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!

Also, be sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on the latest Disney travel news!

Two Easy Ways to Save Money on your next Disney Vacation!

Many people think that a Disney vacation is out of their budget.  I am here to prove to you that it is not with these TWO easy and simple tips.

1. Pay for your Disney trip by using "free"money.  There are a FOUR ways to earn "free" money (I put free in quotes because we all know nothing is free - some of these websites require your time to rack up points, others are a reward on cash spent.)






1.  My favorite way to earn "free" money is Swagbucks.  When you sign up for Swagbucks you need to take surveys, watch videos, play games, enter codes, etc. to earn Swagbucks.  (Tip: Be sure to hit your daily goal everyday.  If you do this daily, at the end of the month you will earn big in FREE bucks just for meeting those goals!) You can shop online via Swagbucks and earn a percentage of what you spent in Swagbucks.  Once you have enough Swagbucks racked up, you then convert your Swagbucks into gift cards.  I strongly recommend converting your Swagbucks into Target gift cards.  Why? As I explain below, once you sign up for the Target REDcard program,  you can buy Disney gift cards at 5% off - thus stretching your "free" money.  Sign up here for a Swagbucks account and start earning!              



Earn bucks to turn into gift cards!

2.                                       
3. Sign up for MyPoints.  MyPoints is similar to Swagbucks -  you need to take to surveys, watch videos, etc.in order to earn points that you convert to gift cards.  However, I have found that it takes much longer to rack up enough MyPoints to buy a  $50 Target gift card than it does via Swagbucks.  No reason you can't do both though. (Tip: Be sure to take advantage of the MyPoints emails - you will receive a few emails a day that you need to click on to earn free and easy points).  Click here to sign up.  



Earn Points and turn your points into gift cards!


4. Ebates.  Ebates is a website that you visit before you shop online, search for the store that you plan on shopping at, and click their special link to do your shopping. By doing so you get a cash back percentage on your total spent. These online shopping trips add up and you'll get a reward check sent to you in the mail four times a year.  (Tip: since Swagbucks and MyPoints also offer rewards for shopping online, check all three sites to ensure you get the best cash back reward). Use your reward check towards your Disney vacation or use it to buy Disney gift cards via the Target REDcard program to stretch your free dollars even more!         



Earn Cash Back while you shop!

5. Sign up for a Target REDcard (there are two options, find out which one is best for you here) and simply buy Disney gift cards online.  The Target REDcard program gives 5% off towards all purchases - including gift cards.  That means you will only spend $47.50 for a $50.00 Disney gift card/$95.00 for a $100 Disney gift card and getting at least a 5% discount off your Disney vacation - trust me it can really add up!



Save 5% even on Disney Gift Cards!


2.  Use Lauren Gonding with Magical Travel to book your Disney vacation.  



1. First off my service is 100% totally FREE to my clients.  
2. As your personalized Disney Travel Agent I WILL help you SAVE money.  I will do my best to get you the best deal - even after you have booked!  I will constantly search for discounts and if you get a pin code in the mail - I will be able to apply that to your previously booked vacation. (Bonus Tip: You can use your "free" Disney gift cards to pay your Disney Vacation package booked with me!)
3. I will save you TIME by booking for you the hard to get Advance Dining Reservations and FastPass+ selections.  Saving you time means you'll have more time to spend with your family, or (by using the above mentioned websites) to earn more "free" money to spend on your Disney vacation.  To find out how I can help you save on your Disney vacation email me at lauren@magicaltravel.com.  Also, be sure to subscribe to this blog and like my Facebook page (www.facebook.com/laurenmagicaltravel) to stay informed of all the magic Disney has to offer.
   

   

   Earn "Free" Disney Gift Cards!