How to get the most out of Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is one of Disney World's most popular annual events. Now in its 24th season, the festival has grown every year and is a chance for visitors to sample foods from around the world. There are so many different foods to try, it's simply impossible to try everything. Trust me; I've tried! You can, however, get the best of the festival's offerings with our top tips. Best of all, the kids can have as much fun as you do.
What is the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival?
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival takes place every fall. The 2019 festival is the longest ever, running 87 days. In addition to Epcot's everyday attractions, more than 40 stalls offer treats from all over the globe. The festival also features unique and interactive activities and stage shows that change daily.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Theme Parks
When is it?
The 2019 dates for the festival are Aug. 29–Nov. 23. I went in September, which offers off-peak prices for both Disney tickets and hotel stays. On the other hand, September weather is variable, so be prepared for a rainy day at Disney World.
Be sure to consult Disney's website for the daily calendar and sign up for those events that interest you. Special events, some of which are free with reservation, include food and wine pairings, celebrity chef encounters and a kid-friendly lesson on making candy sushi.
How much does it cost?
The Epcot Food & Wine Festival is not a ticketed event like Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. Your regular park admission ticket includes festival access.
You can save on Disney tickets by using a third-party vendor such as Undercover Tourist. Purchases from ticket brokers like Undercover Tourist code as travel, while tickets purchased directly from Disney do not — unless they are part of a larger vacation package that also includes a hotel stay.
TPG has a helpful rundown of many ways to use your points to cover the cost of Disney World tickets.
Tips to enjoy the festival
I've been to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival many times and here are some of my best tips to maximize your limited time there.
Don't make Disney restaurant reservations
Most times I recommend making restaurant reservations, especially at Epcot. However, during the festival you're much better off snacking your way through the day instead of splurging on a big meal. If you're doing the festival right, you won't have room for dinner anyway.
For the same reason, I don't typically recommend the Disney Dining Plan during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. You can redeem a meal for three snack credits, but most times you'll come out ahead by paying a la carte as the individual items are usually well under $10 each.
Only order one of whatever you want to try
I highly recommend going to the festival with a group. Otherwise, you'll be stuffed before you get to your second booth. I went with two friends on a kid-free trip and we sampled 25 items in a day, which amounted to a late breakfast, lunch and dinner. We enjoyed so much by only getting one of whatever we wanted to try. Most times, a taste was enough to satisfy.
Check out the rat race
Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak is a fun scavenger hunt that takes you throughout the festival. At $6.99, it's an inexpensive and fun way to keep the kids entertained. Who am I kidding? I had fun doing it too. Best of all, you turn in your completed map for a souvenir prize at the end. Pro Tip: You don't have to complete the challenge to get the "prize" if you want to save the stickers for later. (Yes, some of us love saving these mementos intact while others prefer to give the stickers to the kids during an arts and crafts session once back at home.)
Don't miss the concerts
A highlight of the Food & Wine Festival is the rotating free concert schedule. The list of performers reads like a soft-rock station's playlist: the best of the '70s, '80s and '90s. Acts range from Grace Jones to Taylor Dayne to Kenny G to Everclear and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and you may have a strong preference among the acts available during your visit. Each band plays for two or three days, so you might even get to see two if you plan your trip correctly.
Our food favorites
With 40 booths and hundreds of food samples, it's hard to choose just one favorite. I won't say I've sampled every single dish but have tried a fair representation and here are my "do-not-misses." I'll do this like a beauty pageant and award honorary mention ribbons first. They go to the pao de queijo (cheese bread) from Brazil, chimichurri steak from Flavors with Fire and the kailua pork slider from Hawaii.
The "get your own" prize is awarded to the banana almond soft-serve sundae from Shimmering Sips. The "ice cream" made from almond milk is creamy while still being light and the berry mix on top sets it off perfectly. This one is good for all ages.
My other favorite may be for more sophisticated palettes: the chocolate picante from Flavors with Fire. This one mixes mole and pepper flavors into a chocolate mousse with a mango compote and is absolutely divine.
The only real food flop I found was in Ireland: the beer cheese dip with soda bread. The cheese dip tasted like it was reconstituted from dried Velveeta. Hard pass.
Top tipples
The flight prize goes to a new contender: "Appleseed Orchard." It's hidden behind Canada, where the "O' Canada!" movie used to be shown. The booth doesn't sell any food besides popcorn, so I'd pick up a snack elsewhere and bring it to this booth because it's in an air-conditioned theater with lots of standing tables. The cider sampler was substantial without being overwhelming. I especially enjoyed the Ciderboys Lemon Cello flavor, but I'd try any of them again. At $9.75, it felt like a solid value.
My only festival drink disappointment was Le Passion Martini Slush from France. At more than $10, it tasted like a Slurpee and contained about as much liquor as an eyedropper. The $4 to $6 wine and beer pours and $9–12 flights were a much better value.
Bottom line
There's still time to visit this year's Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, running until November 23. If you are feeling up to it, you could double it up with an evening spent at Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, or on the final few days of the festival, you could even tack on an early-season experience of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.
Arm yourself with these tips, grab a few friends or family members and hit the theme park to satisfy your culinary cravings. If you've been to the festival before, what are your secret tips to make the most out of the event?
Here are some other articles to help you plan a Walt Disney World vacation:
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Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.