Hey fellow Disney planners! If you are anything like me, you might be getting super excited about visiting the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival. Letās face it, this is a delicious time of year to visit EPCOT, and I simply canāt get enough of those small bites packed with international flavors. Some are more authentic than others, but weāll tackle that one another day! For those of us who like to plan ahead, I thought it might be helpful to go through a few of my top tips to keep in mind when making your festival plans.
Choose Your Days Wisely
When you are looking at your calendar, remember that locals with Annual Passes love to visit outside the traditional work week, which means everything from Friday afternoons through Mondays can become much busier. Overall, Iāve found Tuesday and Wednesday to be some of the best days to visit while the festival is running, giving you a little more breathing room to wander and snack.
Make a Plan
If you wander into World Showcase from either side without a plan, you will likely fill up before you even make it past Canada or Mexico, depending on where you start! Itās hard to keep your appetite in check when there are so many incredible options. I highly recommend reading through the booth guides beforehand and making a short list of your must-try items, then filling in the gaps along the way. Overeating at a festival like this sounds harmless, but anything that stops me from taking that third swing around Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is unacceptable.
Create a Budget
Just as all those delicious dishes can fill your belly, they can also drain your wallet. Those small plates can add up surprisingly quickly when you are stopping at multiple booths throughout the day. Prioritizing the items you really want to try can help keep things under control, so you arenāt dealing with a credit card bill you definitely werenāt expecting later.
Share Everything
The best way to taste as many dishes as possible is to share everything your group orders. That way, everyone can have a bite of everything and you get far more variety. If you are a party of four, grabbing the same dish for every person can get expensive and doesnāt give you the chance to experience as much. If you find something you absolutely love, grab a second one, but take your time because the journey is all part of the fun.
Get the Big Rides In Early
If you are planning to spend the afternoon strolling and eating your way around World Showcase, donāt make the mistake of leaving those faster-paced rides until you are completely full. Plan your Lightning Lane selections early where possible and get attractions like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Mission: SPACE, and Soarinā out of the way before your serious snacking begins. Trust me, your stomach will thank you!
Take Your Time
One mistake I always see is guests rushing through the experience. Discovering, trying, and analyzing all those different dishes is part of the fun, so give the festival the time it deserves. Take your time wandering around World Showcase and mix in a few lower-key attractions, like Frozen Ever After or Remyās Ratatouille Adventure, to break up the eating. And, of course, pace yourself when it comes to the adult beverages. There are so many delicious options to try, but one too many can have you regretting every decision you made until your head finally hits the pillow!
Alright, friends, if you have anything to add, pop it in the comments below so we can all have a wonderful experience at the festival. Happy eating, Disney friends!
