When you think of Walt Disney World, you probably don’t think of Disney Springs as an essential place to spend some of your holiday time, but this summer you’d be missing out on a real treat – and some great tastes – as this stylish part of Walt’s world puts on some seasonal razzle-dazzle.
Starting on June 27 and continuing through to August 10, the Disney Springs Flavours of Florida will be in full swing through 49 of its fab food and beverage locations, offering more than 90 Sunshine State-inspired menu items.
Plus, there are Friday morning demonstrations from renowned Springs chefs, pairing events and a scavenger hunt type activity to get your creative tastebuds going at a series of locations throughout this mile-long section of Disney delights.
First of all, it’s worth back-tracking to explain what the Flavours of Florida event is all about, as this is just the fifth year Disney has staged this showcase of Floridian products and ingredients, in both dishes and drinks. Like the annual Food & Wine Festival at the EPCOT park, it features novel and creative menu items and events built around the state’s restaurant prowess, and there is a handy Event Guide that details everything that’s on offer (available at each of City Works Eatery, eet by Maneet Chauhan, The Polite Pig and Savannah Bee Company).
It all starts with the Flavours themselves, this all-new selection of edible and drinkable creations, from unique beers and cocktails to variations on the signature Cuban sandwich that is a state original dating back to the 19th century (at B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co and Cilantro Urban Eatery).
Key limes feature in a wide variety of items, both drinks and dishes, while ingredients such as pineapple, mango, orange juice, watermelon, honey and shrimp are all given a highly delectable outing. Many are repeats from 2024, but there are several dozen that have been created just for this year, and we’ve been looking at them primarily this week.
We are big fans of Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, and their Fried Snapper Sandwich has definitely got our attention. Likewise, the Florida Shrimp & Grits looks like an outstanding new offering from Terralina Crafted Italian, and the 8th Street Frita Burger (prime beef chorizo, served with crispy potatoes and salsa de tomate) at another of our favourite restaurants, Summer House on the Lake.
Among the key venues this year, The Polite Pig is serving up Smoked Mahi-Mahi with a summer vegetable ragout that should be a big hit (along with their smoky Mesquite Margarita), and City Works has another Florida flavour standout in their South Florida Conch Fritter, fritter cakes flavoured with Key lime zest and topped with mango-chili sauce, mojo aïoli, crispy fried papaya and micro cilantro. Yum!
The new drink options include some fabulous cocktails, notably the Key Lime Freeze at Dockside Margaritas, The Everglader (a 1920s-style concoction of St Augustine Distillery New World Gin, Florida orange liqueur, pineapple juice, orange juice and absinthe spritz) from The Edison and the Green Gator at House of Blues, with its own souvenir gator cup, as well as the non-alcoholic Tangy Watermelon Sunrise (Minute Maid lemonade, watermelon purée and Chamoy sauce topped with Simply lemonade and pickle juice foam) at the Coca-Cola Store Rooftop Beverage Bar.
There are craft beers aplenty – at each of Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza, Enzo’s Hideaway, House of Blues and Pizza Ponte, and even an ice-cream version from Salt & Straw – while dessert options also abound, especially from the standout sweet treat merchants at Amorette’s Patisserie, Erin McKenna’s Bakery NYC, Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew (seek out the new Strawberry Jelly Donut!), The Ganachery, Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Gideon’s Bakehouse.
There is also more creative cookery to soak up in the weekly Culinary Series, held each Friday at 9.15am on the Waterview Park stage in The Landing section of Disney Springs. Each week, a prominent chef from restaurants such as Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante, Terralina Crafted Italian, Frontera Cucina and House of Blues demonstrates how to cook one of their signature festival dishes, and offers tips on seeking out the best of our local ingredients.
Likewise, the Pairing Events highlight a series of nine unique themed dining opportunities featuring specially curated menus boasting exquisite dishes expertly paired with wine, cocktails or beer. These include a two-stop tour of locally inspired dishes and drinks starting at Enzo’s Hideaway and concluding at Morimoto Asia; Jaleo by José Andrés, where you can step into their open-fire kitchen for a hands-on culinary experience, learning to craft a special Arroz de Verduras paella dish, made with locally sourced vegetables; a cocktail experience at The Edison, a lively paring event where you’ll make a trio of your own cocktails; Cucina Frontera, offering a four-course Mexican meal paired with lively cocktails specially created for Flavours of Florida; and Wine Bar by George, with a multi-course lunch highlighting its own take on Florida-inspired cuisine. Look up more details, and how to book, on this link.
Finally, there is Discover the Springs, the complimentary event guide, which has its own built-in Seek & Find activity that offers a special surprise when completed. Visit City Works Eatery & Pour House, eet by Maneet Chauhan, The Polite Pig or Savannah Bee Company to join the fun. And it will be fun. Just be ready to come home with a few extra pounds on your waistline!
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