The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is the premiere Disney World event for food lovers. With scrumptious small plates and beverages, this is the must-do event for anybody who wants to snack and sip around the world — all in an afternoon.

In our EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Guide, we’ll give you an overview of what the festival is, what you can do at the festival, and what dishes you definitely want to try. We’ll also share our best tips and tricks for visiting the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival and avoiding the crowds.

Update July 27, 2023 – This guide has been updated for the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. We now have this year’s menus, festival dates, and the lineup for the Eat to the Beat Concerts. 

Table of Contents

  • Festival Dates
  • What is the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival
  • How much does the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival cost?
  • Should I visit EPCOT during the Food & Wine Festival?
  • What to Eat – Global Marketplace Menus
  • What to Do
  • EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Festival Tips

When is the 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival?

This year’s EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs July 27 – November 18, 2023.

What is the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival?

Scallop - Ireland - EPCOT Food and Wine FestivalThe EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is a park-wide culinary celebration that runs every year at EPCOT. Disney World hosted the first EPCOT Food & Wine Festival in 1996, as a 30 day event starting in September. Due to its immense popularity, the festival now runs from the summer through mid-November for 115 days. Interestingly, this is 13 days shorter than last year’s festival.

The main draw of the festival are the Global Marketplaces. These are food booths that line the walkways of World Showcase, as well as World Celebration and Discovery. Each Global Marketplace offers a limited menu of small plates and beverages, all centered around a theme. Most booths will give a sampling of a country’s cuisine, such as Mexico, Italy, Hawaii, or Brazil. However, some booths don’t follow regional borders, such as the Brew-wing booth that serves up beer and wings in the Odyssey Pavilion.

The Fry Basket - EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide - Guide2WDW

If you want a sampling of internationally inspired small plates and sips, then you must visit EPCOT during the Food & Wine Festival. The festival also features the Eat to the Beat Concert series, scavenger hunts, and special merchandise and souvenirs.

What’s new at the 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival?

 

The Odyssey Pavilion dressed up to be the Brew-Wing Lab with Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker from the Muppets

Muppet Labs at the Odyssey – The Odyssey has been receiving a theme during each of EPCOT’s Festivals, with it being decked out for Figment during the Festival of the Arts and featuring a splash of Orange Bird during the Flower and Garden Festival. The Food and Wine Festival will put two of our favorite Muppets front and center at the Odyssey: Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker. Featuring video screens with that dynamic duo, Muppet Labs will be experimenting with flavor such as the “Unnecessarily Spicy, Yet Extremely Tasty Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings.” One of their most curious creations is the Pickle Milkshake, which we’ll dive into next.

Pickle Milkshake - EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

Year of the Pickle: Pickles are having a moment at this year’s Festival. The Pickle Milkshake at Brew-Wing is probably the oddest new item in the food lineup. It’s so strange you just have to try it.But there are also dill-pickle flavored fries at the Fry Basket. So pickle is the fashionable flavor for the 2023 Festival. (Or is it dill?)

Four new Global Marketplaces arrive in September: The 2023 Festival features four new food booths that will debut September 22 as the Disney 100 celebration kicks off at EPCOT. These four booths are Char & Chop, Wine & Wedge, Bubbles & Brine, and Swirled Showcase.

Mexico Food Booth - EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Guide - Guide2WDW

Plenty of new food and beverage options: While the Global Marketplace lineup remains mostly the same, EPCOT is shaking up many of the menus. From a Fire Taiko Roll in Japan to a Crispy Duck Bao Bun in China to a Chimichurri Marinated Skirt Steak Taco at Flavors from Fire, there are a ton of new food items throughout the entire festival. In fact, Mexico features an entirely new food menu. And one of our all-time favorite items, the Le Cellier Filet, is now served with mashed potatoes.

How much does the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival cost?

Access to the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is included with admission to EPCOT. All theme park guests can enjoy activities like the Eat to the Beat concert series free of charge.

However, the titular food and wine is not free. Each item at the Global Marketplace varies in cost depending on the item. Small plates at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival range from $4.25 – $9.25. Desserts like the Rocky Road Chocolate Cake from Flavors of Fire will be on the low end while protein heavy dishes like the Le Cellier Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon from Canada will be on the more expensive end. Alcoholic beverages range from $5 for a glass of wine or beer to $10-$14 for a cocktail. Souvenir glasses will have an additional cost.

All food items count as a snack in the Disney Dining Plan, which will be returning in 2024. So, not in time for this year’s Festival, but at least we know that its return is on the horizon.

This discussion of cost brings us to our first EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Tip: Set a budget. With the small plates, it’s very easy to order a dish here and there as you explore the park. These bites can add up, both quickly and deliciously. Before you go to Disney World, purchase a Disney Gift Card at a discount. That way you can easily save 5% – 20% on everything you buy at the fest.

Should I visit EPCOT during the Food & Wine Festival?

