EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 2024 Ultimate Guide | Tips, Menus, Reviews

EPCOT Food and Wine is back in 2024, and it’s going to be one of the best festivals you’ve experienced yet! My absolute favorite time of year is now here and even with all the changes, I can’t wait for you to experience the 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival! 

We’re excited to taste our way around World Showcase at all the Food and Wine Marketplaces, so come with us!

In this post, we’ve put together this information guide to the 2024 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival for you so you and your family can be prepared and have the best time possible! 

Below I’m posting all the info you will need for your visit to the Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT this year including Dates, Prices, Menus, Reviews of the Food, Tips, and just General Food and Wine Festival Info. 

This will update you on all the food, drinks, and events happening this year, so make sure to read everything about the Food and Wine Festival in our guide below. Have fun and see you around Epcot! 😉

(UPDATE 7/12/24): The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is returning in 2024! We now have the full list of dates for the festival, as well as the food marketplaces, and some of the entertainment and activities to expect when you visit. Read more below.

Last year, some of the food marketplaces did not open right away, but in waves and each with seasonal offerings. This has pretty much been the norm as Disney likes to space out the openings and not have them all debut at the same time.

One of our favorite details is that the popular musical show “Eat to the Beat Concert Series” IS BACK again in 2024! It was missing from the Food and Wine Festival for a couple of years (2020 and 2021), but it’s a staple of the festival and we’re happy it’s here to stay.

Joining the main musical groups performing, are also local bands playing fun tunes on the America Gardens Theatre stage. It will be great to have all those nightly concerts back in EPCOT again.

If you can’t make Eat to the Beat, there are other musical options throughout the park such as Voices of Liberty, Mariachi Cobre, and Jammin’ Chefs who are also incredible.

Some of the other additions include:

• Emile’s Fromage Montage – A fun way to taste cheese dishes from around the world. Collect stamps for eating each of the 5 cheese dishes to put on your Festival Passport. If you collect 5 stamps from the Global Marketplaces you’ll earn a prize.
• Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak – This children’s favorite scavenger hunt returns. Search for Remy throughout World Showcase and the Global Marketplaces.
• Pulto’s Pumpkin Pursuit – Special Halloween season scavenger hunt from September 29 through October 31.
• New Food and Wine Merchandise including a festival collection.

Of course, down below we will have Reviews for all the Food Marketplaces with photos and prices!

Things continue to change with the Food and Wine Festival this year and Disney will keep adding new marketplaces or new menu items. We’ll continue updating the rest of the post as soon as possible.

In the meantime, check out the links below to see what the most recent Food and Wine Festival was like, as well as any questions you might have about it later in this article. Enjoy!

To prepare for your trip, read more about what’s changed in our EPCOT Reopening Guide.

Before we start, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. We will share with you the latest Food and Wine updates as well as our best Disney vacation planning tips. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Information Links:

• EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Menus Guide
• Top EPCOT Food and Wine Tips and Tricks
• 10 BEST and Worst Snacks at the Food and Wine Festival
• 11 MUST-TRY NEW items at EPCOT Food and Wine Festival

What is the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival?

If you’ve never been to the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival in Disney World, then you are in for a big treat, or should I say, lots of treats! You may have noticed there is some kind of Food and Wine Festival going on in Epcot almost all year round, and this is the one where it all started.

This year is the 30th annual EPCOT Food and Wine Festival which is a celebration of food and drink that happens every year. It allows guests to taste all sorts of different flavors from many countries in the world.

There are food marketplaces set up all throughout World Showcase and Future World, each with a different theme and representing a different region’s cuisine.

How the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Works

Each marketplace at Food and Wine has a different menu and is focused on small plates, not big meals. That way you can go from one booth to the next and try many different things without filling up. It’s best enjoyed as a casual experience when you can take your time and stroll from one booth to the next.

Disney’s Food and Wine Festival in EPCOT happens once a year and takes place over a few months. The 2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival starts on August 29, 2024, and ends on November 23, 2024. That’s a full 87 days!!

In fact, 2024 is much different from the past few years since it is returning more to its roots with a later opening and fewer total days.

For many years, the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival started during the last week in August often opening on a Thursday. For a few years following the closure and reopening of the parks, the festival was elongated and actually started in July.

For example, last year it was from July 27, 2023, to November 18, 2023, lasting a full 115 days.

