Great Reason for a Disney Trip! Epcot Food & Wine Festival Event Tickets on Sale Soon!
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If you’re planning a fall Disney vacation (or need a reason to visit!), the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs from September 25, 2015, to November 16, 2015.
Most events and access to international food and beverage vendors are included with park admission. But there are premium events, like celebrity chef brunches, food and wine parties, and cooking seminars, which cost extra. Tickets for these events go on sale July 30, 2015.
So put on your stretchy pants! Let’s see how you can eat and drink your way through Epcot this fall! And I’ll tell you about a special perk for Chase cardholders.
What’s the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival?
Link: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
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Disney’s Epcot theme park is focused on technology, travel, and world cultures. So it’s only fitting that they have an International Food & Wine Festival every year!
Epcot has pavilions for many countries in their World Showcase area, and year-round, folks can visit their restaurants to try various international cuisines. But during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, you can sample tasting portions from even more cultures for a very reasonable price!
This year, they’re expanding the festival into Future World, with new seminars and events.
Emily’s friend visited 2 years ago with her family, and said most countries had food and drink samples in the ~$3 to ~$8 range. Some of the treats included Brazilian crispy pork belly with salsa and black beans…
…or Australian lamb loin chops with mint sauce and…potato chips?
Check out the menus from 2013 and 2014 to see other goodies they’ve offered!
There are also cooking demonstrations, food and wine exhibits, and nightly “Eat to the Beat” free concerts. Most of the artists are from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, like Air Supply, Rick Springfield, Smashmouth, and The Pointer Sisters. Fun!
Special Event Tickets
If you’re really into your food, consider checking out some of the special events at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. These tickets go on sale July 30, 2015, and include:
- Grand Tasting Events like Party for the Senses (sample food and drink from 50 tasting stations!) and the Rockin’ Burger Block Party (burgers, sliders, beverages, music, and dancing)
- Food and Beverage Pairing lunches and dinners from Italy, Japan, the Mediterranean, Mexico, Morocco, and more
- Brunch With Celebrity Chefs like Carla Hall, Andrew Zimmern, Amanda Freitag, Cat Cora, and Robert Irvine
Plus, sign-up for culinary demonstrations, cheese, mixology and beverage seminars, or go hard at beverage boot camp. (!!!)
Some of these special event tickets are as little as ~$15. Or you could pay over $300 for a VIP party ticket!
If you’re interested in attending a special event, it’s best to buy your ticket soon. Some of these parties and classes sell out very quickly! And if you’re a die-hard foodie, you might consider making a special trip to Disney just for this festival!
Otherwise, it’s a nice bonus if you already have a trip planned and love to try new foods!
Note: The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival can get very crowded at times, and might not be the best choice for little kids (especially picky eaters). And be aware that weekend nights can get quite rowdy with folks partying and drinking their way through the park.
Chase Cardholders Get Extra Perks
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is sponsored by Chase, so if you’re a Chase cardholder you get special treatment!
Visitors to Epcot during the festival can enter the Chase lounge by showing their Chase card. It’s a quiet (and cooler!) place to relax and take a break from the crowds.
Emily’s friend reports it was a welcome break to sit down and have a free soft drink with the kids. And the bathrooms are cleaner than the regular park facilities!
Make the Most of Your Trip!
There’s so much to see and do at Epcot, that it’s best to have a plan before you visit. It’s the biggest Disney park!
Check out my posts on how to save time and aggravation at Disney by using Touringplans.com and their Lines mobile app. They even include menus for Epcot restaurants and food carts.
And here’s how to use miles and points (or find a cheap paid flight) to get to Epcot in Orlando.
While you’re eating your way through Epcot, be sure to pay for your sample plates and meals with a card that earns bonus miles and points on dining and entertainment, like the Citi ThankYou Premier Card or Citi Prestige Card.
And if you’re looking for a bed to roll yourself into after all that food and drink, check out my post on top hotels to book at Disney with points!
Bottom Line
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival runs from September 25, 2015, to November 16, 2015. It’s a terrific event to try new foods, sample beverages, and learn about international cuisine. Plus there are free concerts and cooking demonstrations!
Admission is included with your visit to Epcot. But there are special events, like food and wine pairings, parties, and seminars, which cost more. Tickets for these events go on sale July 30, 2015.
And if you’re a Chase cardholder, you can access the Chase lounge at Epcot during the festival for free. It’s a cool place to relax and have a complimentary soft drink and quiet time!
I’m tempted to visit the festival this year. Let me know if you’ve been and what your favorite foods and experiences were!
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