2024 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival Guide & Booth Menus
Disney California Adventure’s Food & Wine Festival will return for 2024! This guide offers a list of marketplace booths, tips & tricks for enjoying DCA’s foodie special event, what to order, what not to order, good value menu items, and recommendations for making the most of this event, which has free and upcharge components.
Disneyland Resort has already confirmed that the DCA Food & Wine Festival is scheduled to be back in Spring 2024. What’s not yet known is specific dates. Based on past precedent, the event would begin on the first Friday in March. That’s once again the odds-on favorite, so let’s assume the DCA Food & Wine Festival will start on March 1, 2024.
What’s far less clear is when the event will end. Last year, it wrapped up on April 25. However, that was also the end of the peak spring break season, which is in large part dictated by Easter. With that holiday occuring in March 2024, the DCA Food & Wine Festival could also end earlier–perhaps by April 16, 2024. Conversely, there might be even more reason to have an event like this help draw locals out to the parks during what would otherwise be shoulder season, so the event could run through early May 2024.
Basically, the 2024 Disney California Adventure is likely to begin on March 1 and end sometime between April 16 and May 7, 2024. In all likelihood, it’ll run roughly the same dates as last year–March 1, 2024 to April 23, 2024. But we wouldn’t bet against it having a shorter or longer run, and there are compelling justifications for both approaches.
Beyond the event dates, the 2024 Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival will feature 12 food booth marketplaces with a smorgasbord of sweet and savory snacks plus creative cocktails, beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. The DCA Food & Wine Festival will also offer dishes at select restaurants throughout Disney California Adventure and the Downtown Disney District plus the Hotels of Disneyland Resort.
If you’re already at Disneyland Resort and are simply trying to figure out what to order, we can help–check out our List of the Best Dishes at the DCA Food & Wine Festival. We’ll be at the event throughout its opening weekend, taste-testing all of the new additions and updating that list accordingly throughout early March 2024. So stay tuned!
Family-friendly entertainment also returns to the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival with appearances by the Jammin’ Chefs, Chef Goofy, and the “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery Unbirthday Party” show. In addition, there will be even more exciting entertainment to check out on the Palisades Stage and the Paradise Gardens bandstand.
Guests of all ages will also enjoy crafts, complimentary weekend culinary demonstrations, and artist events and signings at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. It’ll also feature the return of ticketed events, including culinary demonstrations by a mixture of Disneyland Resort and visiting chefs, wine receptions, mixology seminars, and more.
Another non-culinary highlight is that Soarin’ Over California will return for a limited time during the DCA Food & Wine Festival! This beloved attraction celebrates the beauty and wonder of the Golden State, from San Francisco’s iconic Golden Gate Bridge to the crashing waves in Malibu.
We absolutely love Soarin’ Over California. If you’ve only seen Soarin’ Around the World, you should definitely make a point to see the OG version of the attraction. Although it’s older, it holds up incredibly well. There’s no CGI, but there is an incredibly wide variety of scenery, concluding in Disneyland. Even if you don’t like California (odd choice to visit a place you don’t like!), it’s well worth watching!
One thing you’ll note that this guide doesn’t cover is saving money. While we had a lot of fun spending time grazing the marketplaces at the DCA Food & Wine Festival, it’s a costly experience. There are no “secret hacks” for parlaying a couple of filling snacks into a meal that winds up being less expensive than counter service options.
The portions are relatively small, and the prices relatively high. This should come as no surprise to anyone who has spent the day wandering around the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. It’s the exact same idea.
While Disney California Adventure has improved dramatically in the last few years, it seems like the park’s theme has shifted way from “California” more towards a generic catch-all park with loose California ties to shoehorn everything in. It’s Disneyland’s “studios” park.