The 2024 festival is significantly shorter at only 87 days and it means that EPCOT will be festival-free for the majority of the summer, from May 28 to August 28, 2024. In recent years, EPCOT has become oversaturated with festivals, with only a few days between the end of the current festival and the beginning of the next one.

My guess is that Disney wanted to reduce the number of total festival days each year to make each one more special, giving people a reason to come. The Food and Wine Festival was a good one to reduce since it is usually the longest of the year.

It also is true that it’s not pleasurable eating cheddar cheese soup in Walt Disney World in July, so the fewer festival days that happen during the hottest time of the year is a win in my book.

Either way, we are pumped for 87 days of EPCOT Food and Wine! You heard that right, it’s possible to stroll World Showcase in Epcot and taste your way around the world that whole time.

2024 EPCOT Food and Wine Marketplaces

The best part about the Disney Food and Wine Festival is obviously, just that….the FOOD! Every year we write reviews on every Food booth, marketplace, and kiosk in EPCOT so that you know exactly which food and drink items you have to try, and what you can skip.

How Many Marketplaces are there at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival?

While we don’t yet have the total number for 2024, last year the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival had a total of 29 food marketplaces, all with different menus and many offering an international flare. This year’s list will be announced shortly and will include also include additional locations that will be announced at a later date.

The number of Food and Wine marketplaces decreased last year from the previous year’s festival when there were a total of 33 different locations. In past years, there have even been as many as 39 different food marketplaces.

While some dishes can be described as “exotic” Disney tries to make most dishes as broadly appealing as possible, so you will have no problem finding things to try.

Disney has not released the full list of Food Marketplaces for 2024. While we are waiting, here is the list of last year’s EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Marketplaces. (Menus and Reviews coming soon!)

• The Alps
• Australia
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Brew-Wing at the Odyssey
• Bubbles & Brine (NEW!) – (Opening Later This Fall)
• Canada
• Char & Chop (NEW!) – (Opening Later This Fall)
• China
• Coastal Eats
• Flavors from Fire
• Flavors of America
• France
• The Fry Basket
• Germany
• Greece
• Hawai’i – (Opening August 15th)
• India
• Ireland
• Italy
• Japan
• Kenya
• Mexico
• The Noodle Exchange – (Opening August 15th)
• Shimmering Sips hosted by CORKCICLE
• Spain
• Swirled Showcase (NEW!) – (Opening Later This Fall)
• Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina
• Wine & Wedge (NEW!) – (Opening Later This Fall)

Additional Locations

• Connections Café & Connections Eatery
• Funnel Cake
• Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company (4 in-park locations)
• Refreshment Outpost
• Refreshment Port

Festival Marketplaces from Previous Years:

• Africa
• Citrus Blossom
• Cool Wash
• Desserts & Champagne
• The Donut Box
• Islands of the Caribbean
• Lobster Landing
• Morocco
• Rotonda Bistro
• Waffles
• Wine and Dine featuring Festival Favorites

READ MORE: Full 2024 Food and Wine Festival Menus

New for 2024 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

We love our Food and Wine favorites. There are some dishes or drinks that we can’t wait to come back to, and we find ourselves getting year after year (hello pork belly in Brazil!) But part of the fun is also discovering all the new food items and 2024 is no exception, there are all sorts of new items you need to try!

We don’t have the full list of food marketplaces yet, but there are always new and exciting additions to the lineup. Last year we had 4 new marketplaces and here are the ones that debuted:

• Bubbles & Brine – This marketplace is seafood-based and has shrimp, crab and caviar dishes.
• Char & Chop – The roasted porchetta has now moved here, along with an IMPOSSIBLE spicy sausage and an assortment of charcuterie meats.
• Swirled Showcase – This has some classic Food & wine favs like the frozen apple pie and the liquid nitro cake, only this time it’s shaped like Mickey Mouse.
• Wine & Wedge – Lots of cheese going on here, all of which pairs incredibly with wine.

We’ll update you soon with which are our favorites and all the new must-try snacks at each of them so stay tuned!

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Tickets

Of course, the first step to getting to the Food and Wine Festival is figuring out how the tickets work for this event. Here is all the information about the tickets for Food and Wine:

The pricing and cost of the food is one of the most important things to know at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. How much does it cost to go to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival? How much are the food and drinks? Are they free? We’re going to answer all those questions you have below…

How Much Do Food and Drinks Cost at the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival?

