Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

By Molly McDougall

While fall in central Florida may not bring vibrant foliage or crisp temperatures, one seasonal event is certain: the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. This annual festival features Global Marketplaces with menus inspired by over a dozen countries with regional dishes, local wine and craft beer. Booths like Bramblewood Bites and Forest & Field serve autumn-inspired cuisine including cider-brined pork tenderloin, autumn chili and pumpkin mascarpone ravioli.

Communicore Hall, which opened over the summer, hosts the Festival Favorites marketplace which offers food and beverages from Epcot festivals past. The Communicore plaza also serves as a spot for character meet and greets as well as the ¡Celebración Encanto! musical presentation that debuted over the summer.

While the Food & Wine Festival may be a favorite of adult theme park-goers, Disney offers fun for the whole family with a pumpkin-themed scavenger hunt and hidden Remy figures from the movie Ratatouille. Additionally, guests of any age can complete a festival passport by purchasing five items from the cheese-focused Emile’s Fromage Montage menu to receive a free specialty food item.

Similarly to other festivals, Epcot offers nightly musical entertainment with the Eat to the Beat concert series. Nostalgia lovers rejoice with the appearances of boy band acts including Joey Fatone and Friends, Hanson, Boyz II Men and 98 Degrees, as well as 90s/00s rock bands Sugar Ray, Yellowcard and Smash Mouth. Each act performs three times per evening, all included with park admission. Dining packages are available for guaranteed seating in the outdoor amphitheater.

For athletes, this festival provides an opportunity in early November to compete in the Disney Wine & Dine 5K, 10K or Half Marathon. Costumed Disney characters and themed entertainment line the race courses. As part of the registration fee, participants who run the half marathon also receive access to an after-hours post-race party at Epcot.

Visitors to Walt Disney World resort should be aware of recent changes to Disney’s Lightning Lane terminology and booking policies. Previously, Disney offered Genie+ as a ticket add-on to skip the standby lines. Now, the service is called Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and most guests can purchase and book their first attraction return windows three days in advance (seven or more days for guests staying on Disney property).

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival ends the weekend before Thanksgiving – just enough time for the park to set up their next seasonal festival for the holidays.