That’s not necessarily problematic in many cases–things like Cars Land are exceptional even if the Route 66 connection is tenuous. Still, it’s nice to see a return to the park’s purported theme with the Food & Wine Festival. After experiencing this and a few other special events like Lunar New Year at DCA, I think this is a great way to keep the “California” in DCA. Now, where is my Parade of Whales down Buena Vista Street, Disney?!
Irrespective of all that, the DCA Food & Wine Festival has the potential to be a fun event that emphasizes the park’s theme. We’ll start our coverage with menus for the marketplaces, then some reviews of specific things we tried, followed by our overall impressions of the event. Let’s get started…
Marketplace Booths
For the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival there are 12 marketplace booths, an increase from Lunar New Year before it, but down from the 15 booths that appeared at the pre-closure event since staffing shortages still plague the parks.
Here are food booth menus for the DCA Food & Wine Festival:
Nuts About Cheese
- Petite Burrata: Grilled ciabatta with tomato and olive jam, burrata cheese, pesto, and freeze-dried balsamic (New)
- Crackers & Cheese: House-made herb crackers with white cheddar fromage blanc, spicy salami spread, and cherry jam
- Mickey Mouse-shaped Macaron made with SNICKERS: Chocolate Mickey macaron filled with caramel ganache and SNICKERS cookie bar pieces
- Flowers & Bees: Gin, elderflower liqueur, lemon juice, and honey, hibiscus, and lavender syrups garnished with a purple pansy (New)
- Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
Uncork California
- California Artisan Cheese Plate featuring Marin French Cheese Co. Jalapeño Triple Cream Brie, Fiscalini Farmstead Purple Moon Cheddar, and Craft Beer Cheddar
- Celebration Chocolate Fudge Brownie: Gooey Chocolate Brownie with Pecans, topped with Chocolate Pecan Glaze and finished with Chocolate Pearls and Silver Stars
- 1923 Mimosa: Prosecco, white cranberry juice, white peach syrup, and lemon juice (New)
- 1939 Mimosa: Prosecco, pineapple and orange juices, and passion fruit and guava nectar (New)
- 1955 Mimosa: Prosecco, dragon fruit and rose syrups, hibiscus water, and lemon juice (New)
- Century of Magic Mimosa Flight (New)
- Daou Vineyards Chardonnay (New)
- Meiomi Rosé (New)
- Duckhorn Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc (New)
- McBride Sisters Wine Company Red Blend (New)
- Garnet Vineyards Pinot Noir (New)
- Robert Mondavi Vineyards, Private Selection
- Cabernet Sauvignon aged in bourbon barrels (New)
- Scharffenberger Cellars Brut (New)
- White Wine Flight (New)
- Red Wine Flight (New)
- Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
- Food & Wine CORKCICLE Stemless Flutes (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply)
Berry Patch
- Kenny’s Family Cheesecake topped with mixed berry compote (New)
- Blueberry Buttermilk Pie
- Blueberry Pancake Cold Brew: Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Mexico Origin Coffee, brown butter, maple and demerara syrup, and oat milk with a blueberry sweet cream made with cream, oat milk, vanilla syrup, and purée garnished with cinnamon-flavored cereal crumble (Non-alcoholic) (New)
- Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
D•Lish
- Beef & Barley Poutine: Potato bites with braised beef short rib, cheese curds, stout gravy, and lager micro sponge (New)
- Cubano Slider: Slow-roasted, mustard-crusted pork, and sliced smoked ham with melted Swiss cheese and pickle served on a Hawaiian roll
- Sake Melon ’75: Sake, ginger liqueur, prosecco, rock melon syrup, and lemongrass citron purée garnished with an edible purple orchid
- Apricot Tequila Colada: Reposado Tequila, Aperol, apricot purée, coconut cream, and orange and lime juices garnished with a lime wheel
- Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
California Craft Brews
- IPA Sausage Dog on a soft pretzel roll with onion-pepper jardinière, cheddar cheese sauce, and malt vinegar-onion crunch
- La Bodega Brewing Company Helles Lager (New)
- Unsung Brewing Co. Light Ale (New)
- Harland Brewing Co. Double Dry-Hopped Pale Ale (New)
- Altamont Brewing Maui Waui IPA (New)
- Barrelhouse Brewing Mango Fruited IPA (New)
- Delahunt Brewing Co. 1924 Raspberry Blonde (New)
- Brewery X Pineapple Vanilla Milkshake IPA (New)
- Bottle Logic Brewing Co. Aurora Borealis (New)