The reason you are at the Food and Wine festival is to try all the food and wine, so knowing how much they cost is important. Sorry to say, the food is not free at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, and there is a small cost for every item.

Pricing on this year’s food items ranges from about $5.00 to about $10.00 with most falling in the range of $5.00-$7.00.  Beer options range from about $5.00-10.00, while most wines will run about $7.00-$10.00.

Portion Sizes

The first thing people notice is the portion size, for the most part, it’s smaller.  While there are some items on the menu that can fill you up, the idea of the festival isn’t to go to one place, order one item, and that’s your lunch or dinner.

Instead, they offer little samples of many different foods from around the world so that you can sample perhaps something totally different than what you’ve ever tasted before and perhaps turn yourself on to something you otherwise might not have ever tried. 

The portion sizes depend on the item, but often times it’s just right so that you can be adventurous and try something new, yet at the same time if you don’t like it you’ve only spent $5.00 so it’s not that huge a deal.

Is Anything Free at Food and Wine?

While the food and drinks do cost money, as well as talks, demonstrations, and premium events, there are still quite a few free things to do at Epcot Food and Wine. Some of the free stuff includes:

• Celebrity Meet and Greets
• Book and Bottle Signings
• Kid’s Play Center

Can You Use Snack Credits at EPCOT Food and Wine Festival?

Yes, you can use snack credits at the Food and Wine Festival if you are on the Disney Dining Plan. Most food and drink items are eligible to use snack credits on, and it’s a very popular way to use up those extra credits.

Snack credits can’t be used on every single food and drink item, but the vast majority are eligible.

Can You Use Disney Gift Cards at Food and Wine Festival?

Another way to pay for your snacks at Epcot Food and Wine is by using Disney gift cards. You can even buy a Food and Wine Gift Card. 

Any of these forms of payment are accepted while visiting Epcot Food and Wine so feel free to choose whichever one is more convenient for you.

Official Festival Gift Cards

TIP: MagicBands are the most convenient way to buy food and the festival, but you can easily spend more than you want to. Instead, the best way to set a budget at the Disney Food and Wine Festival and stick to it is by buying one of the Official Festival Gift Cards.

These small-sized, festival-themed gift cards come on a wearable plastic band making it easy to swipe and pay. You can also set a limit by only buying charging the card with a certain set amount of money, keeping you on a budget. If you only want to spend $100, charge it with $100, and be sure to not go over your set limit.

• Activate with as little as $15
• Scan to pay for food and more
• Reload as often as you’d like
• Unique design features the Festival logo

They are also a great souvenir at the end of the festival that you can take home with you when you leave.

To buy a Mini Festival Gift Card go to one of the select merchandise locations in Epcot. If you don’t use up all the money on the gift card at the Food and Wine Festival, you can use it at select Disney locations nationwide. Check out DisneyGiftCard.com for a complete list of participating locations.

Food and Wine FAQs

Is the Food and Wine Festival every day? What time do the booths open? What’s the best day to visit? We have all your basic Epcot Food and Wine questions answered here:

Epcot Food and Wine Tips and Tricks

There are so many things to keep in mind when visiting the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, prices, menu, best times, etc. We’ve compiled some of our favorite tips for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival here so make sure you give it a read to know how to make the best use of your time when there.

1. Best Time to Go to Epcot Food and Wine Festival

The Disney Food and Wine Festival in Epcot is definitely an amazing event, but there are times when it’s more enjoyable to go. If you go at the wrong time it can be devastating, please trust me on this one! So what is the best time to visit Food and Wine?

As a general rule, the best times to visit are early in the day (right at 11:00 am or 12:00 pm ), early in the week (between Monday and Thursday and a bit later into the season.

I like to go right when the marketplaces open each day because this is the time of day when the lines are the shortest. Between 11 am and 12 pm, you can hit 4-5 booths easily and hardly have to wait in line. Any later and the lines get big which means melting under the Florida sun which is not fun!

Even when locals are there during the week they tend to come late in the day after work, so anything after 5 pm is terrible. It also gets a bit of a frat party vibe and sometimes people get out of hand drinking, not my idea of a family vacation. Avoid it like the plague.

Obviously, the earlier you go in the week the better because there are fewer people at Epcot Food and Wine from Monday to Thursday. Again that means less time in line for you!

Saturdays are by far the busiest days of the week for Food and Wine, it’s when all the locals come out which means it will be packed out with people.  It’s not worth it waiting in the sweltering heat for 20 minutes just for a bowl of noodles or a cheese plate.  Last year I remember going on the weekend, and it’s a mistake I never want to make again! 

