Highlights Along the Way
Family Travel, Treats, Tips, & Traditions

10 pictures that will make you want to go to the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival!

Disclosure: I was invited to a media event at the Disneyland Resort to cover the Food & Wine Festival. Opinions are always my own.

The Food and Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure Park is in full swing! This popular limited-time event features an amazing specialty menu, entertainment, and activities.  Dozens of desserts, drinks, and meals inspired by the Golden State give guests lots of choices. The entertainment portion of this culinary festival is included in your ticket purchase to Disney California Adventure Park.  The Food and Wine Festival is open daily now through April 23, 2019.  Enjoy food, wine, and beer that are inspired by California-grown ingredients. Check out how to stretch your budget with a Sip and Savor Pass while enjoying the Festival. Check out the pictures from our most recent visit to Disney California Adventure Park, where we tried several tasty treats.

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival takes place March 1 to April 23, 2019. Guests will explore California-inspired cuisine and beverages, plus live entertainment, family-friendly seminars and cooking demonstrations. Kids can even join the fun with hands-on cooking experiences that end with a tasty surprise. (Disneyland Resort)

Our Top Treats at the Disneyland California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

My absolute favorite was this little slider. The Petite Impossible Burger with Guac and Pepper Jack Cheese was delicious! I love to try Vegan and Vegetarian options and I honestly thought they had made a mistake. I went back and asked “Is this a meat option? I don’t think this is the vegetarian option.” The cast member assured me that this was an Impossible Burger patty that was vegan. Simply delicious!  My only ‘beef’ (haha) that I had with the Petite Impossible Burger was that they took a Vegan option and made it vegetarian by using real dairy cheese.  I wish this was an option either without cheese or with dairy free cheese. It is still amazing, and I will still be partaking, I just wish there was a vegan option because it is so good!

impossible vegan burger at DCA

Meyer Lemon Blue Diamond Almond Macaron is both a gluten free and vegetarian friendly option.  This literally melts in your mouth and I wish I could have taken a dozen home with me. It is a perfect ‘sweet, but not too sweet’ dessert for my taste buds.

Disney food and wine festival dessert

Disney always has a few fun drinks to try, and this one was my favorite! Kombucha Mojito Cocktail with Fresh Mint was refreshing and light.  While we visited on a cloudy and drizzly day, I would imagine it is the perfect treat for a warm and sunny day. Please note, drinks do not come with straws at Disney anymore. You can ask for a straw, or you can be like me and bring your own paper straws.  We overheard people complain that straws were not given out automatically, it is an easy fix guys. It is Disney, have fun and enjoy a cocktail!

Mango drink Disney California
 Additional signature events at this year’s Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival include:
• Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri at Palisades Stage in Paradise Gardens Park (March 9)
• MacMurray Ranch Vineyards Winemaker Reception with Kate MacMurray at Carthay
Circle Restaurant (March 22)
• Dinner with Disney Chefs at The Vineyard Room at Wine Country Trattoria (March 28)
• Silverado Vineyards Winemaker Reception with Jonathan Emmerich at Carthay Circle
Restaurant (April 19)
Many of the Disney California Food & Wine Festival events are included with admission to
Disney California Adventure park. Special signature events, demonstrations and seminars will
require a separate fee. Additional details and reservations for the select signature events and
seminars can be made at Disneyland.com/FoodandWine. Guests may also check for the latest
information and schedules as they become available, at Disneyland.com.
In addition, the Disneyland Resort is offering special, limited-time ticket and hotel offers during
the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, making this an ideal time for guests to
visit the park. Guests may find more information at Disneyland.com/offers.
*Separate admission to Disney California Adventure Park is required. Additional fees for select events,
demonstrations and seminars may be required. Space is limited for all such ticketed events; advance
reservations are recommended. Full payment may be due at time of booking, and cancellation fees may apply.

 

Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival

Updated information for Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival 2019 below!

