Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2018 Dates!!

The Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival returns to Walt Disney World® Resort this fall with 75 days of entertainment, events, wonderful food and tasty beverages.

This will be the festivals will run from August 30 to November 12, 2018.

This year’s festival will continue its tradition of fine dining events, appearances by favorite Disney culinarians and top celebrity chefs, and a slate of concerts from favorite bands of the last few decades.

Right now is the BEST time to book your fall trip to experience this Festival as dining reservations have not opened nor have any of the special event bookings! To request your quote, email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com. Or you can use this fast and easy form to request a free, no obligation quote! As a Disney Vacation Planner, I'll help you plan the most magical vacation - all for free! You won't pay one penny more by booking with me but you'll get personalized help and advice from someone that will get to know you, your wants and your travel plans (which you’re not going to get if you book on your own or direct with Disney)!  

Just a few of the few things I'll do for FREE:

• Help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; 
• I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations (no early mornings for you!);
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• Send you tips and tricks to get the most out of your vacation investment; AND
• Plus my clients that book a vacation package get a FREE DISNEY GIFT CARD and more! 

With all of these perks from me, you're bound to have a magical vacation!

22nd Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Details

The 22nd Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival is expanding for a longer-than-ever 75-day run (August 31 - November 13, 2017). This year's festival will feature (35) amazing food and wine Marketplaces to celebrate 35 years of Epcot. The event will be part of the park’s 35th anniversary day on Sunday, October 1, 2017 and feature several new experiences. Here are a few favorites:

New Acts for 2017 “Eat to the Beat” Concert Series 

The concert series will amp things up this year. Eleven new-to-the-festival bands, including Kenny G., Squeeze and 10,000 Maniacs, join 21 fan-favorite musical acts for a diverse lineup of pop hit makers to rock America Gardens Theatre stage throughout the festival’s 75-day run.  Other new acts to appear are: The Hooters, Baha Men, Lauren Alaina, Mark Wills, American Authors, Devon Allman, Postmodern Jukebox and Blue October. Concerts take place at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. daily and are included in Epcot admission .  The lineup is subject to change and included in Epcot admission.

Festival-goers can also enjoy Eat to the Beat Dining Packages at 15 popular Epcot restaurants, guaranteeing a breakfast, lunch or dinner reservation and confirmed seating at a same-day Eat to the Beat concert. 

New Marketplaces are coming to the Festival 

India and Spain marketplaces will return for an encore. Our global marketplaces will extend into Future World to offer brand-new taste sensations.  

ABC’s “The Chew” 

Will return to tape five festival shows that will air October 9-13. With Spaceship Earth as the backdrop, the Emmy Award-winning show hosts will again delight a live audience with on-stage cooking and stories of their Disney adventures plus segments from across Walt Disney World® Resort.   

Popular TV chefs and Culinary Icons 

Those same stars of the kitchen will create new dishes for premium events such as Party for the Senses grand tastings with new concepts and themes. 

“Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” Hands-on Workshops 

Popular festival event also returns with fresh opportunities for you to interact with visiting chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros.   

To book your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com. Or use this fast and easy form to request a free quote!

I'm a Disney Vacation Planner with hundreds of satisfied clients and I want to help you plan a magical vacation for your family at no extra charge! You won't pay one penny more to book with me but you'll get personalized help, tips, advice and much more (which you're not going to get if you booked on your own).  

Just a few of the few things I'll do for you for FREE: help to find you the perfect Walt Disney World Resort; I'll make your Advance Dining Reservations and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Reservations; make your FastPass+ selections; and send you tips and tricks!  

Eat to the Beat Concert Series 2017

I have Epcot International Food and Wine Festival news! A record 32 musical acts will rev up the Eat to the Beat concert series during the 22^nd year of the Festival Aug. 31-Nov. 13, 2017 at Walt Disney World® Resort.

Eleven bands are new to the festival including Kenny G., Squeeze and 10,000 Maniacs join 21 fan-favorite musical acts for a diverse lineup of pop hit makers to rock America Gardens Theatre stage throughout the festival’s 75-day run.

Other new acts to appear are: The Hooters, Baha Men, Lauren Alaina, Mark Wills, American Authors, Devon Allman, Postmodern Jukebox and Blue October.