Go mid-week when the crowds will be much more manageable.

Best times to go:

• During the week (especially Monday through Thursday)
• At 11 am right when the marketplaces open.
• Later in the season (Late October – November)

Avoid at all costs:

• Going on the weekend (especially Saturdays)
• Going late in the day
• The first and last weekends of the festival

2. How Many Days Should I Go to the Food & Wine Festival?

This really depends on you. Are you a local? Are you visiting Disney World on vacation only for one week? If you are an Orlando-area resident you are going to have plenty of opportunities to visit the Food and Wine Festival in Disney World, and you could easily come 10 times and still have a ball.

If you are just visiting Walt Disney World though for 1 week, I would say 1 time at Food and Wine is absolutely a must, and possibly 2 or more depending on the way you like to vacation. I like to come around 11 am, grab 4 or 5 things and then leave and go back to the hotel. I usually stay at an Epcot-area hotel though which makes this possible (more on that in a minute).

If you are only coming to Epcot once during your trip then make sure to visit Food and Wine periodically throughout that day. There are so many different things to try though I’d really try to visit EPCOT twice on your visit to give you more opportunities to try different things.

3. Have a Plan

This is Food & Wine 101 right here. If you think you should just wake up in the morning and head on over to EPCOT Food and Wine without a plan, that’s a recipe for disaster. EPCOT during this festival period is crowded, hot and there is so much to do you will for sure miss out on some amazing experiences if you don’t plan first.

Spend a lot of time in this post studying the best times to go to EPCOT Food and Wine and even more time looking at the menus before going. There is just too much food to eat and you need to know what the “Can’t-miss” and “Skip-over” food and drink items are so you don’t waste time.

I can’t overstate this enough, be organized and Food and Wine will be a million times more fun for you and your family.

4. Stick to a Budget

Most items at the Food and Wine Festival only cost $5 to $7, but that can add up really fast, especially if you have a family or you add alcoholic drinks into the mix. The portions are not really big and a person with a normal appetite can easily eat 2-4 items within an hour.

And if you have an extra-large appetite like me or plan on staying all day, then that number can grow and so can the bill.

I’m not cheap, and I think everyone should have fun on vacation, but I like to set the amount of money I want to spend that day at the festival before I go, and then stick to that amount. We are always trying to do Disney World on a budget, and if you get one of the festival gift cards I explained earlier, that will help you stick to your budget.

5. Scout Out the Best Looking Marketplaces First

Once you have an idea of where you want to eat, go there and actually look at the food first before ordering. With open kitchens, it’s really easy to see all the food being prepared to see if it’s something you would like or not.

If you can resist the temptation of diving right into the first food booth that looks good to you, I like to make one loop around World Showcase FIRST to scout it out and then on my way back through getting the things that really looked best. That way you don’t fill yourself up after the first 3 booths and regret not having room for that pork belly later.

6. Come Hungry

This seems obvious when you’re going to a festival in Disney World called: “Food and Wine” but you’d be surprised at how many people eat a big breakfast before going or have a sit-down dinner planned in Epcot that night.

I like to have a very light breakfast on the morning of the festival, then by 11 am, I’m ready to start chowing down! You are going to need all the space in your stomach you can muster when at EPCOT Food and Wine so don’t make the rookie mistake in eating somewhere else first.

7. Pace Yourself

Remember, this is a marathon and not a sprint. Yes, your plan could be just to pop into Food and Wine for an hour, grab a few things and move on to the next attraction, but a much better experience is the make it at least a 3-4 hour event.

That means you don’t want to stuff yourself right away that you then won’t be able to try more items later on. Also, be responsible and pace yourself with your alcohol consumption. There are already too many drunk guests stumbling their way around World Showcase, you don’t need to join the club. If you spread everything out it will be much better.

What helps you to do that?…..

8. Go with a Group

This has multiple advantages as we’re going to break down, but no trip to Disney’s Food and Wine Festival would be as fun if you didn’t have friends with you to enjoy it!

This may sound crazy, but if you go with a group to Food and Wine, you can share your food. Yes usually I would never, ever suggest this, but the beauty of the Food and Wine Festival is that the food is made in small portions so you can try lots of stuff.

There are literally dozens of amazing snacks to try and if you are only going for one or two days you won’t be able to finish it all alone. If you go in a pack though you can try small bites of more items, and then make another pass through to get your favorites another time. 

