2025 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Information & Planning Thread

[crazy4wdw]

So here it is for 2025 - The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival planning thread on the Disboards!

The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival will begin on August 28, 2025 and will conclude on November 22, 2025:
https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/2025-epcot-food-and-wine-festival-dates/

Link for the 2024 Festival Planning Thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/2...planning-thread.3944814/page-18#post-65850539

Link for the 2023 Festival Planning Thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/2...ival-information-and-planning-thread.3917967/

Link for the 2022 Festival Planning Thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/2...ne-festival-july-14-november-19-2022.3878219/

Link for the 2021 Festival Planning Thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/2...stival-concluded-on-november-20-2021.3831184/

Link for the 2020 Festival Planning Thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/2...food-and-wine-festival-has-now-ended.3792154/

Link for the 2019 Festival Planning Thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/2...-festival-august-29-november-23-2019.3743358/

 

[crazy4wdw]

Reserved for Information on the Eat to the Beat Concert Series

 

[crazy4wdw]

Reserved information on the Eat to the Beat Dining Packages

 

[crazy4wdw]

Reserved for the Global Marketplace Menus

 

[crazy4wdw]

Reserved

 

[crazy4wdw]

Reserved

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I just scrolled through the 2019 thread wistfully. Had we only known it would be the last year of special events and a free gift for visiting multiple times over the course of the festival. At that point they'd already scaled events way back from prior years. I had thought at the time that it was just due to lack of a festival center and that things would return once the planned festival center and beer garden in the center of the park was constructed (although that didn't really explain why the special meals at the various restaurants were also scaled back). But now I'm wondering if they'd planned all along to eliminate these? I hope someday someone gives us the true behind the scenes of why they went away.

And, while I'm taking a walk down memory lane instead of working this morning ... I will never stop being sad and a bit bitter that the pandemic robbed us of a proper 25th festival anniversary celebration. What could have been...

All that said, still enjoy the festival and look forward to seeing what's on the menus! Thanks for setting the thread up for this year!!

 

[crazy4wdw]

Dates have been released for the 2025 Swan & Dolphin Food and Wine Classic, November 14-15, 2025
https://swandolphinfoodandwineclassic.com/

 

[crazy4wdw]

And, while I'm taking a walk down memory lane instead of working this morning ... I will never stop being sad and a bit bitter that the pandemic robbed us of a proper 25th festival anniversary celebration. What could have been...

All that said, still enjoy the festival and look forward to seeing what's on the menus! Thanks for setting the thread up for this year!!

Yes, that was very sad. And if I remember correctly, the merchandise available with the 25th anniversary logo indicated on it was very limited. I think I have a coffee mug and a wine glass, and some point broke the wine glass! This year will be the 30th anniversary. I just wonder if that will be highlighted for this year's festival.

I don't know about the special events, but I think Disney killed the demonstrations and beverage seminars when they started to charge for them and increased the price every year. I think they were charging around $15 to $16 per person for each one before they were eliminated. Disney certainly had to be making money on the special events, given the prices that were being charged. You would think they would want them to return in order to get that extra cash flowing into their coffers.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

You'd think I would have done the very easy math in my head but didn't even occur to me that this is the 30th anniversary!! Doesn't look like Disney referenced the milestone in their intro post but I suppose that spares me the hope that they'll do something to commemorate?

Prices for the demos and beverage tastings definitely increased significantly over time and the portion size and offerings (they used to offer wine at cooking demos) also scaled back in addition to reducing the number of offerings as well as an increase reliance on Disney (vs. celeb) chefs. An irony is that it's my (unconfirmed) understanding that the wine and spirits distributors actually paid Disney to be able to appear and supplied all the wine/liquor. I'd really like to hear the inside story from someone... I want the EPCOT Food & Wine documentary!!

 

[gottalovepluto]

…I don't know about the special events, but I think Disney killed the demonstrations and beverage seminars when they started to charge for them and increased the price every year. I think they were charging around $15 to $16 per person for each one before they were eliminated…

$19 from a quick google search on the 2019 demos. And if memory serves they not only killed the mini wine pairing but by the end they weren’t even serving samples of the dish… honestly, I don’t miss that part. They’d stripped it to the point of a depressing money grab by 2019.

I miss the booze seminars by companies, the special tasting meals by restaurants (we had a delightful one at the old Spice Road Table) & Party for the Senses… though I shudder to think what the Party price tag would be up to now!

