Annnnd we’re back in EPCOT for the grand reopening and the first day of the Taste of EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. Last week we took a detailed look at all of the changes at Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom.
Epcot Entrance
Now, we’re live in EPCOT for the park’s Reopening Day to check out all of the new processes and changes! And don’t forget, the Taste of EPCOT Food and Wine Festival kicks off TODAY. You can view the full menus here.
Note: We have already checked out the park for a Cast Member preview. You can read more on our first day back in the park below.
Follow along with us today as we will be updating this post with new information!
Reopening Day
Entering EPCOT
Like at the Cast Member Preview, parking was every other space.
Parking
From there, we were routed up to the temperature checks. We scanned our MagicBand but touchpoints are not active at the gate.
Temperature Checks
Once in the park, we were greeted by a few Cast Members under Spaceship Earth!
Cast Members
One of our other reporters entered from the International Gateway.
International Gateway
This entrance had a bunch of Cast Members greeting guests.
International Gateway
Some of them were waving flags from the World Showcase countries!
Click here to see more about the International Gateway greeters!
Crowds and Wait Times
Crowds were present in EPCOT but not dense.
EPCOT
You were definitely around people, but there was plenty of room to stay socially distanced.
Click here for more crowd pictures from EPCOT’s opening day!
The longest a wait time got was Test Track which reached one hour mid-day.
Screenshot of Wait Times
Other wait times fluctuated between 5 minutes and around 45 minutes.
Click here to see more of EPCOT’s wait times today!
Construction Updates
Since we rode the Skyliner in over World Showcase, we got a glimpse of construction in the France Pavilion. We’re excited to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure when it opens!
France Pavilion
In the EPCOT Experience, we noticed that Spaceship Earth: Our Shared Story and the Mary Poppins attraction are conspicuously missing from the presentation.
Epcot Experience
Disney later confirmed that these projects have been postponed.
Click here to learn more about Disney’s statement.
Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine
We got to swing by the Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival when it surprised us by opening at the Cast Member Preview, but today it’s the official first day of the fest!
Festival Marketplaces
If island flavors are your thing, then swing by Islands of the Caribbean!
Flanocho
We’ll always say yes to Jerk-spiced Chicken.
Want to see our full review of Islands of the Caribbean? Click here!
At Earth Eats, you can get a little bit of Flower & Garden AND a little bit of Food & Wine!
Impossible Burger Slider
This booth features healthy dishes loaded with fruits and veggies.
Click here for our REVIEW of Earth Eats!
Mexico had some real winners this year. Does a Ribeye Taco sound good to you? Then you’re in luck!
Ribeye Taco
Plus, can you really pass up three margarita options?
Check out our REVIEW of the Mexico Marketplace! Click here!
China has had some BIG Best of the Fest options in years past, and we were sad to see them MISSING from the menu!
Mongolian Beef Bao Bun
The new options weren’t bad though, and we may have found a new contender!
Click here to learn about the China menu!
The Africa booth definitely has a limited menu, but that doesn’t stop it from being one of our favorites!
Piri Piri Skewered Shrimp with Citrus-scented Couscous
You won’t find flavors like these anywhere else in the fest!
Want to see more PICS from the Africa booth? Click here!
Refreshment Outpost is home to the lovable Spike the Bee Sipper!
Outpost Lemonade
And you can load him up with Frozen Lemonade, which sounds like a win to us!
Click here to learn more about Refreshment Outpost!
The Germany booth is usually a winner for us.
Germany Food Booth
After all, we will NEVER pass up a Bratwurst and a Beer!
Click here for our FULL REVIEW of Germany!
Though we weren’t wowed by the food at the Italy booth, we were BIG fans of the drinks;
Italy
It would be pretty hard to get us to pass up two different types of Sangria though!
Click here to see how we felt about all the eats at the Italy booth!
You might not think that seafood-lovers need to head straight to a booth called Hops & Barley.
Southern Seafood Boil
But they DO! Just don’t be surprised if you make a little eye contact with your meal!
Click here for more pics from Hops & Barley!
If you’ve been hanging out with us for the past few festivals, you probably know that the Funnel Cake Stand has been killing it.
Street Corn Funnel Cake
This year is no different. The Street Corn Funnel Cake was so good that it almost immediately shot into Best of the Fest territory.
Need more info about this specialty funnel cake? Click here!
Japan is back this year with Tempura, a Sushi Bowl, and Frothy Ramen.
