2025 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Information & Planning Thread

[LilyWDW]

Maybe someone here can remember, did any of the booths open early before 11am last year?

I am switching from Universal to Disney that day and plan to do so early enough for Rope Drop. Will be staying at PoP. This one day is pretty much only for Food and Wine, though I may ride a ride or 2 as well. Just want to know how to plan my eating!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Maybe someone here can remember, did any of the booths open early before 11am last year?

I am switching from Universal to Disney that day and plan to do so early enough for Rope Drop. Will be staying at PoP. This one day is pretty much only for Food and Wine, though I may ride a ride or 2 as well. Just want to know how to plan my eating!

Generally speaking, no. Maybe 10-15 minutes early if they were ready. But I believe one stand - maybe Belgium with the waffles? - does open with the park. And as I think about it, possibly the Festival Favorites booth at Communicore Hall. But most are at 11. I'm sure you want to save room for all the treats but the bakery in France is great if you just need a little something to avoid "hanger."

 

[LilyWDW]

Generally speaking, no. Maybe 10-15 minutes early if they were ready. But I believe one stand - maybe Belgium with the waffles? - does open with the park. And as I think about it, possibly the Festival Favorites booth at Communicore Hall. But most are at 11. I'm sure you want to save room for all the treats but the bakery in France is great if you just need a little something to avoid "hanger."

I appreciate it. I just couldn't remember. Usually we do at least 2 days at Epcot on a Food and Wine trip. One day we do rope drop and hit all the rides before heading to World Showcase. The other day we start later. So I will just plan on getting some rides in when I get to Epcot and hit the booths as soon as they open.

 

[gottalovepluto]

…But I believe one stand - maybe Belgium with the waffles? - does open with the park.

Belgium only did that a couple years back

 

[k5thbeatle]

Still somewhat fun, but the F&W Festival is but a mere shell of what it once was and offered.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Still somewhat fun, but the F&W Festival is but a mere shell of what it once was and offered.

Yes, agree 100%

 

[Tamar]

I wish the Disney Springs Flavors of Florida events could line up with F&W so that those of us who long for the demos and tastings could scratch that itch again.

 

[LilyWDW]

Still somewhat fun, but the F&W Festival is but a mere shell of what it once was and offered.

I agree, but honestly, it doesn't impact me that much. I never did the special tastings and demos. Would it be great for them to come back? 100%!! But I still have an amazing time every time I can go. To the point where I added one day on my trip this year JUST to go to F&W that day.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Preparations for this year's Food & Wine Festival have already started! Now if Disney would release the band schedule for the Eat to the Beat Concerts and menus for the kiosks, people could start to plan their trips.

https://mickeyblog.com/2025/06/23/surprise-epcot-food-wine-festival-prep-is-starting-early/

 

[LilyWDW]

35 booths this year. How many did we have last year?

 

[crazy4wdw]

35 booths this year. How many did we have last year?

I count 36. Anyone is welcome to check behind me!

https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/dis...-festival-2024/?CMP=SOC-DPFY24Q4wo0808240132F

 

[LilyWDW]

I count 36. Anyone is welcome to check behind me!

https://disneyparksblog.com/wdw/dis...-festival-2024/?CMP=SOC-DPFY24Q4wo0808240132F

Do they count stuff like Refreshment Port, where it is always there but they may have something special for Food and Wine?

 

[LilyWDW]

Okay, I looked back at some old articles and they all say 27 booths for 2024. I doubt they are adding 8 more booths so I am thinking the counting is different last year to this year.

 

[sherlockmiles]

To me, I would count the locations in the passport, the number of locations with menus.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Update on the installation of the kiosks:

https://wdwnt.com/2025/06/preparation-begins-for-2025-epcot-international-food-wine-festival/

 

[Minnesota!]

I cannot wait for concert and menu news - I am so impatient!

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

I do enjoy the F & W festival, not like I used to Pre-covid, however, does anyone else wish that the powers that be would do something/anything to make it a bit more exciting? I couldn't wait to go to F & W and do tastings, see the chocolate sculptures etc. let alone PFTS. Literally looking for anything to make this better than the county fair or farmers market.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I do enjoy the F & W festival, not like I used to Pre-covid, however, does anyone else wish that the powers that be would do something/anything to make it a bit more exciting? I couldn't wait to go to F & W and do tastings, see the chocolate sculptures etc. let alone PFTS. Literally looking for anything to make this better than the county fair or farmers market.

The chocolate sculptures-I used to love those! Weren't those in the area where Ghirardelli at one time gave free samples? In the Festival building (formerly, Wonders of Life?) Now they're gone?! What a disappointment.

 

[crazy4wdw]

The chocolate sculptures-I used to love those! Weren't those in the area where Ghirardelli at one time gave free samples? In the Festival building (formerly, Wonders of Life?) Now they're gone?! What a disappointment.

Yes, they were in that area. I would make numerous stops there during the festival to obtain the free samples of Ghirardelli chocolate. It's so unfortunate that the Wonders of Life building was closed down. The plan was to update and change it to a pavilion themed to "play" with virtual experiences. Then COVID-19 came along and the update was cancelled.

 

[FRANKTSJR]

Is today the day the schedule will be released?