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How Could the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Be Different This Year?

If you're looking for information related to the current closures and their effect on the Disney Parks, click here for all the up-to-date details and click here for answers to dozens of reader FAQs.

With Disney facing a super weird summer and fall (most likely), we’re thinking the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival will look different than it has in previous years.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Since its inaugural year in 1995, the Epcot Food and Wine Festival has continued to grow in size and popularity. It’s an annual event that many Disney fans (us included!) look forward to exploring year after year.

But it seems likely that the festival will undergo some changes this year. We’ve seen the health and safety measures that were implemented with the reopening of Shanghai Disneyland and Disney Springs. So, how might the Food and Wine Festival be different?

[Read more…]

Eat to the Beat Dining Packages for the 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

By DFB Sarah Leave a Comment

Yesterday we shared the details about which performers will create a little sizzle on the America Gardens Theatre stage for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series during the 2019 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, along with a TON of new info about Special Events, Seminars and Demonstrations, family fun, and more for the Festival, including the popular Eat to the Beat Dining Packages. (See it all here!)

Eat to the Beat!

Today, we want to talk a little more about this year’s Eat to the Beat Dining Packages, so you can know your options for 2019.

See the full concert line-up for Eat to the Beat here!

As a reminder, Eat to the Beat Dining Packages are a great way to guarantee yourself a seat to see your favorite performers — and you get a filling, fun meal before the show, too! [Read more…]

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Review: CakeLove Healthy Bites by Warren Brown

By AJ and the DFB Team 1 Comment

The 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival will be here before you know it! We’re counting down the days, and soon, we’ll be Eating and Drinking our way Around the World with you guys!

And recently, we shared a TON of info with you! We now know the full list of Booths, Menus, and Special Events. But best of all, we know booking dates! Mark you calendars for July 20!

We are still awaiting schedules for Culinary Demos and Beverage Seminars, and Hand On Workshops, we’re sharing a closer look at some of the fantastic events that we enjoyed at the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

While the Marketplace Booths are great for grazing and tasting food from all over the globe, we love the opportunity to take in Culinary Demonstrations — and possibly learn a little something new. In addition, it’s fun to check out suggested pairing. And you always leave a culinary demo armed with a brand new recipe.

Place Setting with Recipe

This demo actually offered guests something a little different — a sweet treat that’s both delicious and healthy. Join us as we head into Festival Center to check out Chef Warren Brown on the Chef’s Showcase stage! [Read more…]

2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival News! Details on Booths, Menus, Special Events, Booking Dates, and More

By AJ and the DFB Team 15 Comments

We are so excited to be sharing with you LIVE today from Walt Disney World some great new details for the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! Note that all information is subject to change.

Below, you’ll find:

Nearly all of the details, prices, and dates for the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events including a fun new event that takes a behind the scenes look at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto!
More information about DISCOUNTS, early booking dates, prices, and more for the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Seminars and Demonstrations and Special Events.
Updates from the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booths — including the full booth lineup!
Photos of BRAND NEW Epcot Food and Wine Festival menu items.
DETAILS on the returning Eat to the Beat Dining Packages
And more!

As always, you can visit our Epcot Food and Wine Festival index page for ALL updates at any time.

2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth and Menu Information

We’ve got a few Festival Booth MENU ITEMS, my friends!! See our list below, and be sure to check out our 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth Page for updated menus, food photos, and more as the Festival gets closer!

OFFICIAL 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booths!
The following booths have been confirmed as officially returning in 2016: [Read more…]

News! Three New Epcot Food and Wine Festival Events Exclusively for Chase Disney Visa Cardmembers

By AJ 3 Comments

So, earlier today we brought Disney Chase Visa Cardmembers the good news that Cardholders are eligible for early booking for Special Events and Low-Cost Seminars and Demonstrations for the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival on July 28th.

Well, now we have even MORE good news for Cardmembers. It has just been announced that THREE unique events have been added to the Food and Wine Festival, and they are EXCLUSIVELY for Disney Chase Visa Cardmembers!

The special events include:

Brews, Breakfast and More

On September 28 from 8:30 – 10:30 am, guests at Brews, Breakfast, and More will enjoy a three-course breakfast utilizing beer as both an ingredient and a pairing, while learning about “beer styles and brewing processes that date back to ancient Babylon and Egypt.”

An element of the dishes will be the use of Passport 20 Belgian Tripel Ale, a “complex beer featuring 20 ingredients to celebrate 20 years” of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. This brew offers the distinction of including 11 ingredients to represent each one of the World Showcase countries along with one ingredient representing Florida. Among other courses, the menu will include Liquid-Nitrogen Fried “Smoking” S’mores.

Cost: $89 per guest (plus tax)

The Making of Party for the Senses

On October 27th from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm, guests will enjoy learning [Read more…]

News: 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Probable Booking Date, and More Special Events

By AJ 4 Comments

A day after the big news about ABC’s The Chew filming from the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, we’ve got more updates for ya!

The Flying Fish Café at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn has announced its Winery Event Series taking place throughout this year’s festival. And for the first time, all Flying Fish events will be booked through the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Event booking system.

Mark your calendars for Thursday, July 30th, 2015 — that’s the day that booking will open for these Flying Fish events! And because Food and Wine Festival events normally begin booking on the same day, we suspect that this will be the day general booking begins for ALL Epcot Food and Wine Festival special events and low-cost events. Note that we don’t have this booking date confirmed by Disney for all events, so it’s subject to change. But we figured we’d let you know for planning purposes.

