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Some Disney fans may proclaim this as the most wonderful time of year! Why is that, you may ask? This time of year is the ultimate foodie paradise at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival! Here at Never Grow Up Vacations, many of our guests book their trips so they can visit at this tasty time of year. We want to add just a tad bit more pixie dust by providing you with a special keyword: PASSPORT. If you mention that keyword when booking a 2019 Walt Disney World package with Never Grow Up Vacations for travel dates through November 23, 2019, we will provide you a Disney Gift Card!
The 2019 festival began on August 29 and ends on November 23, 2019, covering the most dates they have ever done. With so much on offer at this year’s festival, let’s highlight some not-to-miss activities when you visit this year!
TIP: Make sure to pick up the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Passport when you first enter the park at either the main entrance or the International Gateway entrance. This is going to be your go-to guide, and you can add a matching passport sticker to your festival passport at each destination!
During the festival you’ll find exclusive merchandise, seminars and demonstrations, and signature dining and grand tastings! There are over 40 destinations where you can taste global cuisines.
Not only will you find the Food & Wine destinations all throughout World Showcase, you will also find many throughout Future World near: Test Track, The Land & Future World West! To give you a sampling of the many delicious destinations, here just a few on offer this year: Hawaii, Australia, Islands of the Caribbean, The Alps (new this year), India, Brazil, France, Ireland, Canada and Spain!
If you’re traveling with children, the festival has plenty for younger guests as well. In the Festival passport, there will be kid-approved dining denoted by a strawberry symbol which allows you to know what would be perfect for kids.
TIP: If you are on any level of the Disney Dining Plan, your snack credits are able to be used at majority of festival booths and locations!
One of the most bittersweet moments will happen during the festival this year – Illuminations: Reflections of Earth will take its final bow on September 30, 2019 after an amazing 20-year run. This nighttime spectacular has been a part of many guests’ visits and fond memories for years, and it has become a tradition for many to watch this breathtaking show that includes displays of lasers, lights and fireworks! The main icon of the show is a 350,000-pound globe that springs to life each night. Illuminations will be replaced by a new limited-time show, Epcot Forever, which will debut October 1, 2019. A brand-new nighttime spectacular, HarmonioUS, debuts in 2020.
One last awesome feature of Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival to highlight is the Eat to the Beat Concert Series. Take in the sounds of chart-topping musical acts such as Sugar Ray, 98 Degrees, Kenny G, Hanson, Boyz II Men and BBMak! The best part is the concert series is PART of your admission to Epcot. The Eat to the Beat Concert Series takes place on select dates & times. The series runs from August 29 through November 19, 2019!
TIP: Did you know you can pair a dining experience with a guaranteed seat for the show with an Eat to the Beat Concert Series dining package? Whether you are on a dining plan or not, you can take full advantage of this unique opportunity!
Our white glove concierge services are always complimentary for our guests. Let us be your Concierge to the Magic – contact Never Grow Up Vacations today!
Katie Reitenauer is a Travel Consultant at Never Grow Up Vacations.