Are you ready to eat your face off in India, jet to the boot for the Italians’ take on a margarita, sample the finest wines from the land down under, and finish it off with a taste of the finest carrot cake right here in the US? Then you’re going to need our comprehensive guide to the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival to ensure you make the most of your adventures eating and drinking around the world.
In this guide, we will answer some common questions you might have about the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival:
- What is EPCOT Food and Wine Festival?
- Do you need a ticket for EPCOT Food and Wine?
- How much is a 1-day EPCOT ticket?
- How much is EPCOT Food and Wine?
We’ll also discuss strategies and tips like:
- How to plan for EPCOT Food and Wine
- How to stay cool at EPCOT Food and Wine
- What to wear to EPCOT Food and Wine
- What to bring to EPCOT Food and Wine
- How to do EPCOT Food and Wine on a budget
Finally, we’ll share our thoughts on:
- What to eat at EPCOT Food and Wine
- The most expensive menu items at the festival
- 2021 Food and Wine merch
- Live entertainment at EPCOT Food and Wine
- Festival extras, like Emile’s Fromage Montage and the Remy Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt
- 2021 Food and Wine Festival with food allergies
- Tips for EPCOT Food and Wine
Questions about the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival
Photo by Tina Chiu
Let’s take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions about EPCOT Food and Wine.
What Is EPCOT Food and Wine Festival?
What is EPCOT Food and Wine without Ratatouille? Photo courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Each year, EPCOT hosts four annual festivals:
- Festival of the Arts
- Flower and Garden Festival
- Food and Wine Festival
- Festival of the Holidays
While each of the festivals has a specific focus, they all are world-famous for their delicious food and drinks. And EPCOT Food and Wine Festival? Well that’s the granddaddy of them all. For 2021, EPCOT is delivering 32 booths (plus the classic Funnel Cake and Joffrey’s booths) of delicious eats, sumptuous drinks, and plenty of adorable merch.
This year, the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival started much earlier, back on July 15. The festival will run through November 20, making this the longest Food and Wine Festival on record.
Do You Need a Ticket for EPCOT Food and Wine?
Photo by Tina Chiu
The best part of all four festivals at EPCOT is they are absolutely free (kind of, but more on that later). There is no separate entry fee for the festival. While some events at Disney are labeled “hard ticket,” meaning you will need to purchase an additional ticket on top of regular park admission, the four annual EPCOT festivals are included with admission.
That said, nothing in life is actually free, and as much as we love hanging with our favorite mouse, we all know that Disney is kind of expensive. Food and Wine is no different. That’s because you will have to shell out cash for every food you try, every beer you sample, and every dessert you promise your friends you will split but then secretly gobble up before making it to the table where they’re waiting for you. (Wait, am I the only person who does that?)
How Much Is a 1-Day EPCOT Ticket?
Photo by Mike Billick
Below, we’ll share tips on how to do Food and Wine on a budget, but for starters, if you aren’t an annual passholder, you will need to set aside $97 for your EPCOT admission. Right now, EPCOT is open for 11 hours, so that is roughly $9 an hour to be inside of EPCOT. When you break it down like that, a day at EPCOT sounds much more affordable.
However, because the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival is so much longer this year, Disney has decided to introduce only some of the booths as of now. Nine booths are being held until October. Think of it as Disney’s kind way of making sure you almost have to come back a second time. Not to mention, Disney wants to keep the Food and Wine buzz going strong for four months.
So that means, if you go to Food and Wine ahead of October but want to have tried every booth, you will need to budget a second $97 for a second ticket later this year.
How Much Is EPCOT Food and Wine?
Photo by Tina Chiu
So how expensive is EPCOT Food and Wine? It really depends on your appetite. After the $97 admission, the world is your oyster (though there aren’t any oysters on the menu for the 2021 festival). You can purchase just a few snacks and drinks and spend less than $50, or you can try to tackle every item on the menu for the 2021 Food and Wine Festival and, well, spend thousands of dollars.
That’s why it’s best to have a game plan when you go to Food and Wine. Next up in this guide to the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, we’ll discuss strategies for tackling the festival efficiently and with financial savvy.
2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Strategies
Photo by Tina Chiu
In this section of our guide to the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, we’ll talk strategies on making the most of your day, from planning to packing to staying cool.
How to Plan for EPCOT Food and Wine
Review all the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine menus, photos, and reviews before you go
The best way to do EPCOT Food and Wine Festival is to do your homework before you go. Homework? For a vacation? For a Disney vacation? For a Disney vacation focused on eating and drinking?