There are so many great things to try, it would be a shame if you went all-out in Australia because it’s the first kiosk you see, and then when you get to Canada you just don’t have enough space for that buttery filet mignon!

That’s the nice thing, the sizes are so small that even if you don’t like something, it probably only costs around $5.00, so it’s not a lot of money lost.  More often than not though you’re going to be really surprised that you actually do like that new snack you normally wouldn’t have tried and maybe even return for seconds!

10. Take an Air Conditioning Break

The Food and Wine Festival in EPCOT opens at 11 am every day and goes through the hottest part of the day. Since Disney World is located in sunny (and humid) Florida, and the majority of the festival is outside you are going to need some breaks in between the snacks. This doesn’t apply to just the Food and Wine Festival, but to any visit to Walt Disney World.

Most of the World Showcase is exposed to the sun and the Food and Wine Festival booths are not usually in a shaded area. That means finding an air-conditioned shop or attraction is crucial to cooling down and getting through the day.

Our favorite “Food & Wine Air-Conditioning Break Locations” are:

• Mexico – Gran Fiesta Tour: Usually a short line and the whole pavilion here is air-conditioned with beautiful scenery.
• The American Adventure – The American Adventure: This is a glorious 30-minute seated break, and you’ll even learn something about American history!
• Japan – Mitsukoshi store: there are lots of things to do inside this huge store in World Showcase including pearl hunting and trying unique Japanese sweets.
• France – Impressions de France: a 20-minute ride through the French countryside.

That leads us to our next Food and Wine tip:

11. Drink A lot!

Well, not that way.  Do that in moderation!  There is always time for Drinking Around the World in EPCOT, but I’m talking about drinking a lot of water so that you stay hydrated. 

If you listen to my previous advice and go in September or even through most of October, it’s going to be hot.  The first day of the festival this year had a heat index of 107 degrees!  That’s not ideal for walking around and stuffing your face. 

You should really make sure you are drinking enough water and pacing yourself so you don’t tire out.  A good rule of thumb is one water for every non-water drink.  Also to avoid paying $4.00+ for a bottle of water, you can go to any normal Quick Service Restaurant in Epcot and just ask them for a cup of ice water and they’ll give it to you for free.

Also on really hot days make sure to order a lot of stuff that’s cold.  The La Passion Martini Slush in France is a perfect example of this as it’s cool and refreshing and will definitely keep you going!

12. Best Hotel for Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Any of the EPCOT area resorts are the best places to stay for the Disney Food and Wine Festival. They are the closest to World Showcase and in most cases, you can walk right in or take the Friendship Boats if you like.

Here are our picks of the best Epcot Food and Wine Hotels:

• Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
• Boardwalk Inn Resort
• Swan and Dolphin Resorts

Now that the Disney Skyliner is open, you can also stay at one of the resorts on the Skyliner Route which will drop you off at the International Gateway which is perfect too.

• Pop Century Resort
• Art of Animation Resort
• Riviera Resort
• Caribbean Beach Resort

Check out our ranking of the best Resorts in Walt Disney World for more details on all your options.

13. Is the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Worth It?

The Food and Wine Festival in EPCOT can be very expensive which leads many to wonder if it is worth the price. I think it absolutely is!

Yes, the food is not the best value if you are paying cash, but you can actually get some really good value if you are on the Disney Dining Plan (currently not being offered). The food quality I find is higher than your average quick service restaurant in Walt Disney World making it a better value a lot of times. Plus there are just so many unique and interesting flavors that you can’t get anywhere else.

For those reasons, yes the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is worth it at least for one day.

That said there are some items that are over-priced and not worth it, so study up ahead of time on the best snacks to try so you get your money’s worth when you go. Our post on the Top Snacks at EPCOT Food and Wine will help you to do that, and make sure to read through the full menus to see what jumps out at you.

EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Welcome Center

The Festival welcome center is where you go for all the Food and Wine Festival info once you get to Epcot. We are still waiting for more info about where it will be located in 2024, but in theory, a major part of it will be hosted in the new CommuniCore Hall which opens on June 10 right in the heart of World Celebration..

