It’s that time of year again at Disney California Adventure Park, a time to celebrate how food and wine bring everyone together at the happiest place on earth at the park’s annual Food and Wine Festival. This year, guests can enjoy delicious delicacies while experiencing one-of-a-kind events that raise their glasses to food, wine, and the cultural inspirations behind each offering.
This year’s Food and Wine Festival will differ from previous ones as there will be more cultural offerings along with the European ones. These changes in the marketplaces reflect the diversity in California’s population. Changes include having more offerings with an Asian twist like the Musubi Fried Rice and the Mango Sticky Rice-inspired Churro, as well as a Latinx marketplace where there will be Birria, Tres Leches cake, and Horchata. These items are a welcomed sight as they change the festival’s culinary landscape with more options that celebrate other cultures.
From February 28 through April 21, 2025, indulge in some of the best snacks, sips, and bookable experiences the Golden State offers! California is a melting pot of cultures, making it one of the most diverse places to live and one of the best places to eat. So, during the event, Disney Californa Adventure Park will have marketplaces with mouthwatering menus inspired by fresh, California-grown ingredients like garlic, citrus, and peppers and the cultures that use them.
Once again, guests are encouraged to make the most of their experience by purchasing a Sip and Savor Pass. The commemorative credential lets guests indulge in eight sweet and savory foods and non-alcoholic items. Not only that, but there will also be bookable receptions and seminars to enhance the culinary experience. It’s important to note that these festival add-ons are separate events, and if you want to attend, you’ll have to book for one of their dates. Seating is limited, so we encourage you to visit the Disney Parks Blog for more information.
There are going to be some foodie favorites making their return, like the Shrimp Papas Locas: Cheddar-bacon potatoes with jalapeño cheese sauce and spicy shrimp featuring Tajín chipotle sauce at the Peppers Cali-Ente, but there will be some new items as well. What’s more, one of their latest items, Golden Dreams’ Musubi Fried Rice: Aulani Resort-inspired steamed rice with egg, glazed spiced ham, umami mayo, and furikake, is inspired by the Aulani Resort and Spa. Of course, if you’re looking for AAPI-inspired drinks, then the Guava Lychee Mule: Vodka, guava nectar, ginger and lychee syrups, lemon juice, and ACE Guava Hard Cider garnished with a lemon wheel at Garlic Kissed.
One of the newest marketplaces is the new Mercado de Antojos. This Latinx-inspired marketplace has Birria Mac & Cheese with onion-cilantro sauce and tortilla crunch.
Those with a bit of a sweet tooth might want to try their Café de Olla Tres Leches Cake. It’s a Café de olla-infused tres leches topped with piloncillo chantilly, cinnamon, and a Mickey-shaped cookie. For those who want non-alcoholic drinks, there’s the Raspberry Horchata, a raspberry, almond, and cinnamon syrups, rice pudding, milk, and condensed milk garnished with skewered raspberries. And for those who want something with a little bit more of a kick to it, then there’s the Watermelon Cucumber Mojito, which is a white rum, watermelon liqueur, mojito, and cucumber syrups, watermelon purée, and lime juice topped with Topo Chico garnished with watermelon and Tajín twist.
Since Los Angeles is just a freeway or two (depending on where you are going) away from Anaheim, guests can make a few culinary discoveries at LA Style and Award Winners.
Both will have a Mini LA Street Dog with jalapeño mayo, pepper, onion relish, Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon, and crispy onions. Street dogs are probably one of the best things to have after a game or concert, so it’s nice that they bring something so specific from the City of Angles to the park.
For those who want to have that food and wine festival experience but get anything from the marketplaces, Paradise Grill has something you may want to try. There’s the Pescado Zarandeado from Paradise Garden Grill, which is a whole grilled fish with corn tortillas, refried beans, Spanish rice, zesty slaw, pickled vegetables, and a side of chips and salsa.
Over at Studio Catering Co., guests can find Thai-inspired Burrito and Salsa Verde Chicharrón Tacos. The burrito contains chicken satay, pad Thai noodles, peanut sauce, pineapple fried rice, and chile crisp. The taco has pork belly chicharrón tossed in warm salsa verde and topped with salsa macha and pickled onions.
Aside from the savory dishes, there will also be some sweet offerings, especially with the park’s signature churros. For instance, the churros at Goofy’s Sky School and Señor Buzz Churros on Pixar Pier will have a Mango Sticky Rice-inspired Churro. This classic churro is rolled in sugar with sticky rice and mango pieces.
One of my favorite things about the Food and Wine Festival is that it’s a reflection of the world we live in today. Like how chefs like Roy Choi fused Mexican fare with his Korean roots, Disney fuses different flavors together while remaining respectful to the cultures represented in the food. It’s not just a mish-mash of different ingredients; it’s something that has to work. So, I can’t wait to try what Disney California Adventure Park has to offer.
Disney California Food and Wine Festival runs from February 28 through April 21, 2025.