Disneyland is expensive. We know that’s not really a surprising statement, especially to those of you who have tried to plan a trip recently. Sure, some people have found ways to experience the park on a budget; avoiding luxuries and just getting the core experience. But Disneyland is a luxury, and sometimes you want to indulge. This year though, Disneyland unveiled something that stretches the limits of even the most extravagant budget.
Every holiday season, the Grand Californian Hotel & Spa sets up a pop-up holiday cart. It’s the go-to spot for Mickey-shaped holiday treats, and usually includes some hot chocolate and cider that adults can spruce up with a shot of whatever alcohol tickles their fancy. For those who imbibe, the big draw is the annual dessert shots. In the past, the cart has offered chocolate chip cookies baked in the shape of a shot glass lined with dark chocolate and rimmed with festive sprinkles, and a similar version made with a red velvet cookie. A little extra sugar to lubricate your holiday RumChata or peppermint schnapps (maybe malört if you associate the holidays with bug spray).
This year’s offering is the waffle shot. A textured-like a waffle cone lined with milk or white chocolate. For those who abstain (or are under 21), it comes with milk or eggnog. The alcoholic version comes with 11 different liquor options. 10 of these are fairly reasonable: Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, amaretto, Bailey’s Irish Creme. If you think $17 is a lot for a shot, you might want to take a drink to steady your nerves before reading on.
The 11th option is Remy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac. That usually retails at around $4,000 a bottle. You can have an overly cheerful Disney employee carefully measure it into a waffle shot full of chocolate for $185.
This seems mind-boggling to us, in both directions. On one hand, that cognac is incredibly hard to come by, and most high-end restaurants will try to offset how rarely people will buy it by scaling up the price. In that case, it’s a more than 50% discount, and it comes with chocolate. On the other hand, it’s only an ounce and a half of liquor for the price of another park ticket! And you’re putting it in chocolate!
If you’re the type to indulge this holiday season — and, let’s face it, if you’re stopping by the Grand Californian in Disneyland for the holidays, you are — then feel free to shell out enough money to buy a pair of Air Pods for a shot of expensive cognac. It’ll probably be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But if you’re like the rest of us, and you see that price listed as “Inquire,” you already know what that means: if you have to ask, you can’t afford it.
Check out other Disneyland holiday food and beverage offerings on the official park’s blog here.
