2024 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Information and Planning Thread

[PrincessJasmine92]

DH and I ended up not eating too much at the festival this year, but we really liked the beef short rib from Earth Eats and DH really liked the Autumn Chili from Forest & Field. I kept hearing such good things about the sweet potato mousse and we both loved it! I don't like sweet potatoes, but DH does so hearing the good reviews pushed us to try it. It kinda reminded us of pumpkin pie in terms of flavor. It was really good. I'd definitely get it again and I hope it comes back.

I also want to give a shout out to the beef short rib. It wasn’t on my list to try but I was hungry and it was close. So glad I did because it was delicious! I was a little wary as I don’t usually like goat cheese but since it wasn’t soft cheese I liked it better. The puttanesca sauce was really good, loved the olives especially. I also got the lemon poppyseed cake from this booth, it was good but not exceptional.

I got the fry flight which I had in 2022 and liked then paired it with the steakhouse burger from the Flavors from Fire booth - it was good but the patty was small. Could’ve been warmer too but glad I tried it. Last thing was the cider flight from Morocco - it was on draught, the blackberry pear was my favorite.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

I see there are 2 Food and Wine apps available:

WDW Food&Wine - Epcot Food Festival Passport
Festival of Food - Optimize Food & Wine Festival

It looks like the first one has been around for 7 years and the second one 3 years. Any opinions or comments on which one is better or more useful?

 

[angelsil]

This will be my shortest visit to Food and Wine in nearly 10 years. Only spending 2 days because it's just not what it was. Pre-covid I would camp the internet/phones the day the special events went on sale (usually in May) and spend between 1-2 weeks over a couple of visits enjoying the tastings, celebrity chefs, and other demonstrations. Without that, as noted by many, it's "just another festival" and one that is typically extremely hot until the very end.

For this reason, I've been preferring Festival of the Arts lately. So much great artwork to look at and buy. Many of the artists attend themselves (we got a Haunted Mansion oil painting hand signed by the artist) and it's also much, much cooler weather-wise.

Unless and until they bring back the things that made F&W unique, I don't see returning to doing multiple stays.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

Communicore hall.. Yikes.. Cafeteria style food and wine festival. No " imagination "

Disappointing

I'll never like how that place came out lol

 

[crazy4wdw]

Food and Wine overlay returns to Living with the Land

https://blogmickey.com/2024/09/food...tion-at-epcot-new-displays-corkcicle-removed/

 

[LilyWDW]

Leaving tomorrow morning for my trip! First day at Epcot isn't until Monday though (doing Universal and HHN first). So excited!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Weather permitting, will visit on Thursday. If there's anything I can research for anyone, let me know.

 

[Newsies]

The Wanted will no longer be performing at Eat to the Beat this weekend. Can't say I'm surprised. I know a LOT of people were speculating about this set because the band's social media has been radio silent. Looks like "The Wanted" is now just Max and Siva, a quick search of this upcoming tour they mentioned doesn't have Nathan or Jay involved.

Just saw on Twitter people with Eat to the Beat packages have been notified that Sheila E. will be taking over their sets.

 

[Willows909]

Wrong thread, I know, I know! But it is the busiest thread! Curious when Epcot stopped selling Leave a Legacy engravings for the wall there?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Wrong thread, I know, I know! But it is the busiest thread! Curious when Epcot stopped selling Leave a Legacy engravings for the wall there?

June 2007

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/a...acy/?msockid=192f2f7aafe46f1723d23b3eae746e3c

 

[Willows909]

June 2007

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/a...acy/?msockid=192f2f7aafe46f1723d23b3eae746e3c

Thanks!

 

[Disney Addicted]

My family went to Epcot on Wednesday (18th) and Sunday (22nd). On Wednesday we did the right-hand side (Japan down to Soarin'), and on Sunday the left side (Americas, down and back to Soarin'). The crowd was heavier on Sunday.

The best thing I had by far was this amazing purple acholic drink!! I don't recall what it was called... violet sake? I believe it was in Japan and the Garden House? OMG so good! We bought one for my husband & I to split and I wanted more. Sake, pear juice and lime juice. I can't stress how good it was. And how beautiful looking. DAmn, I scrolled through my photos and I did not take a picture of it.

