar New Year.  Chinese tradition has long been a tentpole of the original Disney’s California Adventure philosophy.

It is one of the cultures that helped shape California from its early days until now.  The celebration of Chinese culture at California adventure continues with the annual Lunar New Year celebration.  This is the year of the pig.  So, you can expect to meet some very old Disney friends when you come to the celebration.

Lunar New Year Celebration Food

Several food marketplaces have opened up in the Paradise Gardens Area of Disney’s California Adventure park. As you make your way around Grizzly Peak, you will come to a San Francisco inspired area.  Paradise Gardens is just across the road from Pacific Wharf and Pixar Pier.  This is where most of the Lunar New Year festivities take place including some extraordinary dishes at these locations:

Lucky 8 Lantern

Note the pig inspired dish at Lucky 8 Lantern.  The Crispy Shrimp Fried Rice with garlic, bacon and edamame is definitely something to try.  If you would rather spare the pig, try the Stir Fried Vegetables and Pineapple with soy protein, steamed rice and crunchy chow mein noodles.  For desert this marketplace offers a Mandarin Orange Green Tea Tart.

Prosperity Bar and Buns

The Char Siu Pork Bao is Chinese BBQ pork folded into a bar bun with pickled onion and jalapeño.  For the less adventurous eater there is a much more instagram worthy treat called the Mickey Chinese Hotdog Bun, which is actually a sesame bun in the shape of Mickey’s head with little hot dog slices baked into it.  Prosperity Bao and Buns is also a great place to stay for a Mango-Pineapple Pastry and a $13 Winter Plum Blossom Gin Mule.

Longevity Noodle Co.

You won’t find any little piggies at this marketplace.  Just checked meatballs and a very nutty Vegetable Egg Roll dish that includes chilled sesame garlic noodles, cilantro cashew sauce, and roasted peanuts.  You can also order a Hong Kong style Egg Tart here with a refreshing Orchid Spritz.

Red Dragon Spice Traders

Serving up some heat, Red Dragon’s spicy dishes include Firecracker Three Cup Chicken and Steamed Short Rib Shumai with Spicy Korean Sauce, sriracha mayonnaise and cucumber salad.

Paradise Gardens Grill

At Paradise Gardens Grill the seasonal menu has been changed to reflect the Lunar New Year Celebration.  This is a full quick service restaurant with a Kids’ Meal (Uncrustables) and beverage options.  The small but satisfying list of entrees include a Whole Fried Fish, Korean Grilled Chicken, Vegan Orange Tempeh, and Banh Mi– a crispy baguette with grilled marinated pork belly.  This location also sells the collectible Mickey Birthday Sipper.

Entertainment

One of the great pieces of Paradise Gardens is the lineup of various acts that grace the shaded outdoor stage where guests can eat, drink and enjoy the live music.  Melody of China, a trio of instrumentalists from San Francisco, are taking the stage for the celebration.  Their synthesis of folk, classical, and contemporary instrumentals use the dulcimer, lute and fiddle to bridge generational gaps through unique musical fusion.

Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession is one of the highlights of this celebration and that coupled with the character meet and greet makes it well worth the stop! It is the only time of year you can see Mulan and Mushu.

Lunar New Year Celebration Meet and Greets

Mulan and Mushu are available for photo ops as usual.  Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto are also there, and wearing their festive Lunar New Year attire.  The bamboo and peach blossom pavilion makes for a gorgeous picture with golden flowers and Chinese banners adding to the backdrop for your photo.  The best way to stay on top of character schedules is to download the Disneyland Mobile app.

Munchkin absolutely loves their Lunar New Year outfits and stood in line to meet all the characters.

Procession

For more Character fun, make sure you stake out a good spot along the parade route for Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession.  This is a bright colorful and festive cavalcade of characters that includes guests of honor: Fiddler, Fifer, and Practical Pig.  The three pigs Tea la la their way along the procession to triumphant music from the movie Mulan.  In addition to the pigs in holiday costumes, the procession includes a dragon puppet, drummers, dancers and more!  The procession has four start times throughout the afternoon at 12:00, 1:15, 3:00, and 4:15.

Lunar New Year Crafts

Paradise Gardens Park is the place to go for anything from relaxed entertainment to good seasonal food, but it’s also great for the kids.  Kids’ attractions such as Jumping’ Jellyfish and Ariel’s Undersea Adventure populate the area and near Paradise Gardens Grill, there is a fun little alcove where kids are invited to get crafty.  On Mondays and Tuesdays they can take home custom Chinese Calligraphy.  In addition to that They can also make paper lanterns and enjoy complimentary face painting near The Little Mermaid.

All guests at the celebration are also encouraged to contribute to the Wishing Wall.  The Wishing Wall is adorned with messages of good will, peace and prosperity for the new year and everyone can add their personal message to the display.

Merchandise

Of course no Disney event would be complete without fabulous commemorative merchandise.  This year shirts, pins and more are celebrating the Year of the Pig.  You can also purchase traditional lucky red envelopes for gifts of prosperity for the new year.

Festive Time

The festivities in this little corner of Disney’s California Adventure are worth a visit to the park. You can spend hours enjoying all of the food, and special moments of the event from the entertainment to the crafts.  In addition to Paradise Gardens, be sure to visit Pixar Pier, for more food and fun as well as Cars Land for a chance to venture into the exciting animated world of Radiator Springs.

Disclosure: Posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link your price will remain the same and The Slow Roasted Italian will automatically receive a small commission. Thank you for supporting us, it helps us keep creating new recipes.

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