Where to eat? Lunch at Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe

March 6, 2012, 11:04 AM · The Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe is Disneyland's newest restaurant, serving sandwiches, soups and baked goods in the old Plaza Pavilion building on the hub, opposite Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe

Menu
The menu at Jolly Holiday.

Display case
Display case at Jolly Holiday.

Matterhorn Macaroon
A Matterhorn Macaroon!

Roast beef sandwich
Hot roast beef on onion roll with melted white cheddar ($9.69)

Ham and cheese quiche
Ham and cheese quiche with house salad ($7.19)

Lobster bisque
Lobster bisque. ($5.99)

When I visited on One More Disney Day last Wednesday, Jolly Holiday was the longest line I waited in all day, at least until the crowd blew up in the evening. With the line backed up to the edge of the stairs, I waited 45 minutes to order and get my food - a long wait for a counter-service establishment. Jolly Holiday effectively replaces the Main Street Bakery at Disneyland, and with the Carnation Cafe closed to expand into the Main Street Bakery's old space, that's left one fewer restaurant at the front of the park, leaving the excess crowd to hit up the new place.

I selected the quiche, as well as the lobster bisque - which was the restaurant's special offering for One More Disney Day. The house salad with the quiche was butter lettuce with walnuts, cranberries, grape tomatoes and feta. You choose your dressing, and I would suggest a vinaigrette, since the salad comes with a cheese, the feta.

The selections at Jolly Holiday are not made to order, but served from the display cases. But with the volume the restaurant's now doing, few items stay in that case very long. My quiche still offered a flaky crust and the flavors of the ham and the cheese remained distinct.

While I enjoyed everything I ordered at Jolly Holiday, I can't say that I enjoyed them so much that I'd be willing make that wait again, not when equally tasty options abound throughout Disneyland, with little or no wait. Perhaps when the Carnation Cafe reopens in its larger space this summer, the crowds will go down at Jolly Holiday, and this counter service location will be worth stopping in for a quick snack or light meal.

If you've eaten at Jolly Holiday, I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Replies (7)

March 6, 2012 at 11:21 AM · The Blue Ribbon Bakery always had sizable lines, so while I'm sure the wait will drop from 45 minutes to something more reasonable, I doubt it will ever go away.

I had the beef sandwich and while it was generally good, I could tell it was not freshly made but had been sitting in/under a heating element, and they were just as busy when I went. Next time I will try a cold sandwich (the chicken waldorf looked excellent) to see if not sitting under a heat lamp leaves the inherent goodness of the food intact.

March 6, 2012 at 1:24 PM · I wonder what you have to say about the theming controversy of Jolly Holiday on Main Street. I think its ridiculous that people think a British themed character doesn't belong on Main Street USA.
March 6, 2012 at 2:35 PM · It's not nearly as egregious as Pooh in Critter Country, is it?
March 6, 2012 at 4:44 PM · The food in the photos looks tasty...much better than the offerings at my home park, Worlds of Fun. Disney is really stepping up the quality and diversity of the food at DLR. I hope WDW follows suit.
March 6, 2012 at 6:46 PM · You mentioned you got the lobster bisque but never metioned how it was .......
I'm in New England so I'm pretty spoiled by my access to seafood (I can see the Atlantic Ocean & James Hook Lobster from my office building). If you're ever in Boston let me know - lobster's on me (it's the least I can do for all the work you've put into this site)! : )
March 6, 2012 at 6:49 PM · How do those people feel about Dick Van Dyke playing that jolly Cockney chimney sweep, Bert?
March 6, 2012 at 11:10 PM · Such reasonable pricing. I love Disney.

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