Disney California Adventure Park’s annual Food & Wine Festival makes its delicious return this year with new and returning flavors that celebrate the Golden State. From comforting savory bites to sweet treats and refreshing drinks, this year’s lineup offers something for every kind of foodie. After tasting several items across the festival, a few standouts proved why this event remains one of the park’s most flavorful seasonal offerings.
The Nerds of Color joined a select group of journalists and food influencers to preview some of the offerings available during the event, which runs from March 6 through April 27, 2026. From mouthwatering bites to refreshing drinks, the park is serving up flavors inspired by the Golden State that are just waiting to be discovered.
This year’s event feels slightly different from previous ones. While the menu items have changed, Sip and Savor Pass remains one of the best ways to sample multiple items at once. But the pass itself is probably one of the biggest improvements. Guests can purchase a pass that includes 4 or 8 digital coupons that you can redeem for select food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating festival marketplaces and dining locations.
Purchases also come with a complimentary guide that helps guests identify select menu items and quickly see what is eligible on the Sip and Savor Pass. While it may seem like a minor detail, that added redundancy goes a long way in making the festival easier to navigate. Rather than stopping at each marketplace to figure out what qualifies, guests can better plan ahead, purchase multiple items at once, and move through the experience more efficiently. It is a small change, but one that helps reduce guesswork and makes the event feel more user-friendly.
Of course, the real draw of the festival is the food itself, and this year’s lineup includes several standouts that are new items or returning favorites. So for this piece, we will be focusing on some of the newer offerings.
The Ramen Mac & Cheese, available at the Peppers Cali-Ente marketplace, was one of our favorite new dishes. This fusion comfort food brings East and West together in a way that feels both playful and satisfying. While the mac and cheese creates a rich, comforting base, the furikake crumble, fish cakes, green onions, and chile crunch help elevate the dish with added texture and flavor.
The Carbonara Pizzetta aims to bring the flavors of a comforting pasta dish to pizza. Conceptually, it works, especially for those who enjoy a white sauce. For me, though, it leaned a bit too peppery. Fortunately, the Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon adds a touch of sweetness that helps balance it out.
Then there is the Spinach and Artichoke Grilled Cheese, which takes the familiar flavors of the classic dip and turns them into something a little more substantial. The parmesan-crusted sourdough gives the sandwich the crunch it needs for texture, while the spinach and artichoke filling immediately brings that creamy, savory dip to mind. Surprisingly, though, it is not as rich or heavy as it looks. Yes, it is still bread filled with cheese, spinach, and artichoke, so it leans indulgent by nature. But it does not feel overwhelmingly dense, especially when paired with a lighter drink. Instead, it lands as a comforting savory option that feels satisfying without completely weighing you down.
Cherry Cola Cold Brew is something I didn’t think i would like as much as i would but it is surpisingly good. So good I wish i could get seconds. The cold brew has the Joffrey’s Coffee 70th Anniversary Blend, which is then mixed with oat milk, and vanilla crème and cherry syrups topped with a cherry cola cold foam and a maraschino cherry. At first i thought it would be just flat soda with cherry syrup that tasted like medicine, but that isn’t the case at all. When you stir everything together, the Cherry Cola Cold Brew tastes likesmooth cherry-vanilla treat with just enough coffee flavor that balances coffeehouse comfort with soda fountain nostalgia.
The Bourbon Peach Tea Lemonade is a worthwhile attempt at bringing a spiked Arnold Palmer to the park, but it falls short of being great. Made with Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Ceylon Black Tea-infused bourbon, peach purée, Simply Lemonade, and Simply Fruit Punch, the drink is garnished with a peach ring and ultimately lands as just fine. It lacks the stronger kick you might expect from a bourbon peach tea, making it feel a little more restrained than memorable. That said, this is still a theme park setting, so a heavier pour was probably never going to be the goal for guests who may not be able to hold their liquor.
For those who cannot have alcohol, or are simply looking for a non-alcoholic option for kids, the Cuties Mandarin Orange & Blackberry Punch is easily one of the best beverage choices at the festival. In fact, it is not just a good alternative to the alcoholic offerings, but one of the strongest drinks available overall. Made with house-made Cuties Mandarin orange purée, blackberry and strawberry purées, blackberry syrup, Simply Fruit Punch, and grapefruit juice, the drink delivers plenty of fruity flavor without becoming overly sweet. The mandarin orange gives it a bright citrus base, while the blackberry and strawberry add a deeper berry flavor that keeps it from tasting one-note. The grapefruit juice also helps cut through the sweetness, adding a refreshing finish that makes it easy to keep sipping.
The Pandan Latte Churro has a lot going for it. The pandan whipped cream comes through nicely, and the toasted coconut shavings add an extra layer of flavor that helps the churro stand out. However, the coffee sugar clashes a bit with the other components and pushes the sweetness too far, making the overall bite feel more sugary than balanced. That said, if you can ask for the churro without the sugar or better yet ask one for sugar and one without it.
While not every item lands perfectly, this year’s Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival still offers plenty for guests to discover. From creative fusion dishes like the Ramen Mac & Cheese to refreshing drinks like the Cuties Mandarin Orange & Blackberry Punch, the festival continues to highlight the playful culinary experimentation that makes these seasonal events so much fun. Combined with the streamlined Sip and Savor experience, it is easier than ever to sample multiple dishes and find your own favorites while exploring the park.
With the festival running through April 27, 2026, guests still have plenty of time to taste their way through the marketplaces and discover which offerings stand out for themselves.