Disney California Adventure Park has so many fun new things with every new season!  The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival is back and it is bigger than ever!  The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival features a variety of fun and tasty treats for the whole family to enjoy! Delicious specialty food and drink options, unique demonstrations, winemaker dinners, live music, and more! The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival runs from March 1 – April 23, 2019 and is not to be missed. I am here to share the highlights, some of our favorites – but you would like the entire list, make sure to check out the Disney Parks Blog.

Entertainment schedule food and win festival

Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival takes place March 1 to April 23, 2019. Guests can explore California-inspired cuisine and beverages, plus live entertainment, family-friendly seminars and cooking demonstrations. Kids can even join the fun with hands-on ÒcookingÓ experiences that end with a tasty surprise. (Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)

Whether you like sweet or savory, there are many choices at more than a dozen Festival Marketplaces. These offerings are only available during the food and wine festival and you will want to try as many as you can! Guest can also enjoy experience presentations and demos with celebrity chefs!  Guy Fieri, Robert Irvine, Alex Guarnaschelli, and Shaun O’Neale are all scheduled to appear. There is something for everyone with beer, wine, and spirit seminars, as well as winemaker dinners. Exclusive live music and entertainment ties in the “California Festival” vibe for visitors.

Right now is an excellent time to visit the Disneyland Resort.  Crowds tend to be lighter during the off season.  Ticket prices tend to be lower as well! If you are a SoCal Resident, now is the perfect time to take advantage of the best deal on Disneyland tickets for SoCal Residents.

 

I was able to attend the festival on opening day and found so much to do! Below I have shared some photos of my favorite treats. You may want to sit down for this. The photos below are from 2018, but are too beautiful and tasty to delete. Some food choices are the same, but many menu items are brand new this year. Make sure to check out the full menu here. Please see the above photos of this year’s treats!

beet kombucha sangria at Disney Food and WineFirst, my favorite. Beet Kombucha Sangria.  I don’t even like beets or kombucha. I honestly only bought this because it was pretty.  SURPRISE! It was amazing.  If I could go back and have only one thing it would be this! It can be found at the “Eat Your Greens!” Cart, which had other yummy things I will speak of further down on this post.

watermelon lemonadeAnother drink that was seriously delicious was the Watermelon Lemonade with optional Habanero Sugar & Chili-Lime Half-Rim. This is non-alcholic and is so refreshing.  These flavors were so delicious together, I might try to recreate it at home. It can be found at Peppers Cali-Ente.

Listen to the DCA Food & Wine Festival presentation on press day.  Disneyland Resort’s Culinary Director John State shares the highlights of the 2018 festival!

vegan option at DCA food and wine festivalThis delicious treat was completely vegan friendly!  Spice Oumph!® on Pita with Avocado Hummus and Garlic Sauce can be found at Avocado Time. It is sure to be a favorite with vegans and carnivores alike!  Our family is not 100% vegan, but I am personally going to be looking for this product in stores.

chef goofy works with kids at the Food and Wine Festival in DCAJunior Chef experience  is hands-on fun led by Chef Goofy. Kids ages 3 – 11 get to bake and enjoy some Disney Magic! Aspiring young chefs follow a recipe and mix a variety of ingredients to create magical treats that ends with a tasty surprise. This experience is held at the back lot and kids do need to sign up in advance.  Kids enjoy baking and are treated to pre-packaged oatmeal cookies at the end! Free sweet snack alert!

free snack at Disney

Grilled Harris Ranch Beef Tenderloin Slider with Chimichurri SauceThis Grilled Harris Ranch Beef Tenderloin Slider with Chimichurri Sauce was the slider of my husband’s dreams!  Chimichurri sauce and pickled onions are the perfect compliment to this two bite slider. You can find it at Cluck-a-Doodle-Moo. (can we talk for just a second about how cute that booth name is? So cute, right?)

artichoke veganGrilled & Chilled Artichoke Hearts with Romesco from I Heart Artichokes is divine! This was my friend’s choice and I liked it better than mine (see photo below).  This is one of the vegan options for those who are looking.  It is absolutely delicious!

