Food and Wine Guide

[Berry Princess]

Menu is up. https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...festival-2023/

Bunch of repeats from last year and the only thing I would eat again that I had last year would be the Cubano Slider. Disappointing menu yet again IMO.

[candles71]

Whistler loved the empanada from last year, it's on the list again.

[olegc]

So many plant based and impossible options. Almost because its "trendy" IMO. For me - the berry cheesecake, Petite Barrata, and maybe the artichoke pizzeta - but only because they are new. Im surprised they are calling the beef and barley poutine, as well as the BBQ Brisket Slider, as new. I clearly remember eating those last year. The spicy shrimp form Cali-ente could be a winner. The only other things that intrigue me are the two items from Pacific Wharf Cafe and the grilled ham and cheese from Sonora Terrace; though if its similar in size to the cheesesteak last year that will really be disappointing.

I have a couple of the beers in the Beer Garden on my list. After that nothing. And MP predicts the festival sip and savor will be $68. which means the MK holder one will either be 63 or 64.

[Berry Princess]

I agree olegc about the plant based and "impossible" options. You can tell when Disney jumps on a trend bandwagon. There will be more of that in options pushed. I don't eat that stuff. More so because there is never anything telling me what is in that mix of stuff and there are things I won't touch no matter what or just can't. It really made me laugh one one thing was listed as "impossible" ground beef and another "impossible" pork. I think that was the Avocado one.

I wish I could do this one but I can't with the pear jam and tomatoes. Oh well money saved here for us. They are not doing well IMO at all with the food fests. I don't know who is in charge of it but something needs to change. I know we all don't mind a few repeats at times but some of these are not repeatable things.

[olegc]

They are not doing well IMO at all with the food fests. I don't know who is in charge of it but something needs to change. I know we all don't mind a few repeats at times but some of these are not repeatable things.

This is interesting - because "news" sites - real ones and fan/reporting ones - all have claimed that Disney should do MORE around the festival. Even today MC claimed it should expand the footprint to include all of DCA including Carsland, Avengers, and Pixar Pier; make it like Epcot's F&W. Really? The only time its really busy is the first weekend and then meal time during the weekends (except, of course, the beer and wine lines. Those are always long). So expanding it is beyond me. and they dont want to copy Epcot because it takes away from folks wanting to travel there. We dont have the different-sets-of-guests-per-week attendance like WDW does. Still and probably for time-memorial. So I wish the media sites wouldnt encourage Disney when they cant figure out their own path here.

Oh, I forgot, its not about actually good food. Its about IG, Youtube, and clicks. I have some good friends now who have some of those sites and channels - and for the life of me I cant see how everything is a 5 out of 5.

[Berry Princess]

I agree with you. We don't need to be Epcot at all and do that. I think they need to work with what we have and do better though. The food is not really that great looking here either generally. When these people are known to take a bit and toss it just so they can post on social media...well that isn't really giving a genuine review isn't it? More so if they think everything is a 5 out of 5. I just can't with the vloggers at all. I don't even look at it. I enjoying hearing what you all think of the thinks even if its not something I would eat because I know you really were eating it and giving honest feedback on how it was for you. Since some stuff we all end up trying, its always interesting how that food option ends up for us. More so at this point than it used to be.

Yet really I just would like to see some better options. Where is the creativity? Yes its a given that the booths with the most alcohol will have insane lines. Yet as you said after the first weekend (or 2) the lines aren't as long. I was beginning to wonder though if Disney even wants to bother doing it here anymore. It sure doesn't feel like it as each year comes and the menus just feel blah. Obviously they have no issue with adding more and more alcohol though and making the money off that I take it.

[olegc]

I was beginning to wonder though if Disney even wants to bother doing it here anymore. It sure doesn't feel like it as each year comes and the menus just feel blah. Obviously they have no issue with adding more and more alcohol though and making the money off that I take it.

Well my thoughts is they do it because it draws the locals. MK holders can come often (well depending how much parking you want to pay for) and other locals may make it one of their two or three trips. Especially with the so cal ticket being good in some of the dates. I have to think it's still an attendance issue for full paying resort guests so they need to local $$ to manage it. So you can say people still spend the money. I'm just amazed how folks spend - when it's not that good - like it's disposable income. I wish I had that.


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[Berry Princess]

Well my thoughts is they do it because it draws the locals. MK holders can come often (well depending how much parking you want to pay for) and other locals may make it one of their two or three trips. Especially with the so cal ticket being good in some of the dates. I have to think it's still an attendance issue for full paying resort guests so they need to local $$ to manage it. So you can say people still spend the money. I'm just amazed how folks spend - when it's not that good - like it's disposable income. I wish I had that.


