Ultimate Recap of 2018 Food and Wine Festival Center
If I were challenged to summarize the 2018 Epcot Food and Wine Festival in the most brief, succinct manner, I would need just one word: lovely. From the moment you enter through the Park’s front gates, the Festival begins.
The artistry and design elements that make up the Festival’s many photo opportunities begin before you even scan your MagicBand, and just like that, you’re swept off into a world of culinary flavors.
The Festival Center- just to the right of the old Universe of Energy location- is the place to stop off for the Festival’s seminars, a plethora of food and small plate pairings, and free samples too! The clientele I saw frequenting the Festival Center when I visited just a few days ago raised a flag.
Only Annual Passholders and folks with seminar reservations were milling about. I didn’t mind the free walkways and that I didn’t have to wait for any of the food or drink offerings…but I couldn’t help but think of all the park guests who were missing out! Let’s take a look inside this year’s Festival Center, and why you should make it a top stop on your Food and Wine Festival adventures!
Drinks
First off, the Festival Center is the hub of the whole shebang! If you couldn’t tell by its name, a step inside will give it away. Branded merchandise out the wazoo isn’t the only tip off; but the wide range of beverage offerings sure are! Shimmering Sips is the only mimosa-focused stop on the Festival’s culinary passport. Judging from the line of folks waiting for their drinks, bubbly drinks are the most sought-after this year!
If you’re more of a beer aficionado, they’ve got you covered too! Craft Drafts is tapping Florida-brewed beers from 11am to Park close each and every day of the Festival. The Cast Members pulling the frothy, hoppy, and oh-so-smooth amber-colored beers from those taps can definitely cancel their gym memberships, because their arms didn’t stop working the entire time I was in line! The flights are definitely the most popular here.
The Festival Center Wine Shop is definitely the most expansive of the stores in the Festival Center. Bottles from across the country- and across the globe- are for sale in such an appealing display that, if it weren’t for the ounce restrictions on airplanes, I’d definitely have picked up a few myself! The wine shop is also the place to go for daily wine pours that rotate each day. A member of my party ordered a Pinot Noir and she gave it two massive thumbs up!
Free Samples and Delicious Displays
If you’re not keen on alcoholic beverages, or if you haven’t celebrated your 21st birthday yet, there is plenty for you to do in the Festival Center too! Joffrey’s Coffee has a big feature at the Festival Center, and during the early hours of the day, different blends are sampled out to guests! When I visited, I sampled Mickey’s 90th anniversary blend and enjoyed sipping on my complimentary coffee while I waited in line for my seminar.
Speaking of seminars, the Festival Center is home to all of the wine, cheese, food, and countless other chef-led seminars that make Food and Wine Festival so unique.
I was lucky enough to snag a seat at a seminar focusing on delicious, tender, coffee-infused slow-cooked brisket (or the recipe and tutorial, check out the live video of the seminar and learned the ins and outs making the dish while sampling a taste of the recipe!
Last but certainly not least is my favorite in the Festival Center…the Ghirardelli Chocolate Experience! When you enter, you’re greeted with a complimentary sample of one of their delicious chocolate squares. As tempting as it is to tear it open and eat it right then and there, hold onto it for just a few minutes! Make your way to the back of the Chocolate Experience and take a look at the unbelievable, totally edible, pure chocolate displays of edible Disney art!
The Disney pastry chefs from the Deluxe Resorts have outdone themselves, and there isn’t anything sweeter than exploring the jaw-dropping displays while sampling your complimentary chocolate! My favorite is the pure chocolate model of the Headless Horseman- what’s yours? Leave me a comment and let me know!
Special thanks to Maria Salerno for writing this article: Hiya pal! I am a NYC-based writer thrilled to a part of your Disney vacation planning! I’m a WDW Annual Passholder, so you can find me in the parks regularly throughout the year. In addition to being a Disney Parks loving girl, I’m also a Disney toy and merchandise collector, a runDisney enthusiast, and Disney music and movie aficionado. You can follow me on Instagram: NYCtoAP and find me on YouTube: NYCtoAP. Thanks for reading, hope to see ya real soon.