Guests also can tune into their favorite returning bands that will include festival opening act Delta Rae.  Concerts take place at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. daily.  The lineup (subject to change and included in Epcot admission) includes:

• Aug. 31-Sept. 1         Delta Rae “Bottom of the River”
• Sept. 2-3                  The Hooters NEW! “And We Danced”
• Sept. 4-5                  Baha Men NEW! “Who Let the Dogs Out”
• Sept. 6-7                  Fuel “Shimmer”
• Sept. 8-10                STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
• Sept. 11-12              Lauren Alaina NEW! “Road Less Traveled”
• Sept. 13-15              Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah”
• Sept. 16-17              Sister Hazel “All For You”   
• Sept. 18-20              Air Supply “All Out of Love”
• Sept. 21-22              David Cook “Light On”
• Sept. 23-24              Everclear “Santa Monica”                   
• Sept. 25-27              Sugar Ray “Every Morning”
• Sept. 28-29              38 Special “Hold On Loosely”
• Sept. 30-Oct. 1         Mark Wills NEW! “19 Somethin’”
• Oct. 2-3                   American Authors NEW! “Best Day of My Life”
• Oct. 4-5                   Christopher Cross “Sailing”  
• Oct. 6-8                   Devon Allman NEW! “Ragged and Dirty”
• Oct. 9-11                 Dennis DeYoung: The Music of STYX “Come Sail Away”
• Oct. 12-13               Taylor Dayne “Tell It to My Heart”
• Oct. 14-15               Jeffrey Osborne “On the Wings of Love”
• Oct. 16-17               Postmodern Jukebox NEW! Various Hits                 
• Oct. 18-20               10,000 Maniacs NEW! “Because the Night”
• Oct. 21-22               Toad The Wet Sprocket “Walk on the Ocean”
• Oct. 23-24               Kenny G NEW! “Songbird”
• Oct. 25-26               Billy Ocean “Get Outta My Dreams”
• Oct. 27-29               Tiffany “I Think We’re Alone Now”
• Oct. 30-Nov. 1         Hanson “MMMBop”
• Nov. 2-3                  Blue October NEW! “Into the Ocean”
• Nov. 4-5                  Living Colour “Cult of Personality” 
• Nov. 6-8                  Boyz II Men "End of the Road"
• Nov. 9-11                Big Bad Voodoo Daddy “Go Daddy-O”
• Nov. 12-13              Squeeze NEW! “Black Coffee in Bed”

(Songs listed are for artist recognition only and may not be included in the concert play list.)

Festival-goers can also enjoy Eat to the Beat Dining Packages at 15 popular Epcot restaurants, guaranteeing a breakfast, lunch or dinner reservation and confirmed seating at a same-day Eat to the Beat concert. These reservations can be made starting July so be sure to make your packages now! Email me, lauren@magicaltravel.com, today for a FREE quote and FREE travel planning services! Or you can use this fast and easy form!

Premium Events for the 21st Epcot International Food and Wine Festival

Another day closer to the fall season means more news from the Epcot Food & Wine Festival camp!  There are so many events during the festival.  Some events are included with Epcot admission (for example, the Eat to the Beat concert series) and some events cost extra.  These events that cost extra range from a small seminars to "premium events".  

Today we are going to cover those "premium events" and the 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival's “premium events” include some you won't want to miss.

• Dining Events at Disney's Resorts: Four all-new interactive culinary adventures in the Disney resorts encourage you to ask the experts, taste and cook alongside our chefs at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Yachtsman Steakhouse at Disney Yacht Club Resort.
• The new “Mix It, Make It Celebrate It” hands-on workshop gives you the opportunity to learn cake decorating, garnishing, cocktail mixing and other fun activities from the masters.
• Cheese Seminars will be held select Saturdays during the festival. During these popular events, attendees will learn “the wheys of the world” paired with wine, beer and other beverages. The cost is $89 per guest plus tax (gratuity is included). This years hosts include:

• Max McCalman will host Great British Cheese and Ales (September 17); Italian Cheeses and Wine (October 15th); Fabulous Old World Cheese and Wines (October 29); and Season' Best Cheeses and Wines (November 5)

• Tonda Corrente will host Mediterranean Cheeses and Wines (October 1)

