2015 Epcot Food and wine festival news | the disney food blog

Tips from the DFB Guide: Recommended Epcot Food and Wine Festival One-Day Strategy

The 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival will be here before you know it! Mark your calendars for September 25-November 16, 2015!

That’s more than seven full weeks to enjoy all that this incredible event has to offer. And there is so much to do and see!

I’ve often thought through the years that it would be great to stick around for the entire Food and Wine Festival and take in every special event, cooking demonstration, and Eat to the Beat Concert. But we both know that’s not gonna happen. Who has that kind of time, right?

Well, here’s the good news. Even if you’re short on time, you can still enjoy so much of what the festival has to offer by planning ahead.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a look at some of the Touring Strategies featured in the DFB Guide to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. And don’t forget — when you pre-order the 2015 Guide, you’ll receive the 2014 immediately for free, so you can get started planning right away!

Today, we’ll get started by discussing how to make the most of the festival when you only have one day to enjoy it!

Get An Early Start

Even if you only have one day to spend at the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, you can still make the most of your time. Plan to arrive early — a day where there are morning Extra Magic Hours would be ideal. And then head to the Festival Center when it opens at 9:00AM.

Festival Center

Here, you can browse the shops and pick up your free [Read more…]

Epcot Food and Wine Festival FAQ: How Much Should I Budget For the Festival?

By AJ Leave a Comment

You may be just starting Summer vacation and all that goes with it, but here at Disney Food Blog, we’re also busy gearing up for one of our most favorite times of the year — the Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

The festival, which runs from September 25 until November 16 this year, will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2015. There is so much to do, see, taste, and experience, all crammed into seven weeks. So you’re bound to have some questions about planning for it — and specifically, how to budget for all you want to do.

So today, let’s talk a little bit about budgeting to get you ready for Fall’s biggest Disney food event.

How Much Does It Cost to Go to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival?

Many things at the festival are included in your Epcot admission. Attractions and events such as Eat to the Beat Concerts, Back to Basics Seminars, and the Cranberry Bog are all complimentary with your Epcot ticket.

The Cranberry Bog Returns to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival in 2015

And new for 2015, guests can also enjoy Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak Scavenger Hunt, a fun game that will take place around World Showcase.

But food and drink, even at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booths, is not included in the price of admission. And Special Events do cost extra and can range widely, depending on the events you plan to attend.

How Much Money Should I Budget For a Day at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival?

The answer to this question varies widely from person to person. A great way to experience the festival is by Eating and Drinking Your Way Around the World, Marketplace Discovery Passport, in hand! In the past, plates and pours at the World Showcase Booths have averaged [Read more…]

2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival News: Menu for Mexico Tequila Tasting Lunch

By AJ 11 Comments

We have some exciting news today for you about the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! We’ve confirmed that Tequila Pairing Lunches in the Mexico Pavilion are back as part of the Special Events line up!

I had the chance to attend the luncheon a while back. It was a great way to spend the afternoon — sampling tequila, and learning how this versatile spirit can pair beautifully with different menu items.

In anticipation of this year’s lineup, our friends from the Mexico Pavilion recently held a tasting to determine just what would make the menu cut.

We’re excited to share some menu descriptions straight from La Cava del Tequila! Let’s take a closer look.

Menu Planned for the Tequila Pairing Lunch at the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

When I attended the Tequila Pairing Lunch, we enjoyed four courses, paired with three different tequilas as well as Agovera Liqueur. (This event is not for the faint of heart. 🙂 )

Display Table at Entry of Luncheon

As of the writing of this post, the lunch will include four courses paired with tequilas. But please keep in mind, the dishes are subject to change! Anything is possible between now and Festival Go-Time on September 25!

Your journey through the world of tequila will start with a Flautas de Carnitas — a mini crispy Flauta filled with Pork Carnitas and accompanied by Avocado, Cream, Queso Foam, Roasted Serrano Pepper, and Tomato.

