Epcot Food & Wine Festival is an experience that I’ve been wanting to do forever! It’s been on my bucket list with my husband and I was tickled pink when we were able to attend as part of our Permission to Hustle Retreat with Disney World. The second that we found out it was on the itinerary for us – I was ecstatic! I knew that the ladies would have an incredible time walking around, checking everything out and (most important) tasting everything!
5 Things to Experience at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is an annual food festival at Epcot, in the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, typically from late September to mid-November, though in recent years the start date has moved forward to late August. It’s one of those events where you see it online and you see all the photos and videos shared and just wish you were actually there, too. If you’re a foodie… this is a dream come true for you!
So what is the Epcot Food & Wine Fest exactly?
The Epcot Food & Wine Fest is a culinary mashup of global cultures and gourmet innovation that brings irresistible bites, sips, entertainment & family fun! This year, the celebrated summer-into-fall festival at Walt Disney World Resort will add a dozen extra days, expanding the foodie celebration to a delicious 87 days. Guests can begin with the aromas and flavors of 30 festive global food and wine marketplaces that extend from Future World to encircle the World Showcase promenade.
We were all like little kids in a candy shop when we showed up at the festival! We all couldn’t wait to get “out” there and try everything. I feel like I ate enough for 10 people that day, but it was worth it because you were able to try cuisines and different dishes that are truly out of this world. The level of culinary expertise at Disney World is just incredible. These chefs are the best of the best and on top of their culinary game.
This is the official list for the 2019 festival:
- Active Eats
- Africa
- The Alps (new)
- Appleseed Orchard (new)
- Australia
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brewer’s Collection
- Canada
- The Cheese Studio
- China
- The Chocolate Studio
- Coastal Eats
- Cool Wash — opens Oct. 1
- The Donut Box — opens Oct. 1
- Earth Eats
- Flavors from Fire
- France
- Germany
- Hawai’i
- Hops & Barley
- India
- Ireland
- Islands of the Caribbean
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Morocco
- Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar
- Spain
- Thailand
- The Wine & Dine Studio
Personally I had 5 Experiences at the Epcot Food & Wine Festival that I was just head over heels in love with while visiting and eating and touring during our excursions out and about. I’m a big fan of food, but I’m an even bigger fan of food with intention and I feel that all of the dishes at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival were created and made with full intention.
1st: Epcot Food & Wine Festival: The Food
It’s the food. It’s the food. It’s the food. It’s the food. Now I ate food at Japan, Mexico, Italy and France. I just had bites at most of the countries, but while visiting France I had FOOD. Like I had real, yummy, delicious food. I couldn’t get over the delicious French food. I COULDN’T GET OVER IT. I’m telling you right now when you’re touring the countries during Food & Wine stop and ask if you could meet any of the chefs. Head the story behind the cuisine. Listen to their passion about the cuisine. Be part of that experience with them.
I’m all in when it comes to trying new and exciting foods. ALL. IN. I loved being able to have these yummy foods and really understand why they’re standouts and why they’re part of this amazing Festival. These puff potatoes were the best ever!
Obviously one of the biggest hooks to Food & Wine is the food. That goes without being said. But here’s the thing, it’s not just about the food. It’s truly about the experience and the reason why this food is being highlighted for the Festival. I truly loved every single bite and couldn’t get over how delectable and extraordinary the different bites were. Take in the food and really breathe it in.
2nd Experience: Epcot Food & Wine Festival
It’s all about the unique experiences during the Festival. Eat to the Beat Concert Series is one of the cool experiences during Food & Wine. The America Gardens Theatre serves up performances from major recording artists as part of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. This year, the musical menu will feature 36 irresistible acts—our biggest and best lineup ever.
General Event Details
- Where: America Gardens Theatre at World Showcase, Epcot
- When: Daily from August 29 through November 19, 2019
- Showtimes – Sundays to Thursdays: 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM
- Showtimes – Fridays and Saturdays: 6:30 PM, 7:45 PM and 9:00 PM
We got to see the Plain White T’s perform and it was AWESOME! I’ve been a huge fan of theirs for years, so this was a big treat for me! I loved being able to dance and sing along. It was truly a magical experience.
My advice to you is to make sure you’re there for one of the concerts! It’s such a nice added bonus to your experience and you will love literally eating to the beat! We all even got to get a photo, too!
3rd Experience at Epcot Food & Wine Festival
Enjoy the wonder and the beauty and the grace of each county. I’m someone who usually rushes through Epcot and the countries there because we have kids in tow. This time I truly embraced each country and took the time to walk around and really visit. I loved going into the shops and into the areas throughout the country.
One of my favorite? Morocco.
It’s always been a destination I want to visit someday, so being there – even though I know I’m not there – was truly incredible to me. I loved feeling a slice of the culture. I loved seeing all the shops and the foods and the people. It was a fun and unique experience for me.
I also loved being in China! It was surreal to be there and walk around. My husband grabbed some food and drinks there and loved it. It’s a place I don’t know if we’ll ever get to someday, but I loved being here while at Epcot.
Italy is always a favorite destination, too! I love white wine and this was one destination that had a delish Pinot Grigio! It was truly an incredible experience. Not to mention I was with my friends, so it made it even more exciting and fun for me. We all walked around and took tons of photos! It was a great afternoon being there with them!
4th Experience at Epcot Food & Wine Festival
Lessons from the pros! I didn’t get to do this, but I have been hearing and reading about this experience as a top notch thing to do! I would sign up for one in a heartbeat!
Cook up a new kind of cuisine by learning from some of the world’s most celebrated chefs!
During each 45-minute demonstration, renowned gourmets will impart years of kitchen wisdom while whipping up a special delicious dish. Attendees can collect tips and tricks to sharpen their skills, as well as savor the exquisite flavors at each presentation.
General Event Details
- Location: World Showplace Events Pavilion
- Days: Select Fridays and Saturdays 12:30 PM
- Price: $19 per Guest, plus tax
5th Experience at Epcot Food & Wine Festival
Stay for the fireworks while you’re there at the Food & Wine, it’s the perfect ending to a perfect day! I think it’s an experience that just really adds to the beauty and the passion of the full day for you. I loved being there for the entire time and really seeing and feeling from my heart the true experience. We saw IllumiNations Reflections of Earth.
Gather around World Showcase Lagoon to watch Earth’s fiery birth portrayed through dramatic eruptions of fireworks and towering 60-foot flames. As the volcanic effects subside, a giant globe glides peacefully across the waters.
Let your imagination soar as the surface of the 350,000-pound Earth Globe springs to life with light, revealing the joyful history of humanity and the remarkable achievements of our time.
In the spectacular finale, a hopeful future is foretold in a pageantry of stirring light and sound—including fireworks and an epic display of dazzling, state-of-the-art, energy-efficient lasers!
The last IllumiNations Reflections of Earth will end September 30th.
The next show will be From Magical Memories to a Fabulous Future!
