Sip, savor, and stroll your way around Epcot’s World Showcase at this year’s 25th anniversary event! Even though this year’s event is a little different than years past, you definitely don’t want to miss out!
With the changes in the event, comes a new name. Since the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival was cut short due to the temporary closure of the parks, Disney has combined the best of the Flower and Garden and the Wine & Dine Festivals and wrapped it all into the Taste of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. This year the festival started on July 15. The most important thing to know is the festival is basically free to attend. There is not a separate ticket to attend beyond the theme park admission and park pass to Epcot.
Expect to find over 20 signature global marketplaces like Mexico, Brazil, and Islands of the Caribbean spaced out all around the World Showcase, as well as other sips and bites scattered around the World Showcase Plaza and even a couple on the paths to Future World. Be sure not to miss the marketplaces located inside the World Showplace Events Pavilion between Great Britain and Canada. Here you will find the Appleseed Orchard and Wine & Dine featuring festival favorites, Desserts & Champagne and the Mac & Cheese hosted by Boursin Cheese marketplaces!
Foodie Guide
Each location features a few small plates and drinks. You can buy one item or one of everything—whatever you’d like to have. Around each booth are tall tables you can use to enjoy your food and then head to the next spot.
Contactless payment such as Disney gift cards, credit/debit cards, and charge to the room on your MagicBands are all preferred. Find out what food is being offered for the 2020 festival here.
The World Showcase is generally open from 11 a.m. to close and hours are the same during the Food and Wine Festival. This gives you some time to enjoy Future World before you head back.
The event is family-friendly overall, but during Friday and Saturday nights, it can be very popular so that makes it a little harder for families to navigate. The best time to attend with fewer crowds is from August through the first two weeks of September.
Entertainment
This year features amazing entertainment from an Epcot favorite, the JAMMitors. This funky drumming crew breaks it down as they drum up fun with some unlikely instruments like trash cans, brooms, and tin cans. These amazing cast members even did some performances online for guests to enjoy when we could not be in the parks.
Mariachi Cobre is also entertaining guests. These world-famous musicians warm your hearts and your spirit with their triumphant traditional fold music from Jalisco, Mexico. Here is something special from them.
Fun for All Ages
Stop by the Port of Entry or Disney Traders in Showcase Plaza to purchase Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt map and stickers before entering World Showcase.
Help Remy as he ventures around the World Showcase to collect ingredients for his signature dish, Ratatouille! Once you collect all of the ingredients, return to Port of Entry or Disney Traders to collect your prize!
Plan Your Visit
With a plethora of food choices, amazing entertainment from the JAMMitors and other amazing performers, scavenger hunts, and special limited event merchandise, I promise this is a must-not-miss event for the fall!
**Special Things to Note for 2020**
- There are NO passport books. You’ll find all information about the different booths in the My Disney Experience app.
- Currently, there is not a Wine & Dine event map.
- Disney’s Wine and Dine Race Weekend has gone virtual.
- Five or six booths have yet to open and are “coming this fall”.
- Food & Wine merchandise arrives later in the fall.
- There is LOTS of Flower & Garden merchandise
- This year there are not as many topiaries as a full Flower and Garden Festival. Check out Remy in France and Bambi outside of MouseGears for topiaries.
Contact Magical Memory Planners so we can help you plan your visit and be sure you don’t miss anything.
Special thank you to our MMP Melinda who shared her amazing pictures and feedback with us.