Flautas de Carnitas

The next course, Sopa de Chile Poblano y Calabaza, will be prepared with Roasted Poblano Pepper, Zucchini, Cilantro, Queso Fresco, and Guajillo Pepper Oil.

The Main Entrée will be a combination of Mar y Tierra— Pan-Seared Snapper and Sirloin — served with a creamy [Read more…]

News! 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival — More Booths and Special Events Confirmed!

By AJ 18 Comments

It’s that time of year!

Okay, so it’s not exactly time for the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival juuuust yet (that’s September 25 – November 16th this year). But is IS time for LOTS of news to come out in anticipation of the event!

Just last week, we brought you word of NEW booths and dishes set to debut at this year’s Festival, along with the full Eat to the Beat line-up and lots of other great news!

Today we’re happy to confirm a few more booths that will be returning to this year’s Festival!

Fan favorites including Poland (and those terrific Pierogies), Belgium (Waffles!), and Hawaii (Kalua Pork Sliders, anyone?) will all return again this year as part of the Festival’s 20th Anniversary celebration.

Kielbasa & Potato Pierogie with Caramelized Onions and Sour Cream

The Kalua Pork Slider from the Hawaii Booth is a Family Favorite

Additionally, it has been announced that the Party for the Senses will be returning to the Festival every Saturday in October!

Party For the Senses

Not only that… aspiring [Read more…]

News! 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Schedule!

By AJ 8 Comments

It’s finally here! We have more information to share with you from the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, which runs September 25-November 16, 2015.

The Eat to the Beat Concert line-up is in the books! There are lots of exciting returning acts like Hanson, Wilson Phillips, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. And as always, a few new acts freshen up the mix a bit. We look forward to seeing Tiffany, Everclear, Maxi Priest, and Chaka Khan this year!

Here’s the full list. Don’t forget to check out our 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival page for all the latest details on the festival!

2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Line-Up

David Cook – September 25-27, 2015
Wilson Phillips – September 28-29, 2015
Christopher Cross – September 30-October 1, 2015
Starship – October 2-4, 2015
Smash Mouth – October 5-7, 2015
The Pointer Sisters – October 8-9, 2015
38 Special – October 10-11, 2015
Rick Springfield – October 12-13, 2015
Sugar Ray – October 14-16, 2015
The S.O.S. Band – October 17-18, 2015
Air Supply – October 19-21, 2015
Fuel – October 22-23, 2015
Tiffany (NEW!) – October 24-25, 2015
Dennis DeYoung – October 26-28, 2015
Jo Dee Messina – October 29-30, 2015
Everclear (NEW!) – October 31-November 1, 2015
Boyz II Men – November 2-4, 2015
Sister Hazel – November 5-6, 2015
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – November 7-9, 2015
Hanson – November 10-12, 2015
Maxi Priest (NEW!) – November 13-14, 2015
Chaka Khan (NEW!) – November 15-16, 2015

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Performing at Eat to the Beat

Eat to the Beat concerts are free with Epcot admission throughout the festival. You can catch up to three shows per night at at 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8:00 PM in the America Gardens Theater, located in the America Pavilion. Check out our Eat to the Beat Concert page for details and times.

Start Your Planning Today! The DFB Guide to the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival e-Book is now available for Pre-Order!

This 200+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Pre-order your 2015 edition today, and download the 2014 guide for FREE — immediately!

Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World!

Use code Chefs at check-out for a $3 discount!

Is YOUR favorite act [Read more…]

News! 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Confirmed Booths, New Dishes, and More Details!

By AJ 22 Comments

The Epcot Food and Wine Festival will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2015, and today, we’re starting to get an idea of what this year will include.

We have updates on everything from food to new attractions, so let’s get to it!

NEW Booths and Dishes

While we anticipate lots and lots more announcements about new food items, we’re getting our very first glimpse of some eats that will debut in the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booths!

The Scotland Booth is back and will debut a brand new drink, the Scottish Citrus Thistle!

