Remember when theme park eats were boring, predictable offerings like gooey burgers, pizza and hot dogs? You certainly weren’t expecting a gourmet dining experience amid a day at Disneyland back when I was a kid — just trying to satisfy the family’s hunger amid a long day of standing in lines and navigating the crowds. Well, these days, all that has changed. Rather than just settling for your basic amusement park grub, folks now come to Disneyland Resort’s theme parks specifically for the foodie fun.
And, the most poignant example of that modern phenomenon just kicked off on March 6 with the return of the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, which runs through April 27, 2026. Since its opening 25 years ago, Disney California Adventure park has made a name for itself in terms of delivering elevated dining and beverage options to guests, in line with its aim of distilling down the Golden State’s greatest experiences into a single theme park property.
Nowadays, the resort’s talented culinary team takes the annual springtime festival as an opportunity to showcase its creativity, as well as celebrate and highlight the diversity of flavors that come from California’s famed melting pot of cultures. This year, the team presents more than 80 dishes and drinks, many of which marry together unexpected flavor combinations from different global cuisines that comprise California’s culinary landscape in tantalizingly tasty ways.
You’ll find these imaginative offerings spread across eight special festival marketplaces, select carts and participating permanent dining locations. The marketplace kiosks can be found all across the park, sitting mostly along the parade route that runs from Buena Vista Street near the entrance to the Paradise Gardens area, but 19 participating restaurant locations are spread throughout Disney California Adventure’s eight themed lands.
And, on weekends, local and visiting chefs will be whipping up delectable dishes during complimentary culinary demonstrations at the Hollywood Backlot Stage, so guests can see what goes into the creation of these mouthwatering bites.
Festival Flavors
The festival’s flavorful lineup this year features a wide assortment of new dishes and returning favorites. Some of the fresh new plates you’ll find on offer include Chicharrón Nachos (chicharrón topped with chorizo, cheese sauce, tomatoes and salsa verde); Carbonara Pizzetta (white sauce, Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon and black pepper drizzle); Torta Ahogada (braised pork carnitas, frijoles charros, pickled onion and salsa); Ramen Mac & Cheese (furikake crumble, fish cakes, green onions and chile crunch); Chicken and Waffle Mole Taco (waffle shell filled with chicken in spicy mole sauce, white rice, pepitas and sesame seeds); Spinach and Artichoke Grilled Cheese (spinach and artichoke on parmesan-crusted sourdough served with potato bites); Bulgogi Bowl (bulgogi beef and gochugaru-marinated cucumbers over rice garnished with spicy mayo, crispy shallots and sesame seeds); and many more.
New highlights among the bountiful beverage offerings include Hot Honey White Sangria (sauvignon blanc, gin, hot honey syrup, grapefruit juice, and sweet and sour garnished with sliced jalapeños); California Beer Flight (Bottle Logic Brewing Explorando Mexican Lager, LA Bodega Brewing Company La Fresa Seltzer, Russian River Brewing Company Blind Pig IPA and Trademark Brewing Codebreaker IPA); Cuties Mandarin Orange & Blackberry Punch (mandarin orange purée, blackberry and strawberry purées, blackberry syrup, Simply Fruit Punch and grapefruit juice); Pandan Milk Tea (oat milk, toasted coconut, brown sugar tapioca spheres and coconut cold foam).
Sip and Savor Passes
Perhaps the best way to taste as many of these delectable dishes as possible is to purchase a scannable Sip and Savor Pass, which acts as your passport for embarking on an epicurean adventure filled with unexpected flavor combinations. These wearable passes contain sets of either four or eight coupons, which can be redeemed for select food and nonalcoholic drink offerings at participating venues. When using the Sip and Savor Pass, you generally receive appetizer-sized portions, allowing guests to taste their way through the festival without filling up on any single serving.
You can even share a pass with a friend, so you can both sample several culinary delights at a reduced cost. Passes can also be used over multiple visits and only expire at the festival’s end. The four-coupon passes go for $34 apiece, while the eight-coupon ones cost $64 each (tax included). However, Magic Key holders can buy the eight-coupon pass at a discounted price of $59. Sip and Savor Passes can be purchased after you arrive in the park, at a dedicated Sip and Savor Cart, Festival Gifts, Elias & Co., Julius Katz & Sons, Seaside Souvenirs and at all eight festival marketplaces.
Beverage Education Seminars
While drinks of the alcoholic variety are also part of the festival offerings, including specialty wines, craft beers, and creative cocktails, you’ll notice that these aren’t included in the Sip and Savor Pass and come at an additional cost.
For actual and aspiring connoisseurs, there’s also the option to join beverage education seminars being held over the course of the festival, during which celebrated winemakers and Disney mixologists lead guests through 30- to 40-minute guided tastings. These can be booked online in advance or on the day of the event, although availability can’t be guaranteed in the latter case. Remember that you’ll need a valid ticket to Disney California Adventure park, as well as a theme park reservation for the day of your intended visit.
Festival Entertainment
The Food & Wine Festival also brings the celebration of all things edible to life through high-energy live entertainment performances, with local and regional musical acts energizing audiences with jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, country and R&B sessions at the Paradise Garden Bandstand and Palisades Stage. Plus, there are multiple performances of a street show called “Cookin’ With the Jammin’ Chefs, which sees performers banging out rousing beats on pots and pans on their portable kitchen stations while Clarabelle Cow, Daisy Duck and Chip ‘n’ Dale dance to their impromptu rhythms at the Paradise Gardens Obelisk. On select days, youngsters can also enjoy the interactive stage show “Confection Purrfection With the SuperKitties”, inspired by the popular Disney Jr. series.
Festival Merchandise
Of course, no Disney celebration would be complete without special merchandise to commemorate the event! And, a special collection of apparel, collectibles and keepsakes has been created specially for the 2026 Food & Wine Festival, available at select shops and carts around the park. This year’s assortment includes a brand-new Mickey-ears headband, t-shirt, short-sleeve button-up shirt, sweatshirt, collectible pins, keychain and wastebin-shaped salt-and-pepper shaker. Fittingly, these prominently feature the rascally pair Chip ‘n’ Dale, who are notorious for foraging for and stashing away all kinds of tempting snacks.