Disney4me Posted September 3, 2016 Report Share Posted September 3, 2016 If you’ve been hanging around here much at all, then you know that we love the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. And what’s not to love?? In 2016, we’ll have two full months to Dine Around the Promenade at Marketplace Booths, take in Special Events and Demos, and generally soak up this culinary immersion. So we focus a lot on things you Must Try! (Grown up frozen drinks!!) and things that you Can’t Miss! (Parisian Breakfast!!) But what about the “Don’ts”? With 20 years of Food and Wine Festival experience under our belts, we think we know a thing or two about having a good time at F&W. So today, allow us to share our list for the Mistakes We’d Like to Help You to Avoid as you plan your visit to this year’s Festival! Put on your stretchy pants and comfy shoes, and get your DFB Food and Wine Tray ready. Time to head in! Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute to Book Events There’s a reason that we tell you to be on the phone first thing bright and early on the day that Special Events, including Seminars and Demonstrations, open. These events sell out quickly — especially the ones featuring celebrity chefs. All isn’t lost, though, if you didn’t book the second the phone lines opened. You will be able to book some events, especially the Low-Cost daily seminars and demos, right up to the time of the event. Wine View Lounge Cheese Station at Party for the Senses Still, it’s best to plan ahead. So if you haven’t already done so, call now and square away those reservations. It’s one less thing you’ll need to worry about when you arrive. Don’t Show Up Without Knowing Which Booths You Want to Try Thirty+ Marketplace Booths…that’s a lot. A whole lot. And each Booth will feature a minimum of a couple different food items as well as an assortment of beer, wine, and cocktails that you’re probably going to want to try. Trust me when I say that your choices can become overwhelming quickly. You just may find yourself out of money, stomach space, or both, way before you get to the things that you’d really like to try. Enjoy Everything the Brazil Booth Has to Offer! Our solution? Come prepared. Be sure to study our Food and Wine Festival Menus Page for every single booth menu at a glance. To get an even better idea of what to expect, be sure to click through to each individual Booth Page (you’ll see links to each on our main booth page) to see photos of the menu items. We will continue to update these pages as the Festival gets underway, so check back often! Will You Save Room for Loaded Mac and Cheese at the Farm Fresh Booth? Even better — check out our DFB Guide to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, which has a handy Food and Wine Menu Checklist that you can print out, fill in, and take with you to be super prepared! Don’t Avoid the Festival Because You Only Have One Day It’s true that the Festival can seem a little daunting if you only have one day to spend at Epcot. But don’t skip it for fear of all that you’ll miss! We Think Any Time You Can Be at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is Good Time! This is another way that the DFB Guide to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival can be a sanity saver. With touring strategies for One Day, Two Days, and even Half Days (both morning and evening), we have some great tips for making the most of even a short time in Epcot. Make a Beeline for the Canada Booth So You Don’t Miss that Le Cellier Filet. It’s the Festival’s Best Seller Year After Year! Here’s one of my favorite TIPS: If you only have a short time to explore, be sure to get in line for the Marketplace Booths early before lines get long. Consider visiting extremely popular spots, like the Belgium Booth, first. All. Those. Waffles. And if at all possible, plan your visit for a weekday. Locals tend to swell the crowds more during the weekends. Don’t Skip the Festival Because You Have Kids Think that the Festival is just for adults? Think again! It’s actually a great way for the whole family, including the kiddos, to enjoy a different aspect of Disney — by exploring international foods and trying new things. Schinken Nudel (Pasta Gratin with Ham and Cheese) — A Kid Favorite To make it extra fun for the kids in your crew, get them involved in planning your strategy. Let them choose which dishes you’ll try at each Booth. Get a Festival Passport (they’re free!) and let the kids collect stamps at each booth. Don’t Forget to Get Your Passport Stamped! And older kids may even enjoy participating in a Culinary Demonstration. Older Kids Love Culinary Seminars! Here’s another great TIP from the DFB Guide: alternate rides with Food and Wine Festival events. While the grown ups in your party may find eating as entertaining as any attractions, the kiddos might not. Be sure to leave ample time for visiting with Nemo and Friends or a ride through Mexico on the Gran Fiesta Tour with the Three Caballeros. Take a Break From Tasting and Hang Out with Donald and His Amigos! Breaking up the tasting with Kidcot Stops will also keep them engaged. Don’t Underestimate How Filling Your Dine Around Will Be Unless you are a really big eater, I’d reconsider that advance dining reservation that you just booked for the evening of your visit to the Festival. Sure, each of the items is tapas-portioned. I mean, I wouldn’t expect you to feel like you’ve eaten a full meal after you enjoy an Beef Skewer and a Glass of Malbec from the Patagonia Booth. But if you plan to visit three or more of the Booths in a given timeframe, you’re probably going to be full. Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce and Boniato Purée Is a Filling Option This advice should help you plan how you’ll spend your Disney Dining Plan credits as well. Knowing that you can most likely skip one of your sit-down meals during the day that you plan your Festival visit may even allow for a visit to a signature dining restaurant that requires two credits. Filet Mignon at Le Cellier Le Cellier, here we come! Ready to Plan for Your Epcot Food and Wine Festival Trip? The DFB Guide to the 2016 Epcot Food & Wine Festival e-Book is now available! This 250+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World! Order your 2016 edition today! Don’t miss a moment of the fun! Use code Chefs at check-out for a 20% off the cover price! But now I’d love to hear from all of our Food and Wine Expert Readers! What are the top F&W mistakes to avoid in your opinion? Share your solutions in comments below! Disney Food Blog Fans, be sure to check out our DFB Disney World Dining Guide e-Books! Find great deals at DFBStore.com! Also, come on over and: Subscribe to our Newsletter Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook Fan Related posts: Tips from the DFB Guide: 3 Reasons to Bring Your Kids to the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Epcot Food and Wine Festival Tip: Make Your Own Custom DFB Food and Wine Fest Tray! Epcot Food and Wine Festival: Our Favorite Gluten Free Dishes for 2015 View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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