Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Hello and Happy Fall!

Fall is a favorite time to visit Walt Disney World in our family, and for good reason. In September and October, you can catch Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party (a separate ticketed event on certain nights at the Magic Kingdom), and in November and December, you can check out Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party (also a separate ticketed event). This November, my family will be enjoying our very first Christmas Party, which I am really looking forward to. For the last several years, our fall visit has been in early fall. However, after being stuck at the resort for a couple of days during Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, we decided we’d go later in the season in 2017. As excited as I am to visit during the Christmas season, I will sure miss the cute Mickey Mouse pumpkins, as seen below:

(Cute Mickey Mouse pumpkin decorations at the Magic Kingdom)

(The entrance to the Magic Kingdom in October 2016)

Perhaps our favorite fall event is the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. There are booths set up all throughout World Showcase (and some in Future World) representing various countries around the world, which offer a few options of cuisine from that region. There are also alcoholic and non-alcoholic drink options to choose from.

(The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in 2016)

The 2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival kicked off on August 31, and will run through November 13 this year, making it the longest running Epcot International Food and Wine Festival in the history of the event! Most everyone in my family is a huge fan of this event, which offers food and drinks from around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Greece, India, Poland, South Korea, and more! This year, a record 35 booths are promised to be at this event, and personally, I am looking forward to sampling my favorite foods from previous years, AND experiencing some new flavors!

(One of our favorite booths at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival)

Here are a few examples of some of the dishes you can find at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival-

Australia- Grilled lamb T-bone with mint pesto and potato crunchies

Canada- Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle-Butter Sauce

Germany- Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce

Hawai’i- Kalua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise

Ireland- Warm Irish Cheddar Cheese and Stout Dip with Irish Brown Bread

Morocco- Kefta Pocket (Seasoned Ground Beef in a Pita Pocket)

Thailand- Marinated Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Stir-fried Vegetables

Each booth has several different food options to choose from, along with a few beverage options. Prices range from about $3 to $8 for each selection, and so it can get pricey if you are planning to eat and drink your way around the world. One tip that I have is to purchase a gift card in the amount you’ve budgeted for Food and Wine- this will ensure that you will not go over your budgeted amount (a good thing if you are enjoying multiple adult beverages throughout World Showcase!).

(Enjoying margaritas in Mexico)

(My husband and brother ready to order some saki in Japan)

Another tip that I’d like to offer is to use this Festival exclusively as your lunch or dinner location if you plan to sample multiple foods at this event. My family’s plan this year is to skip a sit-down lunch on our Epcot day, and instead enjoy walking around World Showcase, trying different foods as we make our way around the Festival. We then have a late Table Service dinner at Biergarten in Germany that evening. 

(My hubby enjoying 'lunch around the world')

The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival also hosts a different band each night of the Festival- my friend Samantha was recently at WDW, and she let me know that the Baha Men were there the evening she was at Epcot- her whole family really enjoyed the live performance of ‘Who Let the Dogs Out’! Other bands slated to be at the Festival this year include The Plain White T’s, Sister Hazel, Boyz II Men, Kenny G and Hanson. 

(My husband and sister-in-law enjoying the Festival)

One more thing- if you are a lover of the culinary arts, I would suggest you look into the many seminars, demonstrations, and talks given by different celebrated chefs from around the world! For more information, check out www.disneyworld.com.

Feel free to email me at dana_aimee@hotmail.com with any Disney questions! Happy Travels, and Happy Eating!