40th birthday Food and Wine Festival

[bryankelly]

I am taking my wife and our best friends to Orlando for her 40th this October. We are planning on doing Universal (big Harry Potter fans!), Disney (all the parks, skipping the Magic Kingdom - we like roller coasters!), maybe Sea World, and definitely focusing on the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. Can any of you guys give us suggestions on other things to do for four adults that don't have children? Any great experiences, food, places to go other than the parks? Any best tips for enjoying the Festival for first time goers? We've been to all the parks about 5 years ago so has anything changed that we should know about or highlight? Thanks in advance for the feedback!

 

[goofyintoronto]

I am taking my wife and our best friends to Orlando for her 40th this October. We are planning on doing Universal (big Harry Potter fans!), Disney (all the parks, skipping the Magic Kingdom - we like roller coasters!), maybe Sea World, and definitely focusing on the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. Can any of you guys give us suggestions on other things to do for four adults that don't have children? Any great experiences, food, places to go other than the parks? Any best tips for enjoying the Festival for first time goers? We've been to all the parks about 5 years ago so has anything changed that we should know about or highlight? Thanks in advance for the feedback!

If you like coasters, I wouldnt skip Magic Kingdom. I'd skip Animal Kingdom! It only has one coaster, whereas Magic Kingdom has four.

Did you consider Jelly Rolls at the boardwalk?

Will you be going to downtown disney at all?

 

[SueDonym3]

I am taking my wife and our best friends to Orlando for her 40th this October. We are planning on doing Universal (big Harry Potter fans!), Disney (all the parks, skipping the Magic Kingdom - we like roller coasters!), maybe Sea World, and definitely focusing on the Food and Wine Festival at Epcot. Can any of you guys give us suggestions on other things to do for four adults that don't have children? Any great experiences, food, places to go other than the parks? Any best tips for enjoying the Festival for first time goers? We've been to all the parks about 5 years ago so has anything changed that we should know about or highlight? Thanks in advance for the feedback!

I did my 40th (adults only trip) in the parks-my favorite things- we did a dinner at Cali Grill-timed to view the fireworks-our dinner time was 7:00 pm. The dinner was amazing. I had ordered the most amazing birthday cake based on the cake chatter thread on these boards. Watching the fireworks was magical. The next thing was an illuminations cruise. They are expensive, but the boards have "ride shares" that can help cut the cost-I had a cake and wine on the boat as well. Another great place for adults-Raglan Road in Downtown Disney. Food is great and the entertainment is fun too.

Food & Wine advice-the festival gets more and more crowded every year. Try to attend during the day-avoid the weekends-esp. Friday evenings and Saturdays. The locals come in and it gets crazy. Get a passport and get a stamp at every country. Keep an open mind-the most unlikely booth can have the best stuff.