More info coming soon…

EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Special Events

One of the best things about Food and Wine is all the Special and Premium Events that they have each year.  Some of the common events are:

• East to the Beat Concert Series
• Culinary Demonstrations and Seminars
• Food and Beverage Pairings
• Mix It Make It Celebrate It
• Hands-on Workshops
• Party for the Senses
• Sunday Brunch with the Chef
• Kid’s Activities

*Not all of these events have returned yet to the Food and Wine Festival. Below you can see which ones are confirmed for 2024, and we’ll update you if more are announced.

Recently, we did a Vodka Tasting & Cocktail Making course learning all about and using the Zubrowka Bison Grass Vodka.  They teach you everything about vodka and how to properly mix it and make cocktails with it.  It was awesome, my dad absolutely loved it!!

Keep in mind that some of the premium events and special dining events can be quite expensive. I usually stick to the stuff that’s cheaper and more affordable as the Food and Wine Festival is already pretty expensive, but some of the special events are pretty cool too, and worth it. Just realize that they aren’t cheap. Browse through all the different events below for more info on each event…

For reservations to these events, please call (407) 939-3378. For Disney Vacation Club Members, book by calling Member Services at (800) 800-9800. Or go online to www.tasteepcot.com

Live Music & Entertainment

This year the Eat to the Beat Concert Series is back as usual. This live music concert series will be performed 3 times every evening at the America Gardens Theatre stage.

Eat to the Beat Concert Series Lineup

An awesome part of the Food and Wine Festival is not only eating and drinking but also taking your food and listening to some amazing music too!  You can do that with the yearly Eat to the Beat Concert series which hosts live music every night of the Festival!

You won’t find A-List singers or groups here, but the lineup for Eat to the Beat is pretty solid for entertainment which is included in the price of admission and it features both internationally-known bands as well as some local groups from the Orlando area. Can’t ask any more than that right?

Here is the full concert lineup and dates for 2024:

• Aug. 30-31 – The Fray
  
• Sept. 1-2 – Sugar Ray
• Sept. 6-7 – Hoobastank
• Sept. 8-9 – Yellowcard (NEW)
• Sept. 13-14 – Tiffany
• Sept. 15-16 – MercyMe
• Sept. 20-21 – Sheila E.
• Sept. 22-23 – The Wanted (NEW)
• Sept. 27 – Luis Figueroa
• Sept. 28-29 – Mau Y Ricky (NEW)
• Sept. 30 – Jesse & Joy (NEW)
  
• Oct. 4-5 – Aloe Blacc (NEW)
• Oct. 6-7 – Joey Fatone & Friends
• Oct. 11-12 – We The Kings
• Oct. 13-14 – Switchfoot
• Oct. 18-19 – David Archuleta (NEW)
• Oct. 20-21 – Billy Ocean
• Oct. 25-28 – Hanson
  
• Nov. 1-2 – Haley Reinhart featuring Emily Estefan, Casey Abrams and Janel Parrish (NEW)
• Nov. 3-4 – Boyz II Men
• Nov. 8-9 – Magic! (NEW)
• Nov. 10-11 – Parmalee (NEW)
• Nov. 15-16 – Smash Mouth
• Nov. 17-18 – 98 Degrees

Eat to the Beat Dining Packages

Eat to the Beat Dining Packages were very popular last year, and they are returning again in 2024.

Getting to see one of the Eat to the Beat concerts is a highlight of any trip to the Food and Wine Festival, however, getting a good seat can be a challenge. If you don’t want to have to wait with the crowds you can sign up for an Eat to the Beat Dining Package which will give you reserved seats for the concerts.

The Eat to the Beat Dining Package is available Friday-Monday.

Reserve a dining package from one of the 4 participating Epcot restaurants for Lunch or Dinner and get reserved seats for the show the same night as your dining package.

Prices vary widely depending on which restaurant you choose and which meal (dinners are more expensive of course). Prices start at $36 per person and go all the way to $99 per person. An Appetizer, Entree, Dessert, or a Full Buffet (where applicable), as well as one Drink (non-alcoholic or alcoholic for guests 21 and older) are all included in the packages. You must choose a dining reservation that starts at least 2.5 hours BEFORE the concert start time.

Food and Beverage Pairings

Learn how to correctly pair flavorful food and beverages with an expert chef. Follow along as you master all the subtleties of food pairing from someone with years of industry knowledge and taste the different pairings.

Culinary Demonstrations and Seminars

Have you ever wanted to learn how to like a professional chef? Join one of the culinary demonstrations or seminars and learn from the best chefs in the world!

