Disney4me Posted February 3, 2024 Report Share Posted February 3, 2024 This might just be the year of HUGE changes for Disney World. EPCOT In January alone, we saw the end of park pass reservations for most theme park visitors, the return of all-day park hopping, AND the return of the Disney Dining Plan. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure will open in Magic Kingdom in 2024. PLUS Country Bear Jamboree will be reopening with a brand NEW show in the summer. We’re also starting to see a lot of huge changes for EPCOT’s festivals. The first big festival change we’ve seen this year is that the EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is considerably shorter this year. The 2024 EPCOT Flower and Garden Festival is 36 days (!!!) shorter than it was in 2023. The festival will run from February 28th and May 27th. That’s SO early compared to what we’re used to. Figment Topiary at the 2023 EPCOT Festival of the Arts We’re also thinking that this year’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival might also be shorter. The 2023 Food and Wine Festival was shorter by 10 or more days than the previous three years. That suggests it will be shorter again this year. That could leave a lot of time between Flower and Garden and Food and Wine, which could even suggest that EPCOT might be getting a new summer festival (and we’re totally okay with that). These festivals are a huge draw for EPCOT, so we wouldn’t put it past Disney to add a fifth one to the calendar. 2023 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Passport There is another possibility, though. The 2024 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival could be LONGER this year, meaning Disney plans on starting it earlier. Here’s the thing — there are a lot of activities, like the food demonstrations and seminars, that have been missing from the festival since 2019. Once Disney completes CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza, two spaces that are being built specifically for festival use, we could see those activities return in a BIG way. Communicore Hall Construction You may not realize it, but before 2020, the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival had a LOT more going on than just food booths and Eat to the Beat Concert Series. Before that, the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival had those things PLUS informative food and beverage demonstrations, hands-on workshops, food and beverage pairing events, a character dance party, AND CELEBRITY CHEFS (like Robert Irvine, Cat Cora, Norman Van Aken, Elizabeth Falkner, Buddy Valastro, and Jamie Deen). One of many workshops at the 2019 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival There was also the Party for the Senses, an event where a special host leads guests through food and beverages from multiple tasting stations (in the past, there were more than 50!). There were also Cheese Seminars, brunches with Celebrity Chefs, a special Parisian breakfast at Chefs de France, and much, much, MORE! Yeah, over the past few years, we’ve been getting slighted from the REAL EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience. Party for the Senses Although Disney has not confirmed when CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza will be completed, we expect it to be done by this year, and it could even be completed before the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. Our hope is that Disney will bring the festival back to its previous glory with all the additional activities that came with it before 2020. The festival just hasn’t been the same without all those additional things to do. Cheese Seminar at Epcot Food and Wine Festival We guess we’ll just have to wait and see what Disney has planned for the rest of 2024 with its festivals, but this year things are certainly going to be different, and we hope that means EPCOT festivals will be even BETTER this year. Stay tuned to DFB for more. Could Disney Add a FIFTH Festival to EPCOT? Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW What do you think will happen to EPCOT festivals this year? Let us know in the comments!The post We’re Already Seeing Serious Changes For EPCOT Festivals in 2024 first appeared on the disney food blog.View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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