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Yeah I don't get it either with the spending like that. I won't waste money on something I am not going to like. That goes for no matter what the income is or if we have spare to use like that. I just don't like feeling like I threw money away, you know? It seems that vloggers of all people really don't care because they have someone willing to give them 20 bucks for no real reason. As for the draw of these things, It doesn't seem like its as big as it used to be. By the time you are halfway through (sometimes sooner) there are no lines at many of the booths. Heck even the last holiday one was this way as I had walked up to the booths for each thing I wanted on different days. The park was packed. If they want the repeat visitors to the booths they have got to do better.

[olegc]

Yeah I don't get it either with the spending like that. I won't waste money on something I am not going to like. That goes for no matter what the income is or if we have spare to use like that. I just don't like feeling like I threw money away, you know? It seems that vloggers of all people really don't care because they have someone willing to give them 20 bucks for no real reason. As for the draw of these things, It doesn't seem like its as big as it used to be. By the time you are halfway through (sometimes sooner) there are no lines at many of the booths. Heck even the last holiday one was this way as I had walked up to the booths for each thing I wanted on different days. The park was packed. If they want the repeat visitors to the booths they have got to do better.

here's another reason I think the popularity goes down - its the limited access that reservation availability makes. To me - when there are no lines at booths but the park is packed I look at the regular restaurants - and they are packed too. out of town guests or once a year guests I think gravitate to the traditional menus (and once in a while fun things) as well as getting everyone's food in one general location instead of strolling booths. Match the limited MK holder availability (allegedly) with higher prices for parking,etc., and I think you have fewer MK holders in the parks than pre-pandemic. Making the food festival offerings not as in demand.

Though, if you look at the special events like the wine tasting dinners or the Trader Sam's mixology events those have been sold out for a couple of months already. I was chuckling when they posted in the Parks Blog foodie guide about reserving your spot for these special events - when they are already sold out. And since its not a reservation but a pre-paid non-transferrable "ticket" there wont be availability later. They should be a little more up front and say "If you were lucky enough to score a spot...". Hey , we can take it.

[Karin]

I agree with you. We don't need to be Epcot at all and do that. I think they need to work with what we have and do better though. The food is not really that great looking here either generally.

The food we're served *never* looks like the publicity shots in the guide. I get producing in en masse is more difficult and no time for styling it for the public. And. There are some items that when we've gotten them looked and said, is that the right one?

[Berry Princess]

The food we're served *never* looks like the publicity shots in the guide. I get producing in en masse is more difficult and no time for styling it for the public. And. There are some items that when we've gotten them looked and said, is that the right one?

Actually some of the publicity shots don't even matter because it didn't look good in those either. They are of course not served in the manner that the pictures have them anyway but the cardboard trays so would expect it to look different with how it ends up in the trays. LOL

[olegc]

in related news - it seems like Disney has been REALLY pushing the So Cal ticket in the last few weeks (I just received the email tying the festival to the promotion ). So yeah - looks like moving it to weekdays only has not been as profitable as they thought. Hmm - I wonder why... BECAUSE ITS A WEEKDAY and $73 per day is still a lot of $$$.

[Berry Princess]

in related news - it seems like Disney has been REALLY pushing the So Cal ticket in the last few weeks (I just received the email tying the festival to the promotion ). So yeah - looks like moving it to weekdays only has not been as profitable as they thought. Hmm - I wonder why... BECAUSE ITS A WEEKDAY and $73 per day is still a lot of $$$.

I don't get the emails but yep that is a lot of money still. I think more so right now for those that are dealing with the gas bill that more than tripled over the last 2 bills and assuming the next one will be the same. For a family that is still a lot of money to drop at once. Disney always trying to use the logic of hey its only this much per day on any kind of multiday ticket is silly because one has to pay a lot to get it first. Throw in that weekday kids are in school and adults are working. Not everyone can take that time away from those things like that nowadays. How many I wonder don't want to deal with the having to do a reservation and on top of it all the app stuff? Then the cost of Genie+ or ILLs that they might feel they have to pay for. I looked at the calendar to see if anything was full or not. There is a few days that are booked up for Mkers but the 1 park and multi park ones are wide open for months.

[olegc]

so my pricing fears never became real - $54 for MK holder for the Sip and Savor.

I did notice that the menus state a ton of stuff is new - but for some reason I feel like these are repeats with a twist. Items like the Elote ice cream bar (last year it was Avocado, this year corn); the brisket slider (we had one last year - or was it during Holiday festival?); the beef poutine over tots (i know we had something similar last F&W). many items are new - but these seem to be rehashes. IDK - Being a smart-aleck here - but just cause its says its new in the menu doesn't necessarily mean its really that new.

