This year marks Epcot’s 24th International Food & Wine Festival, which is a beloved Disney favorite. With more than 30 marketplaces unique to different countries and cultures offering up delicious treats, beer, and wine, there will definitely be something for everyone you’re traveling with.
Food & Wine Festival kicks off on August 29 and runs through November 23, making it the longest run of this festival in Disney history! If you’re planning your Disney trip around this festival, I’d suggest breaking your experience up into two half day portions. While you could spend an entire day making your lap around World Showcase, if you want to enjoy all of the foods and drinks available, you’ll need a bigger stomach!
Overview
Unlike many of the other special events offered at Walt Disney World, Food & Wine Festival can be experienced with just your park ticket! Most food offerings at the festival are snack-sized and run anywhere from $4 – $9. Beverages are standard-sized and will vary from $3 – $12.
If you plan to attend any of the special events within the festival such as the demonstrations and premium events, there is an additional charge on top of your park ticket.
However, there are tons of free things included with your ticket such as bottle and book signings, meet-and-greets, and musical performances. All of this information can be found at the Festival Center, which should be your first stop!
Global Marketplaces
If you’re heading to the festival and plan to sample snacks from several booths, I highly recommend grabbing a Food & Wine Festival Disney gift card to pay for your way around World Showcase. Aside from being much easier than swiping your card at every booth, this always helps me stick to a budget. It’s so easy to go overboard on the snacks, but if I make a refill of a certain amount each day at the festival, it keeps my spending in check.
Once you load up your gift card for the snacks ahead, you’ll definitely want to pick up a Marketplace Discovery Passport. This will give you the details of everything being served at each booth so you can plan ahead for your snack adventure. You can also get a stamp for any of the foods that you try, which is pretty cool too!
Now that you’ve made your way into World Showcase, let’s dive into the offerings!
Active Eats – Please your palate with healthy, action-packed bites for pure taste bud bliss!
Africa – Delve into a delectable menu inspired by countries abundant with history, mystery, and cultural diversity.
The Alps – Explore the delicious tastes of these Swiss-inspired dishes.
Appleseed Orchard – Celebrate autumn with sweet and savory apple dishes paired with ciders, beers, and wines.
Australia – Explore an exotic array of food and drink options from the Land Down Under.
Belgium – Indulge in dessert-like waffles, savory treats, and thirst-quenchers with a kick!
Brazil – Dig into South American cuisine and culture with the Land of the Palms’ finest fare.
Brewer’s Collection – Wet your whistle with a glass or flight of Europe’s best brews—from Pilsners to wheat beers.
Canada – Take your taste buds to the Yukon, with delightful dishes, lagers and wines from the Great White North.
The Cheese Studio – Nibble delish cheesy dishes paired with the perfect vintage for an unforgettable nosh stop!
China – Introduce your palate to a diverse variety of popular plates and potables from one of the world’s greatest cuisines!
The Chocolate Studio – Sate confectionery cravings with a trip to our one-stop chocolate shop for delectably dark and milky sweet treats!
Coastal Eats – Savor the ocean’s finest flavors along with wines grown near the Pacific coastline—you can almost feel the sea breeze!
Earth Eats – Turn your taste buds upside down with a medley of flavors that add a delish twist to healthy, hearty fare!
Emile’s Fromage Montage – Join Remy’s brother Emile on a stroll around Epcot to enjoy a variety of delicious cheeses served in inventive ways
Flavors from Fire – Add some heat to your epicurean adventure with these spicy bites and specialty beverages that pair perfectly!
France – Fall in ooo-la-la-love with the classic cuisine and finest wines of France—bon appétit!
Germany – Embark on an epicurean adventure to Deutschland, home of the heartiest food, drinks and appetites in the world!
Hawaii – Traverse the Pacific for tropical flavors and island faves—sweet or savory, these mouthwatering morsels scream aloha!
Hops & Barley – Stay stateside for all-American craft beer, wines and the hottest tastes from coast-to-coast!
India – Introduce yourself to new flavors with ancient origins—the smorgasbord of Indian spices will whisk you off to faraway worlds!
Ireland – Escape to the Emerald Isle for a wee bit o’ ale, wine and authentic Irish fare to warm the cockles of y’er heart!
Islands of the Caribbean – Journey to the islands of the Caribbean, where the fusion of food and cultures create a melody in your mouth!
Italy – Mangiare… savor the simple elegance of cucina italiana, with some of the world’s best-loved food and wine.
Japan – Delight your appetite with sushi and other delish dishes as well as libations from the Land of the Rising Sun!
Mexico – Spice up your fiesta-lovin’ palate with some south-of-the-border history, culture and cuisine—olé!
Morocco – Relish an inspired array of exotic flavors—this north African region is a mecca of intriguing cuisine.
Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar – Get the party started—sample sweet treats and mimosas mixed with the perfect twist!
Spain – Travel to España for pleasing cuisine that’s unrivaled—from paella to seafood that’s straight from Basque Country.
Thailand – Exotic specialties from Southeast Asia await as the Land of Smiles serves up a flavorful foodie phenom!
Wine & Dine Studio – Sample signature dishes along with an elegant medley of wines hailing from the Golden State’s renowned vineyards.
For menus and more, check out the full listing of marketplaces here.
Eat to the Beat Concert Series
Aside from food and beverages, there are performances each night of the festival from major recording artists at The America Gardens Theatre. This year, there are 36 acts – the biggest lineup ever!
From Sunday – Thursday, you can catch showtimes at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM. On Friday and Saturday, showtimes are at 6:30 PM, 7:45 PM, and 9:00 PM.
For a list of every performer at the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, check out the full listing here.
Festival Merchandise
With each festival comes new and exciting merchandise at the parks! This year, there are rumors of a Chef Minnie collection, cork and wine-colored kitchen essentials, brew-specific items for craft beer lovers, and apparel from Chef Figment and Chef Remy. Passholders will also have special access to exclusive keepsakes.
I’m especially excited to get my hands on some of the “sprinkle pink” collection! You can find merchandise throughout World Showcase, but the widest selection can be found at the Festival Center.
Tips & Tricks
Know your budget! With so many delicious treats up for grabs, it’s important to have a budget before even stepping foot in World Showcase so that you don’t wind up spending way more than you had originally planned.
Have a game plan! While spontaneity is important, don’t sell yourself short of those must-eat items and make sure you don’t walk by them in your excitement to get to the next booth. I highly recommend planning where you’re going to start and end each day if you have multiple days planned for the festival.
Explore beyond World Showcase! Some of the best booths are in Future World and if you spend all of your time in Showcase, you might miss them!
Share plates! If you’re going with a few other people, grab a few plates and share them. Not only will it be easier on your wallet, but you’ll also get to experience a little bit of everything – there are so many food items to try!
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