At Walt Disney World, it’s easy to forget where you are — that’s usually the point. Across four theme parks, you can travel from a Tibetan village to a Bavarian biergarten, to a galaxy far, far away, to a Spanish outpost in the Caribbean — all without ever leaving Central Florida.
But this summer, one corner of Walt Disney World brings the focus back home.
At Disney Springs, the annual Flavors of Florida celebration is a love letter to the Sunshine State. Running June 27 through August 10, the event highlights local ingredients, regional dishes, and homegrown talent with seasonal offerings across 45-plus restaurants, bars, and shops. Think citrus (the key lime limit does not exist!), colorful peppers, Gulf seafood, tropical cocktails, locally crafted beers — all rooted in Florida and presented with a side of Disney storytelling.
Flavors of Florida preview samples. (Photo Credit: Brooke McDonald)
While Disney Springs might be best known as a shopping, dining, and entertainment destination, its backstory rivals that of a theme park land. So the story goes, the fictional town was founded in 1850 when crystal-clear springs were “discovered” bubbling up from the earth. Over time, settlers established four neighborhoods — The Landing, Town Center, Marketplace, and West Side. Each area has its own architectural style and history, inspired by real Florida towns.
If you take the time to look around, you’ll spot nods to that crafted history throughout Disney Springs year-round. But, during Flavors of Florida, the backstory comes alive — not just in the buildings, art, decor, and props, but on the menus.
“It’s an opportunity to bring people together and give you a taste of what this Sunshine State is known for,” said Debbie Hart, Vice President of Disney Springs. “We’ve got everything from snacks to sweet treats, affogatos to milkshakes, full entrees and handcrafted cocktails.”
What to Eat: Local Ingredients, Real Stories
With more than 90 items to choose from, there’s a local flavor for every palate. We got a taste of some of this year’s dishes and drinks during a media preview — here’s a sampling of the Florida fare arriving at Disney Springs June 27.
Seafood is a standout across the festival, but each restaurant approaches it differently. At Jock Lindsey’s Hangar Bar, whole pink Gulf shrimp — known for their natural hue and clean, sweet flavor — are tucked into golden fritters, beer-battered with Sunshine Stroll, the orange pilsner brewed exclusively for Disney Springs. They’re served with a creamy aioli infused with datil pepper, the sweet-hot staple of St. Augustine.
Splittsville flight. (Photo Credit: Brooke McDonald)
At Splitsville Dining Room, Fish Camp Smoked Fish Dip offers a nod to Florida’s classic beach bar food — served with crackers, pickled vegetables, and a dash of Tabasco. It has its roots in St. Petersburg, where smoked fish pioneer Ted Peters used the aroma of his beachside smokehouse to entice people from the beach. Pair it with Splitsville’s seasonal cocktail flight, a tasting of four Sunshine State–inspired drinks also featured in the venue’s hands-on mixology class during the event.
For a throwback spin on Southern comfort, Terralina Crafted Italian layers Gulf shrimp over rice cheddar grits milled by Jacksonville-based Congaree and Penn, reviving a centuries-old Florida tradition that predates corn-based grits. The dish is finished with a sauce made using Hefeweizen from Crooked Can Brewery in Winter Garden. At the same location, a Pizza alla Vodka takes on a regional twist thanks to fresh local basil and burrata from Orlando-based Dicuru Mozzarella.
Other dishes nod to iconic Florida destinations and cultural influences. The Cuban Frita Hot Dog from B.B. Wolf’s Sausage Co. pulls from Miami’s frita cubana street food, layering spiced ketchup, Swiss cheese, and crispy potato sticks onto an all-beef hot dog in Cuban bread. At House of Blues, a Gulf shrimp etouffee blends Florida-sourced seafood with Louisiana flavor, while a frozen Key Lime Pie Milkshake offers a playful take on Florida’s best-known dessert.
Amorette’s Patisserie Orange Mousse. (Photo Credit: Brooke McDonald)
Florida’s agricultural history shows up in the drinks too — like Terralina’s Sunburst cocktail, a frozen blend of citrus and vanilla made with a mango liqueur crafted from Haden mangoes originally cultivated in West Palm Beach in the early 1900s. It’s one of many ways the festival highlights local sourcing in surprising ways, weaving ingredients into everything from beer to burrata.
For all the dishes and drinks debuting June 27, check out the full Flavors of Florida Foodie Guide.
Beyond the Menu: Pairing Events and Live Demos
Flavors of Florida also includes weekly Culinary Series demos, free with registration, held Fridays at 9 a.m. at Waterview Park. Chefs from restaurants like Frontera Cocina, House of Blues, and Terralina showcase how their Florida-inspired dishes are made — and guests get to sample them afterward.
For a more in-depth experience, nine Disney Springs restaurants are hosting pairing events, with everything from cocktail mixology at The Edison to wine education with George Miliotes at Wine Bar George. These events require registration and prepayment.
Pizza alla Vodka at Terralina Crafted Italian. (Photo Credit: Brooke McDonald)
I got a sneak peek at the Paella Masterclass at Jaleo by José Andrés, where Executive Chef Kristoffer Anderson coached us in cooking paella from scratch over an open flame. In addition to paella, the class includes tapas, dessert, Cava sparkling wine, endless “La Sueca” red sangria, and a souvenir apron.
Discover Disney Springs’ Hidden History
This year’s Flavors of Florida once again invites guests to dig deeper into Disney Springs’ fictional history with the return of the “Discover the Springs” Seek and Find, a free scavenger hunt for all ages.
Guests follow a map through the four neighborhoods to uncover the town’s secrets — and pick up a prize when they solve the mystery phrase. The experience is packed with clever in-universe details (think: citrus stalls turned into cocktail bars, or an old ice works reborn as a bakery) that reinforce the Disney Springs’ lovingly crafted Florida lore.
“It’s not just a place where you shop, dine, and play,” Hart said. “There’s a story behind it as well.”
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