Helpful Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Food & Wine Festival Visit
There’s still nearly two months of culinary fun at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in Walt Disney World. From now until November 23rd, guests can enjoy incredible eats, awesome treats, toe-tapping entertainment and the dazzling new “Epcot Forever” fireworks display. With so much to see do and explore, there are simple steps you can take to maximize your Food & WIne Fest visit.
Here are some of our favorite suggestions:
Scope Out the Menus Ahead of Time
One of the regular comments I hear from guests visiting Food & Wine for the first time is that there were so many kitchens, menus and offerings that guests often don’t know where to start. That’s why we here at MickeyBlog think its a great idea to do a bit of forward planning. Scope out the menus ahead of time and make a list of some of your favorite dishes and where to find them. That way on the day you’ll have some delicious choices on stand-by.
Check out this article for a complete look at the Food & Wine menus.
Bring the Kids WIth You
A common misconception that a lot of Disney-goers have is that there isn’t much to keep the kids’ attention at the Food & Wine Festival but that couldn’t be further from the truth! There are fun events like Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt, special children’s play zones as well as menu items that kids are sure to love!
Get the kids excited by picking out some incredible treats they can try during your visit. If you need a bit of inspiration check out our list of dishes kids are sure to love!
Grab Your Passport
When you arrive at Epcot be sure to head to the Festival Welcome Center where you can pick up your 2019 Food & Wine Passport. It serves as a guide to all of the incredible dining, events, concerts and more you’ll find during the fest. There are even sticker sets and checklists so you can keep track of all of the delicious treats you tried and keep tabs on the ones still on your must-eat list.
For a sneak peek of this year’s passport check out this article.
Go Against The Grain
One of our top picks for minimizing the crowd levels (as they can get pretty busy during Festival time) is to go in the opposite direction of the kitchens listed in the Food & Wine Festival Passport. This means that you are following a route opposite of the ones most of the other guests are following so those initial few stops you make to try out some of the delicious treats shouldn’t be as crowded.
Weekday Visits Are Better
Speaking of crowds, during Festival Season, the crowds tend to be much heavier during the weekend when you not only get the tourists but also the local crowds. For that reason, if you have a bit of flexibility in your schedule plan a visit earlier during the workweek.
Visit Earlier in the Day
Most of the food booths around the World Showcase will open up at 11 am. Epcot is noticeably less crowded the earlier in the day that you go and will reach their peak levels around lunchtime. Diving in at 11 am means that you’ll get a jumpstart on the crowds and also frees you up to enjoy a nice siesta in the afternoon when crowds and the Orlando heat become unbearable.
Keep Tabs On Your Spending With the Food & Wine Festival Gift Card
Keeping track of your Food & Wine Festival spending couldn’t be easier. Simply pick up one of these awesome Festival Gift Card wristlets from one of the many vendors at Epcot. You can pre-load then with a balance that you can then use to dine your way around the World Showcase. It’s a great way to treat yourself to some indulgent dishes while also keep track of your spending! Plus the cute Remy design makes for an awesome Disney souvenir.
Remember Those Snack Credits
If you’re on the Disney Dining Plan then you’re in luck! The majority of the Food & Wine Festival menu items count as dining plan snacks. Familiarize yourself with the snack credit symbol listed above. Whenever you see it next to a menu item at the festival kitchens you can use your dining plan! However, be careful to use your credits in moderation. Each member in your party gets two snack credits to use per day. Spend too many credits at Food & Wine and you may find yourself paying out of pocket during the rest of your visit.
Drink Those Liquids
Though a lot of people like to brag about drinking their way around the World Showcase during the Food & Wine Festival remember that it’s also Orlando and it’s also hot! Remember to stay hydrated while making your way around Epcot. In addition to all of the incredible alcoholic drinks, scope out some non-alcoholic options you’ll want to try or pick up one of these awesome themed water bottles to fill up and take with you during your visit.
Don’t Forget Those Air-Conditioned Attractions
Though it’s easy to get lost in all of the incredible eats and treats, don’t forget that you are in the middle of Epcot! When you feel the crowds or food start to get to you, take some time out and enjoy some of the theme parks mellower attractions, shows or just take a break in one of the air-conditioned pavilions. Also with Disney’s Skyliner transportation system, it is now easier than ever to nip back to your resort for an afternoon siesta.
It’s not too late to plan your 2019 getaway to Disney’s Food and Wine Festival. Getting started is easy. Simply fill out our form below to get your FREE, no-obligation quote from MickeyTravels.
Thinking about a visit to Disney? Then why not consider working with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner? As an agent with MickeyTravels, I’ll be on hand to assist you with everything from finding your perfect package to helping you plan lots of special touches to make your visit truly magical. Best of all my services are absolutely FREE. Get in touch at 1.800.801.4025 via email at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook