Discover a whole new world of food at Epcot

Calling all foodies! Back on the menu is a staple of Epcot’s event line up since 1995, so loosen your belt and be prepared to munch your way around the globe at the 2018 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival! There’s something for every taste, as you discover a whole new world of food in this sensational celebration of cooking.

One of the most hotly-anticipated and large-scale events in Disney’s calendar, running a gobsmacking 75 days from 30th August through to 12th November, this fiesta of food and drink draws large crowds of both tourists and locals keen to sample everything that the Festival has to offer; food, drink, exhibitions and plenty of entertainment!

Your first stop, before racing into the park to feast on all of the tasty offerings, should be at the Festival Center. Here you can pick up a park map, times guide for the events and exhibitions, and a Festival Passport, in which you can keep a record of your culinary travels around the tasting booths in the park’s global marketplaces.

Included in your admission ticket to Epcot, it is free to visit the Food & Wine Festival, though if you want to try food and drinks from the booths it will cost you a few dollars per dish. These are served in small portions to give you a sample of the culinary delicacies from the parts of the world that they are representing. This allows you to try lots of different foods, and even if you don’t enjoy an interesting-sounding dish as much as you would have hoped, then you aren’t losing out too much! The downside of this though, is that it is easy to spend a lot of money grazing your way around the globe, so keep an eye on your purse or wallet!

Workshops and seminars

That being said, there is definitely something for every budget at the Festival, and there are events that can be enjoyed without having to spend anything. This includes the Back to Basics sessions over at the Festival Center Spotlight Stage, held twice daily from Friday to Sunday, where you will discover handy cooking tips and techniques from culinary experts. You can also attend seminars (and try some samples) from both Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company about the journey that coffee takes to arrive in your mug, or Ghirardelli Chocolate Company about the process of making chocolate.

Eat to the Beat

If you need a break from all of the tasting that you are bound to be doing, make sure you stop off at the Eat to the Beat concerts, which take place three times per evening throughout the event over at the American Gardens Theater. With 32 acts on the line-up there is something for every musical taste, including artists such as Tiffany, Boyz II Men, Hanson, Billy Ocean, Jim Belushi & The Sacred Hearts, Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and even Baha Men.

Keep the kids entertained too

Although the focus is on food and drink, and it is generally more of an adult-orientated event, there are a few additions that will make this year’s Festival more child-friendly. If you are travelling with youngsters in your party, between the ages of 4 and 10, why not register for the complimentary Junior Chef Kitchen which runs on Sunday morning? Here they will get hands-on with the ingredients under the watchful eye of a Disney Chef to make, decorate and taste their own pancake, and will receive a chef hat, apron and certificate! If they need to burn-off any extra energy you can head to the playground, or on Friday or Saturday evenings, to the Disney Du Jour Dance Party, where they can dance with various Disney characters.

There’s fun for all the family to be had too, with Remy's Ratatouille Hide ‘n’ Squeak Scavenger Hunt – a Ratatouille-inspired hunt for Remy around the site. After purchasing a map and stickers from locations around the park, locate statuettes of Remy and after you have found them all, you will be able to choose a surprise reward at Disney Traders!

Celebrity chefs and special events

With a host of celebrity chefs and leading culinary experts appearing at the Festival, there are numerous events that you can attend, for a price. Remember, if you want to attend any of these events you should book ahead to avoid disappointment. Some are cheaper than others, including a 45-minute culinary demonstration and sampling session, or a 45-minute beverage seminar, where industry experts will teach you to be a beer, wine or spirit connoisseur! Both of these events cost $17 per guest plus tax. Or for $25 plus tax you could enjoy a food and drink pairing seminar – as well as a tasting!

If money isn’t an issue and you want a more relaxed start to your day, maybe the Brunch Q&A and meet and greet held on select Sundays throughout the Festival appeals; for $129 per guest plus tax, enjoy this two-hour event featuring a breakfast buffet and talk by a culinary celebrity. Alternatively push the boat out all the way for the Party for the Senses event, running on select Saturdays. Costing $229-$349 per guest (plus tax), this is the biggest evening and most exclusive event of the Festival, filled with food, drink, fun and great entertainment.

Epcot Food & Wine Festival tips

There are a few things to remember when you attend the Food & Wine Festival, if you are buying alcohol, you must be 21 or older, and for visitors outside of the US you will need to be able to present both a passport and another form of government-issued photo ID from your home nation as proof of age. Don’t forget to take it, as you don’t want to miss out on the chance to try some of the exciting drinks available!

After you have finally satisfied your appetite you might want to take home a memento of your trip with limited edition Festival-themed souvenirs, or attend a book or bottle signing for a personalised gift!

A tip to avoid some of the crowds is to attend during a weekday, and early in the day, as queues are shorter and it isn’t as hot. There isn’t a lot of shade by the booths, so any chance to avoid standing in line for too long should be taken!

Don’t forget though, that there is more to Epcot than just the Food & Wine Festival! As crowds are gathering by the booths, the rides in the park tend to have average or shorter waits, so don’t neglect the chance to explore the rest of the attractions!

Have you ever been to the Food Festival? Do you have any dishes that you would recommend? We’d love to hear about your experiences and see your photos – get in touch!