Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival is more than just a celebration of food — it’s an opportunity to embrace and explore a rich tapestry of cultural diversity and representation, specifically Latinx.

Held annually at Disneyland Resort, the festival is a feast for the senses, bringing together an eclectic mix of flavors, ingredients, and culinary traditions that can be found throughout California.

One of the core elements of the Food and Wine Festival is its commitment to showcasing a wide array of California cusines. Since, the golden state is a melting pot, it only makes sense that the different marketplaces reflect flavors of Mexico and beyond — there is one dish takes its Oceania influences from Auluni Resort and Spa. Another brings east and west influences together to put a cowboy spin on a Chinese favorite.

Such offerings remind guests about the power of food and how it connects everyone together. Each of the marketplaces are particularly focused on creating an inclusive and welcoming experience, while also introducing them to regional flavors. For example, LA Style where you can find some of Southern California’s iconic dishes like the Mini LA Street Dog. a miniature hotdog jalapeño mayo, pepper and onion relish, Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon, and crispy onions. Laker fans know this smell as after every home game, the streets are filled with the smell of bacon wrapped hotdogs and grilled peppers and onions. Think of DCA’s take as a deconstructed version of that.

Another new item at LA Style is the Western BBQ Burger Bao with sweet barbecue sauce, Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon, and crispy onions. Although this tasted more like an American meatball wrapped in a bao, the dish had a sweet and tangy barbeque sauce that went well with the filling. The added smoked bacon gave it a nice smokey flavor, while the crispy onions gave it a crunchy texture.

Golden Dreams’ Musubi Fried Rice is an Aulani Resort-inspired steamed rice with egg, glazed spiced ham, umami mayo, and furikake. Although it was light on the egg and furikake, the dish still reminded me of eating rice and candied spam, something that I had plenty of when I was a kid. The umami mayo brought added depth to the dish to help it be more than just rice and protein. Although, I would have liked to know what it would have tasted like had there been more egg and furikake served.

Garlic Kissed’s Sirloin Gruyére Mac & Cheese is a dish that sounds familiar, its because the steak dish exchanged the garlicky mashed potatoes from last year with a gruyere mac and cheese. Fans of the original know that the sirloin was paired with a garlicky mashed potato. Normally, the pairing would be fine, however, the mashed potato tasted like it came from a box. So the mac-and-cheese is a vast improvement. What’s more, black garlic chimichurri and garlic butter crunch components also make a return.

For some sweet desserts, the fan-favorite Mickey Macaroon with SNICKERS bar pieces makes its return to the Uncorked California marketplace. I still stand by the fact that it is a heavy treat that needs something like a glass of milk to cut through the macaroon and nougat fillings. On the other hand, Golden Dreams’ Cherry Cobbler Pot de Crème is a fantastic new addition to the food and wine festival. the cherries had plenty of tart to it and the plant-based vanilla cream helped bring balance to the dessert.

As for the drinks, California Craft Brews has a cocktail and mocktail. Their California Punch is a non-alcoholic drink with mango purée, guava nectar, and cucumber syrup garnished with a mango chile lollipop. It’s fruity, and the mango chile pop offers a nice spicy kick too offset the sweetness.

Then there’s the Mango Guava Cocktail, a new alcoholic offering that has vodka, mango purée, guava nectar, cucumber syrup, and lemon juice garnished with a rainbow sour belt gummy. There isn’t much of a difference between this drink and the California Punch considering it has all of the components with the addition of vodka, and lemon juice, and a sour belt gummy instead of a mango chile pop. Honestly, I prefer the California Punch over it because the sour gummy belt doesn’t do much but make the drink too sweet.

The Food and Wine Festival also honors California’s Hispanic cuisine with items like Birria Mac and cheese and the Café de Olla Tres Leches Cake at Mercado de Antojos. Both items are sure to excite your tastebuds. The former is a layered offering that has the right amount of heat in the mac-and-cheese, balanced out with the cool flavors of the onion-and-cilantro sauce. Pair that with juicy birria and crunchy tortilla chips, and you have yourself a dish with a lot of depth. For those who want something a little more sweet, Café de Olla Tres Leches Cake is something you’ll be wanting more of after the first bite. The cake if pillowy soft and topped with piloncillo chantilly, cinnamon, and a Mickey-shaped cookie, which is just as sweet and delicious. A nice way to complete the meal.

The Food and Wine Festival also makes a deliberate effort to amplify voices and stories from underrepresented communities. Those who are attending Wine and Beer seminars will learn from Chris Christensen, Wine Maker, founder, and “head honcho” of Bodkin Wines. The self-taught vintner lives by the by the line “We few, we happy few” from Shakespeare’s King Henry V, and grew up biracial in the 1980s who helped make America’s first Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc. Secured with who he is and how he identifies, Christensen is one of the few biracial winemakers in the industry and has blazed a trail for other young winemakers who don’t have the capital or notoriety to start their own business.

Then there’s Beny Ashburn & Teo Hunter, the co-founder of of the Inglewood brewery Crowns & Hops Brewing Co. The two are guided by preserving culture and fostering community through beer. It’s partnerships with companies like Disney that allow brands like Crowns & Hops Brewing Co. While there may be lack of breweries owned by people of color, these events are a chance to inspire others to pursue their dreams.

As such the diverse selection not only introduces park-goers to new and exciting foods but also serves as a reminder of how food is a universal language that connects people from all walks of life.

Ultimately, Disney California Adventure’s Food and Wine Festival is a celebration of the beauty that comes from diversity — whether that’s through food, entertainment, or cultural exchange. By curating an event that honors California’s culinary traditions and elevates underrepresented voices, the park fosters an inclusive and welcoming space where all visitors can come together to appreciate and celebrate the rich, varied world of food and culture.

To get the most out of the Disney California Food and Wine Festival experience, we highly encourage you to get the Sip and Savor Pass. One pass has eight digital coupons for $63 for non-magic key holders, and $58 for magic key holders. A pass with four digital coupons is priced at $32.

The Festival runs from now until through April 21, 2025.