Let’s Explore the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival for Kids and Adults Alike

The EPCOT Food & Wine Festival is in full swing at EPCOT! As usual, the festival showcases top-notch chef creations and specialty drinks from around the world, along with exclusive entertainment options.

This past weekend, my son Isaac and I had the chance to visit during the Family Media Event. Read on to find out how the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival provides a great opportunity for families to get a literal taste of different cultures!

But first, we would like to thank Disney for providing us with park tickets, a dining card, and admission to the IllumiNations dessert party so we could experience the festival together.

Kid-Approved Food & Drinks

As soon as we entered the park, we looked through the Festival Passport to get an idea of what we’d like to try during the day. The passport is marked with tiny strawberries beside the dishes and drinks which are considered the most kid-friendly, but of course, everything is open to individual interpretation.

We decided to make our first stop at the booths of Belgium and Brazil. Isaac got the Golden Malted Belgian Waffle with Warm Chocolate Ganache. He loved it, noting with delight that the cooks were super generous with the whipped cream on top.

Golden Malted Belgian Waffle with Warm Chocolate Ganache and Whipped Cream (Belgium). Photo by Melissa Richeson

I got the Moqueca, a seafood stew on rice from the Brazil booth. It had a creamy, not-too-spicy sauce flavored with peppers and cilantro. We both really enjoyed it!

Moqueca: Brazilian Seafood Stew featuring Scallops, Shrimp, and White Fish with Coconut-Lime Sauce and Steamed Rice (Brazil). Photo by Melissa Richeson

Later we also tried the Butternut Squash Ravioli from the Wine and Dine booth near the Imagination Pavillion. Despite the kid-approved strawberry mark, my son was not a fan. No matter—more for me! I loved the fall-like flavors combined with the balsamic drizzle.

Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Vinaigrette, Parmesan Cheese, and Pumpkin Seeds (Wine & Dine Studio). Photo by Melissa Richeson

As far as beverages, Isaac’s must try-item was the Drinking Chocolate from the Ghirardelli booth in the Land Pavilion. At only $3.25, this is one of the most reasonable items at the festival. He said that despite the small size, the warm beverage was incredibly filling, making it both a delicious choice and a good value.

My must-get item was the Mango Bubble Tea from China, which I also consider a good deal. It comes in a full-size cup with lots of tapioca pearls for $6.95. We sat down to read for an hour (our favorite thing to do when we need to rest our legs), and I was able to sip on the cold, milky tea the entire time.

Mango Bubble Tea with Assam Black Tea and Milk (China) Photo by Melissa Richeson

Family-Friendly Activities

There are multiple kid-friendly activities that take place at Food and Wine Festival. One of our favorites is the Candy Sushi demonstration, which happens at 3:30 and 5:30 on the lower level of the Land Pavilion. This year there is a $10 per person charge to participate, which is well worth it for both the experience and the take-away sushi items. Reservations are highly recommended, but during our visit, there were several walk-in spots available as well.

Learn how to roll sushi-inspired treats with a real Disney chef at the Candy Sushi seminar at Sunshine Seasons. Photo by Melissa Richeson

Here’s the Candy Sushi we made! Photo by Melissa Richeson

Remy’s Hide and Squeak scavenger hunt is back — it’s a great way to make the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival for kids. The whole family can enjoy searching for all of Remy’s Ratatouille ingredients around the park. Purchase the map and stickers for $6.99, and upon completion, you will receive your choice of commemorative cups as a reward.

Pick up a Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt map at Disney Traders or World Traveler (or wherever you see these signs!) Photo by Brett Svenson

Help Remy collect ingredients for his signature dish, ratatouille. As you find Remy, place the corresponding ingredient sticker on your map. Photo by Brett Svenson

Here’s an example of what you need to look for! Photo by Brett Svenson

In addition, there’s a brand new activity for cheese lovers of all ages. Emile’s Fromage Montage is a cheese-themed crawl through the festival where if you sample five of the listed dishes you will receive a complimentary cheesecake at the Shimmering Sips booth. You can also opt to repeat the same dish five times, so for families that may be buying more than one of each, you can earn your cheesecake sooner.

Entertainment for the Whole Family

Perhaps the most kid-friendly entertainment offering at the Food and Wine Festival is the Disney du Jour Dance Party, which takes place in the early evening on a stage in Future World East. When we were there, a high-energy DJ was hosting the fun, with special appearances by Remy, Emile, and Judy Hopps. In addition, popular artists from Radio Disney perform live during the weekends.

Dance the night away at the Disney du Jour Dance Party in Future World! Photo by Brett Svenson

Many of the Eat to the Beat concert performers are family-friendly as well. Check out this year’s concert line-up.

The fireworks are always a great way to finish a day at EPCOT. We were treated to an IllumiNations Dessert Party during our visit, and we were so grateful for the chance to unwind and enjoy some delicious sweets. The buffet included dishes from each of the pavilions around World Showcase, which was a fantastic way to taste our way around the world in one spot. Although everything was fabulous, I especially loved the Burnt Trinity Cream from the UK, and Isaac’s favorite was the Skolebread from Norway.

Similar fireworks dessert parties (like the Frozen Ever After Sparkling Dessert Party) are available throughout the year in EPCOT for $79 (adults) and $49 (kids).

The EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is a fantastic experience for the entire family. With so many different foods, drinks, activities, and entertainment, there’s bound to be something for every age and palate in your group. Cheers!

More Food and Wine Festival for Kids

We are bigtime foodies here at WDW Magazine, so you can bet we’ve packed our next issue full of our best tips for getting the most out of the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival — for both kids and adults! Subscribe to WDW Magazine!

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