New Japan Eats
This booth is typically one of our favorites and it certainly doesn’t disappoint this year!
For our FULL REVIEW of the Japan booth, click here!
Sadly, the Brazil booth pulled our favorite Seafood Stew off of the menu this year.
Pao de Quiejo
But it still had some delightful options!
Click here for our REVIEW of the Brazil booth!
There’s one new booth at the festival this year! Step inside World Showplace to check out Mac & Cheese.
ALL the Mac and Cheese!!
Did someone say four types of Mac & Cheese? Sign us up!
Click here for our FULL review of the NEW Mac & Cheese booth!
Desserts & Champagne is a super interesting booth that blends sweets and science. We’re looking at Cake Pops, Champagne, and Frozen S’mores at this spot!
Liquid Nitro Chocolate Cake Pops
You can find this booth inside World Showplace along with a few others!
We tried ALL the eats at Desserts & Champagne! Click here to see!
Appleseed Orchard was a new booth last year; well, it’s back! This time you can spot it in World Showplace!
Appleseed Orchard
There is a drink at this booth that’s supposed to taste like Frozen Apple Pie. Does it? You’ll have to decide for yourself (or check out our review)!
Click here for our FULL review of Appleseed Orchard!
Also in World Showplace, you can swing over to Wine and Dine featuring Festival Favorites!
Kielbasa and Potato Pierogi with Caramelized Onions and Sour Cream
This booth has winning dishes from years past, so head over to take a walk down memory lane.
Click here for our FULL REVIEW of the Festival Favorites booth!
One of our favorites from past Food & Wine festivals has returned to the Canada booth. Get ready to chow down on some Canadian Bacon & Cheddar Soup.
Canada
It’s cheese AND bacon. How can you pass that up?
Want to see our FULL REVIEW of the Canada booth? Click here!
Refreshment Port has some classic staples to add to the festival line-up this year.
Refreshment Port Menu
If you like Traditional Poutine or Pineapple Dole Whip, you might want to chart a course for Refreshment Port!
Click here for our FULL REVIEW of the festival offerings at Refreshment Port!
If you’re looking for a totally Instagrammable booth, you’ll want to swing by Shimmering Sips. Plus, their drinks are delish!
Shimmering Sips
If you like POG Juice and Mimosas, then do we have news for you! You gotta try the Tropical Mimosa!
Did we LOVE Shimmering Sips this year? Click here to find out!
The Hawai’i booths was one of the first that we got to try this year…
Aulani Sunrise
…and it might be one of our favorites! We’re saying ALOHA to those Kalua Pork Sliders!
Click here to see more of the Hawai’i booth!
Joffrey’s has brought back some seriously tasty sips from the Flower & Garden Festival this year.
Joffrey’s
We can always count on Joffrey’s for a pick-me-up!
To see our full review of the Joffrey’s drinks, click here!
If you REALLY can’t choose what to eat, you don’t have to! Check out our BEST of the FEST list!
Click here to see our BEST of the FEST!
Festival Updates
There were added tables around so that guests can remove their masks to eat and drink the festival fare.
Festival Tables
Cast Member Preview
Entering EPCOT
When we arrived this morning, Cast Members and guests were directed into the EPCOT parking lots.
Spaceship Earth
Parking is every other space like we’ve seen in the other parks.
EPCOT Parking
First, it’s off to the temperature check tents. Like the other parks, AdventHealth professionals administer the checks using handheld infrared thermometers.
Temperature Checks
The Recheck Tents for those who exceed the maximum temperature reading were air-conditioned.
Recheck Tents
Lines throughout this area were distanced and Security had a similar process to Magic Kingdom. We were asked to remove umbrellas and metal water bottles and to carry the rest of our items through the scanners. When the scanner detected too much metal, we were asked to dump our bags into a bin for a no-touch search.
Social Distanced Queue
After you’re cleared from the two screenings you can head to the gate. Notice the A Taste of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival posters!
EPCOT Entrance
Since this is the Cast Member preview, we were checked in using a tablet instead of the usual system. The gate area had plenty of distancing stickers as well.
EPCOT Entrance
Health Measures
Like the other parks, EPCOT has Relaxation Stations where guests may remove their masks. We spotted one near Mission: SPACE.
Relaxation Station
These spots have limited capacity and distanced seating.
Relaxation Station
Character Interactions
The first EPCOT character we spotted was Joy from Inside Out. She was smiling and interacting with us from the other side of a fence near a grassy area.
