‘Flavors of Wakanda’ Booth at Disney California Adventure Sparks Controversy Amongst Fans

In the latest installment of Disney-related conflict, fans are now up in arms over the inclusion of a fictional country’s booth at the Festival of Holidays.

It is not unheard of for in-fighting to sometimes characterize the Happiest Place on Earth. Some even seem to enjoy observing the conflict as a secondary form of entertainment, either while Guests at the Parks themselves or through the distribution of “drama” via online platforms.

One such fan space is the conglomerate of Disney lovers taking to Twitter in order to share Park photos, opinions, and news. Social media interactions can sometimes devolve into arguments or even worse, and “Distwitter” as it is called is no exception.

This week, many reacted to a tweet posted by Disneyland News Today featuring an image of the “Flavors of Wakanda” booth at Disney California Adventure reading “we now have festival booths for made up places.”

2022: we now have festival booths for made-up places pic.twitter.com/JpgdNhACkc

— Disneyland News Today (@dlnt) November 4, 2022

The booth, which offers trendy fare with African-inspired flavors, serves as a new addition to Disney’s Festive Foods Marketplace, part of their Festival of Holidays celebration. The Festival of Holidays mirrors its “International” counterpart present at the EPCOT World Showcase, providing Guests the opportunity to try holiday fare from countries all around the world.

Wakanda, an African country featured in Marvel’s Black Panther (2018), only exists within the Marvel universe. In other words, unlike every other booth, it draws no inspiration from a “real” place. Somewhat separate from the other booths in its location at Marvel’s Avengers Campus, it is part of a larger promotion for the release of Black Panther’s sequel, Wakanda Forever (2022), on November 11.

RELATED: Marvel Celebrates ‘Black Panther’s’ Wakanda For a Limited Time at this Disney Park!

Many users reacted negatively to the tweet’s alleged critique of this decision, as evidenced by the thread’s replies. One user, @sunnydeedoherty, asked if Disneyland News Today also believed the food at Pym’s Test Kitchen in Avengers Campus was “really” created by fictional scientist, Hank Pym, and questioned why people were upset a theme park served food intended to “come from” a “made up” place. She also pointed out that other booths in the past did not align with any particular country-inspired theme.

Is Fire a real place? pic.twitter.com/PrkDCCI4A5

— Danielle (@sunnydeedoherty) November 5, 2022

Truly, one of the biggest aims of a Disney Park is to allow Guests to step inside their favorite films and offer unique experiences from a themed entertainment perspective. With the Flavors of Wakanda selection, Disney seems to have succeeded on both accounts, and this opens the door for more unique IP tie-ins across the Parks.

It is likely not a move on Disney’s part to invalidate real cultures and countries, nor a reoccurring addition to the Festival of Holidays, just a fun way to celebrate the movie and enjoy some tasty food! Guests can view the full guide of fabulous fare for the 2022 Festival of Holidays here.