Yes.
If you don’t prep for the festival, you will be overwhelmed by all the options and will have no idea where to start, what to eat, or where to go. You’ll find the day pass you by quickly, and you will likely have only hit up a fraction of the booths.
So here’s how to plan:
Review menus ahead of time
WDW Magazine offers a comprehensive guide to the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival booths, complete with menus, photos, and reviews. You can visit the full booth list with commentary or tap directly to the booths you’re most interested in using this list:
- The Alps
- Appleseed Orchard
- Australia
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Brew Wing
- Canada
- China
- The Donut Box
- Earth Eats
- Flavors From Fire
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hawaii
- Hops and Barley
- India
- Ireland
- Italy
- Japan
- Kenya
- Lobster Landing
- Mac & Eats
- Mexico
- The Noodle Exchange
- Refreshment Outpost
- Refreshment Port
- Rotunda Bistro
- Shimmering Sips
- Spain
- The Swanky Saucy Swine
- Tangierine Cafe
Build a budget
After you’ve combed through the menus and highlighted some of your must-eats, build a reasonable budget. Then determine how many of the foods and drinks that you starred will actually fit into that budget.
Here’s where it gets painful. You might have to make some cuts. You can get our advice about must-eats if you’re having trouble deciding.
I also like to set a splurge fund. Sure, you can go into the park with a strict budget, but you never know when your sweet tooth may lead you astray. If you’ve got an extra $25 that you know you’re allowed to spend on a couple of drinks or a delicious piece of cake, you won’t make too many rash decisions.
Go with friends
The easiest way to eat and drink more of EPCOT Food and Wine is to go at it with a couple of friends. This helps you in two ways:
- You’ll have three times the budget if you go with two friends.
- You can share each food and drink, meaning you won’t get too full (or too drunk) too fast.
Our own Communications Director, Tatjana Lazar, connected with some friends to tackle Food and Wine in this video:
Come early and stay late
The best way to do Food and Wine is to rope drop EPCOT and head straight to your first booth. That means getting to EPCOT up to an hour before it opens (at 11 AM). That way, you will be among the first into the park and won’t have lines for the first few booths.
When you come early, you don’t have to worry about lines (or the heat … as much). Photo by Tina Chiu
The park will grow more crowded (and hotter) throughout the day, so you’ll be glad to have knocked out several booths by this point. Cool off in the DVC Lounge if you’re a member, or just grab some AC by riding Test Track, Mission: SPACE, Frozen Ever After, or anything in the Land Pavilion.
When evening approaches (and you’re hungry again), head back out. By this point, many diners will be done and may have park hopped over to Magic Kingdom to grab a spot for the fireworks. This is an opportune time to finish out your booths.
Look at a map
Before going, review a map of the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. Then build a game plan based on where you’re entering the park so you know how you’ll move about the park without doubling back.
For example, if you are staying at a Skyliner resort like Riviera, you will be entering the park between the UK and France. Know which way you want to move so that you can minimize going back and forth all day.
How to Stay Cool at EPCOT Food and Wine
Photo by Timothy Moore
I went to the opening day of Food and Wine this year, and man, it was a hot one. You can read our full strategy for keeping cool in this companion post, but some of our top tips include:
- Tackling booths in the morning and evening.
- Prioritizing air-conditioned or indoor booths during midday.
- Taking AC breaks at your resort or at indoor attractions.
- Investing in fans and cooling towels, or at least bringing a hat and umbrella.
- Drinking lots of water.
What to Wear to EPCOT Food and Wine
If you wear the wrong thing, don’t worry; there’s plenty of EPCOT Food and Wine merch to be found. Photo by Rain Blanken
EPCOT Food and Wine offers some of the finest dining in Florida, but you can leave the jacket and tie at home. Like any day at Disney, you can be as casual as they come.
I recommend loose-fitting clothes, like a T-shirt and gym shorts for guys and a flowing summer dress for women. Those with sensitive skin should consider light long-sleeved shirts to protect from the sun, and everyone should be wearing some kind of sunscreen and head coverage (like a sunhat or ballcap).
Don’t forget the sunglasses, and do not wear flip-flops. You will be doing SO. MUCH. WALKING. Instead, wear comfy shoes that you’ve already broken in.