I did try to the Cubano slider and I was really impressed. Salty like a Cuban sandwich, creamy cheese, strong pickle presence, but the kicker was the pulled pork mixed with a mustard sauce instead of mustard spread on the roll. This made a big difference in the flavor that was good to me. I have heard that we should avoid the ham and grilled cheese at Sonoma terrace. Its made far in advance and left under a heat lamp.

More as we go along. Im going to try and focus on some new items - and if I have room I will get a couple of other favorites. I may avoid the wings because every year mine are soggy (smoking instead of frying makes them too soft for me).

[Berry Princess]

Yep some of these are repeating or just a different version of something from the holidays or the past F&W.

I had the Cubano slider last year and really liked it a lot. If we end up in the park I will gladly buy that one again but no desire to go back to the Garlic booth for the mac n cheese. It was ok but no garlic flavor to it last year and on top of it Disney for some reason can not make mac n cheese for these things without it being a oily nasty mess once you get past the top. That is something that no matter what seems to be a thing they think they have to do each of these. How many macs did they have at the holiday one? Why not try something different and instead of mac n cheese? I haven't seen anyone enjoy the poutine versions that they do so not sure why they keep doing them. It figures on the heat lamp with the ham and cheese at Sonoma and it not being a hit. Disney needs to reverse course and go back to how it was before covid. Things haven't been good with it all premade as it is and slapped together. Before covid we could ask for something to be off the item or to the side. Now it creates in some cases a mushy mess and generally its thanks to these things sitting there for to long in its premade state. Whatever else you try next olegc I hope you enjoy it.

[olegc]

It was ok but no garlic flavor to it last year and on top of it Disney for some reason can not make mac n cheese for these things without it being a oily nasty mess once you get past the top. .

I think I mentioned this before - but by using oil instead of real dairy in their Mac and Cheese sauce it allows the sauce to stay fluid and not dry out. Unfortunately many mistake this for "creaminess" when its not. I know some folks still ask why is there so much oil in the bottom of the boat and they think its because of the bacon, etc. Nope - its right there in the cheese sauce.

[Berry Princess]

I think I mentioned this before - but by using oil instead of real dairy in their Mac and Cheese sauce it allows the sauce to stay fluid and not dry out. Unfortunately many mistake this for "creaminess" when its not. I know some folks still ask why is there so much oil in the bottom of the boat and they think its because of the bacon, etc. Nope - its right there in the cheese sauce.

Right its not creaminess at all. I get they don't want it to dry out. Its so obvious its not the bacon and its oil because its that way with ones that don't have bacon. Its just to much oil in it. I have had the one that was in the cone from the Cozy Cone and it was fine. Even the bread cone didn't have an oil absorbed in it so that wasn't done the same way maybe at the time...that was years ago I had it though. Curious if this happens with the bread bowl one but haven't attempted to have it.

[olegc]

Right its not creaminess at all. I get they don't want it to dry out. Its so obvious its not the bacon and its oil because its that way with ones that don't have bacon. Its just to much oil in it. I have had the one that was in the cone from the Cozy Cone and it was fine. Even the bread cone didn't have an oil absorbed in it so that wasn't done the same way maybe at the time...that was years ago I had it though. Curious if this happens with the bread bowl one but haven't attempted to have it.

I dont think the bread bowl or cones have this issue - mainly because the product can be kept hot by standard kitchen equipment (soup pots, hot table, etc). The festival booths are temporary and as such they use catering chaffing dishes when they dont make a bunch in advance - and it cant keep the food hot enough to stay smooth IMO.

[Pammer]

Last year, the Cluck-a-Doodle-Moo kiosk had a French Onion Grilled Beef Tenderloin Slider (Grilled Beef Tenderloin topped with a Gruyere Cheese Sauce and Grilled Caramelized Onions, served on an Onion Roll), which I was able to try during the soft opening the night before the festival officially opened and absolutely loved! I was very disappointed that it was replaced with the brisket slider this year; I'm a picky eater and nothing appealed to me at any of the kiosks at all, so I didn't try anything last week when I was there.

[olegc]

I visited briefly yesterday and I tried three items
Brisket slider from Cluck-a-Moodle-Doo: Sorry pammer - I'm a huge BBQ fan and this slider did not disappoint. So tender and not too much sauce. the cheese was more like a sauce and I think it was an odd choice but did not have a lot of impact on the flavor. The slider roll held up well.
Camarones a la Diable - Cali-Ente: almost a perfect dish. The sauce was FIRE but took away tasting the shrimp except one bite. THe herb rice was good (but could have some more moisture)
Pretzel Bites with Beer Cheese - Festival Cart: this is near PGG and the beer garden. Disappointment. Pretzels dried out a little and I couldnt tell if I was having just plain cheese sauce or beer cheese. I know other foodies have posted that these are classic and good. At least the Rez Dog Hefeweizen beer was good.