The International Food and Wine Festival at Epcot is coming fast. This special Disney event lis one of the biggest festivals at Disney World. There will be tons of celebrity chefs and TV personalities involved and over 30 booths offering creative small dishes and inspired pairings all over the park.
There are so many levels to this International Food and Wine Festival, it is difficult to keep everything in mind when you are on a limited schedule. To help prepare you, here are some aspects of the festival that will most benefit you during your visit.
How You Can Make The Most Of the International Food and Wine Festival in Epcot
1. The Park
The first thing to remember is that there is a permanent park underneath all of the temporary decor. Make that the focus of your planning and allow the festival to be secondary. There is so much to do and see in this enormous, beautiful and diverse Disney park. Plus, there is plenty to eat and drink in each of the permanent pavilions around the World Showcase. In fact, the restaurant you have reservations for might just have a special menu just for the festival.
2. The Marketplaces
The kiosks or booths that pop up all over the park for the festival are referred to as marketplaces. Every year Disney adds more, and this year it will be more overwhelming than ever. Form a game plan before you go in by finding the locations you most want to visit on the map and marking them.
Wherever you have a higher concentration of marketplaces you want to try, plan a break and split your party so you can cut down on wait times. Also bring a tray to help carry several plates.
3. The Festival Welcome Center
Despite the name, most guests are probably unaware that this place exists. This is where seminars, demonstrations, and other presentations take place. Many are free, or low cost, and you usually get to eat when you pay. It’s well worth it to try at least one seminar while you attend the festival. The building is also air conditioned and there is festival merchandise. Plus, Ghirardelli is there with sipping chocolate and free samples.
4. The Premium Events
At least look into the premium events. Lots of guests will have a dinner, or something special that they splurge on once during their trip. One of these separate ticket events could be your thing. You could partake in an interactive culinary adventure at one of the resorts, attend a celebrity demonstration with a Q&A session after. If you are looking for a party you can indulge at the Party for the Senses or eat your weight in burgers at the Rockin’ Burger Block Party.
Awesome, looks like a fun time to wine and dine. These tips apply to some food festivals here too. We have many.
Must be a wonderful festive to attend,beautiful photos!
I didn’t know that there’s an International festival at Epcot but it’s a great idea
This would be a dream come true. I would love to go to the International food and wine festival.
I am actually visiting this fall and will be sharing our experience!