Joy
We saw one of the new World Showcase Promenades with Goofy headed on a stroll…
Goofy
…and Mickey and Minnie following right behind in a cute automobile.
Mickey and Minnie
A Taste of EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
Some aspects of the 2020 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival are still in use. We spotted the Bambi topiaries near MouseGear.
Bambi Topiaries
Not everything has stuck around though. The flower beds that typically line the waterways in Epcot during Flower & Garden have been removed.
Flower & Garden Flower Beds Gone
Surprisingly, some of the festival marketplaces for A Taste of EPCOT Food & Wine were open today.
Shimmering Sips Booth
Click here to learn more about the surprise opening of Food & Wine!
There are tables near the booths where guests can remove their masks to eat.
Food & Wine Seating
The guidebook to the festival is available digitally.
Food & Wine Guide
We were excited to find you CAN still get the Spike the Bee Sipper that was introduced for Flower and Garden.
Spike the Bee Sipper
Click here for EVERYTHING you need to know about A Taste of EPCOT Food & Wine!
Construction Updates
First thing when we entered, we noticed that Future World construction is still very present.
Spaceship Earth
Barriers and directional signs still wind through the area.
Future World Construction
Click here for a pre-closure look at Future World construction.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind looks much the same as it did prior to the closures.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Construction
Attractions Updates
Spaceship Earth
Though it was supposed to close for refurbishment a few months ago, Spaceship Earth is open in its current form.
Spaceship Earth
The queue was arranged for social distancing and there were guiding stickers on the ground.
Spaceship Earth queue
The interactive elements of Project Tomorrow were unavailable and there were distancing stickers throughout the space.
Project Tomorrow
Click here to learn more about the reopening of Spaceship Earth.
Test Track
Test Track was a pretty popular ride today. At one point we saw the distanced queue reach a listed wait of 45 minutes.
Test Track
The distancing stickers continue into the indoor queue.
Test Track Queue
Guests still walk through the interactive segment of the queue but the actual interactive build-a-car activity is unavailable.
Test Track Interactive Portion
Instead, the room acts as regular queue space.
Test Track Interactive Portion
When loading, it appeared that Cast Members were loading one party per car.
Test Track
Since we didn’t make our own car, the scoring screen was unavailable in the post-show area.
Test Track Post-Show
The interactive experiences in the area were unavailable too.
Test Track Interactive Experience
Click here to learn more about how Test Track has changed.
Soarin’ Around the World
The Soarin’ Around the World queue has been extended into the seating area nearby to allow for social distancing.
Soarin’ Queue
In this area, some seats have been marked as unavailable.
Soarin’ Seating
The interactive screens were turned off as we made our way through the queue. This could just be for the preview or they may remain off for the official reopening.
Soarin’ Queue
The preshow area was marked for social distancing and had plexiglass barriers installed.
Soarin’ Pre-Show
The full preshow played.
Soarin’ Pre-Show
Inside the attraction, we noted that several seats were locked and unavailable for guest use.
Soarin’ Seating
Frozen Ever After
The Frozen Ever After queue stretched pretty far out of Norway with social distancing. A Cast Member was stationed at the end of the line to designate where guests should line up.
Frozen Ever After Queue
Shopping Updates
Pin Trading Headquarters
Pin Trading Headquarters had a designated entrance and exit.
Pin Trading
As a reminder, we will be updating this post throughout the week, so be sure to check back!!
IT'S WINE & DINE TIME!
Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience.
If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU!
Learn More About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival!
Food and Wine Festival 101Eat to the Beat Concert Updates
EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - Fans Facebook Page
Wine and Dine Half Marathon Details
Get More Updates, Tips, and Tricks to Help You Conquer the Food & Wine Festival
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Any update on the Ratatouli ride? Will it open soon?
Any update on the Ratatouille ride progress?
Brian, the entrance is visible in the Park, and the “Summer 2020” sign has been removed. We don’t have an update beyond that, so we’ll update when we do!
Brian, the sign indicating “opening summer 2020” is no longer on the entrance of the ride, so we await an update from Disney.
It didn’t look like the relaxation station had any chairs. Do you know if there will be chairs?
Vicki, some have chairs while others have high tables and marked spots to stand.
Will there be any festival pins?
And
Are they selling the flower and garden pins?
Any update on Space restaurant?
Do we know when space 220 will open
Joan, still no info on this.
Brandon, we’ll update the merchandise!