If you’re hungry and want a little something to drink, Disney’s Epcot has it covered.
Now through Nov. 10, drive over to Orlando and enjoy the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival at Walt Disney World.
Sample beers, wines, foods and desserts at each of the 36 stops along the World Showcase. Each stop represents a different country from around the world.
New features have arrived to the festival for fans to explore their taste palette.
Two new marketplaces are available during the event, including the latest Patagonia. Patagonia offers traditional South American foods from Argentina and Chile, and Farm Fresh serves gluten-free comfort foods.
A new craft beers section is located inside the Odyssey Center, between the World Showcase and Future World. The section serves American craft beers and foods.
While you’re there, take in the music. The Eat to the Beat Concert Series performers include new additions Fuel, Jim Brickman, Los Lonely Boys and David Cook, as well as returning favorites Smash Mouth, Boyz II Men, Wilson Phillips and Sister Hazel.
The festival is included with general park admission, including the Eat to the Beat concerts. Premium packages are also available for purchase.
After the festival center, it’s best start at Terra, the all-vegan kiosk, and work your way around clockwise. World Showcase slopes that way downhill, making the walk less tiring.
The festival center is located in Future World between Test Track and the Universe of Energy. Inside you can pick up a passport which lists every kiosk’s offerings, and even has a place to get stamped as you eat around the world. There is also a display of Disney-themed chocolate sculptures, sponsored by Ghirardelli, where you can pick up free chocolate samples.
Event merchandise such as wine and beer glasses are also available for purchase here, as well as food and beverages at the Intermissions Café.
Wine and cooking seminars are held in the festival center. They cost as little as $15 and are hosted by chefs and culinary experts from around the Walt Disney World resort.
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Try These:
Patagonia’s beef empanada. The warm meat pocket is flavorful, filling and cheap at $4.50
Mexico’s rib-eye taco. Grilled steak and chipotle salsa on corn tortilla. It’s like a taco, but more satisfying. $5.50
Mexico’s Sangria. Fruity, but not overly so, and refreshing in the midafternoon heat. $6.75
Italy’s chocolate cannoli. A twist on a traditional cannoli, with sweet ricotta and candied fruit filling in a chocolate-covered pastry shell. $4
Hops and Barley’s beef slider. The beef is grass fed and locally sourced from Florida, and is covered in pimento cheese. Another cheap and filling portion at $4
Intermissions Café’s peach moscato. Light, bubbly and fresh. $4.25
China’s Mongolian beef. Served on a steamed bun with chili mayo. The spicy flavors burst in your mouth. $5
Brazil’s coconut candy. Extremely chewy and dense texture. It’s like eating coconut fudge. $1.75
Avoid These:
Terra’s blacked chick’n breast. Vegan chicken served over wheat. The texture is limp, and the flavor is bland.
Italy’s cheese ravioli. The cheese on the inside is fresh enough, but the sauce and pasta taste frozen. Save your money and buy a Stouffer’s frozen meal afterward if you want to eat ravioli.