Outside of the Australia Food Booth at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival at Disney World

Considering this is our favorite Disney World event, we may be biased. But our answer is an emphatic yes! The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is worth visiting for the food and drinks alone. The extra activities are icing on a delectable cake.

However, one caveat we have is that EPCOT gets very crowded during the Food & Wine Festival. This can make getting around the park and visiting Global Marketplaces challenging. Our advice: avoid the weekends if you can during the Festival. Visit during the week, and try to do a tour of the food booths earlier in the day before the crowds show up.

What to Eat at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

Spam Musubi - EPCOT Food and Wine Festival - EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

The 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival features over 25 Global Marketplaces, . There are so many delectable dishes to try at each food booth. Here are a few of our favorite dishes from over the years at the festival:

  • Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup served with a pretzel roll – Canada
  • “Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon – Canada
  • Roasted Lamb Chop with mint pesto and potato crunchies – Australia
  • Pão de Queijo (Brazilian Cheese Bread) – Brazil
  • Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake with Irish cream liqueur custard – Ireland
  • SPAM Musubi Nigiri – Hawaii
  • Kālua Pork Slider – Hawaii
  • Fry Flight – The Fry Basket
  • Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese – The Alps
  • Parmentier de Boeuf Braisé au Cabernet: Braised short ribs in cabernet with mashed potatoes – France
  • Pan-fried Chicken Dumplings – China

Here are some of the new items that we are excited to try at this year’s festival:

  • Orange-Cardamom Wings – Brew-Wing at the Odyssey
  • Pickle Fries with Dill Ranch – The Fry Basket
  • Chimichurri Marinated Skirt Steak Taco with Crushed Avocado, Grilled Corn Salsa, Pickled Red Onions, Queso Fresco and Cilantro-Lime Cream – Flavors from Fire
  • Tostada de Carnitas – Mexico
  • Dark Chocolate Fondue with Berries, Pound Cake and Meringues – The Alps
  • Cinnamon-Sugar Beaver Tail – Refreshment Port

When the festival begins, not every Global Marketplace will be open. Hawaii and The Noodle Exchange will open on August 15, and EPCOT will be adding four more booths on September 22: Char & Chop, Wine & Wedge, Bubbles & Brine, and Swirled Showcase.

You can find the complete list of 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Menus here.

What to do at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

While Disney World hasn’t yet brought back the cooking demonstrations, special meals, or Party for the Senses that filled the Food & Wine festival schedule before 2020, there are still plenty of activities to do at the festival.

Feed Your Curiosity with Scavenger Hunts

Remy the rat and an eggplant statue at Remy's Hide and Squeak scavenger hunt at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival at Disney World

EPCOT will host two scavenger hunts during the course of this year’s Food & Wine Festival. For each of these, you can buy a special map with a set of stickers. As you explore the park, look out for specific items matching your stickers. You place each sticker to its corresponding place on the map.

Once you’ve completed the map, turn it in to Disney Traders or World Traveler at International Gateway for a special prize.

Pumpkins decorated as Wall-E and EVE at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival as part of Pluto's Pumpkin Pursuit scavenger hunt.

  • Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak – Search the World Showcase for hidden statuettes of Remy and different ingredients.
  • Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit (September 29 – October 31) – In this Halloween-themed scavenger hunt, search the park for pumpkins decorated with Disney characters.

You can purchase the maps for these scavenger hunts at Port of Entry, Creations Shop, or World Traveler at International Gateway.

Get Your Groove On at the Eat to the Beat Concert Series

Boyz II Men - Epcot Eat to the Beat Concert

Get ready for a heavy serving of musical starpower and nostalgic tunes! The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival features a free concert series at the America Gardens Theater. The Eat to the Beat Concerts take place three times on select dates: 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM.

At the 2023 Food & Wine Festival, Eat to the Beat concerts will be divided into Headliners and Local Talent.

  • From Friday – Monday, popular headliner bands like Boyz II Men, Billy Ocean, and Hanson will take the stage.
  • From Tuesday – Thursday during the festival, local artists will have their time to shine.

This year’s concert lineup includes returning favorites like Boyz II Men, 98 Degrees, Hanson, Tiffany, Hoobastank, and more. For the entire 2023 EPCOT Eat to the Beat Concert Series Lineup, Dining Package Info, and Tips, check out our concert series guide.

Shop for Exclusive Merchandise

EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Merchandise - Coasters that look like a cheeseburger when stacked on top of each other

Each EPCOT Festival features unique merchandise, and the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is an excellent chance to get some kitchenware with character. This year’s festival will feature kitchen accessories and drinkware featuring Mickey & Minnie, Spaceship Earth, and the Family Madrigal from Encanto. You can find Festival merchandise throughout the park, but Creations Shop and the Odyssey Pavilion are good places to find a wide variety of souvenirs. You can also find certain 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival merchandise on shopDisney once they’re available.

EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Festival Tips

  • For the Eat to the Beat concerts, we recommend getting to the America Gardens Theatre at least 30 minutes before showtime, especially for popular acts like Boyz II Men.
  • If you want a premium seat for the Eat to the Beat concerts and don’t mind paying a bit extra, consider buying an Eat to the Beat Dining Package. These dining packages give you a guaranteed seat per meal purchased and include an appetizer, entrée and dessert (or one (1) full buffet where applicable)), along with a non-alcoholic beverage. The most affordable option is the Regal Eagle Smokehouse package, which is available same day.
  • Avoid the first and last days of the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. These will be the most crowded days, along with the weekends.
  • Late mornings and early afternoons are your friends at the Global Marketplaces: The food booths don’t open until 11 am, but this is the best time to sample their offerings. Lines can get looooong at the food booths around dinner time. They are usually much more reasonable in the morning, especially in off dining hours. Try for an early or late lunch, or just do what I do and graze throughout the day.
  • Set a budget for the food booths: As mentioned above, the food and wine purchases can add up quickly. Disney Gift Cards are great for setting a budget. Every Global Marketplace at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival takes Disney Gift Cards, and this way you can set a budget and avoid doing too much impulse buying. Check out our article on how to use gift card hacks to save 5-20% on Disney Gift Cards to get the most out of your budget.
  • Get your Festival Passport stamped. On the first day you go to EPCOT, get a Festival Passport at the park entrance. This will include all the menus for each food booth, as well as details on special activities going on throughout the theme park. You can get your Passport stamped at each festival booth you visit.
  • You can do the scavenger hunt for free. You don’t actually need to pay to play the game. Just look out for the special item located in each country – the Remy statues for Remy’s Hide & Squeak and the character pumpkins for Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit. You can write down which item you find in which part of the park, or mark your park map. You won’t get a prize this way, but you can still have fun finding the hidden characters.
  • Annual Passholders get freebies at each festival. In the past, we’ve gotten everything from wine glasses to commemorative coins. Be sure to check the Festival Guidebook to see where you can redeem you Annual Passholder gift.
  • Pack your own tray: Dining spaces are limited, especially when the festival is crowded. A tray can be a very handy item, especially if you order multiple items at a booth. You could bring your own from home, or purchase one at a Festival gift shop. But here’s a tip for a free tray: Yorkshire County Fish and Chips gives out trays with their meals. Have Fish and Chips for lunch, save the tray, and enjoy more convenient dining at the Food & Wine Festival booths for dinner.
  • Pack your own straw and utensils: You will plow through a lot of plastic cutlery over your time at the Global Marketplaces, and Disney’s paper straws are awful. Here are a few options for reusable travel utensils and straws that we recommend. Note: Disney does not allow knives of any kind, so if you have a travel cutlery set, leave the knife in your hotel room. Even if it isn’t that sharp! I included a travel spork as part of my recommended items. You won’t need a knife for most items anyway.
humangear Travel Sporks

humangear GoBites Uno Travel Sporks – 3 Pack

$9.99

If you're visiting the food booths at one of the EPCOT Festivals, this travel/camping spork set will be your best friend. Don't worry if a booth runs out of forks or spoons. Plus, it's an eco-friendly option!

Buy from Amazon

Greens Steel Straws

Green Steel Stainless Steel Straws

$5.00

The #1 best selling adaptive drinking straw on Amazon, this 5 piece set includes 2 straight straws, 2 bent straws, and a straw cleaner. This is for anyone who would prefer a stainless steel straw to a silicone straw. Comes in tall and medium sizes. Recommended for EPCOT Festivals.

Buy from Amazon

Flathead Straws

Flathead Reusable Silicone Drinking Straws Straight (set of 10)

$10.99

These colorful BPA-free silicone straws are an awesome alternative to Disney's paper straws. Be able to sip your iced coffee on Main Street without the straw disintegrating. Also highly recommended for EPCOT's Festivals.

Buy from Amazon

How to Plan a Fabulous Food & Wine Festival Vacation

Greece Food Booth - EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

Planning a trip to the EPCOT International Food & Festival? This guide is just the beginning. Get in touch with our friends at Vacationeer for free Disney World vacation planning. Their travel agents can help you plan your vacation for no extra cost. They’ll make sure you get the most out of your visit to EPCOT and the other WDW theme parks. Plus, they are Disney experts, so they’ll have their own recommendations and advice.

Don’t miss our other Disney World guides, which help you learn the basics of planning a WDW vacation. Our Guide 2 Disney Genie and EPCOT Lightning Lane Guide will help you spend less time waiting in line for EPCOT’s best rides and attractions. Plus, we have in-depth sections with EPCOT Tips & TricksEPCOT Rides & Attractions, an EPCOT Character Guide, as well as EPCOT Restaurants and Dining.

Let Us Know Your Thoughts

What’s your experience at the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival? Let me know in the comments below!


James Grosch

James is a lifelong Disney Parks fan. While at the parks, he loves finding new details, learning more about Disney World history, and taking pictures. His favorite WDW attractions include Rise of the Resistance, Spaceship Earth, and Tower of Terror.
James is a filmmaker and writer based in Atlanta, GA.

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