Fans of Epcot’s annual Food and Wine Festival will be excited to know that dates have recently been announced for the 2023 festival. This exciting festival will run this year from July 27, 2023, to November 18, 2023, starting later than in past years. Whether you’ve been to this festival before or you’re visiting Walt Disney World for the first time, explore these must-know tips to get prepared for your visit.
Table of Contents
Know the Food Booths
The festival marketplace food booths are a key component of Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival, offering small bites inspired by each of the countries located around Disney’s World Showcase. For 2023, Disney World has announced the return of the newest booth “The Fry Basket” which offers artisan french fries with unique dipping sauces.
At the 2022 Food and Wine Festival, foodies were impressed with this booth’s “Fry Flight”, which included a pairing of three unique flavors of French Fries. Other returning booths for the 2023 festival include Flavors from Fire, Canada, Shimmering Sips, and India booths. In total, visitors will find over 30 festival marketplace booths to explore.
Currently, Disney World has not yet announced the newest food booths for this year but has confirmed that fans will have new flavors to explore. Before you visit, be sure to check out the full list of global marketplaces to start thinking about which booths you won’t want to miss.
Plan Accordingly
As the name suggests, Epcot’s festival features an amazing selection of drinks like wine and other mixed cocktails. As such, you’ll want to make sure you plan accordingly and do not plan activities that day, like playing blackjack games or driving around the city. Although exploring outside the city or playing your favorite games may sound like a fun idea, it’s important to acknowledge the responsibility for some activities after attending the Food & Wine festival.
If you plan on staying on-site on Walt Disney World property, you’ll get the advantage of free transportation back to your hotel. Depending on your hotel, various transportation options are available such as the Disney Skyliner, Monorail, and Bus system. Taking advantage of these free transportation options helps save you money and ensures you can safely get back to your hotel room after drinking.
Plan to Spend the Day at Epcot
Typically, each of Epcot’s festival marketplaces has at least two to three food items to try, as well as several alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. With this in mind, choosing which delicious pairings to splurge on can be difficult. Visitors who want the true “around the world” experience should plan to spend at least one full day at Epcot Park, if not more.
Spending a minimum of one day at Epcot will allow you enough time to try more flavors and experience the other entertainment the festival offers. Each year, Epcot offers a concert series with a rotating selection of artists on each night. Last year’s Eat to the Beat Concert Series featured well-known musical artists such as Air Supply and Boyz II Men. The 2023 concert lineup has not yet been announced for this year’s festival.
Prepare for the Nighttime Show
If you’re spending the night at Epcot, don’t miss your chance to explore the stunning fireworks display offered every night. After the recent ending of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary, Epcot Forever Fireworks will now be displayed nightly across the World Showcase Lagoon. This nighttime show can easily be enjoyed from any country around Epcot, so be sure to grab a drink and some food to enjoy during the show.
The Epcot Forever Fireworks show can only be enjoyed for a limited time, as a new fireworks display is expected to be showcased in late 2023. If you’re heading to the Food and Wine Festival for 2023, don’t miss your chance to enjoy this stunning music and fireworks display before it is retired.
Share Your Bites
Traveling with a group to the Epcot festival? With so many food options to choose from, sharing bites with friends is a great way to save money and try more options. In the hot Florida summer heat, it’s easy to quickly get full on the generous portions of food from Epcot’s global marketplaces. Splitting each food dish allows you and your travel group to explore more flavors, leaving plenty of space to return for your favorites.
Get Excited for the Festival
Getting excited to visit this year’s food and wine festival? With these insider tips, you’ll experience the magic of Disney and fall in love with this popular festival. In the upcoming weeks, as we get closer to the start date of the festival, Walt Disney World is expected to announce more about new food booths and the concert lineup for the Eat the Beat Concert Series.