• Erin Hedley will host French Cheeses and Wines (October 8)

• David Gremmels will host World-Class Cheeses and Wines of the United States (October 22) 

• The Rockin’ Burger Block Parties that were super popular last year are back for just three Fridays at World ShowPlace! Each party features a celebrity chef and all-you-can-eat specialty sliders paired with beverages. Guests can join Chef Maneet Chauhan on September 30, Chef Alex Seidel on October 14, and Chef Jehangir Mehta on November 11.  Each event has 3 different seating options that range in cost of $99 - $199 per guest plus tax and gratuity. 
• The Yelloween Masquerade Party for the Sense will be held both October 28 and 29, is an elegant, dance-the-night-away, gourmet tasting party with Champagne, wine, craft beers and specialty cocktails paired with food.
• This year’s Party for the Senses will be every weekend in October (that’s it!). During the party guests can relish the sights, sounds, scents and tastes of this event. The October 8th party will feature all the new chefs from Disney Springs and the October 15th party will feature Disney chefs from around the world.
• What’s Cookin’ With … These events allow guests to start the day with some of the country’s top celebrity chefs and a plated brunch and sparkling wine toast. The fun starts with a demo, and the chefs answer questions from the audience and share secrets of their successes. The brunch is on select Fridays and Sundays at 10 a.m. Guests include:

• • Friday, Sept. 16 – Elizabeth Falkner
  • Sunday, Sept. 18 – Bryan Voltaggio
  • Friday, Sept. 23 – Andrea Robinson
  • Sunday, Sept. 25 – Robert Irvine
  • Friday, Sept.30 – Graham Elliot
  • Sunday, Oct. 2 – Buddy Valastro
  • Friday, Oct. 7 – Jamie Deen
  • Sunday, Oct. 9 – Cat Cora
  • Friday, Oct. 14 – Emily Ellyn
  • Friday, Oct. 21 – Andrew Zimmern
  • Sunday, Oct. 23 – Rock Harper
  • Sunday, Oct. 30 – Geoffrey Zakarian
  • Friday, Nov. 4 – Alex Guarnaschelli
  • Sunday, Nov. 6 – David Guas
  • Friday, Nov. 11 – Sarah Fioroni
  • Sunday, Nov. 13 – Jehangir Mehta

Reservations for these amazing events opn at 7 a.m. next week on Thursday, July 21, 2016. But if you're a Chase cardholders, you can book with limited availability beginning 7 a.m. July 19, 2016!

If you're wanting to visit Walt Disney World during the Food & Wine Festival you've still got plenty of time to do so and at a discount!  Email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com - or fill out the easy and fast form below - and I'll be more than happy to help you plan a magical vacation! Plus not only will you get my Disney Vacation Planner services for FREE, qualified vacation packages will earn a free gift card to take on vacation with you!

New Details About Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

As we shared a few months ago, the 2016 Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival returns September 14 - November 14, 2016 – expanding to a record 62 days! And now, I'm happy to share a few more details about this popular event.

You can sample dishes from more than 30 global marketplaces – including a new beef brisket and pimento cheese sandwich from Hops & Barley and vegan Greek nachos.

Guests can also discover new hands-on experiences with chefs, bakers and mixologists in the Festival Center, as well as a new cooking school.

Celebrity chefs are back … and already on this year’s list are Jamie Deen, “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro, Masaharu Morimoto, Elizabeth Faulkner, Norman Van Aken and Cat Cora.

The Eat to the Beat concerts return to America Gardens Theater with eight new acts, as well as returning favorites – including Wilson Phillips and Boyz II Men. Wang Chung opens the the series on Sept. 14-16, 2016.  Concerts are included in Epcot admission.


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If you're interested in visiting the Walt Disney World Resort, email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - for a FREE, no obligation vacation quote!  Or simply fill out the Disney Vacation Quote form found below or click here to open in a new window!  As a Disney vacation specialist, let me put my expert knowledge to your benefit and help you plan a magical vacation! Plus my services are FREE to all of my clients - you won't pay more for my services but you will get more!

21st Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Dates Announced!

