Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic Returns With New Themed Areas, More Food and Beverage Offerings in 2023
Hi everyone!
The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic returns on Friday, November 10th and Saturday, November 11th, 2023 and there are more food and beverage selections than ever! There will be two new themed areas and also returning favorites including live entertainment and interactive seminars.
Read below for details from the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin!
All photos copyright Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Oct. 18, 2023 – The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic will return Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11 as the largest version ever, offering more food and beverage selections than any time in the event’s 14 years. This year’s event will offer two new themed areas and returning favorites such as popular interactive seminars and live entertainment.
Guests will delight in opportunities to sip and savor more than 25 food offerings from the resort’s award-winning restaurants and over 200 wine, beer and spirits samplings from around the globe. Tasting booths extend along the resort’s causeway, private lake and private beach, serving from 5:30-9 p.m., accompanied by various live music and entertainment.
New in 2023, and because this year’s event falls over Veterans Day, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin has partnered with the charity Friends of Fisher House Orlando, who will receive a charitable contribution from the event. Orlando Fisher House provides free accommodations for military and veteran families while a loved one is receiving medical treatment.
New immersive themed areas
Two new themed areas will debut this year: For the Love of Florida and The Rosé Room.
For the Love of Florida will brighten guests’ taste buds as it celebrates local cuisine and ingredients with flavors of the Sunshine State. Dishes include:
- Seminole Pumpkin Fry Bread with powdered sugar and warm pumpkin spice sauce
- Grilled Florida Oysters with housemade kumquat hot sauce and shallot butter
- Butter Poached Bay Scallops with Florida corn puree, charred scallion vinaigrette, radish threads and shallot butter
The Rosé Room will transport guests to a tranquil garden party, complete with topiaries, roses and classical-style covers of modern-day hits. The Rosé Room will serve various selections of rosé amidst a pink color palette perfect for sipping – whether still or sparkling.
Featured food: debut dishes and festival favorites
Guests will find dishes in a variety of cuisines from the resort’s award-winning restaurants, festival-exclusive pop-ups, themed areas and more.
New dishes on the 2023 menu include:
- Red chile chicken taco with avocado, tomatillo, pico de gallo and queso fresco on corn tortillas from Rosa Mexicano
- Smoked American Lamb: Hand crafted lamb, smoked cumin and harissa barbeque sauce, roasted black pepper and date puree and pickled mustard greens from Smokin’ D’s BBQ specialty area
- Gorgonzola cheese filled agnolotti with spiced pear, walnuts, nasturtium and ‘Nduja vinaigrette from Il Mulino
- Tonnarelli Pasta: House-made tonnarelli pasta, steamed baby clams, roasted tomato sauce, Calabrian chili and guanciale from Amare
- Congee: Slow-cooked rice porridge, shrimp dumpling, fried shallot, green onion, garlic, and crispy chili flakes from Chinatown specialty area
Returning favorites include:
- Roasted Linz heritage black angus beef tenderloin with potato puree, pearl onion, Dijon mustard and cognac sauce from Shula’s Steak House
- Signature classic guacamole en molcajete with fresh tortilla chips and roasted tomato salsa from Rosa Mexicano
- Crispy cauliflower with sweet and spicy Thai chili sauce shoyu from the Beer Garden
- Dragon roll: Crispy shrimp, yellowfin tuna, Haas avocado and kewpie mayonnaise from Kimonos
- Baked ricotta cheese, carrot two ways, radish, tomato, and pine nut “gremolata” from Il Mulino
All-new dessert options will include:
- Triple Chocolate Cherry Ring Flambé with Kirschwasser chocolate sauce and caramelized sesame ice cream
- Pear Pecan Praline Cake with black fig compote
- Blood Orange and Raspberry Tart
- Wild Strawberry Éclair
- 70% Single Origin Peruvian Chocolate Mousse with mango and passion fruit gel
Upgraded Experiences
Guests looking to enhance their evening can upgrade their experience with two VIP options:
The Grand Tasting: Guests will be led through a journey of elite wines curated by Master Sommelier John Blazon, paired with a custom chef’s table menu from the resort’s Executive Chef Dan Herman. The experience takes place on Saturday, Nov. 11, beginning with a welcome reception at 2:00pm.
VIP Dessert & Champagne Party: This limited-space dessert and champagne reception offers guests the opportunity to experience fireworks viewing and more at the Swan Reserve’s 15th-floor private event space, The Vue, which offers floor-to-ceiling views of all Walt Disney World theme parks. The resort’s pastry team teamed up with its certified sommeliers to pair incredible champagnes and sparkling wines with delectable desserts. The experience takes place on Saturday, Nov. 11 from 8:30-10 p.m.
Both experiences can be purchased at FoodandWineClassic.com.
Interactive Seminars
An annual fan favorite are the hands-on interactive seminars taught by members of the resort’s award-winning food and beverage team. This year’s classes include: Craft Cocktails, Wine Blending, Pasta Making, It’s Better to Wine in Italian (Italian Wines), Base to Bubbles (Champagne), and Beer, Please!
All seminars require separate tickets and space is limited.
Live Entertainment
A key element of the event’s street party atmosphere is live musical entertainment found throughout the event. Performances will feature a variety of musical stylings, including classical; jazz; dance and pop music from yesterday and today; blues, soul and classic rock; Motown and more.
Event and Ticket Information
The Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic offers guests unlimited tastings of more than 25 dishes and over 200 beverage offerings, featuring culinary selections from the hotel’s award-winning restaurants amidst a festive backdrop of live entertainment on the hotel’s scenic causeway, Friday, Nov. 10 and Saturday, Nov. 11 from 5:30-9 p.m.
Interactive educational seminars highlighting wine, whiskey, beer, pasta and more will take place prior to the causeway event both days. Seminar tickets, event tickets and more information can be found at FoodandWineClassic.com.
With 23 restaurants and lounges and a distinguished culinary and beverage team, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel continually earns national recognition for its food and beverage program.
About the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel
In the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort, the award-winning Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel resides amongst the greatest theme parks and attractions in Central Florida. The complex is located between EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and nearby Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park and Magic Kingdom Park. Guests can discover 23 world-class restaurants and lounges, sophisticated guest rooms and the luxurious Mandara Spa. The complex features six pools, three health clubs, nearby golf, complimentary transportation throughout Walt Disney World Resort; early entry to all four theme parks daily and extended evening theme park hours on select nights in select theme parks. The newest addition, the 14-story Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, opened 2021 and offers an upscale, boutique atmosphere as well as 149 suites ideal for families and two presidential suites. For more information, visit www.swandolphin.com