fried artichoke disney californiaAlso at I Heart Artichokes is this beauty. Fried Artichoke Carbonara is tasty, but was a bit heavy for me. If I could only order one, I would have chosen the option pictured above. Fried Artichoke Carbonara is a generous portion of fried artichoke that has a savory sauce, cheese, and bacon.

green cucumber salad at Disney California

This Compressed Asian Cucumbers with Green Sauce, Toasted Almonds and Sea Beans from Eat Your Greens was so delicious!  This beauty was also one of the vegan options available. I am not ashamed to say I had two of these on my visit to Disney in one day! I had one with a friend at lunch time and a second with another friend on the way out of the park just before dinner.  This is another one that I want to try to recreate at home. So tasty, make sure to try it!

cheese toastBrie Toast with Fig, Mint and Almond Crumble was our favorite treat from Nuts About Cheese.  This options is actually located in the Hollywood back lot – don’t miss it!

strawberry pie disneylandLet me leave you with what seemed to be the favorite dessert among those in attendance.  The Watsonville Strawberry Pie is an individual sized pie that is as charming to look at as it is to eat!

Guests can also enjoy signature events that are completely new this year! I wish I could attend a Celebrity Chef LIVE! at the Hyperion, as well as returning favorites like the Disney Family of Wines Dinner, Sweet Sundays and the Winemaker or Brewmaster Dinners. Some of this year’s signature events include:

  • Guy Fieri LIVE! at the Hyperion (March 9)
  • Robert Irvine LIVE! at the Hyperion (March 30)
  • Disney Family of Wines Dinner (March 29)
  • David Arthur Winemaker Dinner at Carthay Circle Restaurant (April 5)
  • Karl Strauss Brewmaster Dinner at Steakhouse 55 (March 8)
  • Flora Springs Winemaker Dinner at Steakhouse 55 (March 15)

For a complete list of food and beverages available at the 2018 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, check out The Disney Park Blog Foodie Guide.

Guests with allergies and dietary preferences will be happy to know that it is easy to find what works for you at every station.  Allergy menus were available at every station I visited.  While I am not vegan or vegetarian, the friends I attended the festival with are. Both asked at several different booths for vegetarian and vegan options and we found the Cast Members to be very knowledgeable.

Annual Passholders – make sure to check out the fun offered exclusively for you during the Food & Wine Festival! While I am not an Annual Passholder this year (sad face emoji), I noticed fun opportunities for annual passholders. The day I was there I noticed an exclusive gift and special photo opportunity with Daisy that was only for pass holders! Keep your eyes open for the signs and ask a cast member when you visit.

Many of the Disney California Food & Wine Festival events are included with admission to Disney California Adventure Park. Special signature events and seminars will require a separate fee. Additional details and reservations for the signature events and seminars can be made at Disneyland.com/FoodandWine.  Guests may also check for the latest information and schedules as they become available, at Disneyland.com.

Everyone knows how much I love FREE souveniers at Disney! During the Food & Wine Festival kids and kids at heart can wear this fun chef’s hat.  Make sure to get it stamped just like the passport at each marketplace you visit!

free souvenier at Disney

Separate admission to Disney California Adventure Park is required and is not included with the cost of signature events or seminars. Space is limited for all ticketed events; advance reservations are recommended.  Full payment may be due at time of booking, and cancellation fees may apply.  No refunds, credit or date or time changes.  Guests must be 21 years of age or over to consume alcohol and to participate in some events; valid photo ID required.  Events and demonstrations are subject to restrictions and change or cancellation without notice.

A big thank you to The Disneyland Resort for inviting me to visit the 2019 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival.

Until Next Time ~ Kate
Categories:  Disney, Disney Parks
  1. […] like to thank my fun sidekick Kate from Highlights Along the Way for tackling all things food and wine with […]

  2. Starla says:

    Goodness, all of these look delicious. The beet drink looks so pretty, to be honest I have never tried beets so I am nervous, lol!

  3. Terry says:

    The food looks absolutely delightful. I have not been to Disney since the 1960’s.

  4. kristyn braun says:

    got to go to my first food and wine festival the last week of this years and it was amazing!

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