We have discovered the Christmas event that will make this Christmas seem, if not normal, then at least worth celebrating. We found our Christmas spirit when we attended Christmas at the Anatole at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas last weekend, and I’m excited to tell you about it. Thank you for the complimentary stay, Hilton Anatole! All opinions in this review are my own.

Christmas at the Anatole

Christmas at the Anatole is a long-running, annual celebration at the hotel each Christmas. Traditionally, the big feature was Peppermint Park, a large outdoor event with lots of twinkle lights, games for kids, bouncy houses, character interactions, and general holiday merriment. But with the challenges of this year, Peppermint Park has been put on hold.

In place of the traditional Peppermint Park, the hotel has installed a more mild, elegant version of Christmas at the Anatole. Through our Santa Suite Package, we got to experience various holiday activities safely spread throughout the vast open spaces of the hotel, including family table games like Jenga, Scrabble, and checkers, as well as a holiday arts and crafts station, Christmas Bingo, and indoor cornhole. We also enjoyed marveling at Tipsy the Tree on stilts, munching on flatbreads (and hot toddies for the adults) from the North Pole Cafe, and exploring the Anatole’s beautiful Asian-inspired interior decor. But the main event of the night was the VIP Meet and Greet with Santa and Mrs. Claus, where we got to drink hot cocoa, nibble delicious Christmas cookies (locally sourced from the Konfectionary Bakery in Aubrey), and mingle with the Clauses (masks on, of course). Blitzen even made an appearance for photos! After all the excitement, we were happy to toast s’mores on the outdoor fire pits and then settle down to watch a Christmas movie on the big screen in the ballroom, where family seating areas were staggered throughout the large room to allow for plenty of physical distancing.

Santa Suites

Our Santa Suite package included a one-night stay in a Santa Suite. The suite included a decorated table-top Christmas tree, a few Christmas goodies, and incredible views of the Dallas skyline. The rooms at the Anatole are equally as impressive as the rest of the hotel, extending the Asian-inspired design and decor tastefully through each room. We loved hanging out in our suite- my son kept calling it our “little house” and said he wanted to live there forever. Being there was pure magic for them and something I think they’ll always remember. And the children’s murphy wall bed was a huge hit!

Breakfast with Santa

After our long winter’s nap in our Santa Suite, we awoke refreshed and excited for Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Breakfast with Santa is included in the Santa Suite package, or can be attended independently from a stay at the hotel. So if you’re unable to stay overnight, your family can still experience a lovely Breakfast with Santa at the Anatole on a morning of your choosing.

Several kids wore their Christmas pajamas to breakfast, including ours, which added to the fun. The food served at the breakfast exceeded our exceptions, both in quality and quantity. Chocolate chip pancakes, fresh fruit, scrambled eggs, blintzes, bacon, sausage, potatoes, and on and on… Not to mention the custom breakfast taco and omelette stations, as well as mimosa and Bloody Mary bar. We truly enjoyed our breakfast, as well as the festive atmosphere of the ballroom, the jovial attitudes of the Clauses and Anatole staff members, and our time as family as we reveled in the holiday spirit. It was just what we needed to kick our Christmas spirit into high gear.

Is it worth it?

In my opinion, absolutely. Depending on which package and night you choose to stay, the cost can get up there a little. But my opinion is that if this is your one big Christmas event of the season (and it is worthy of being that big event), booking the Santa Suite Package that includes the overnight stay, VIP experience, and Breakfast with Santa is worth the price. Likewise, if you’re looking for a smaller or complimentary event to your other Christmas season festivities, booking only Breakfast with Santa is also worth the cost, in my opinion ($45/adult, $20/child). We had a truly great experience, we felt safe the entire time we were there, and we look forward to many more years of Anatole Christmases!

Details

Christmas at the Anatole and Breakfast with Santa events run on select dates November 28-December 23. Package details and information, as well as booking options, can be found at Christmas at the Anatole.