6 Tips For Planning Your 2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Strategy

This summer has been fantastic at Walt Disney World, and fans have been treated to fun new adventures across the property. As the season begins to wind down and kids head back to school grown-up Disney fans can feel the change coming in the air, as they look forward to one of their favorite times of the year. It's just 28 days until the opening of the 2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! 75 days of culinary adventures begin on August 31st.


6 Tips For Planning Your 2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Strategy

Make a "Must Eat List" before you arrive

A record number 35 marketplace booths will be cooking up their best this year, that's a lot of food. You're going to want to come up with a plan of attack to be sure you get to try the things that sound most interesting to you. Take a look at the list of Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booths, Menus and break it down into manageable chunks. Choose 5-10 things you want to try for each day you are at the festival, and map your route around the lagoon accordingly.

To Avoid Crowds Go Early In The Week During the Day

Crowds in the evenings and on the weekends at Food & Wine Festival can be intense. For the shortest lines and smallest crowds attend the festival during the week, and earlier day. This is a great time of year to have Park Hopper tickets. Hit the Marketplace Booths from 11A - 4P and then switch to another Park with lighter crowds as the sun goes down. If you must attend on the weekend, Sunday is frequently the least crowded.


Italian Delights Make A Great Meal

Don't Get Caught Off Guard By The Costs

While entrance into the Food & Wine Festival is complimentary with your Epcot admission, the tastes and sips all come at a price. If you don't go in with a dining budget, things can quickly get out of hand as you sip and stroll just tapping your MagicBand. While there is no right or wrong answer as to how much to budget to eat your way around, you do want to be sure that you keep track of the money you spend. Most food items will cost between $4-$8, with alcohol ranging as much as $11.

1. Try managing your food money by keeping it on a special Disney Gift Card used only at Marketplace Booths.
2. You can use Disney Dining Plan Snack Credits for many of the dishes available at the festival Marketplace Booths. If you plan on using DDP credits this way, you'll get your moneys worth by using them to purchase the more expensive dishes on your list.
3. You can exchange 1 Quick Service Disney Dining Plan Credit for 3 Snack Credits if you make your purchases at the same time. So if you are looking at 3 different things from the same booth, say two savory plates and a dessert, this may be an option for you.

Grilled Beef Skewer with Romaine, Apricots and Feta Cheese

The More The Merrier

Touring the Food & Wine Festival Marketplace booths is a great activity for groups, giving travelers the opportunity to chat it up and enjoy each others company while waiting in the lines. If your group is into sharing, it can also help to defray the costs off of any one person so that you all can of try even more tasty dishes and cocktails.

Take Care In The Heat

September and early October can be a pretty hot time of the year in the Orlando area. Avoid heat sickness by drink plenty of water along the way, and take breaks out of the heat. Air conditioning can be found by ducking into the movies and rides throughout World Showcase, as well as by taking advantage of specialty member lounges.


Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri Ice Pop

Check The Free Concert Schedule

The Eat to Beat concert series is included in your Epcot admission and offers guests a variety of musical performances from popular bands at the American Gardens Theater. There are three shows a day given throughout the festival. You can see who will be playing while you are there at the DFB's Eat To The Beat Line-up page.

And for all the latest and greatest information on everything Disney Food & Wine, be sure to visit our friends over at the Disney Food Blog for complete coverage of the 2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.

Will we see you at Food & Wine this year? What are you most looking forward to?