Sip and Savor Passes at Disney California Adventure Park are a fun and delicious way to taste your way through special Disney food events, such as the popular Food and Wine Festival and the Festival of Holidays. Before buy your pass, get all the information you need to know!
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We attended our first Food & Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure Park in March 2018, We heard the term “Sip and Savor Pass”, and saw people with lanyards and cards hanging around their necks, but we didn’t know what they were or how to get them.
When the 2018 Festival of Holidays event came around, we decided to look into all of the Sip & Savor Pass details. We did our research and bought them for the first time and we were hooked!
If you’ve come to this post, you’re probably curious about the Sip and Savor Passes. What are they? How do they work? Well, we’re excited to share all the details with you! Below you will find all the information you’ll need for how the Sip and Savor Pass works, so you’ll be ready on your next Disney California Adventure Park trip.
Below you will find:
- What is a Sip and Savor Pass?
- Who Can Buy a Sip and Savor Pass?
- Sip and Savor Pass Events
- Where To Buy a Sip and Savor Pass
- Magic Key Holder Lanyards
- How Sip and Savor Passes Work
- Is the Sip and Savor Pass Worth It?
- How to Save Money with the Sip and Savor Pass
As a general disclaimer, the details below are subject to change. While we’ll do our best to keep this information updated, always check the Disney website information for the Disney California Adventure Park events you’re interested in.
What is a Sip and Savor Pass?
A Sip and Savor Pass is a souvenir credential card that you can purchase for specific food events at Disney California Adventure Park. The pass is attached to a lanyard. Depending on the event, each Sip and Savor Pass has 6 or 8 attached tabbed coupons. These coupons can be detached to redeem for an eligible tasting-size food or non-alcoholic beverage.
Who Can Buy a Sip and Savor Pass?
Want to know who can buy a Sip and Savor Pass? The answer is that ANY Disney California Adventure Park guest can buy one! When the Sip and Savor Passes first started, you had to be an Annual Passholder. But in 2018, that changed! As long as you have a valid park ticket, you can buy the pass. And if you happen to be an AP holder, you’ll receive a discount on yours.
What DCA Events Offer Sip and Savor Passes?
Sip and Savor Passes have been available for sale at the various food events that Disney California Adventure Park holds throughout the year. So far, there are three food events that have them for sale include:
- Lunar New Year Celebration
- Food & Wine Festival
- Festival of Holidays
How Much Does a Sip and Savor Pass Cost?
The price of a Sip and Savor Pass depends on the event and the number of tabbed coupons it holds (whether 6 or 8 tabs). Also, as you can imagine, the prices can change from year to year.
If you are a Magic Key Holder, you will receive a discount.
See the list below for examples of pricing:
- Food and Wine Festival 2023: $59 (Magic Key Holder $54)
- Lunar New Year Festival 2023: $45 (Magic Key Holder $42)
- Festival of Holidays 2023: $61 (Magic Key Holder $56)
- Food and Wine Festival 2022: $57 (Magic Key Holder $52)
Where to Buy a Sip and Savor Pass?
The Disney California Adventure Park locations that sell Sip and Savor Passes can vary from event to event.
Festival Merchandise Cart: We’ve bought most of our Sip and Savor Passes at the Festival Merchandise Cart. This is an outdoor shop/cart that sells all the specialty merchandise for the event. It is somewhat close to The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure ride.
Sip and Savor Cart: We’ve also bought them at a Sip and Savor Cart that sells just passes – nothing else. It’s usually a spot where they have large umbrellas and a small kiosk or two. It’s also recognizable because it will have a sign telling you that you can inquire there about the passes there (see photo below).
Marketplace Kiosks: During the 2020 Lunar New Year Celebration, they were selling Sip and Savor Passes at the Marketplace Kiosks, which is where they sell the food. I believe this is the first time they have done this, but I can see it as being very convenient.
Various Shops: There are various souvenir and merchandise shops in the park that have sold the Sip and Savor Passes. Some of the shops that have sold them in the past events include:
- Kingswell Camera Shop
- Elias & Co
- Seaside Souvenirs
- Rushin’ River Outfitters
Magic Key Holder Lanyards
If you are a Magic Key Holder, the purchase of your Sip and Savor Pass typically comes with a special event themed lanyard that is attached to your pass. If you are not a Magic Key Holder, they will provide you with a standard black lanyard.
In previous years, Magic Key Holders were given special buttons (in 2020, they gave us a magnet instead of the button) when they bought a Sip and Savor pass. They haven’t done this since 2020 but we do hope they bring this back! It was a wonderful treat to celebrate the festivals!
How Does the Sip and Savor Pass Work?
After buying your Sip and Savor Pass, you will be able to visit the various Marketplace Kiosks located in Disney California Adventure Park and redeem your tabs for tasting-size entrees, desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages. The Marketplace Kiosks are booths that look like little houses and they are scattered and lined along the main walkways in the park.
One tab is redeemable for one item or whatever comes in that serving. For example, in the photo below, you could redeem one tab for the Braised Pork Belly Adobo (one of my top favorites at the Festival of Holidays) and one tab for the Shrimp and Grits. It’s also one tab for the Holiday Mickey & Minnie Cookies, shown below. Even though you get two cookies in your “serving”, it’s still 1 tabbed coupon.
In addition to the Marketplace Kiosks, sometimes there is items available at the various dining spots in Disney California Adventure Park too.
For example, during the 2019 Festival of Holidays, you could get a delicious Apple Fritter Bread Pudding from the Pacific Wharf Cafe. This could be purchased with 1 Sip and Savor Pass tab or you could buy it without a tab for $5.99.
