Walt Disney World’s Food and Wine Festival 2016 will begin September 14th this year and last for an unprecedented 62 days, ending on November 14th.
This very popular event takes place mostly around World Showcase in EPCOT. Besides the 11 countries already represented, dozens of additional food kiosks from other countries will be added, offering tempting treats for you foodies out there!
Tips for EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival 2016:
1. You’ll need to book your dining reservations in advance. You can do this 180 days in advance of your vacation. You can do this with online reservations or for phone reservations call (407) WDW–DINE or (407) 939-
Or, rather than eat a sit down meal, try the appetizer size “meals” around World Showcase…
2. There are more than 2 dozen food booths scattered along World Showcase. By day, this is a great opportunity to introduce your children to unusual and exotic foods their palate may not be familiar with. At night, it’s a romantic opportunity for couples to stroll under the stars, sipping a cocktail and nibbling their way “around the World.”
…After you’ve eaten, take in a concert. Free!
3. The schedule for 2016 has not been announced yet but performers in the past have included: Rick Springfield, The Pointer Sisters, Smash Mouth, David Cook, Everclear, Boys II Men, Chaka Khan and Sugar Ray, just to name a few.
4. Take in a special event: Culinary “Boot Camps,” special regional wine and food pairing meals, mixology sessions and intimate celebrity chef symposiums. Keep your eye on this site for more information and to make your reservations.
5. EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival is a popular event. Expect large crowds on the weekend when many locals visit the park. If you can work it into your schedule, visit EPCOT early in the work week and save the other parks for the weekend.
6. Pace yourself. World Showcase doesn’t open until 11am. You’ll be there through lunch and possibly dinner. There are a lot of tempting bites offered. Share when possible to maximize the taste testing factor and minimize the cost. And on extra warm days, drink plenty of water to off-set the effects of the adult beverages.
And speaking of alcohol….
7. If it’s late afternoon to early evening, leave the kids at “home.” Disney offers plenty of babysitting options and from personal experience, this festival seems to attract a more adult crowd, displaying adult behavior. And sometimes, not so attractive adult behavior. We made the mistake one time with a woman sloshing a margarita over our 3-year-old’s head and our impressionable 12 year-old counting how many “inebriated” (my word, not hers) she could find. Never again.
8. Stop by the Festival Information center located between Mission Space and Universe of Energy. There you can meet cookbook authors, have a bottle of wine signed, purchase unique merchandise and pick up a FREE special passport to document your journey.
Have fun and happy eating!