Each seminar lasts 45 minutes and is taught by renowned gourmet chefs who will show you all the tricks as they whip up amazing dishes right before your eyes. Great for honing your kitchen skills and taking your cooking to the next level.

Mix It Make It Celebrate It

Challenge your senses as you expand your culinary skills and beverage know-how!

Working side-by-side with chefs, beverage experts, and other kitchen wizards, attendees can roll up their sleeves for a hands-on lesson that teaches one of many different culinary or beverage skills. Each 75-minute guided, interactive experience offers a multi-sensory smorgasbord—from whipping up sweet treats and savory sensations to exploring cocktails, spirits, and wines.

Specialty Dining

If all the demonstrations and seminars weren’t enough, there are tons of specialty dining events to enjoy at Food and Wine for an extra cost. Here is the list of dining events that took place last time:

• Culinary Tour of Japan – Enjoy 3 traditional Japanese courses perfectly paired with sake and other beverages.

• French Family Meal Traditions – Enjoy traditional French hors d’oeuvres and entrées with the chefs at Monsieur Paul. Taste perfectly paired wines with your meal that will have you transported to France.

• Italian Food, Wine vs. Beer Pairing – Enjoy a 5-course traditional Italian meal and taste Italian Wines and Beers.

• Italian Regional Food & Wine Pairing Luncheon – Enjoy a 6-course Italian meal complete with wine pairings.

• Mediterranean Food & Wine Pairing – Enjoy 4 traditional Moroccan and Mediterranean courses of seafood and meat perfectly paired with regional wines.

• Mexican Tequila Lunch – Enjoy a 4-course traditional Mexican meal complete with tequila pairings.

• Parisian Breakfast – Enjoy a marvelous traditional French buffet breakfast complete with baguettes, buttery croissants, pastries, and more. You’ll never want another breakfast again!

• Parisian Afternoon, Sandwiches, Macarons and Bubbles! – Enjoy French desserts, finger sandwiches, macarons, and unlimited mimosas in this unique afternoon meal.

Party for the Senses

This is the most exclusive event every year at Epcot Food and Wine. Join famous chefs, entertainers, and personalities in this one-of-a-kind sensory overload filled with food, drinks, music, and all sorts of fun!

Over 20 tasting stations are set up for your delight by talented chefs throughout the Walt Disney World Resort. Go from station to station and taste your way through the night to your heart’s content all the while enjoying the live music and entertainment. Part of the entertainment includes the FEMMES OF ROCK who were amazing in the past.

Kids’ Activities at Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Just because the majority of people focus on the food and wine in the name title, there are still lots of fun things for kids to do at the festival too! Here are some of the best kid’s activities to do at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival in 2024:

Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt

Take off on a Ratatouille-inspired scavenger hunt around the park. Kids can search for the hidden statuettes of Remy scattered throughout World Showcase. Follow along by purchasing the map and stickers from these select merchandise locations:

• Pin Central
• Port of Entry
• World Traveler at International Gateway

Emile’s Fromage Montage

This fun food stroll encourages guests to sample a variety of delicious cheeses served in inventive ways. Guests use their Festival Passport to find Emile’s Fromage Montage menu items from select global marketplaces and then receive a stamp with each purchase on the list.

This year, Emile’s Fromage Montage is going back to including five cheese dishes, just like last year.

Once you track down and purchase five featured dishes, bring your stamped Festival Passport to the specified location for a specialty unique item to enjoy.

We are waiting on the updated list of participating marketplaces in 2024. Last year’s participating marketplaces included:

• The Alps – Raclette (any)
• Brazil – Pão de Queijo: Brazilian Cheese Bread
• Canada – Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup served with a Pretzel Roll
• The Swanky Saucy Swine – Crispy Barbecued Pork Rinds with Pimento Cheese
• Flavors from Fire – Smoked Corned Beef with Crispy Potatoes, Cheese Curds, Pickled Onions, and Beer-Cheese Fondue
• Germany – Schinkennudeln: Pasta Gratin with Ham, Onions, and Cheese
• Greece – Griddled Cheese with Pistachios and Honey
• Hawaiʻi – Passion Fruit Cheesecake with Toasted Macadamia Nuts
• India – Crispy Paneer with Mango-Curry Ketchup
• Mac and Eats – Mac & Cheese (any)
• The Swanky Saucy Swine – Crispy Barbecued Pork Rinds with Pimento Cheese

Food and Wine Festival Merchandise

Eating and drinking at Food and Wine is great and all, but it’s also a prime place for shopping too. In 2024 there is a lot of great new merchandise to choose from and offers a nice opportunity to take a souvenir home with you from the festival.