I tried:
Pickle Milk Shake - surprisingly not bad. It was my son's and I took a few sips
Crispy Duck Bao Bun - ok... the bun part was too thick
Mango Lassi with Somrus Chai Cream Liqueur - I love Chai, which is why I bought it. Not bad but Mango didn't quite work with Chai
Teriyaki Chicken Bun - ok but I wouldn't get this again
Griddled Cheese with Pistachios and Honey - I liked this but not worth the cost
Beer-braised beef with smoked gouda mashed potatoes - this was very good
Creme Brulee Mangue - my son finished this. I love creme brulee, but not as a mango passion...
Liquid Nitrogen Frozen Sweet Potato Mousse w/ candied pecans & maple caramel sauce - too sweet! My son finished it
Pear & Almond Frangipane Pate Brisee - good, but I wouldn't get a 2nd
Grilled bison with butternut squash, mushrooms and huckleberry - so very good!!

I missed out on trying:
Cheddar Cheese & Bacon Soup
Filet Mignon with mushrooms
Autumn Chili with bison, lamb and pork belly
Boursin fig & balsamic cheesecake
Key Lime tart
Pistachio cake with cinnamon pastry cream and candied walnuts

Edited to correct date from Thursday to Wednesday. I got mixed up. We did Hollywood Studios on Thursday.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Unfortunately, they have not offered that package for several years. Probably because that package would save a little bit of money.

Memory Lane

I had just started going to food and wine when the tabs were still good for booze- Moet all day! (Dom was excluded)

 

[summerlvr]

The best thing I had by far was this amazing purple acholic drink!! I don't recall what it was called... violet sake?

Yes! One of my favorites!
They also have them at Ye Sake at Disney Springs!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

The return of the wine vs. beer event? Kinda sorta?

The Patina group operates the restaurants in the Italy pavilion and is hosting a wine vs. beer event at Maria & Enzo's in Disney Springs. Three dates: 10/10, 10/24, and 11/16 (the October dates are dinners and the November date is a lunch). It sounds very much like the event that used to be held in Via Napoli during the F&W festival in that both a wine and a beer is served at each course, and you vote on which was the better pairing. The menus look pretty good.

 

[crazy4wdw]

The return of the wine vs. beer event? Kinda sorta?

The Patina group operates the restaurants in the Italy pavilion and is hosting a wine vs. beer event at Maria & Enzo's in Disney Springs. Three dates: 10/10, 10/24, and 11/16 (the October dates are dinners and the November date is a lunch). It sounds very much like the event that used to be held in Via Napoli during the F&W festival in that both a wine and a beer is served at each course, and you vote on which was the better pairing. The menus look pretty good.

Nice catch! That was one of my favorite F & W events. I never could quite drink all of the wine and beer! By the end of the 3rd course, I was fairly much "done"

 

[JiminyCricket!]

This question is about Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic. I've got a ticket for the Saturday night. How much time should I plan to stay?Event is from 530-930pm. I'm going to be in Epcot in the afternoon. Can I arrive at 7pm and stay until the end @ 930pm or is it a mistake not to be there when it opens at 530pm? I want to enjoy trying food at various booths and am not in a hurry, but am unclear about how long waiting in lines will take, and is there entertainment or something to do other than eating?

 

[msmayor]

This question is about Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic. I've got a ticket for the Saturday night. How much time should I plan to stay?Event is from 530-930pm. I'm going to be in Epcot in the afternoon. Can I arrive at 7pm and stay until the end @ 930pm or is it a mistake not to be there when it opens at 530pm? I want to enjoy trying food at various booths and am not in a hurry, but am unclear about how long waiting in lines will take, and is there entertainment or something to do other than eating?

My daughter and I are going Friday night, and it is our first time. I have no idea what the lines will be like, or what live entertainment will be there yet (there are older videos out there and it looks like a great event).

We'll be at Epcot F&W until early afternoon, then take a break. We plan to get to Swan/Dophin by 5:30 and stay as close to the end as we can. The ticket price is high enough that I want to be able to maximize my ability to enjoy as much as possible.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Australia Kiosk Moves To A New Location:
https://mickeyblog.com/2024/10/14/e...ves-to-a-new-location-for-food-wine-festival/

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Australia Kiosk Moves To A New Location:
https://mickeyblog.com/2024/10/14/e...ves-to-a-new-location-for-food-wine-festival/

Sunshine Seasons seems like an odd choice but ok. Great to have AC and seating!!