One of the things that signals Fall to me here in Orlando is Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival. This event runs daily from September 25- November 16, 2015. We try to go several times a week during the festival. I would like to suggest 5 tips that will help with your enjoyment of this event.
- Before you go, study the menus and the festival map. Make a list of the food booths you would like to visit. I have never been able to eat my way around World Showcase in one visit, I prefer to break it up into two visits.
2. Buy a gift card. They sell one on a wristband with a bar code on the back this year. They can just scan it while it is still on your wrist. It sure beats fumbling for your credit card or cash. If you activate the special 20th Celebration Food and Wine Festival Disney gift card with $200 you will receive a commemorative lanyard with carrying sleeve.
3. When you approach the food booths, look to see if there are two lines for ordering. Some of the more popular booths have lines on each side of the booth to reduce your waiting in line time.
4. Buy your theme park tickets before you get to Epcot! We saw very long lines at the ticket booths while we were there yesterday. Your time is better spent inside the park instead of waiting in line to purchase a ticket. There are a number of places where you can order them ahead of time. If you purchase them through your My Disney Experience account you will be able to make your FastPass reservations ahead of time for your park day.
5. Go during the week! The lines are long on the weekends. You might want to try an alternate touring plan through World Showcase when it is busy. Start at the back of the park and work your way towards Future World. Typically most people start at the beginning of World Showcase. I don’t want to offend people but it seems on the weekends there are large groups of people wearing shirts with drinking slogans doing drinks around the world. Later in the evening you will see a fair number of drunks in the park. I prefer to go earlier to avoid them.
If you keep these tips in mind you will have a better time in the park. You can spend more of your time enjoying the excellent food and wine offerings.
‘Til next time, See you in the parks!