A Grilled Sweet and Spicy Bush Berry Shrimp with Pineapple, Peppers, Onions and Snap Peas will be a highlight at the Australia Booth, and the New Zealand Booth will tempt guests with a Seared Venison Loin with Wild Mushroom Ragout and Kumara Dumpling.

Other new dishes will include Pepper Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese (what WHAT?!??!?) at the Farm Fresh Booth. But I super hope that amazing Hash returns in 2015!

Farm Fresh Marketplace

Of course, we are crossing our fingers and hoping that plenty of dishes that we love return as well. We do know that the Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup is returning to the Canada Booth!

Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup Will Once Again Join the Festival Line Up

So we can breathe a collective sigh of relief there. 🙂

New Special Events

We cannot wait to check out a brand new festival Premium Event — the French Family Meal Traditions Lunch, which will take place on Fridays and Sundays.

If the French Family Meal Traditions Lunch is Anything Like the Parisian Breakfast, We Can’t Wait!

A brand new premium party, the Rockin’ Burger Block Party, will also take place on select dates. More details to come about that one!

NEW Artists Debuting and Familiar Favorites Returning to Eat to the Beat Concert Series

Taking in an Eat to the Beat Concert as the sun goes down is a great way to enjoy your evening at the festival. And this year, we have some brand new acts to choose from.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Performing at Eat to the Beat

New acts Tiffany, Everclear, Maxi Priest, and Chaka Khan will take the stage at the America Pavilion in 2015. They’ll be joined by several returning acts, including Wilson Phillips, Smash Mouth, The Pointer Sisters, Jo Dee Messina, Boyz II Men, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.

To check out the FULL official line up, click over to our Eat to the Beat Concert Series Page!

Celebrity Chefs to Appear at the 2015 Food and Wine Festival

One of the most fun aspects of the festival is catching a low cost culinary demonstration with celebrity chefs. 2015 will see the return of many favorites. Look for Cat Cora, Robert Irvine, Jamie Deen, Rock Harper, Kenny Gilbert, and Buddy Valastro at Culinary Demos and Special Events.

Cake Boss, 2011 Sweet Sundays Event

Chef Cat Cora Book Signing at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival

The festival will also welcome back chef and cookbook author John Ash, who appeared at the very first festival in 1996!

Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt

Also new for 2015 — everyone’s favorite rat chef Remy will be joining the party with [Read more…]

Memorial Day Sale! DFB Disney World Guidebook Discounts for a Limited Time!

By AJ 2 Comments

As we mark a time of remembrance this Memorial Day weekend, we also look forward to fun celebrations with family and friends as Summer gets underway! And if you’re like me, that means one thing — vacation is JUST around the corner!

Whether you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World during the busy Summer season, or you have your eyes set on a Fall Food and Wine Festival Trip or a Holiday Extravaganza, we know one thing for sure: you need to make some plans.

Believe it or not, it’s already time to start making those Advance Dining Reservations! And we’re going to help you make sure you choose the best restaurants Disney has to offer. There are hundreds, after all!

We have three great offers for you to choose from! Read on for all the details, but hurry — you can only take advantage of these savings through Saturday, May 30!

The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2015

Our fully guaranteed, comprehensive e-Book offers more than 490 full-color pages to help you plan your very best Disney World trip ever!

With reviews, tips, expert advice, and hundreds of color photographs, you’ll get the biggest bang for your planning buck! And our handy e-Book format has been completely updated for your 2015-16 Disney World vacation.

Inside the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2015, you’ll find:

A 5-Step Strategy for Disney Dining Planning, covering everything you need to know from budgeting and booking to kids’ meals, dining discounts, and fireworks. 5 simple steps and you’re done!
A comprehensive and in-depth look at EVERY Disney World restaurant, kiosk, bar, and lounge, including our personal tips to ensure a positive and stress-free dining experience.
Four free, [Read more…]

News! Allergy Friendly Culinary Demos at the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

By AJ 1 Comment

We have breaking news today about the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival — and the our first news of this year’s Low Cost Culinary Demonstrations and Seminars lineup!!

