This year marks the 24th year the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival dominates the fall season at Walt Disney World. The 2019 Epcot Food & Wine Festival will be the longest festival ever, at 87 days!
Long celebrated as a great way to try lots of different international cuisine, wines and beers, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival invites guests to explore the “international” aspect of World Showcase at Epcot.
This year’s Festival begins August 29, 2019, and will run through November 23, 2019. The Festival is anchored by 30 Global Marketplaces throughout World Showcase. There are world flavors for everyone of all ages to discover. There are Global Marketplaces featuring food and beverages from all over the world. The choices are not limited to the nine countries already featured in World Showcase. Every year, there are returning favorites and new adventurous flavors to try.
Eat to the Beat Concert Series
Another highlight from the annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. Every night, from August 29 – November 19, a band will play at the America Gardens Theatre. Sundays – Thursdays, the shows are at 5:30 pm, 6:45 pm and 8:00 pm. On Fridays and Saturdays, showtimes are 6:30 pm, 7:45 pm and 9:00 pm. Epcot admission is required to attend any of the shows; however, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series itself is included with your park admission.
As you might imagine, seating is limited, and guests often line up early to try and get seats. However, the music carries to the area immediately around the America Gardens Theatre, and it’s not unusual to see people standing around the area, enjoying the music. Sometimes, you’ll even see people dancing!
Not all the acts for this year’s Festival and been released yet, but a lot of them have. There are some new acts this year, along with a lot of returning favorites.
Here’s the current list and schedule (subject to change).
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- Plain White T’s
August 29 through 31 - Sawyer Brown – NEW!
September 1 through 2 - MercyMe
September 3 through 4 - Grace Kelly – NEW!
September 5 through 6 - Zach Williams – NEW!
September 7 through 8 - Lauren Daigle – NEW!
September 9 through 10 - Jimmie Allen – NEW!
September 11 through 12 - TBD
September 13 through 15 - The Allman Betts Band
September 16 through 17 - Everclear
September 18 through 19 - STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas
September 20 through 22 - Post Modern Jukebox
September 23 through 24 - Blue October
September 25 through 26 - Mark Wills
September 27 through 29 - Sugar Ray
September 30 through October 2 - TBD
October 3 through 9 - Boyce Avenue – NEW!
October 10 through 11 - Southern Avenue – NEW!
October 12 through 13 - TBD
October 14 through 15 - 38 Special
October 16 through 17 - Baha Men
October 18 through 20 - Billy Ocean
October 21 through 22 - Sheila E
October 23 through 25 - High Valley
October 26 through 27 - Hanson
October 28 through 30 - Sheena Easton
October 31 through November 1 - Kris Allen – NEW!
November 2 through 3 - Boyz II Men
November 4 through 6 - The Hooters
November 7 through 8 - Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy
November 9 through 11 - TBD
November 12 through 18 - DCapella – NEW!
November 1
- Plain White T’s
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Eat to the Beat Dining Package
If there is a particular band you love, and you REALLY want to make sure you get guaranteed seats for one of their shows, there are Eat to the Beat Dining Packages available. You can reserve Eat to the Beat Dining Packages for breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a variety of Epcot restaurants. For a small premium, your meal will include guaranteed seating for a particular show on the day of meal. Eat to the Beat Dining Packages are available to book now!
Note: If you choose NOT to book an Eat to the Beat Dining Package, it does NOT mean you won’t get a seat. You just won’t have a guaranteed seat. You’ll have to wait in line with all the other non-dining package guests, and hope that you get to the front of the line before all the seats are full. This is a lot easier for some acts than others. If one show is super crowded, try the next show. It may be less crowded. Generally, the later shows are more popular than the early show.
Future World Gets in on the Action
Not to be left out of the global extravaganza that is the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Future World participates with a “Disney du Jour Dance Party”. This weekend Dance Party has been so popular in years past, Disney has expanded it to seven days a week for this year’s Festival. Sundays through Thursdays, a Disney DJ will manage the Dance Party, and on the weekends, stars from Radio Disney with add a little extra excitement with live performances. So far, only the opening weekend guest has been announced; Meg Donnelly from the Disney Channel original movie Zombies.
Food & Wine Festival Special Events
Throughout the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, there are a variety of culinary demonstrations and educational seminars. Celebrity chefs and well known personalities from the world of international cuisine will host culinary demonstrations throughout the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Many of these demonstrations and talks will be included with your park admission. In addition, there are a variety of extra special events that are offered; however these extra special events require reservations and cost extra.
Beverage Seminars
Reservations are required for this 45 minute seminar. It’s held at the World ShowPlace Events Pavilion, located between United Kingdom and Canada. Epcot admission is required, and the additional cost per person for this event is $19 per person, plus tax.
The Beverage Seminars are held some Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays during the Festival at 4:30 pm. These Seminars are hosted by sommeliers, cicerones and other beverage experts. They will share their knowledge and offer samples for you to taste. Depending on the seminary, you might learn about state-of-the-art winemaking, brewing or distilling techniques.