- Chapman Crafted Beer Zodiac Series Hazy IPA (New)
- Crowns & Hops Brewing Co. The Dopest Hazy IPA (New)
- Golden Road Brewing Strawberry Cart Wheat Ale (New)
- Ballast Point Brewing Co. Watermelon Dorado Double IPA (New)
- Russian River Brewing Company Happy Hops IPA (New)
- Bright & Balanced Beer Flight (New)
IPA Beer Flight (New) - Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo
- Smoked Honey-Habanero Chicken Wings: Chicken wings tossed in honey-habanero seasoning (New)
- BBQ Beef Brisket Slider featuring Fiscalini Farmstead Smoked Cheddar with dill pickles on salt and pepper brioche (New)
- Chipotle-Pineapple Bourbon Sour: Bourbon, pineapple and lime juice, honey syrup, and chipotle sour purée garnished with a dried red pineapple wheel (New)
- Smoked Cherry Mezcal-iki Cocktail: Dark rum, mezcal, cherry purée, grapefruit and lime juices, vanilla syrup, and bitters garnished with a dried grapefruit chip (New)
- Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
- Food & Wine CORKCICLE Stemless Flutes (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply)
Garlic Kissed
- Grilled Top Sirloin with roasted garlic, gruyère smashed potatoes and black garlic chimichurri
- Carbonara Garlic Mac & Cheese featuring Nueske’s Peppered Bacon
- Raspberry Limoncello-Ade: Limoncello, grapefruit liqueur, house-made mint syrup, raspberry syrup, and lemon juice garnished with a white orchid (New)
- Guava-Lychee Mule: Vodka, guava nectar, ginger and lychee syrup, and lemon juice topped with guava and grapefruit hard cider and garnished with a lemon wheel (New)
- Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
I Heart Artichokes
- Artichoke Pizzetta: Artichoke and roasted garlic cream cheese with sun-dried tomatoes, pickled onions, and lemon olive oil-drizzled micro greens (New)
- Artichoke Toast with Olive Tapenade: Toasted sliced baguette with artichoke cream cheese topped with olive and artichoke tapenade and drizzled with olive oil
- Passion Fruit Rum Cocktail: White rum, Italian amaro, passion fruit nectar, orange and lime juices, and guava purée garnished with an orange wedge
- Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
LA Style
- Glazed BBQ Pork Belly with Furikake-Togarashi mac salad
- IMPOSSIBLE Gyro-inspired Naan: Gyro-inspired flatbread featuring IMPOSSIBLE ground beef with chipotle hummus, tzatziki, and spiced crispy chickpeas
- Echo Park Cooler: Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co. Ceylon & Raspberry Rose Tea, raspberry purée, lychee and rose syrups, and lime juice garnished with a lime wheel (Non-alcoholic) (New)
- Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
- Food & Wine CORKCICLE Stemless Flutes (Limit two per person, per transaction; no discounts apply)
Golden Dreams
- Elote Paleta: Sweet corn paleta with parm crema, chile-lime seasoning, corn crunch, and cilantro (New)
- Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Flatbread with basil pesto (New)
- Central California Cooler: Peach purée, apple, orange and lemon juices garnished with an apple chip
- Ficklewood Ciderworks Guava Grove: Grapefruit, guava, and tropical flavors with Nelson Sauvin Hops (New)
Peppers Cali-Ente
- Chile Relleno Empanada with arbol pepper salsa and Oaxaca and cotija cheeses
- Camarones a la Diabla: Spicy shrimp with California chile and cilantro rice (New)
- Cantarito-Style Paloma: Reposado Tequila, habanero-infused pineapple juice, lime juice, rock melon syrup, and Fresca garnished with a pineapple wheel and chile-lime seasoning
- Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
Avocado Time
- IMPOSSIBLE Nacho Mac & Cheese: Cheddar mac featuring seasoned IMPOSSIBLE ground beef, tomatoes, olives, jalapeños, and guacamole (New)
- IMPOSSIBLE Al Pastor Tacos: Al pastor taco featuring IMPOSSIBLE pork with grilled pineapple and avocado-tomatillo sauce (New) (Plant-based offering)
- Blackberry-Lavender Lemonade: Blackberry purée and syrup, lavender syrup, and pineapple and lemon juices garnished with a lemon wheel (New)
- Purple Glow Grapes and Green Glow Grapes (Limit 10 per person)
Sip & Savor Pass
During the DCA Food & Wine Festival, the Sip and Savor Pass will be available for purchase by all guests. The pass provides a commemorative credential, lanyard and 8 convenient entitlement tabs that you can redeem for select food and nonalcoholic beverages at participating locations during the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival.