And stay tuned to the end of the post, because you could win a trip to Walt Disney World during this year’s event!

We all know that Disney is committed to serving guests with food allergies. Today, we’re learning that Mylan, the company that produces the EpiPen® (with which, if you have food allergies, you’re probably familiar), will be sponsoring the first ever culinary demonstrations at the Food and Wine Festival that are free of the top eight food allergens!

Living With Food Allergies Culinary Demonstrations at the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

The demos will be part of the EpiPen® On Location™ initiative, “a national call-to-action for those living with potentially life-threatening (severe) allergies and their caregivers to understand the importance of avoiding allergic triggers and having access to two epinephrine auto-injectors, such as EpiPen® (epinephrine injection) Auto-Injectors, at all times — whether at home, school, work or on vacation.”

Chef Amanda Freitag

These events are scheduled to take place at the Festival Center throughout the days of October 2-4. Chef and restaurant owner Amanda Freitag will prepare dishes free of the top eight allergens — milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans. Chef Freitag lives with her own food allergy, and has become an EpiPen® On Location™ Ambassador, as she shares her own experience in a professional kitchen.

In addition, Auggie Maturo, who plays Auggie Matthews on the Disney Series Girl Meets World, will be on hand with his family to offer his best advice for navigating life with severe allergies.

Auggie Maturo from Disney’s “Girl Meets World”

We’ll share more information about these events soon! It’s possible that the culinary demonstrations with Chef Freitag will be part of the Low Cost Seminar and Demonstration line up that is such a popular part of the festival each year. As such, there will be a charge for these events.

Win a Trip to the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

To help spread awareness about the serious issue of food allergies, Mylan will give away a three-night/four-day vacation for four to visit the 2015 Epcot Food Wine Festival! Three grand prize winners will be awarded a vacation that includes: [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: March 29, 2015

By Brooke 2 Comments

Spring

is underway and with it has come a rush of notable news throughout Disney. And at Disney World especially this week, we’ve seen tons of big stories — including rumors of new restaurants, new meals, new menus, and even a Food and Wine Festival update!

Nautilus Drink at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto

The biggest news is that the new Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto “soft” opened at Disney Polynesian Village Resort yesterday. Crowds were off the charts (6 HOUR WAIT TO GET IN!), but we’re putting a First Look post together and will have pics for you tomorrow morning (including this awesome Nautilus drink, thanks to DFB reader Lori Hope Fries)! Yay!

But back to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, 2015 is a big year in the history of the event as we celebrate 20 years of Eating and Drinking Around the World.

We’ll bring you every detail and dish as the news unfolds, but in the meantime, this week, we have word of the very first acts lined up for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series!

We’ll get started today by taking a look at some of the week’s biggest stories.

Disney Food News

Hollywood Studios Catering Company has received a menu refresh. See what’s new at this Counter Service stop!
Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto in Disney World’s Polynesian Village Resort is just days away from opening!
We have a FIRST LOOK at some of the musical acts who will perform during the Eat to the Beat Concert Series at the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival!
Check out this fun Master Chef Contest sponsored by Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant and enter to win a trip to Ireland!
Epcot’s Taste Track has debuted a line of Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, and we’re trying them all.
Magic Kingdom just MAY be getting that new Adventureland restaurant we told you about a while back — and it’s looking like it may be themed after the Jungle Cruise attraction!
We bring you our “Everything on the Menu” review of breakfast at Be Our Guest Restaurant!

Check out all the latest Disney Food News — even the stuff we don’t mention in posts on the blog! — on our Disney Food News Pin Board, including Restaurant Closure Updates, Special Events at Disney Restaurants, Seasonal Pop-Up Food Stands, and more!

We’ve got all the latest for you, so check it out before you go.

