We Ate: Our Artists Critique Opening Bites at EPCOT Festival of the Arts

Here at Disney Parks Blog, we love to get creative. At the office, we brainstorm puns, edit photos, and discuss the cute design elements you see right here on the site. One of the best creative decisions we recently made was taking a field trip to the 2026 EPCOT International Festival of the Arts to try everything at Opening Bites.

I took Katie and Nicole from our Disney Eats team along with my Perfect Pairings cohort, Laura, to report on everyone’s first impressions of the unique food and drink on the menu here.

I’m so glad you asked, because Opening Bites is positioned to be the perfect place to start your artsy day of discovery. This Food Studio is right next door to the CommuniCore Plaza stage where trumpets accompanied Latin music during our visit last week.

And Opening Bites is truly a prelude to the performing arts. When you’re ready to continue browsing the fest, be sure to stop by the neighboring display of costumes and props at Once Upon A Stage: The Magic of DISNEY ON BROADWAY in CommuniCore Hall.

Our group ordered the full menu to offer our opinions on each bite and sip. We’re also recommending ideal pairings for the food items with the alcoholic drinks on offer.

Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll find at Opening Bites:

If you want to browse every menu for the fest, check out our 2026 EPCOT Festival of the Arts Foodie Guide.

And without further ado, I’m going to try softshell crab for the first time.

This generous slider features green papaya slaw and mango ketchup on a sweet roll in a hefty size that leans more burger-ish than slider-ish.

We need to address the crab in the room. Yes, you’ll notice the entire crab sitting right under the bun. Before this moment, I’d never had softshell crab before, so I was presented with a new foodie adventure championed by my friend Katie.

Katie encouraged my first bites of softshell crab with her own glowing critique, “I really liked the flavor of this one. It reminded me of the flavors of crab cake and it’s really easy to eat. The slaw with onions is vibrant and complimentary to the rich flavor of the crab.”

Emboldened, I tried it. And, well, it wasn’t the hurdle I thought it was going to be. The softshell crab slider was a lot like eating a crab cake sandwich, of which I’m a big fan. It was just like Katie said…easy to eat and really delicious.

I’m all-in on softshell crab. It’s my new identity. And I’m definitely going in for another round when I come back to Opening Bites.

We tried each of the beers in the available flight alongside the slider and decided that the light von Trapp Brewing Bohemian Pilsner was the best to pair with the savory flavors of the softshell crab and crisp notes in the slaw. Let’s explore the beer flight a bit more.

The beer flight at Opening Bites includes all three of the specialty beers available here during the festival. It’s a great way to try all three beers on the menu before deciding to dedicate your sips to a 6 oz or 12 oz size.

Crooked Can Brewing Company Fantasia Fusion IPA&

This brew hails from Winter Garden, Florida, and has a fruity flavor without a lot of bite on the backend, as you would expect from an IPA. If you like ciders and haven’t stepped into the realm of IPAs yet, this one could be a good choice to explore.

von Trapp Brewing Bohemian Pilsner

Yes, from that von Trapp family. Johannes von Trapp, the youngest son of Maria and Captain von Trapp built an Austrian-style brewery in Vermont. This delicate pilsner is bright and refreshing, with a hint of honey and hay.

Southern Tier Brewing Co. Caramel Cookie Bar Imperial Stout (New)

For those who want a drinks-like-a-meal beer, this stout from Lakewood, New York, is worth coming back for. It’s very cookie-forward, but not too sweet, like a smooth candy bar in beer form.

Potentially your first stop on The Wonderful Walk of Colorful Cuisine, this delicate rose is a masterpiece of dark chocolate mousse. Laura and Nicole tried the Enchanted Rose to give their thoughts on the sweetly shareable treat.

“When I took a bite, the rose petals fell away like a real rose; it was so enchanting,” Laura said. “When I lifted the lid, I felt like I was right in Beauty and the Beast, so that interactive element made it so much more fun.”

Nicole said, “There’s glitter sprinkled on there to make it a bit more whimsical. The mousse isn’t too sweet; it’s light and easy to bite into, a good balance with the crisp cookie underneath.”

Laura and Nicole paired the Enchanted Rose with the Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne, which made for quite a fancy scene.

Nicole said, “The lightness of the champagne goes so well with the decadent chocolate. It feels very elevated.”

Really, what else says ‘I’m perusing an art gallery’ more than toting around a flute of champagne? The Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Champagne was lightly sweet and generously bubbly.

Be sure to stop by CommuniCore Hall and Plaza to visit Opening Bites at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts. With a fanciful dessert and an adventurously delicious softshell crab slider, this menu is the perfect intro to a symphony of flavors.

Headed to Festival of the Arts? Get a full list of all the Food Studio menus, learn about some of the artists coming to the fest, and even see how you can embark on a Lorcana quest throughout the park.