We’ve done this several times, and strategically order the most expensive savory items on each menu (and pay out of pocket for desserts), which ends up saving us a decent amount of money. This cuts costs a bit and makes some of the more expensive items a bit more in line with reality.
Family Entertainment
The Hollywood Backlot in Hollywood Land will be home to an assortment of entertainment and presentations during the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival. Guests may meet Chef Goofy or dance along with Chip ‘n’ Dale as the Jammin’ Chefs serve up tasty new rhythms using pots and pans.
Disney Junior’s new animated series “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery” is the inspiration behind a limited-time festival experience for junior chefs at the Hollywood Backlot Stage. During “Alice’s Wonderland Bakery Unbirthday Party,” live host Rolly Pin and two animated characters from the series, Alice and Princess Rosa, invite guests ages 3 through 11 to express their creativity through hands-on cupcake decorating with a special visit from Minnie Mouse, who arrives to admire their talents. Space is limited for this experience, and participant sign-ups begin 45 minutes before each show time.
Throughout DCA, there will be live musical performances, art displays, family-friendly entertainment and craft stations for kids.
Seminars & Signature Events
On Saturdays and Sundays at the Hollywood Backlot Stage, guests of all ages can watch culinary demonstrations from a diverse mix of Disney and visiting chefs, who will prepare their favorite dishes while sharing insider cooking tips. Notable presenters over the years have included Disneyland Resort Executive Chef Chris Maggetti, Pastry Sous Chef Gracie Gomez, Chef Jet Tila, Chef Shachi Mehra, Chef Kevin Bludso, and many others.
Currently, there is not a schedule of free culinary demonstrations for the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival available online. Check at information kiosks in-park at DCA for the day’s events upon arrival.
Disneyland has released the schedule of paid reservations for Wine, Beer and Mixology Education & Tasting Seminars during the DCA Food & Wine Festival. Advance payment for these is required, and space is limited for these popular events. We recommend booking in advance.
Here’s the schedule of Wine, Beer & Mixology seminars at the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival:
Wine Seminars
- Friday, March 3: Testarossa Winery
- Saturday, March 4: Testarossa Winery
- Sunday, March 5: Testarossa Winery
- Friday, March 10: GoGi Wines
- Saturday, March 11: GoGi Wines
- Sunday, March 12: GoGi Wines
- Friday, March 17: Wiens Family Cellars
- Saturday, March 18: Wiens Family Cellars
- Sunday, March 19: Wiens Family Cellars
- Friday, March 24: BEV Wines
- Saturday, March 25: BEV Wines
- Sunday, March 26: BEV Wines
- Friday, March 31: Disney Sommelier Arielle Harris
- Saturday, April 1: McBride Sisters Wine Co.
- Sunday, April 2: McBride Sisters Wine Co.
