Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts' Nite Dining - Storytellers Cafe

The Experience

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite is a separately ticketed evening event at Disneyland Park held on select February evenings around Valentine’s Day. The Sweethearts’ Nite Dining Package at Storytellers Cafe places your pre-event dinner inside Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa — a step up in setting from an in-park restaurant and a relaxed, unhurried way to begin a romantic evening before heading into the event.

What’s Included

Dining packages at Storytellers Cafe for Sweethearts’ Nite typically include:

• A specially curated dinner designed for the evening — Storytellers Cafe’s Sweethearts’ Nite menu typically features elevated comfort food with romantic presentation, specialty desserts, and beverage options suited to the occasion
• Reserved or priority viewing access for select Sweethearts’ Nite entertainment inside Disneyland Park — package guests can claim their reserved position for the evening’s signature shows or fireworks after dinner
• Event admission is not included — a valid separately ticketed Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite ticket for the same evening is required for each Guest ages 3 and older

Participating restaurants and exact inclusions vary by event date and year. Review the Disney website for current offerings when booking.

The Restaurant Setting

Storytellers Cafe is the signature full-service restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, set within one of the most architecturally stunning hotels in the Disney portfolio. The restaurant’s dining room evokes the great California lodges of the Arts and Crafts movement — soaring timber beams, stone fireplaces, and rich, warm wood paneling create an atmosphere that is elegant without feeling formal. The restaurant is named for the tradition of storytelling central to California’s folk history, with murals depicting woodland characters and Pacific frontier tales throughout the space.

Dining at Storytellers Cafe gives your Sweethearts’ Nite evening a distinct character compared to dining inside the park. The hotel setting provides a quieter, more intimate atmosphere as you begin the evening, and the Grand Californian’s direct access to Disney California Adventure and the park’s Downtown Disney District entrance means getting to the after-hours event at Disneyland is straightforward.

The Event

Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite transforms Disneyland Park into a Valentine’s Day celebration with entertainment, décor, and experiences exclusive to ticket holders. The event features:

• Themed entertainment not available during regular park hours, including castle projection experiences and stage shows
• Character meet-and-greets with Disney couples and popular characters dressed for the occasion
• Lower crowd levels than standard park operating days — the after-hours format creates an intimate, relaxed atmosphere
• Limited-edition Sweethearts’ Nite merchandise available exclusively to event ticket holders

Booking Notes

• A valid Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite event ticket is required separately from the dining package
• Dining packages must be booked in advance through Disney — walk-up availability is not guaranteed
• Event dates are limited to select evenings in January and February; check the Disney website for the current year’s schedule
• All dining packages are paid entirely out of pocket — pricing varies by year and is subject to change

Dining Plan Information

The Disneyland Resort does not currently offer a Disney Dining Plan equivalent to Walt Disney World’s. Sweethearts’ Nite Dining Packages at Storytellers Cafe are paid entirely out of pocket at the time of booking. Pricing is per person and set annually — consult the Disneyland Resort website for current rates alongside the event date announcement each season.

About Disneyland After Dark: Sweethearts’ Nite Dining - Storytellers Cafe

Storytellers Cafe at the Grand Californian is among the most warmly atmospheric restaurants in the Disneyland Resort — a space that feels like a destination in itself rather than simply a hotel restaurant. Beginning Sweethearts’ Nite here, in the Arts and Crafts grandeur of the Grand Californian’s dining room, sets a tone for the evening that an in-park restaurant simply cannot replicate. The unhurried pace of a hotel dinner — away from the park foot traffic and noise — gives couples and groups a genuine opportunity to settle in, enjoy the meal, and build anticipation for the event ahead.

The Sweethearts’ Nite menu at Storytellers Cafe is crafted specifically for the occasion. Rather than the standard daily menu, guests can expect a curated selection tailored to a romantic evening — thoughtful presentations, seasonal ingredients, and dessert options that match the spirit of the night.

Storytellers Cafe also benefits from a practical advantage: the Grand Californian Hotel sits within the Disneyland Resort footprint with a direct gate to Disney California Adventure. Getting to Disneyland Park for the Sweethearts’ Nite event after dinner is a short walk, with no need to navigate parking lots or resort transportation. For guests staying at the Grand Californian, the evening flows naturally from room to dinner to after-hours event.

Reservations for this dining package sell out quickly — both the dining slot and the event ticket should be secured as soon as Disney opens booking for the season.