EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

Last weekend my husband and I and another couple went to the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival. This was our second time attending this event and we cannot wait to go back. This is a fantastic event, which I encourage everyone to attend.

I do not need to go into detail regarding what Disney World is, or, in fact, what EPCOT is.  I am a huge Disney fan and have enjoyed one of the great perks of living in Florida -- Florida resident discounts at Disney World! Awwww yeah....

But, even if you can't get the discount, Disney World is obviously a well treasured national and international landmark. So, the big question is, why make a trip there during the EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival? Oh sooo many reasons!

First, the festival runs during October and November, which is a really nice time to visit central Florida. It is still very warm, but not oppressively hot. I wore short sleeves and shorts/skirts and was mostly comfortable. 

Second, it is a wine and food festival. I know that is an obvious statement, but how can you beat a day walking around in the sun noshing on appetizers and alcohol? The festival booths are scattered throughout the World Showcase portion of EPCOT. Each booth is focused on a different country (with a few random booths, like "Desserts and Champagne" thrown in for good measure). There are 2-3 food options and 3-5 drink options (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) at each booth. Like everything at Disney, the quality is incredible. This year I had sauteed barramundi with greens at the Australia booth -- it is amazing how a small outside booth can make perfectly cooked fish. I was blown away! The festival does not focus on a specific region, but instead, makes a wide sweep of the globe. We ate food from France, Mexico, South Korea and Singapore to name just a few. It is a great way to try many different types of food from many different regions. I tried pierogies for the first time (and of course loved them)!

In addition to the booths scattered around the World Showcase, there are numerous other events occurring during the Festival. There are concerts with family friendly acts. There are cooking demonstrations and wine tastings, which usually costs extra. At night, there is the Party for the Senses -- a huge cocktail party-type event, which also costs extra. There are also book signings and various other random activities, such as a chocolate tasting. Depending on how much money you want to spend, you can really partake in a wide range of activities. For those who are heat adverse, you can sign up for enough activities to even skip the outdoors. There is even a half marathon for those who want to try to burn off all the food and alcohol they consumed.

TIP: You can purchase a gift card at the beginning of the day which is attached to a wrist band that you can use at the various booths. It makes both purchasing and watching your funds so much easier. Because while I do not find the food outrageously priced, it can really add up.

The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is a fabulous event and I highly recommend planning a Disney World vacation around it! It is definitely a way to squeeze some adult time into a very kid-focused vacation. 

Disney World
Orlando, Florida
(407) 939-6244
www.disneyworld.disney.go.com