Disney Parks Blog just announced the dates of the 21st Epcot International Food & Wine Festival!   The 2016 festival will start on September 14 and run through November 14!  Last years festival ran for 53 days, this years will run for 62 days!  The day increase reflects the popularity of this event as it is loved by many who travel to Walt Disney World.  And what is not to love from all the declines food, culinary events, celebrity chef, wine seminars, concerts, parties, and so much more!



Stay tuned as I'll be sure to share with you all the details as soon as they are released! In the meantime, it is never too late to start your Walt Disney World trip planning! Email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - for a FREE vacation quote today! Or, if you'd like, fill out the Disney Vacation quote form found at the bottom of this page!

Source: Disney Parks Blog

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival - Garden Rocks Concert Series

For the 2016 Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Walt Disney World Resort, two more weekends and four new acts join the lineup for this year’s Garden Rocks concert series during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival! These thirteen bands will take the stage each weekend at America Gardens Theatre from March 2-May 30, 2016!  Here is the line up:

2016 Garden Rocks Concert Series

Who are you excited to see? Want to go to Walt Disney World and see one (or two) of the Garden Rocks Concerts? Email me - lauren@magicaltravel.com - for a FREE, no obligation vacation quote today and I'll help get you there! 

Tips for Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is already in full swing for its 20th year at Walt Disney World!  The festival started September 25th and will close the booths November 16th!  This means you have plenty of time to get to Walt Disney World and experience all the fun, food and drinks that the Festival has to offer!  Never been before?  I really recommend going - it is one of my favorite events at Walt Disney World!

This year the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival features over 35 global marketplace booths that will be serving yummy food and delicious drinks!  Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your visit to the festival!

Signage for the 2011 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 

1. Go with friends.  And share.
There is a lot of food to eat and drinks to drink at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.  With over 30 global marketplace booths and each booth having at least 3 food options and multiple drink options, the best way to conquer the Festival is to share the sample sized portions with friends.  Each portion is big enough that you can split the samples - most portions are big enough to share with four people!

2.  Don't go on the weekend!
If you have to go on the weekend, go Friday. Avoid going on a Saturday night.  Saturdays are always very crowded which means long lines, hard to find spots for eating your samples, and in some places, little space to walk around.  Going on a Friday night or on a Sunday is less crowded and Mondays through Thursdays are significantly less crowded and a much more delightful experience.

3.  Don't try and do it all in one day.
As I mentioned above, there are over 35 booths and each booth having at least 3 food options and multiple drink options. Even with sharing, there is no way you could do it in one day.  (Well maybe you could, but you might feel miserable after attempting to do so!)

Beer flights from the Brewer's Collection. 

4.  Don't make an Advance Dining Reservation.
If you are taking advantage of the Disney Dining Plan, don't make a dinner or lunch reservation that requires use of a Table Service credit.  You'll be snacking so much throughout the day, you might be too full to eat dinner.  TIP:  Use the saved table service credit at a restaurant that requires two table service credits!

Griddled Greek Cheese - an offering from 2014 Festival that is not being offered in 2015. It will be missed.

5.  Get a Wristband-Gift Card.
These are available at the welcome center.  The gift cards are attached to a stretchy wrist band making it easier to pay - instead of having to get your wallet out at every booth, your form of payment is readily available.  The gift cards are also nice because with each payment a Disney Cast Member will remind you of how much is left on your card.  Tip: They are reloadable.


6.  Get there early and Start in the back of World Showcase Pavilion. 

And work your way towards Spaceship Earth as the day goes on.  Most people stop at the closest both they see causing the lines get really long at the entrance.  If you start your day further  into the pavilion you'll maximize your time by getting to take advantage of short lines!

American Pavillion in Epcot. Start here.

7.  Use snack credits on food items more than $6.00.
Most food samples are priced around $4.00 - $5.00 but some of the offerings can be pricey. But if you've taken advantage of the Disney Dining Plan, this means you can use your snack credits for these more expensive options and your wallet will thank you!

“Le Cellier” wild mushroom beef filet mignon with truffle butter sauce – $7.50, DDP Snack Eligible

8.  Have fun!

And last, but not least, have fun! You're on vacation!

Do you have a good tip that isn't mentioned above? If so, leave it in the comments below!

If these tips peaked your interest into going to the Epcot Interntaional Food & Wine Festival, email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com and I'll be glad to help you book your vacation!

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