At the 2020 Lunar New Year Celebration, there were also several items available at the Paradise Garden Grill and the Dessert Bao at Lucky Fortune Cookery. So, definitely pay attention to the pamphlet or the back of your Sip and Savor Pass for options that are available outside of the Marketplace Kiosks.
Is the Sip and Savor Pass Worth It?
This is one of the most common questions about the Sip and Savor Pass! Short answer: if you want multiple items at the foodie event you attend, the pass can definitely help you to save money. But whether it does or doesn’t, depends on several factors.
It may be worth it if:
- You want to try EVERYTHING! Most of the Sip & Savor Passes have 8 coupon tabs, so if you want to try at least 8 items, the pass may be worth it to you.
- You like to share. Similar to the note above, if you are sharing with others, 8 tab coupons will be much more likely to be used.
- You’re a meat-eater. Many of the higher-priced dishes at the park’s food events are meat-based. If you love meat and tend to go for meat entrees, the pass will probably work out great for you.
- You’re visiting multiple times during the event. If you’re a Magic Key Holder or if you know you’ll be at the park more than once during the event, then you can use your tabs on multiple days, making it easier to use up all the tabs on the Sip and Savor Pass.
It may NOT be worth it if:
- Forget the food, you want all the drinks! The Sip and Savor Pass tabs cannot be redeemed for alcoholic beverages, so if you’re interested mostly in cocktails, beer or wine during your Disney California Adventure Park visit, the pass is definitely a no-go. And for the non-alcoholic beverages, they tend to be some of the lower-priced items during DCA’s food events, so you’ll most likely not get the full value of your pass if these items are your primary focus.
- You’ve got a sweet tooth! Similar to the note above, if you’re wanting all the sweet treats, the Sip and Savor Pass may not be worth it to you since the desserts can sometimes be some of the lower-priced items available. This is especially good to keep in mind if you end up eating lunch or dinner somewhere at the park or elsewhere but now you want dessert.
- You’re vegan. While there has been an increase in vegan options, if you are wanting a lot of plant-based variety with your Sip and Savor Pass, you might have challenges. If you are sharing your pass with others, then it would probably be worth it. Or if you might want a dish multiple times.
- You have food allergies. Again, like the vegan note above, if you are needing allergy-friendly options, you may have some challenges. While generally there are a few gluten-free and other allergy-friendly offerings, there isn’t a lot of them. Be sure to check the menu offerings before you buy a pass.
How to Save Money with the Sip and Savor Pass
Saving money with the Sip and Savor Pass starts with knowing the value of each of your tab coupons. As long as you redeem your tabs for a total amount higher than the amount you paid for the pass, you will save money with your purchase.
To do this, take the price you pay for your Sip and Savor Pass and divide it by the number of tabs. For example, if the pass you buy is $59 for 8 tabs, this works out to be $7.37 per tab. As long as all the items you select are $7.37 or more, you’ll save money (or at least, break-even). For Magic Key Holders, you will need to select items that are $6.75 or more.
With all this said, there is another point to keep in mind. If you buy a couple of lower-priced items — let’s say in the $5-$6 range, but you’ve bought multiple other items that are over $7, you can still maximize the value of your Sip and Savor Pass.
CHECK OUT THE SAMPLE BELOW:
Artichoke Pizzetta $7.25
Glazed Pork Belly $9.00
Blueberry Pancake Cold Brew $6.75
Cubano Slider $8.75
Roasted Beet & Goat Cheese Flatbread $7.25
Chile Relleno Empanada $8.50
Kenny’s Family Cheesecake $6.50
Smoked Honey-Habanero Chicken Wings $8.50
Total Value of Selections: $62.50
Minus Price of Sip & Savor Pass: $59.00
__________________________________
Total Savings: $3.50
Yeah, saving $3.50 isn’t a lot, but every little bit counts! This is just to show you that it’s still possible to save with the pass and still use a tab or two on lower priced items. Of course, the savings can increase more if you are buying even more higher-priced items.
If you are wanting more of the lower-priced items, just consider if you should get them with your Sip and Savor Pass tabs or if you should just pay for it with cash or card.
Quick note for Magic Key Holder: Since you’ll pay less for your pass, your tab value is even lower, making it even easier to save money with the Sip and Savor Pass.
Other Important Details
- VOID IF REMOVED: Don’t tear off a tab until AFTER you order and only in front of the cashier. If you detach before you order and are prompted to remove it, this will void your coupon tab and the cashier will not take it.
- NO MOBILE ORDERING: Even if mobile ordering is available at the Marketplaces, you won’t be able to use when using the Sip and Savor Pass.
- FIND THE SHORTEST LINE: Save time by ordering foods from other Marketplace Kiosks all at one Marketplace Kiosk. They will give you a receipt and then you can show that receipt at the appropriate kiosk to pick up your food, rather than waiting in line again to order.
- PLAN AHEAD: Take a look at the food offerings for each Marketplace to determine ahead of time if there will be enough options for you and/or your group to use all the tab coupons. We’ve never had a problem finding LOTS of things we want, but only you can say for yourself if it’s worth it.
- TASTING PASSPORT: When you buy your Sip and Savor Pass, be sure to get a Tasting Passport. It’s a little booklet for the event with lists of all the foods and where you can find them. It’s helpful for keeping track of the foods you want.
- LEFTOVER TABS: If you find yourself with leftover tab coupons for whatever reason (you have to leave the park and know you won’t be back, etc) you can give them so someone else in the park. A random act of kindness! Of course, this does mean you will not be able to take home the commemorative credential (the main part of the card) since the coupons cannot be detached in advance, but some people don’t mind giving this up. If you do want to keep the lanyard, you can do that though.
I hope that that this was helpful to you, but I would love to hear from you! Do you buy the Sip and Savor Pass? Is there anything we left out that might be helpful to others who are buying it for the first time? Let us know in the comments below!
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