The Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival began this weekend at the Disneyland Resort. This annual event not only features California-inspired treats and adult beverages, but also special merchandise and entertainment, plus fun activities for younger guests.
There’s a lot to see, so I figured I would take you on my yearly walk through the Festival.
As you head down Buena Vista Street, be sure to grab a chef’s hat to get into the culinary spirit of the day!
The bulk of the Food & Wine Festival takes place in the Pacific Wharf and Paradise Gardens Park areas of Disney California Adventure, but there are some fun things happening in Hollywood Land, so we’ll stop there first.
The first thing I noticed was this fairly new churro stand selling a special churro for the event. Something new this year is that several of the snack locations, including some of the outdoor vending carts, are taking the Sip and Savor Pass!
The Studio Store, across from the Sunset Showcase Theater, is not only carrying their usual merchandise, but also a large selection of Food & Wine merchandise.
The Hollywood Backlot Stage plays host to the Jr. Chef experience and the Family-Friendly Seminars & Demonstrations.
Guests ages 3 to 11 can participate in Jr. Chef by signing up before the event. Jr. Chef presentations are held:
- Monday – Thursday | 12:45pm, 1:45pm, 3:45pm
- Friday | 12:00pm, 1:30pm
- Saturday – Sunday | 12:00pm, 1:30pm
The other events include:
- Family Time: Friday – Sunday | 3:00pm
- Discover California: Saturday – Sunday | 4:15pm
- Culinary Demonstrations: Saturday – Sunday | 5:30pm
Nearby, the Festival Crafts table gives you another opportunity to don a chef’s hat, but this time it’s one you’ve enhanced yourself!
If the far corner of Hollywood Land, the unnamed bar has a small menu of adult beverages and duplicates the food menu from the nearby Studio Catering Co. truck.
Finally, there’s one of the Festival Marketplaces located in Hollywood Land. The LAstyle booth features food inspired by Southern California food trucks.
Now we’ll head back through Carthay Circle toward the Pacific Wharf and the heart of the Festival.
Just through the archway and to the left is the Festival Welcome Center, where you can find maps (large and small), tasting passports, and Sip and Savor Passes.
To the right is the first of 13 additional Festival Marketplaces. The full menus with pricing can be found HERE.
Due to construction on the upcoming super hero land, the booths are all on the right this year. High top tables are scattered along the construction wall on the other side.
Marketplaces in this area include Nuts About Cheese, Uncork California, Citrus Grove, California Craft Brews, and Berry Patch.
As you reach the Golden Vine Winery, you’ll find a couple merchandise carts, including one with a small selection of Food & Wine Merchandise. Upstairs in front of the Blue Sky Cellar, Annual Passholders can pick up a special button. That’s not my hand.
At the nearby Sonoma Terrace, they’ve added some cocktails and new seating. That’s also where you’ll find some of the beverage seminars on the weekends.
Across the way are three more Marketplaces: Peppers Cali-Ente, Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit, and Avocado Time. In front of Embarcadero Gifts, you’ll find I Heart Artichokes.
In front of the Paradise Gardens Park Obelisk, the Jammin’ Chefs entertain guests several times a day.
Around the corner and in front of the Grizzly River Run water wheel is the Golden Dreams booth, a nod to the opening day attraction that used to be nearby.
Near the entrance to The Little Mermaid-Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is a large booth filled with Festival merchandise!
Next is the Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo marketplace and the Artist Corner. The gallery is a new location this year, moving from Hollywood Land.
Across at the Palisades Stage, look for live entertainment daily, plus cooking demonstrations on select days.
In front of the Golden Zephyr are the final two marketplaces: Garlic Kissed and Off the Cob.
The Paradise Gardens dining area has become the Festival Beer Garden. A booth serves a nice selection of brews and flights, and the Paradise Garden Grill has a special festival menu.
Look for beer seminars in the beer garden on the weekends and live entertainment on the Paradise Gardens Stage daily.
I’m sure I missed some things, but I hope you enjoyed your quick tour through this year’s Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival which continues through April 23rd!
Tom is the host and producer of the DIS Unplugged: Disneyland Edition podcast, plus Disneyland Editor of The DIS. He enjoys traveling with his wife and teenage son. At this point, their favorite destination is Alaska, with a FIFTH cruise there planned for the Summer of 2019. In his spare time he volunteers with Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts, and help found his son's former Cub Scout Pack. His favorite Disneyland attraction is Space Mountain.
