The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival runs from August 29th – November 23, 2019. It is an awesome time to visit Epcot due to the entertainment, seminars, events and of course the food.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to partake in this amazing festival, here are some tips to help make your visit more enjoyable.
Plan Ahead
Planning is essential. With over 30 booths, nightly musical acts, numerous seminars and other culinary events, it’s important to plan ahead so you know when you want to visit based on what you want to experience.
The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Page on waltdisneyworld.com is a great place to start your planning. Here you will find a list of special events, the Eat to the Beat lineup of musical acts and information about the Global Marketplace offerings.
If you are interested in any of the special events, it’s extremely important to book ahead as the more popular events such as Party for the Senses do sell out.
Make a list and check it twice
When it comes to the Global Marketplace, you definitely want to make a list of your priority food and beverage choices. With literally hundreds of options, you’ll want to remember your “must-trys”.
Grab a Passport
As you enter World Showcase, be sure to grab a Passport. This will help keep you on track with your must-trys and it’s really fun for the kiddos to get stamps as you travel the various booths.
Sharing is Caring
Food and Wine is very group friendly as it is extremely fun for everyone to get different items and share. Even a group of two can do this! It will allow you to have a small taste of what you want without filling up.
Get a Gift Card
At various points around World Showcase guest may purchase a gift card attached to a wristband. I highly recommend loading up your gift card with a set amount before you start sampling. This will make it easy when paying (instead of having to pull out your wallet each time) and it also allows you to remain on budget.
Use Your Snack Credits
Most food options are considered a snack credit on the Disney Dining Plan. The Marketplace is a great way to utilize those credits and get more bang for your buck.
Weekdays Vs. Weekends
Weekends can be crowded during Food and Wine as locals make their way to Epcot. Weekdays tend to be less crowded as is earlier in the day, beginning at 11 AM when the booths open up for the day.
I hope these tips help you have a delicious adventure at Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival!
Stephanie McNulty is a Vacation Planner with Coasters and Castles Travel. She enjoys long, slow walks around the World Showcase Lagoon with Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup in one hand and a Grey Goose Slushy in the other. Contact her for help planning your next culinary adventure at smcnulty@coastersandcastlestravel.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram under her handle @magicaltravelwithsteph