Candidly, I love every festival at EPCOT, each with a level of uniqueness that sets it apart from the rest. My appreciation for parts of each festival has made selecting my favorite festival difficult. From the differences in food selections and booths to different themed hunts and decorations around the park at every festival, visiting any of the four festivals throughout the year is worth visiting.
All that being said, one EPCOT festival stands out and holds a special place in my heart. For a true foodie, there’s nothing like EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival. This annual festival usually takes place in the fall, although, in recent years, it has moved to start in late summer. While every EPCOT festival is a “food” festival, the Food and Wine Festival is a true playground for the foodies visiting Walt Disney World.
Here’s why I think this festival trumps the rest and is a must-visit for great food, great times, and an authentic EPCOT festival experience.
Selection of Booths
Every EPCOT festival has more than enough food kiosks to explore – even smaller and shorter festivals like the Festival of the Arts. However, EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival is the largest of the park’s four festivals. In recent years, there have been over 30 food booths to explore! Now, if you’re only visiting for a day or two, it’s pretty fair to assume you won’t get to try all the menu items you’d like. But the mere selection of booths makes sense for Food & Wine, especially as it is one of the longest-running festivals (from late August to mid-November in 2024).
For longer Disney World trips or locals who visit multiple times throughout the festival, the selection of booths and menu items at this festival is superb. It never gets boring – and there’s always something new to try. Plus, so many favorites will make you want to continue to come back year after year. There are hundreds of food and drinks to try scattered throughout the 30+ food booths at the festival.
Disney has also truly elevated the Food and Wine Festival experience in the last couple of years. Past years had the same general items from year to year, but they’ve changed recently. The addition of the Festival Favorites booth in 2024 keeps things interesting. Every time you visit the festival, you can count on your favorites, and new, exciting menu options are offered, too. I like that the festival runs for multiple months, giving you ample time to make one (or multiple) visits.
Authentic Flavors
Part of what makes EPCOT unique is the World Showcase concept, which allows visitors to try bites from various cuisines. While the leading countries of the World Showcase are represented in every festival (such as China or Japan), the Food and Wine Festival brings new flavors to the scene.
For example, the Greece and India booths are my favorite, but they are not seen at any of EPCOT’s three other festivals. Where else can you enjoy Chicken Tikka Masala or a Lamb Gyro in a theme park? These tiny touches help differentiate EPCOT from the stereotypical “theme park” and keep visitors like myself returning year after year.
We can’t forget the “wine” component of “Food and Wine” either. Drinking around the World is an experience at any festival, but Food and Wine adds many new drink options. My favorites are the alcoholic Mango Lassi at the India booth and the Italian Margarita in Italy.
Final Thoughts
Again, I love EPCOT in every season. There’s something magical about visiting during the Festival of the Holidays – from the holiday decorations to the festive music playing throughout the park. The Flower & Garden Festival is colorful and vibrant, with stunning floral displays. Lastly, the Festival of the Arts highlights culture and talent. Still, however, EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival wins the trophy for best EPCOT festival for the best selection of international cuisine and beverages. There’s truly nothing like it.
What’s your favorite EPCOT festival, and why?