Note: Alcohol will be served to guests 21 and older. All events are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Cheese Seminars
Reservations are required for these 90 minute seminars, held on select Saturdays throughout the Festival. Seminars are held at the World ShowPlace Events Pavilion from 9:45 am – 11:15 am. Epcot admission is required; the additional cost per person for each of these events is $95, plus tax (gratuity included).
These seminars are hosted by distinguished cheese experts. The seminars are designed to educate guests about the different textures, aromas, and flavors of popular cheeses from all over the world. Guests will have the opportunity to sample artisanal cheese selections paired with complementary wines or craft beers.
Topics include:
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- New World Cheeses and Old World Wines (September 14, 2019)
- Mediterranean Cheeses and Wines (September 28, 2019)
- Great British Cheeses and Ales (October 5, 2019)
- Italian Cheeses and Wines (October 12, 2019)
- French Cheeses and Wines (October 19, 2019)
- The Great Cheeses and Wines of the Western United States (October 26, 2019)
- Season’s Best Cheeses and Wines (November 9, 2019)
Note: Alcohol is served exclusively to guests aged 21 or older. All events are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Party for the Senses
For many food and wine connoisseurs, one of the highlights of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is the Party for the Senses. The Party for the Senses is a special ticketed evening event featuring tasting stations, live entertainment, elegant decor and acclaimed chefs and personalities. More than 20 renown chefs are featured. International musical artists Femmes of Rock are returning this year, following their popular debut at this event in 2018. Reservations are required for this special evening event, held on select Saturday nights during the Festival. Book your reservations now.
Epcot admission is required, in addition to the event ticket.
The event is held on select Saturdays at the World ShowPlace Events Pavilion. The World ShowPlace Events Pavilion is located between the United Kingdom and Canada in World Showcase.
There are two seating options, with pricing between $229 and $359 per guest plus tax, gratuity included, based on which seating option you choose.
Category #1: Wine View Lounge
Category #1 is the VIP option, and priced at $359 per guest plus tax, gratuity included. Your Wine View Lounge admission provides early access to the event at 6:30 pm.
Your VIP event ticket includes a private, premium reserved table. When you arrive at your table, you will find an amuse-bouche and a welcome beverage. Your early entrance offers a special briefing from the chefs and a special phot opportunity. The Wine View Lounge has exclusive premium bar service and artisanal cheeses available only for the VIP guests with Category #1 event tickets. Your ticket will also include a special premium wine glass and an additional gift as your souvenirs of the elegant evening.
Also included in this VIP option is complimentary Minnie Van service to transport ticketed guests from their resort hotel to the event and return service at the end of the event. Alternatively, if you are already in Epcot on the day of your event, complimentary transportation will be provided from the Main Entrance to the event.
Category #2: Reserved Seating
Category #2 includes reserved seating on the main floor of the event. These tickets are priced at $229 per person, plus tax, gratuity included. Your ticket will include a specialty welcome beverage as well as an event exclusive wine glass. Your ticket will allow you access to the event from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
Note: Alcohol is only served to ticketed guests aged 21 or older. Events and entertainment are subject to change or cancellation without notice.
Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend
For runDisney fans, an annual highlight of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is the Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend. This year’s Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend is October 31 through November 3, 2019.
The Half Marathon and 10K races both go through the Walt Disney World Resort, and feature Disney characters and Disney style entertainment throughout each race. A very popular post-race party at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival concludes the race weekend.
The runDisney race fun begins with the Disney Fall Feast 5K on November 1, 2019. The Disney Wine & Dine 10K is on November 2, 2019, followed by the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon on November 3, 2019. Not to be outdone by other runDisney race weekends, the Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend includes a special Wine & Dine Two Course Challenge. The Two Course Challenge combines the 10K on Saturday with the Half Marathon on Sunday. Successful Two Course Challenge finishers earn a special Disney Two Course Challenge medal, plus both Half Marathon and 10K medals. Registration is required for the Disney Two Course Challenge to be eligible for this special medal.
SOLD OUT!
ALL races for the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend are already sold out, including the Disney Two Course Challenge. It is still possible to register however through participating charities, or through the purchase of special Walt Disney World Vacation packages. Contact your travel agent (I’d be happy to help!) to learn more.
To learn more about these or any other runDisney events, visit runDisney.
Epcot’s Most Popular Event
Epcot is wonderful to visit at any time of year, but it has become especially well known for its Festivals. The Epcot International Festival of the Arts dominates the beginning of each year at Epcot, running mid-January through late February.
My personal favorite, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, premiers each year in early March and runs through the first few days of June.
Then comes the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, the topic of this article, followed by the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays. I promise to do an article about the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays soon.
It is the fall Epcot International Food & Wine Festival that is the most popular Epcot festival, however. The ever popular “drink around the world” informal drinking challenge that many adult guests love to complete takes on a whole other level when attempted during the Food & Wine Festival.
Have you ever visited the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival? Are you planning to visit this year? Please like this post and comment below. I’d love to hear your plans for this year’s Festival.
Happy Dreaming!
Brooke
