2018 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: August 30 to November 12, 2018

[Dug720]

Question... HOW crazy are the crowds from locals on a Saturday night? I'm in the "week to go, rethink everything" stage and seriously considering skipping Epcot ( ) since the only day I could do it is Saturday 9/8. I want to see Illuminations since I'm not sure when I'll be back, but...if the crowds are horrible, I'll just keep my memories.

 

[Haley R]

Some reviews of the new items. A bit surprised they were so high on the spinach dip — I didn’t have that on my list.

http://blogmickey.com/2018/08/revie...-2018-epcot-international-food-wine-festival/

Thanks for posting this! The only bad ones that were on our list are the pancake milkshake and the croissants (cronuts? can’t remember which they were) so I think we will skip those.

 

[CDKG]

Did anyone else notice the Banfi Rosa Regale is $0.50 cheaper at Ghiradelli ($9.50) as compared to The Chocolate Studio ($10)?

 

[GoGoBeans]

So Guinness Baily’s drink is really good though consistency is more of thick chocolate milk than a shake. “Glass” is plastic but a decent souvenir. Warm chocolate pudding is really good!

View attachment 347182

That’s a good description of it. It was delicious, but not what I’d call a shake. I couldn’t taste any Guinness in it. I did buy a taste of Guinness on the side.

The warm cake looks good. I’m going to hit up the the carrot cake version in the Americas (Hops and Barley?) tomorrow. Was so stuffed by the time we made it over there, there was only room for a lobster roll.

 

[Dentam]

The warm cake looks good. I’m going to hit up the the carrot cake version in the Americas (Hops and Barkey?) tomorrow. Was so stuffed by the time we made it over there, there was only room for a lobster roll.

How was the lobster roll? It's high on my list of items to try! ETA: Never mind, I just read the DIS report and will cross it off my list. Might add the mac and cheese dish from Germany instead!

Thanks so much everyone for all of the reports and links to the DIS report! So excited to get there in a couple of days!

 

[GoGoBeans]

How was the lobster roll? It's high on my list of items to try! ETA: Never mind, I just read the DIS report and will cross it off my list. Might add the mac and cheese dish from Germany instead!

Thanks so much everyone for all of the reports and links to the DIS report! So excited to get there in a couple of days!

We all enjoyed our lobster rolls and I liked it better than the one we got at Boardwalk Bakery last year. It looked small at first, but it was more than enough. It also wasn’t very mayonnaisey which I liked. Proportion wise, my friend had the salmon (from coastal I think) that was much, much smaller.

Everyone who tried the chimichuri steak from flavors of fire really enjoyed the chimichuri. I was eh on the shrimp scampi from coastal (it was very Boursinlike cheesy).

The empanadas from Caribbean were warm, flaky and flavorful. I didn’t want to enjoy it as I missed the old ones from Patagonia, but I did.

Also tried the brat on pretzel roll from Germany. The brat was on the dry side (and sinful that it wasn’t soaked in beer before grilling). Still okay and the pretzel roll surprisingly not dense.

Kids loved the dumplings from China. They love dumplings so may not be the most discerning.

Enjoy!

 

[Dentam]

We all enjoyed our lobster rolls and I liked it better than the one we got at Boardwalk Bakery last year. It looked small at first, but it was more than enough. It also wasn’t very mayonnaisey which I liked. Proportion wise, my friend had the salmon (from coastal I think) that was much, much smaller.

Everyone who tried the chimichuri steak from flavors of fire really enjoyed the chimichuri. I was eh on the shrimp scampi from coastal (it was very Boursinlike cheesy).

The empanadas from Caribbean were warm, flaky and flavorful. I didn’t want to enjoy it as I missed the old ones from Patagonia, but I did.

Also tried the brat on pretzel roll from Germany. The brat was on the dry side (and sinful that it wasn’t soaked in beer before grilling). Still okay and the pretzel roll surprisingly not dense.

Kids loved the dumplings from China. They love dumplings so may not be the most discerning.

Awesome, thanks! Maybe I'll have to give the lobster roll a try... although I'm planning to get one at Columbia Harbor House during my trip also.

The dumplings in China are on my list as well!

 

[Haley R]

We all enjoyed our lobster rolls and I liked it better than the one we got at Boardwalk Bakery last year. It looked small at first, but it was more than enough. It also wasn’t very mayonnaisey which I liked. Proportion wise, my friend had the salmon (from coastal I think) that was much, much smaller.

Everyone who tried the chimichuri steak from flavors of fire really enjoyed the chimichuri. I was eh on the shrimp scampi from coastal (it was very Boursinlike cheesy).

The empanadas from Caribbean were warm, flaky and flavorful. I didn’t want to enjoy it as I missed the old ones from Patagonia, but I did.

Also tried the brat on pretzel roll from Germany. The brat was on the dry side (and sinful that it wasn’t soaked in beer before grilling). Still okay and the pretzel roll surprisingly not dense.

Kids loved the dumplings from China. They love dumplings so may not be the most discerning.

Enjoy!

I want to try the dumplings when we go!

 

[ctkmom3kidz]

thanks Doug ,,, this is GREAT!! My Daughter and her bf are going next weekend to WDW and are devoting 1/2 day to EPCOT... Is there a map of where al the global market place countries will be located....

Global Marketplace Menus (released July 31, 2018): https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/dining/epcot/food-wine-marketplaces/
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Spreadsheet with all of the Global Marketplace menus items
(Thanks to Doug S!)