 

[crazy4wdw]

An irony is that it's my (unconfirmed) understanding that the wine and spirits distributors actually paid Disney to be able to appear and supplied all the wine/liquor. I'd really like to hear the inside story from someone... I want the EPCOT Food & Wine documentary!!

Yes, that was my understanding also. And as Disney was increasing the price for guests to attend the beverage seminars, they were also increasing what they charged the wine & spirits distributors!

Mabe we should propose to Disney Plus your idea of a documentary on the Food & Wine Festival? They could hire us to complete a background investigation and produce the documentary.

 

[Empress Room]

I have a hard time believing that the cost of the beverage seminars, wine lunches and Party For The Senses is the reason that they were eliminated. Heck, Disney is charging huge money for the ultimate skip-the-line multiple Lightning Lane for attractions in all of the theme parks, and there is clearly a calling for it and guests are willing to pay those prices. In short, there is always an audience that is willing to pay big dollars for special events and opportunities.

The wine lunches at Tuttu Gusto and Bistro de Paris (Monsier Paul's) were absolutely incredible and all sold out no matter what the price. (Who remembers getting on the 800 number sometime in June, waiting on hold forever, to secure those precious reservations?) And Party For The Senses was a spectacle of spectacles. All that great food and wine, Disney and celebrity chefs, Cirque du Soleil performers and the upcharged Wine View Lounge. I still believe that there is a large demographic that would gladly pay for those experiences again.

 

[crazy4wdw]

The wine lunches at Tuttu Gusto and Bistro de Paris (Monsier Paul's) were absolutely incredible and all sold out no matter what the price. (Who remembers getting on the 800 number sometime in June, waiting on hold forever, to secure those precious reservations?) And Party For The Senses was a spectacle of spectacles. All that great food and wine, Disney and celebrity chefs, Cirque du Soleil performers and the upcharged Wine View Lounge. I still believe that there is a large demographic that would gladly pay for those experiences again.

Oh, yes. I would take time off from work for the morning that reservations opened for the special events. I was never one of those lucky enough to have a CM answer the phone within several minutes after calling. I was the phone at least for 60 minutes, and sometimes as long as two hours. This thread would be pages and pages with people posting how long they were on hold and what events they were able to obtain reservations for.

I wonder how much Disney would charge for some of the special events now. Party for the Senses was $229 to $360 per person in 2019, depending on the type of package that was reserved.

I was never able to obtain a reservation for the Parisian breakfast. That was one special event that would sell out quickly.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Maria and Enzo's in Disney Springs (run by the same restaurant group as Via Napoli and Tutto Italia) appears to have resurrected a version of the Wine vs. Beer event. They held three last fall, at least one earlier this year, and one coming up on June 14th. They seem to be announced about a month in advance, not ideal for those who would need to plan travel. And instead of a wine AND beer pairing with every course looks like there is one or the other per course.

 

[kat_lh]

Oh, yes. I would take time off from work for the morning that reservations opened for the special events. I was never one of those lucky enough to have a CM answer the phone within several minutes after calling. I was the phone at least for 60 minutes, and sometimes as long as two hours. This thread would be pages and pages with people posting how long they were on hold and what events they were able to obtain reservations for.

I wonder how much Disney would charge for some of the special events now. Party for the Senses was $229 to $360 per person in 2019, depending on the type of package that was reserved.

I was never able to obtain a reservation for the Parisian breakfast. That was one special event that would sell out quickly.

We’ve only done the F&W festival once and it was in 2018 and I got a Parisian breakfast for our family of five. My big girls (now 16 & 14) still talk about how wonderful the food was! My four year old son fell asleep in my lap and I just remember holding him while the nicest waiter continually refilled my mimosas

 

[Simba's Mom]

My four year old son fell asleep in my lap and I just remember holding him while the nicest waiter continually refilled my mimosas

Did he seem a little nicer as the refills continued?

 

[kat_lh]

Did he seem a little nicer as the refills continued?

The tip certainly got bigger

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Disney Springs is holding what's becoming an annual "Flavors of Florida" event beginning June 27th and running through August 10th. Includes some cooking demos (free but outside; requires advance sign-up) as well as pairing dinners. In the past Chef Art from Homecomin' and George from Wine Bar George have done demos.