EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Travel Trail Sail

Its food. Its Disney. Its the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. How can you go wrong?

This is an annual event held each Fall at EPCOT. In addition to the great international restaurants already in EPCOT, food booths representing a variety of countries such as Argentina, South Africa and Morocco are added. EPCOT is already an international place and it is a wonderful setting for a food & wine festival.

Tapas, small portions, of food representing the country or region are sold at each of the booths. There is usually an entree, dessert and beer or wine at each both. You might try Swedish Meatballs with Lingonberries from Scandanavia or you might have Beef Rendang with Jasmine Rice and a Tiger Beer from Singapore. The idea is to sample small portions from many places. And, it is a tasty way to experience EPCOT. Walking the park helps you to work off the great food you are trying.

One of my favorites include Canada where you can get a cheese soup for 4.00, spicy sausage for 4.25, and enjoy it with a 6oz Moosehead for 3.50. The apple strudel available in Germany for 3.50 is really tasty. The Belgian waffle for 3.00 is also a great treat. But, don’t take it from me. You should experiment and find your own favorites.

One thing that makes the festival a little bit easier is to buy a pre-paid festival card. These are small and are worn on your wrist. They work just like a Disney gift card and can be used anywhere in Disney World. If you need to add money to it, any cashier can do that for you. Many people find using the card to be easier than paying with cash. When you pay, you will get a receipt that shows your current balance.

Would I recommend the EPCOT Food and Wine festival? Absolutely, Yes. But, there are a few things you should know. This is probably not an event I would take young children to. They would probably enjoy something like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or even just a day in the Magic Kingdom more than this event.

Many people attend in groups and have themed shirts or hats – so it can be a lot of fun. But, the park can get crowded and some of the patrons unfortunately can be a bit rowdier than at a usual day in the World.

There are many people who enjoying the same food you are. But, there are few places to set your plate or drink down. The best is if you can find a stand up table. Sharing with others and striking up a conversation is a great way to find out dishes others have found. Just be sure to ask if you can share before you put your food down. In some cases, since there are so few tables, I have seen people get creative, using trash cans, walls or even the ground as a place for their food.

Have you been to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival? Share your thoughts and tips by leaving a comment.