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2018 Disneyland Food and Wine Festival First Timer’s Recap

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The 2018 Disneyland Food and Wine Festival kicked off on March 2 at Disney California Adventure Park. If you haven’t experienced a Disney Food and Wine event, you need to make plans to GO to this one! Here’s a recap of a first timer’s experience at the most delicious Disneyland festival of the year.

 

2018 Disneyland food and wine festival passport

 

When the information about the 2018 Disneyland Food and Wine Festival dates hit my inbox last December, I knew I wanted to make this trip happen. Thanks to a partnership with Disneyland who provided tickets and food vouchers, it did!

Food? Yes.

Wine? YES.

Disneyland? YES. YES. YES!!!

I happily joined 5 other bloggers to visit the 2018 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival and report back on our experience. I was a first timer to the Disneyland event- here’s how we spent the two days at the parks.

 

2018 Disneyland Food and Wine Festival First Timer’s Recap

I confess to an unpopular Disneyland opinion: I’m going for the rides & characters, not the snacks.

I know- gasp! I’m really not all about the newest cupcake or churro that makes an appearance.

Or so I thought. I was suckered into experiencing a rose-gold churro on this trip (I blame my rose gold Minnie ears for that one!) and was delighted with the whole thing.

 

Rose Gold Churros 2018 Disneyland food and wine festival

 

Rose gold everything: I am here for it!

But the idea of an entire food & wine festival at Disneyland had me intrigued. Based on the information I found from the previous year, it looked like a foodie lover’s paradise.

While I’m far from a foodie- check out my Victoria & Albert’s experience if you don’t believe me- I do surprise myself with how many tastes I actually like once I give them a chance.

So I was all in. I vowed to take a bite or sip of everything I could to give this true first-timer the full 2018 Disneyland Food and Wine Festival experience!

I put together a video to show you just what is in store if you’re heading to Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Fest.

Zomg, y’all, it was all really good (except for one unfortunate beet drink experience. Blech.)

 

 

 

Things to Know About the 2018 Disneyland Food and Wine Festival As a First Timer

The festival runs from March 2, 2018, to April 12, 2018.

It’s held exclusively at Disney California Adventure Park and entrance to the festival is included in the price of your theme park ticket.

Food and Wine, however, are not included. So bring your coins so you can eat and drink around California.

Minnie ears are optional- but highly recommended.

 

 2018 Disneyland food and wine festival

 

You will want to try a little bit of everything, so pace yourself!

The portion sizes are small and that’s on purpose.

It’s to give you a little taste of everything California has to offer without filling you up on just one thing.

Booth Locations of the Disneyland Food and Wine Festival

There are three general areas where you can find the booths that comprise the Disneyland Food and Wine Festival in Disney California Adventure.

When you walk in, you’ll find kiosks immediately to your right as you pass under the arch announcing the festival.

Follow these all the way toward the Beer Garden located in the Paradise Garden area. There will be booths on both sides as you head toward the Beer Garden, where there are even more booths waiting for you!

 

cheese soup disneyland food and wine festival

 

But don’t rush too fast toward that fabulous Beer Garden. One of the earliest booths had the best option for a non-foodie like me.

I had the best cheese soup in a bread bowl from a booth called California Craft Brews.

The third location to find booths is in the Hollywood Backlot.

If you’re heading over to see any of your favorite Marvel characters (Captain America, Spider-Man, and Black Panther are all meeting in this area) you’ll run right into them.

We sampled this delightful mimosa flight back there at the Nuts About Cheese booth: the raspberry rocked our socks off!

 

mimosa flight disneyland food and wine festival

 

Why Disneyland Annual Passholders Want to Food And Wine It Up

Annual Passholders: you know Disney loves you guys!

The 2018 Disneyland Food and Wine Festival Annual Passholder perks show you just how much.

 

Disneyland Annual Passholders food and wine

 

Find this sign to take full advantage of your AP benefits.

Mine just expired, so I was a #sadpanda all weekend long.

You can buy exclusive merchandise only available to those with Annual Passholder status, get some fun AP buttons, and purchase the Sip & Savor pass, an exclusive benefit for Disneyland Annual Passholders.

Disneyland Food and Wine Sip & Savor Pass

This was pretty sweet!

My friend Britni, the only current Disneyland AP holder in the group, was able to purchase the Sip & Savor pass for $45.

 

Sip and Savor pass Disneyland food and wine festival

 

This came with coupons she would redeem at the booths at the festival.

She was able to make the most of her pass by only using the coupons on the items that cost the most.

Check out her post on the Food and Wine Festival if you need suggestions on what to eat– she noted which items she thought gave you the biggest bang for your Sip & Savor buck.

Beyond Food and Drinks at the Disneyland Food and Wine Festival

While you’re eating and drinking your way around California, don’t forget to stop for some of the special events going on.

 

disneyland food and wine festival entertainment

 

There’s a full schedule of seminars and performances you won’t want to miss.

The Backlot Stage is where you will find the seminars, including kids experiences.

Don’t miss the FREE Junior Chef experience.

This is a hands-on event for kiddos 3 to 11 led by Chef Goofy.

Various stages and locations will offer live music and performances as well.

 

2018 Disneyland Food and Wine festival: check out all the favorites from Disney California Adventure Food & Wine! #Disneyland #FoodandWine #DCA #DisneyCaliforniaAdventure

 

First Timer Favorites from the 2018 Disneyland Food and Wine Festival

I joked around that my post would consist of saying, “This was soooo gooooood, y’all!”

Welp. That’s pretty much what I have to say about the offerings we tried.

Here are a few of my favorites in no particular order.

  • White Cheddar Lager Soup in a Mini Boudin’s Sourdough Boule
  • Raspberry Mimosa

 

2018 Disneyland food and wine Avocado & Pepper Jack Petite Guacamole Burger

 

  • Avocado & Pepper Jack Petite Guacamole Burger
  • Kickback Michelada with Flavors of Pineapple and Lime
  • Beet Kombucha Sangria

 

Beet Kombucha Sangria Disneyland Food and Wine Festival

 

  • Grilled & Chilled Artichoke Hearts with Romesco
  • Fried Artichoke Carbonara
  • Bourbon Chocolate Whoopie Pie

 

Disneyland food and wine Bourbon Chocolate Whoopie Pie

 

And yes- it was all soooo gooooood, y’all!

If you’re making plans for the 2018 Disneyland Food and Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure, you’ll also want to check out the Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotel options.

 

Heading to Disneyland?You will want to know about the Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels in the area! Anaheim is full of options for runDisney events and family vacations. #disneyland #Disneylandhotels #Disneyplanning #Anaheim

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