Do You Need To Rope Drop Same-Day Dining Packages in EPCOT?

Dining Packages are a popular option for when you want to attend a concert during an EPCOT festival.

You can score reserved seat by buying an Eat to the Beat dining package!

These concerts are free, and most of the seating is first-come, first-served. However, a dining package is a great way to be sure you can get a reserved seat — and a great meal.

For example, let’s say you want to see Air Supply the night of October 15th during the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. You could book a reservation now for an Eat to the Beat Dining Package at one of the following restaurants:

With the exception of breakfast at Garden Grill or Akershus, these meals will be a fixed-price lunch or dinner with prices for adults ranging from $47 (at Spice Road Table) to $95 (for Le Cellier). After you eat, you’ll be given a seating badge that gets you access to a special queue for reserved seating at the show.

Eat to the Beat

OR, you could save money — and plan on the fly — by buying a same-day dining package. Same-day dining packages are available for a quick-service restaurant in EPCOT — Regal Eagle Smokehouse, which just so happens to be right there at the America Gardens Theatre where Air Supply will be playing. The “same-day” dining package is just like it sounds — you have to buy it on the same day you’re going to use it, so you can’t make an advance reservation. You also can’t book it through the app or website — you have to physically walk up to the Regal Eagle and book this package. But these packages are significantly cheaper than the others at $35 for adults, and you’ll get an entree, side and dessert, as well as a non-alcoholic drink. And don’t forget, you’ll get that coveted badge for seating (let’s keep our eyes on the prize here!).

Eat to the Beat Same Day Dining Package sign

So, since you can’t book that Regal Eagle Same-Day Dining Package in advance, do you need to rope drop it? In other words, do you need to be outside the gates of EPCOT before the gates open to be one of the first in line? We’ve been running some experiments, and what we’re finding is, well … no. The same-day dining packages don’t go on sale until Regal Eagle Smokehouse opens for the day — and most days that is 11:45, a couple hours after park open.

However, we do recommend heading to Regal Eagle as soon as you can if you want one of these packages. We have seen them sell out early in the afternoon, and cast members have told us that the amount of packages they have to sell can vary by the day, so sometimes they can be quite limited.

Also keep in mind that these packages are only offered Friday-Monday, when international acts play on the America Gardens Theatre stage. What should you eat at Regal Eagle Smokehouse? Well, let us introduce you to our sexy bestie, the Loaded Burnt Ends Fries.

Loaded Burnt End Fries

Yep. Those fries are loaded with burnt ends, macaroni and cheese, and onion rings. We love ’em. But if loaded fries aren’t your thing, you’ll also find pork ribs, brisket, and smoked chicken. Here’s our full review of Regal Eagle!

If you’re headed to the Food and Wine Festival soon, consider an EPCOT Dining Package — especially on guaranteed-to-be-busy dates listed here. And keep following DFB for ALL the EPCOT festival coverage!

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!