Here is a look at some of the merchandise from this year’s Food and Wine festival:

Take home a taste of the fun with magnificent merchandise that keeps the magic alive between visits, featuring beloved friends, like Remy from “Ratatouille” and Mickey Mouse.

Everyone’s favorite purple dragon, Figment, will also be cooking up some fun this fall just in time for the festival.

There are also a few more things we have up our chef coat sleeve, including fun drinkware from CORKCICLE.

When the festival opens we’ll give you a better look at all of the merchandise so stay tuned.

Directions

What’s the best way to get to EPCOT Food and Wine? There are many ways to get there but it depends on where you are staying.

EPCOT Resort Area Hotels – If you are staying at one of the nearby EPCOT area hotels like Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club, Disney’s Boardwalk Inn, or the Swan and Dolphin Hotels one of the best ways to get to EPCOT is on foot. You can easily walk through the International Gateway in the back of EPCOT and head directly to the fun! From the Swan and Dolphin figure about 15 minutes depending on how fast you walk.

If you are saving your energy for laps around World Showcase Lagoon, then you can take the Friendship Boats from any of those hotels too. It’ll be about a 10-minute boat ride but you might have to wait 20 minutes for a boat

Caribbean Beach Resort, Pop Century, Art of Animation, and Disney Riviera Resort – If you are staying at any of these resorts, you’ll be able to arrive at EPCOT in style in the new Disney Skyliner. It’s also great because it drops you off at the International Gateway, right near all the food!

If you are afraid of heights then you can always take the Disney World Buses, Drive, or Ride Sharing like the Minnie Vans, but you’ll have to go through the front entrance to Epcot and it’s a long walk from there.

Magic Kingdom Resorts – If you are staying at the Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower, Polynesian Resort, or Grand Floridian Resort then the best way to get to EPCOT is by Monorail. This can be done from the park itself or any of the Disney Monorail Resorts. Otherwise, you can take a bus, drive, or ride-sharing too.

Any other Walt Disney World Resort – Buses, driving, and ride-sharing are your best options.

Off-site – If there is a shuttle from your hotel you can take it to Epcot, otherwise you’ll have to drive or use ride-sharing.

Conclusion

If you’re a foodie like us then you will really enjoy the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. It can be a whole lot of fun, especially if you plan ahead and do it right, and something that every visitor to Walt Disney World needs to do at least once.

That said we are slightly concerned about the trend of rising prices and shrinking portion sizes over the last few years, but the increasing quality of the food offsets that somewhat. Just make sure you read the Food and Wine Menus ahead of time so you can get the best bang for your buck and not waste time with some of the weaker menu items.

Also, make sure you go at one of our recommended times that way you can avoid the frat party crowd and avoid the heat as much as possible.

There is so much to explore at the Food & Wine Festival in EPCOT and you could literally go for a week straight and not get to experience everything this Disney festival has to offer you (of course you’d blow through your entire budget for your vacation in the process should you do that!)

Overall we still love the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and think it’s a MUST-DO event every year in Walt Disney World. Some of the other EPCOT festivals like Flower and Garden and Festival of the Arts are right there, but Food and Wine is still our favorite!

And if you need help booking your visit to Disney World during the Food & Wine Festival, we highly recommend using an Authorized Disney Travel Agent such as the amazing team at Show You the World Travel. They will treat you like Rock Stars, you will save money, and best of all they are 100% FREE to use!

If you are looking for more info on the other EPCOT Festivals, check these links below:

• EPCOT Festival of the Arts
• EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival
• EPCOT Festival of the Holidays

More Epcot Food and Wine Festival Info

For more information or to book one of these special events visit: www.epcotfoodfestival.com or call: 407-WDW-FEST.  Annual Pass holders are eligible for a $2.00 discount per person on many events.  Call immediately as many of these events fill up.  All bookings are non-transferable and non-refundable.

I hope you enjoyed this article about the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Info.  Right now you can check out some Food and Wine Festival Tips, as well as a Menu Guide.  I’ll continue to post some more recommendations and reviews for you so that you have the best time possible there.  Enjoy!!

Your Thoughts:

I want to know what you think about the Epcot Food and Wine Festival 2024…

• When are you going to Food and Wine in 2024?
• What is your favorite item?

Let us know in the comments section below!

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