What to Bring to EPCOT Food and Wine
Want to drink this beer flight at the Germany booth? Bring your ID. Photo by Rain Blanken
At Disney, you are allowed to bring a small backpack, which is important for all your park day essentials. Some things you will want to pack for the Food and Wine Festival at EPCOT include:
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- A hat
- An umbrella
- A cooling towel
- A fan
- A refillable water bottle
- A fork and spoon (so that you don’t have to keep using the plastic forks and spoons available; just don’t bring your own knife for obvious reasons)
- A metal straw
- A face mask if the crowds make you uncomfortable or you are unvaccinated
- Your ID (some booths were asking for it to purchase alcohol, which 30-year-old bearded, wrinkly-faced me was ecstatic about).
How to Do EPCOT Food and Wine on a Budget
The Italy booth has some of the most expensive menu items for the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. Photo by Tina Chiu
As I mentioned, the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival can get expensive. If you want to make the most out of your money and time, check out my guide to doing EPCOT Food and Wine on a budget. Here are some of my top tips:
- Skip the MagicBand. It’s easy to spend too much money if you can’t keep track of what you’ve actually spent. Instead, use a credit or debit card that sends you push notifications every time you swipe.
- Skip Italy as well. Honestly, the food there is overpriced and overrated. My favorite booth was actually Flavors from Fire. Go give them your money instead!
- Bring a water bottle. Staying hydrated is important, but you don’t need to pay for expensive bottled water at the park. If you forget your bottle, you can ask for a cup of ice water at Quick-Service restaurants.
In my post, I also explore the 14 cheapest foods and 10 cheapest cocktails at the Food and Wine Festival, so you can enjoy all the good stuff at a fraction of the cost.
More Info on the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival
Spiced Apple Twinings of London Chai Tea with Whiskey. Photo by Timothy Moore
What to Eat at EPCOT Food and Wine
My favorite dish of the festival: Corned Beef Corner Route at Flavors from Fire. Photo by Todd Turner
There is simply way too much to choose from at this year’s festival. You could eat nonstop all day and barely scratch the surface. And the drinks? They’re just as plentiful.
That’s why our team tried all the food and beverages on day one and came up with a comprehensive list of the best food and drinks to sample as part of our comprehensive guide to the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. If you want the best of the fest, stick with the heavy hitters, rated in our What to Eat at EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 2021: Best Food and Drinks mega post.
Tuna Poke at the Hawaii booth. Photo by Rain Blanken
Our top 3 foods are:
- The Tuna Poke
- The Braised Beef Poutine
- The Corned Beef Corner Route
I tried the Pineapple Vibes as part of a flight (with wings, of course … how else you gonna fly?). Photo by Todd Turner
Our top 3 drinks are:
- The Pineapple Vibes Blond Ale
- The La Passion Martini Slushy
- The Frozen Apple Pie (non-alcoholic)
The Most Expensive Menu Items at the Festival
This box of donuts at The Donut Box booth is the most expensive food item on offer. Photo by Rain Blanken
Don’t be fooled: The most expensive menu items are not always the most delicious. There was not too much overlap on our best of the fest post and our list of the most expensive food and drinks. (I’m looking at you, Italy.)
Get the full list of the most expensive Food and Wine menu items in our companion post, but peek at the top 3 below.
Ravioli at the Italy Booth. Photo by Rain Blanken
3 most expensive foods
- The Donut Box
- Ravioli
- Mezzelune Croccanti
Aulani Sunrise at the Hawaii booth. Photo by Rain Blanken
3 most expensive drinks
- Black and White Coffee Cocktail
- Aulani Sunrise
- Dragonfly
On this list, the only one I can really recommend is the Aulani Sunrise at the Hawaii booth. Otherwise, save your money.
2021 Food and Wine Merch
Photo by Rain Blanken
One of the hallmarks of the EPCOT festivals is the all the merch. SO. MUCH. MERCH.
New for this year are the Corckcicle tumbler and flute sold at actual booths. These … you can probably skip.
Corkcicle Tumbler. Photo by Timothy Moore
But if you have a fantastic time at Food and Wine (and if you use this guide, you will), I highly recommend commemorating the experience with at least a T-shirt. We’ve got the scoop on all the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine merch on offer throughout the park this year.
I personally got myself the red Remy shirt. He’s just so adorable.
I couldn’t resist this shirt. Photo by Rain Blanken
Live Entertainment at EPCOT Food and Wine
Thus far, Disney has only announced its entertainment lineup through September 27, and unfortunately, it does not yet include Eat to the Beats. I’m hoping we’ll see that return in the second half of the festival, when the remaining nine booths are set to open.