 

[LucyBC80]

Does anyone know if the Spinach and Artichoke Dip is prepared inside the booth or comes pre packaged?

I totally glazed over the fact that it has chicken in it and I’m extremely disappointed now. Is the chicken mixed with the other ingredients? Or is it layered underneath it? Could it be taken out of the dish?

 

[JerseyJanice]

Are they doing the sampler tabs?

I have family there now and I’m trying to find this out for them. I don’t see anything so far, but IIRC the past two years, we didn’t know until the Festival started that they were offered and what the exclusions were.

 

[dachsie]

DFBs Best of the Fest:
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2018/...sip-at-the-2018-epcot-food-and-wine-festival/

 

[2xcited2sleep]

First day video from the DIS Unplugged team

 

[FairWahine]

I tried some of the new dishes. Just a few since I was solo and had no one the share tastes with me.

LUNCH:
The beef pancake in Chine was greasy but had good flavor. The Fritto Misto in Italy was good - zucchini, sweet potatoes and shrimp. The sweet potatoes were a little undercooked but the zucchini was perfect and so was the shrimp. And it was very generous. I think I had 8 or 9 shrimps. Dessert was the Baileys Guinness shake which was SO good and boozy. But, yeah, not really a milkshake but maybe it will be more frozen when the temperature outside is lower than the current “surface of the sun” setting.

Took the boat and spent a couple of hours in DHS because I was able score a SDD FP. Woooo!

DINNER:
Butternut squash ravioli - The flavor was good but the consistency was disappointing. Pasta was thick and tough. The Impossible Burger with Asian slaw at Earth Eats was delicious! I can understand why all of the grocery stores in California can’t keep them in stock. A vegetarian‘s dream come true!

And I saw Steve Porter and Charles Boda but was too shy to go say “Hi!”

 

[Dentam]

DFBs Best of the Fest:
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2018/...sip-at-the-2018-epcot-food-and-wine-festival/

Just added way too many things to my list after reading this!

 

[LucyBC80]

It’s the third or so review I’ve read saying something about both the ravioli and the pasta over at Italy and I need to say I’m so happy with that. Usually they overcook the pasta to the point of being inedible, a mushy pile of nothing covered with sauce (Tony’s anyone?). I rather have my pasta more al dente and even with a little more bite to it than having to throw a $8 plate out because I might gag when I try to chew.

 

[jerseygal]

DFBs Best of the Fest:
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2018/...sip-at-the-2018-epcot-food-and-wine-festival/

THANK YOU for posting...So seriously EXCITED for October...hungry already, and its early morning!

 

[OKW Lover]

I ran into the team and chatted with them for a while - they seemed to be enjoying themselves noting how it was nice that it wasn’t like 100 degrees

I was there yesterday (Thursday) but sorry to say didn't see the team or you while doing a very quick walk around WS.

I started out at the rope in China right at 11 and fast walked past several booths to stay ahead of the crowds. This plan was somewhat derailed when I spotted our favorite artist Heather French at her usual spot and just had to stop and chat. Nice lady, great artist.

First stop was Italy where I tried a disappointing pasta dish somewhat salvaged by a nice Pinot Griggio. Second stop was Germany where I had a really good past dish washed down by a pilsner. Third stop was USA where I had an outstanding brisket. At that point it was around 11:45 and I could see the storm clouds building so I hustled along but the rain was faster, catching up with me in France. Fortunately it passed quickly but also at that point I had run into the crowds of people who started counter clockwise. I had a plan to just get desert at Ireland but the line was soooo long I just walked on by. Same with Canada.

Decided to go over to the Festival Center and see of my other favorite artist Kevin-John Jobczynski was set up yet. I grabbed a piece of chocolate at the Giradelli stand and browsed the merchandise. Also picked up my AP F&W magnet after standing in a long line that actually moved very quickly. Checked out the wine section there too. They had a separate area with wines from the Disney Family. That is, wineries that have some link to Disney. Our favorite (Silverado) was well represented but our other favorite (Lasetter) was no where to be found. Looked around the merchandise area and decided to buy a couple of F&W wine glasses, until I saw the line for the registers. About then I noticed KJ was just setting up so I said a quick hello to him and The Girlfriend before heading out.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Question... HOW crazy are the crowds from locals on a Saturday night? I'm in the "week to go, rethink everything" stage and seriously considering skipping Epcot ( ) since the only day I could do it is Saturday 9/8. I want to see Illuminations since I'm not sure when I'll be back, but...if the crowds are horrible, I'll just keep my memories.

I’d say Saturday nights are pretty intense. Not to NYE levels but noticeably more crowded than the rest of the week, for sure. If I could avoid it, I would (& do) but if my one day, I’d dont think I’d let it scare me away. Just have to go in with the right expectations.

Thanks for posting this! The only bad ones that were on our list are the pancake milkshake and the croissants (cronuts? can’t remember which they were) so I think we will skip those.

WDWNT just put both on their top list so I say, if they look appealing, give them a try!

https://wdwnt.com/2018/08/wdwnts-to...-epcot-international-food-wine-festival-2018/

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Also, FYI- Josh over at easywdw has started posting reviews as well! I’m going to have a lot of reading material tonight!

 

[Gryhndmom]

Here is the overview picture - the D&B shown looks to have a different pattern than the one I saw before - more of an "overall pattern" vs big images, so maybe two styles?



View attachment 347061

There are two D&B bags...AP passholder is the overall print and the other is a standard mickey on one side and figment on the other with a wine bottle on bottom of bag. Love both!