DFB Reader Finds

If you discover a fun new food — or other edible awesomeness — in or about Disney, share a photo with us on facebook or twitter so we can add it to our DFB Reader Finds each Sunday!

It’s a chilly day across much of the US today, but we’re dreaming of warmer temperatures. So today, we’re featuring Ice Cream Treats from around Magic Kingdom!

Let’s take a moment to enjoy some Hand-Dipped Ice Cream from the new landscape in the Magic Kingdom Castle Garden area, courtesy of reader Kristen Figuerado. That view makes it even more delish. 🙂

Ice Cream in the New Garden at Magic Kingdom

Reader Sheri Robb shows us that, not only is the Mickey Pants Kitchen Sink Sundae adorable — it’s plenty big enough to share!

Mickey Pants Kitchen Sink Sundae

Do you have a favorite Disney Food find? Share your photos with us!

Deal of the Week: 2015-2016 Disney World Vacation Must-Have E-Book Sale!

OK — so you have a Walt Disney World Trip on the books for this year — Woohoo!! There’s nothing more exciting than counting down the days to your next Walt Disney World Trip!

But, even the most spontaneous Disney fan knows that planning ahead is the key to a stress-less vacay. And that mantra is absolutely true when it comes to dining.

If you really want to dine in the hottest restaurants, you pretty much have to plan ahead. Be spontaneous, of course. But get a couple Advance Dining Reservations in place.

But which ones?

That’s where Disney Food Blog comes in! You already enjoy our reviews, news, and tips daily on our Blog. But did you know — that’s JUST the tip of the iceberg. Because we have lots more to share with you in our complete line of DFB Guides.

If you’re ready for a fun, easy way to personalize eating and drinking your way through Disney, then check out the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book.
Fully updated for your 2015-2016 adventures, the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book is an instantly downloadable PDF guide, featuring over 490 full-color pages of photographs, information, and advice about our favorite subject — Eating Your Way Through Disney! So you save time and money as you enjoy planning one of the most important parts of your trip. 😉

And to thank all of you for your support of DFB, we are offering extra savings on our most popular DFB Guide right now. Just enter promo code 2015 at checkout and you’ll save $4 off of our cover price of the DFB Guide to Walt Disney World® Dining 2015 e-Book!

But if you’d like to enjoy even more detail, check out another great offer.

DFB Everything Bundle SALE!

If you’d like even more great information, pictures, and tips, then the DFB Everything Bundle is the right fit for you.

And to get you ready for that next big trip, we are offering the DFB Everything Bundle for $15 off the already low price! It’s like getting an entire book for free. Just enter promo code Everything15 at checkout to take advantage of this offer.

The Everything Bundle includes, well, Everything! When you purchase this special bundle of DFB Guides, you’ll get it all: [Read more…]

News! 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Eat to the Beat Concert Schedule Preliminary Dates

By AJ 23 Comments

Here we goooooo, Epcot Food and Wine Festival Fans!

We’ve got the first word on a few Eat to the Beat concert line-up listings ALREADY for 2015!

For those of you who may not know, Eat to the Beat is an Epcot concert series that takes place during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, running this year from September 25-November 16. The series features musical acts from the 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s each year, and concerts take place throughout most evenings of the Festival.

Since this partial list is preliminary, be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for additions and/or changes to the schedule! We will bring you all the latest news first!

Eat to the Beat concerts are performed three times per evening, so you have three chances each night to see your favorites — 5:30PM, 6:45PM, and 8:00PM!

2015 Eat to the Beat Concert Line Up!

Note that this schedule is subject to change

October 2-4 – Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas
October 10-11 – 38 Special
October 19-21 – Air Supply

Taking in an Eat to the Beat Concert is a great way to unwind and continue the fun of the Food and Wine Festival into the evening.

All concerts take place in the American Gardens Theater at Epcot’s America Pavilion. Concerts are free — included in the price of your Epcot admission!

Many folks plan [Read more…]

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