Flying Fish Cafe Food and Wine Festival Signature Dinners

Let’s take a look at this year’s special offerings from Flying Fish Cafe. Call 407-WDW-FEST to book on July 30th, 2015.

Chef Tim’s Interactive Saturday Afternoon Supper

Featuring Local Florida Products and Special-invited Growers/Producers/Providers [Read more…]

Disney Food Post Round-Up: June 7, 2015

By Brooke 1 Comment

It’s been another busy week in Disney news!

Vivoli Gelateria Opening Soon in The Landing Area of Disney Springs

As we look around and see friends and family celebrating the kickoff to Summer, we are also ramping up to another busy season of fun in the Parks.

Hold onto your hat as we check out more breaking news on the Disney Springs front as well as updates to the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine schedule. Read on to learn the latest!

Disney Food News

Vivoli Gelateria is opening later this month in The Landings at Downtown Disney (soon to be Disney Springs)!
Also on the Disney Springs front (can we just commence to calling it that??), The NBA Experience (and Restaurant) has also been announced.
More Booths and Special Events have been confirmed for the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival.
Testing of an all-inclusive, one price for Disney World Refillable Mug is currently taking place at Port Orleans Resort.
We’re discerning fact from fiction was rumors swirl around upcoming Disney Dining Plan changes.

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 menu updates, restaurant closures, special events,
and more!

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

DFB Reader Finds

If you find 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!

Today, we’re featuring some lighter eats at the Parks!

@CosplayForJedi shared this delicious dish and tweet with us about his vegan meal at Yak and Yeti: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again Yak and Yeti hooks it up for the vegans.”

Vegan Options at Animal Kingdom’s Yak and Yeti

@TheRaz2007 also checked in with some fresh flavors from Magic Kingdom’s Tortuga Tavern (yep, it’s opened right now!)

Lunch at Magic Kingdom’s Tortuga Tavern

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!

Do 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, because we are all about the planning!!

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…]

2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival: Festival Center Tour

By AJ 9 Comments

Whew! The 2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is half over, and it feels like it just began!

There’s been a ton to do and see, but we couldn’t let another day slip by without showing you around one of the must-visit spots — Festival Center.

Festival Center

Located in the old Wonders of Life Pavilion in Future World East, the venue comes alive each year for the Food and Wine Festival. This is your spot to attend low-cost seminars and demonstrations and other special events. You’ll find Festival information, Intermissions Cafe, and some great shopping here as well.

Festival Center Sign

We recently toured the spot to bring you pictures of every corner. There’s a LOT to cover, so let’s get started!

2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival — Festival Center

Festival Center is THE place to begin your Food and Wine Festival Adventure. Helpful Cast Members provide you with information regarding all aspects of the Festival — from Marketplaces to Special Events.

Check out this map [Read more…]

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Review: Italian Food and Beer Pairing Lunch at Via Napoli

By AJ 8 Comments

We are less than one month from the start of the 2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival and it will be here before you know it!

Today, we are anticipating some of our favorite Special Events. While we love the Marketplace Booths and Low-Cost Demonstrations and Seminars, it’s fun to splurge once in a while on a few of the Special Events, culinary experiences that take place throughout the festival.

Much is made of wine — after all, this is a food and wine festival. But in recent years, Epcot has expanded its offerings to lovers of cocktails and beer as well.

The opportunity to try craft beers and brews from all around the globe is especially exciting. So let’s take a closer look today at one of the events that is especially geared toward beer lovers — The Italian Food and Beer Pairing Lunch.

Italian Food and Beer Pairing Lunch at Epcot’s Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria

I attended this event during its inaugural year

. While the food was delicious and the beer servings were generous, we were disappointed by the event format. It was basically a luncheon with none of the presentation or explanation that we’ve come to expect with these types of events.

We were anxious to try again though, and last year I was able to attend the event again.

Italian Beers and Bottles

We arrived at Via Napoli Ristorante e Pizzeria a little early for the event. That’s always a good idea so that you can scope out the venue — especially at a place that is still functioning as a regular restaurant while the event is going on. It’s not always easy to find the registration desk for the event versus the regular check-in line for the restaurant!

While I’ve had trouble with this particular distinction at Via Napoli before (they usually have people check in for the Food and Wine events at the regular check-in desk), on this visit they had the registration desk separate.

Arriving for the Event

That said, the sign was a little confusing. Apparently, it’s doing double-duty for both the Beer Pairings and the Wine Pairings. Our event included only beer; there isn’t a combo event, for those of you who are wondering. 🙂

We were greeted by one of the managers, who showed us to the area where the event would take place.

Via Napoli’s Manager Greeted Guests

We found our tables set with all of the glassware that we’d need for four courses. There was also fresh Bread with Olive Oil for dipping to get us started. Note that seating seemed to be assigned at this event. I’ve found that to be the case at more and more food and wine events these days.

The Table is Set

Individual menus made for handy references throughout the meal and great souvenirs after it was complete.

Place Setting

Before we got started, I had a few moments to acquaint myself with the other guests seated at my table (another good reason to arrive a bit early!). I also had a chance to look over the menu.

Menu — Click to Enlarge

It seems that the Italy Culinary team have gotten the memo; our event included [Read more…]

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STAY CONNECTED

Eat to the Beat Dining Packages for the 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

See the full concert line-up for Eat to the Beat here!

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Review: CakeLove Healthy Bites by Warren Brown

2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival News! Details on Booths, Menus, Special Events, Booking Dates, and More

2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth and Menu Information