- Friday, April 7: Hill Family Estates
- Saturday, April 8: Hill Family Estates
- Sunday, April 9: Hill Family Estates
- Friday, April 14: Disney Sommelier Eri Horii
- Saturday, April 15: Fess Parker Winery
- Sunday, April 16: Fess Parker Winery
- Friday, April 21: Canvasback Winery
- Saturday, April 22: Canvasback Winery
- Sunday, April 23: Canvasback Winery
Beer Seminars
- Friday, March 3: Crowns & Hops Brewing Co.
- Saturday, March 4: Crowns & Hops Brewing Co.
- Friday, March 10: Honey Pot Meadery
- Saturday, March 11: Honey Pot Meadery
- Friday, March 17: Unsung Brewing Company
- Saturday, March 18: Unsung Brewing Company
- Friday, March 24: Bottle Logic Brewing
- Saturday, March 25: Bottle Logic Brewing
- Friday, March 31: Golden Road Brewing
- Saturday, April 1: Golden Road Brewing
- Friday, April 7: Stone Brewing
- Saturday, April 8: Stone Brewing
- Friday, April 14: Three Weavers Brewing Co.
- Saturday, April 15: Three Weavers Brewing Co.
- Friday, April 21: Pizza Port Brewing Co.
- Saturday, April 22: Pizza Port Brewing Co.
Mixology Seminars
- Saturday, March 4: Bad Birdy of Kuduowl
- Sunday, March 5: Bad Birdy of Kuduowl
- Saturday, March 11: Disney Mixology featuring the Lamplight Lounge
- Sunday, March 12: Disney Mixology featuring the Lamplight Lounge
- Saturday, March 18: Disney Mixology featuring Carthay Circle Lounge
- Sunday, March 19: Disney Mixology featuring Carthay Circle Lounge
- Saturday, March 25: Disney Mixology featuring the Festival Marketplaces
- Sunday, March 26: Disney Mixology featuring the Festival Marketplaces
- Saturday, April 1: The Blind Rabbit
- Sunday, April 2: The Blind Rabbit
- Saturday, April 8: 818 Tequila
- Sunday, April 9: 818 Tequila
- Saturday, April 15: Disney Mixology featuring the Hollywood Lounge
- Sunday, April 16: Disney Mixology featuring the Hollywood Lounge
- Saturday, April 22: Disney Mixology featuring Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
- Sunday, April 23: Disney Mixology featuring Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar
Ultimately, prices are high and portions are small at the Disney California Adventure’s Food & Wine Festival, but the food is good. It’s easy and enjoyable to hit the booths while wandering the park, making for a fun experience–and a nice way to graze around the park sampling different cuisines.
With that said, I’d stop short of calling this an “experience” like could be said of Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival. That definitely has a great experiential element, likely in part because you’re wandering the countries of the world while grazing the booths. For us, that’s what makes the high prices there palatable. Yeah, you know you’re paying too much, but it can be such an enjoyable event that you don’t mind too much.
This is not to diminish the DCA Food & Wine Festival. It’s definitely fun to try different dishes from the Golden State, but isn’t as all-encompassing as its Epcot counterpart. The DCA event is a change of pace and something different to do, but not a reason to visit the park in itself. It’s a nice diversion if you’re already in the park, but if you can’t make it, you’re not missing much.
Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and tons of other places!
Your Thoughts
Will you be attending the 2024 DCA Food & Wine Festival? Any new or returning booths you’re excited to try? Booking any of the special seminars, or sticking to the free ones? Do you agree or disagree with thoughts on the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival? Any additional thoughts on specific samples? Share any questions, tips, or additional thoughts you have in the comments!
Thanks for this info, Tom. We’re going to this fest for the first time on a Saturday in April (celebrating our daughter’s 21st birthday!). We’re not staying on-site and I’m not buying Genie+ – would you still recommend rope-dropping RSR or should we do the Soarin’ CA version first?