But that doesn’t mean the festival is devoid of entertainment entirely. Here’s what you can enjoy at the America Gardens Bandstand while stuffing your face full of donuts and sipping on mimosas at EPCOT:
- Epic! Live: July 16 to 19
- Champagne Orchestra: July 23 to 26
- Element: July 30 to August 2
- Sound Society: August 6 to 9
- The Hooligans: August 13 to 16
- The Vybe: August 20 to 23
- The M-80s: August 27 to 30
- Latin Ambition: September 3 to 6
- Audio Exchange: September 10 to 13
- The Hooligans: September 17 to 20
- Epic! Live: September 24 to 27
In addition, you can find regular performances from Voices of Liberty and Mariachi Cobre at the America Gardens Theatre. The JAMMin’ Chefs are back at the Canada Mill Stage.
Emile’s Fromage Montage and Remy’s Hide & Squeak Scavenger Hunt
Flip to that last page of the Food & Wine passport. Photo by Rain Blanken.
Like cheese? In Emile’s Fromage Montage, adults can take part in the tastiest scavenger hunt known to man, chasing down five specific cheeses throughout the festival (the Griddled Cheese at Greece is the best, hands down). And if you do get all five stamps in your passport for collecting the related cheeses? Exclusive Strawberry Cheesecake Soft Serve awaits you.
To participate in the kid-friendly Remy’s Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt, you’ll need to spend $9.99 on the map and stickers, available at Pin Traders, Port of Entry, and World Traveler. Once your child (or you—no shame in adults playing alone!) have spotted all the Remys throughout the park, you’ll get to claim your price: one of four bowls (corresponding to some of the major merch themes this year): Figment, Mickey and Minnie, Bell, and, of course, Remy.
2021 Food and Wine Festival with Food Allergies
This Tofu Pho is plant based and gluten free. Photo by Ilana Robinson
Thinking about attending Food and Wine but worried about how you’ll dine with celiac or a lactose intolerance? We’ve got the skinny on how to eat at Food and Wine with any and all food allergies and dietary restrictions, including gluten free, plant based, and dairy free.
Final Tips for EPCOT Food and Wine
Trust me. I’m the kinda guy you wanna be taking drink tips from. Photo by Timothy Moore
I hope this guide to the 2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival has left you in good shape (and hasn’t made you panic … there’s a lot to know, but it’s also incredibly fun!). Before I send you and your taste buds off on a boozy, yummy adventure, I’ve got a few last tips to share:
- Plan an extra day. If you’re trying to tackle all four Disney parks in four days, 1) that’s crazy but best of luck and 2) you’d really be in better shape if you could add in a fifth day. Why? Because EPCOT is amazing and has so much to offer outside of the festival. (It’s my favorite park by a long shot, so I’m a bit biased.) If you spend your day focused on Food & Wine, you may miss out on rope-drop rides like Frozen Ever After and Test Track, and you won’t get to experience all the wonderful year-round food and drink on tap. Two days at EPCOT—one for Food and Wine and one for general visitation—can solve the problem.
- Do it twice. If you are visiting Food and Wine before October, I recommend coming back. Disney is saving some of the very best booths for its second phase in October. (I’m looking at you, Mac & Eats.) In that case, plan to return. This will also keep you from having to stuff your face with everything you want to eat and drink all in one day.
- Go in the fall. If your dates are flexible, just hold off until October or November when everything is open. Florida is also a little cooler then, so you may leave the park a little less sweaty. Maybe. (Just be cognizant of hurricane season.)
- Park hop to Magic Kingdom if you have kids. EPCOT Food and Wine definitely caters to the adult crowd. While there is fun stuff to do for kids and plenty of sugar to load them up on, they’ll get burnt out before you do. Come early, knock out your favorite foods, and then reward them with an evening in Magic Kingdom.
- Be respectful and responsible. I am the first person to admit that I had a little too much to drink at Food and Wine, but with so much good beer, wine, and cocktails, it’s hard not to. Just remember that you are at a family park, so keep your intoxication within reason. And if you aren’t staying on property (with bus, boat, monorail, or Skyliner transportation back to a resort), make sure someone in your group has volunteered to be a DD. Safety first.
What to Eat at EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 2021: Best Food and Drinks
2021 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Menus, Photos, and Reviews
