EPCOT Food & Wine Festival: What Is It?

One of our favorite things about EPCOT is that it often hosts festivals throughout the year. These festivals have grown in number, and have gotten longer over the years to the point where it is rare to visit EPCOT when a festival is NOT happening.

The Food and Wine festival that occurs every fall is one of the most popular, and could also be considered the first festival... sort of. See, this festival actually started at Disney Springs before it was Disney Springs as a wine festival (no food) in 1981. However, it didn't come to EPCOT until 1996, after the Flower & Garden Festival debuted to much success.

When Is It?

The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival used to run from September to November prior to 2020. In 2022, it is running from July to November, so it has been greatly extended because of its popularity.

Where Is It?

This is also extended from previous years! At first, this festival was pretty much confined to World Showcase at EPCOT. However, in 2022, there are booths throughout the entire park at EPCOT.

What Is It?

The main activities at the Food & Wine Festival, as you might have already guessed are eating and drinking! However, there are some other things going on you should know about.

• Global Marketplaces - This is where you get your food and wine (and other drinks). Top Disney chefs run booths throughout the park that serve small plates of sweet and savory foods and drinks. Each booth has a theme. In World Showcase, these themes are often around a country's cuisine. In FutureWorld, you find other themes like Impossible Meat or Smoked Meats. Each plate and drink does come at a price, usually between $4-$14. The drinks tend to be more expensive than the food, but often worth it! Since these are the main draw, we'll dive into them more below.

• Eat to the Beat Concert Series - Every night, live music is performed in the American Gardens Theater. During the week, these tend to be local bands, while Friday through Sunday may draw some bigger names. On the list for 2022 are Hanson and Boys II Men, for example. There is no cover charge for these concerts, BUT the seating in the theater is limited and theme park admission to EPCOT is required. Concerts begin around 5:30 and go until before the fireworks.

• Eat to the Beat Dining Packages - This is Disney's way of packaging a meal at an EPCOT restaurant with preferred guaranteed seating at the concert. The menu is either prix fixe or flat price for a buffet, but you do get a choice of restaurants such as Biergarten, Spice Road Table, and more.

• Other small activities and special merchandise - Disney collectors will need to get their hands on limited edition merchandise specific to that year's festival, and only available during the festival. There are often other small activities such as a scavenger hunt this year, or photo opportunities.

• Wine & Dine Half Marathon (and other runs) - During the festival, there is also one of the major "Disney runs". This one includes a 5K, 10K, half marathon, or two course race, with the option to attend an afterparty. The runs start at 5 AM and the afterparty is after park closing at 10 PM. Does that make for a long day? Yes. But runners report that Disney runs are extra special because you get to see parks nearly empty.

There are also a few activities that were previously offered, but that have not been offered since the pandemic. It is uncertain whether these will return, but they are not part of the line up for 2022. Those are:

• Cooking classes

• Wine tastings

• Live demonstrations

More About the Global Marketplaces

The food booths are the main draw of this festival, of course! Here's a little more about what to expect:

• In 2022, there are 29 booths spread all throughout EPCOT.

• Each booth has a theme.

• Most booths serve 2-5 small dishes, and several drinks.

• Drinks are not necessarily wine! You can find beer, ciders, and mixed drinks all over.

• When (and if), the Disney Dining Plan is offered, some small plates might be available for a snack credit, which tends to be an excellent deal and good use of those extra credits you might have accrued.

• A passport can be picked up at the front of EPCOT. It lists the booths and menu items and makes a nice (free!) souvenir.

• Booths usually open at 11 AM and stay open until park close. The booths do tend to get a lot busier in the evening (along with the rest of EPCOT).

One of the best things about the food booths is that they offer a change from the ordinary, often in the form of new foods or dishes you may never have tried before. Disney chefs are somewhat "let loose" to experiment and try dishes to see how they go over.

In 2022, so far the most popular dishes are:

• The Fry Basket booth - fry flight

• Flavors from Fire booth - smoked corned beef

• The Swanky Saucy Swine - grilled pork shoulder lettuce wrap

• Belgium - two things: Beer-braised beef, and chilled coffee

• Brazil - pao de queijo

• France - la passion martini slush

• Canada - two things: the returning favorite Canadian cheddar and bacon soup, and "le cellier" wild mushroom beef filet

• Refreshment Port - maple cheesecake

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Are you planning on going to Food & Wine this year, or have you gone already? What are dishes are you excited about? Tell us over on our Facebook page where you can follow us to see when new articles are posted each week. Until next time...