NEWS: Details on 2019 Food & Wine Festival Released by Disney

With only a few more weeks of the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, we are already looking ahead to its next big event, the hugely popular Food and Wine Festival. We expect very heavy crowds this year as many will be looking to escape the craziness that will be happening at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. So what can we expect at this year’s festival? Catch all the details below!

Here are all the new details from Disney Cast Member Thomas Smith:

Get ready for the ultimate global dine-around when the 24^th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival takes place Aug. 29-Nov. 23!

At 87 days, this is the longest foodie fest ever at Walt Disney World Resort theme park, with fresh flavors available across 30 Global Marketplaces dotting Future World and World Showcase. There are flavors for everyone in the family to discover, like the new Kenyan Coffee Barbecue Beef Tenderloin in the Africa Marketplace or the plant-based Cottage Pie at Earth Eats. Between bites and sips, you’ll find a world of entertainment.

And, back by popular demand, “Disney du Jour Dance Party” in Future World will expand to seven days a week! Sundays through Thursdays, a DJ will spin plenty of interactive fun, while on Fridays and Saturdays stars from Radio Disney pump up the mix with live performances; on opening weekend, actress/singer Meg Donnelly from the Disney Channel original movie “Zombies” will appear. Watch for more weekend celebrity headliners to join the lineup. Other family activities on tap are Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt and the popular Candy Sushi interactive experience.

The Eat to the Beat Concert Series also returns (through Nov. 19 – 249 concerts in all), so you can get your groove on three times nightly. Rock, pop, Latin, swing, country and other genres – it’s a buffet of great music. You can even guarantee your concert seats by booking an Eat to the Beat Dining Package for breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of many Epcot restaurants.

Want a sneak peek of new concert acts? For starters, there’s Sawyer Brown (“Thank God for You”); Lauren Daigle (“You Say”); Boyce Avenue (“Anchor”); and Kris Allen (“Live Like We’re Dying”). Festival favorites are back, too! You won’t want to miss the Plain White T’s, Sugar Ray, Hanson, Sheila E. and Boyz II Men, among many others.

Here is the full line up:

• Plain White T’s – August 29 through 31
• Sawyer Brown – NEW – September 1 through 2
• MercyMe – September 3 through 4
• Grace Kelly – NEW! – September 5 through 6
• Zach Williams – NEW! – September 7 through 8
• Lauren Daigle – NEW! – September 9 through 10
• Jimmie Allen – NEW! – September 11 through 12
• Tiffany – September 13 through 15
• The Allman Betts Band – September 16 through 17
• Everclear – September 18 through 19
• STARSHIP featuring Mickey Thomas – September 20 through 22
• Post Modern Jukebox – September 23 through 24
• Blue October – September 25 through 26
• Mark Wills – September 27 through 29
• Sugar Ray – September 30 through October 2
• Taylor Dayne – October 3 through 4
• INDIA – NEW! – October 5 through 6
• 98° – October 7 through 9
• Boyce Avenue – NEW! – October 10 through 11
• Southern Avenue – NEW! – October 12 through 13
• Kenny G – October 14 through 15
• 38 Special – October 16 through 17
• Baha Men – October 18 through 20
• Billy Ocean – October 21 through 22
• Sheila E – October 23 through 25
• High Valley – October 26 through 27
• Hanson – October 28 through 30
• Sheena Easton – October 31 through November 1
• Kris Allen – NEW! – November 2 through 3
• Boyz II Men – November 4 through 6
• The Hooters – November 7 through 8
• Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy – November 9 through 11
• TBD – November 12 through 14
• BBMak – NEW! – November 15 through 16
• D’Capella – NEW! – November 19

If your palate begs for more, plan a new culinary adventure when bookings open on May 15 for:

• Party for the Senses at World Showplace Events Pavilion, the sensational event featuring chefs and vintners from around the world. (Select Saturdays through Nov. 9)
• Sunday Brunch with the Chef, hosted by celebrity chefs such as Cat Cora, Andrew Zimmern, Buddy Valastro and others. (Select Sundays through Nov. 17)
• “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops that let you rub shoulders with visiting chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros. (Select Mondays and Thursdays through Nov. 14)

Now, more than ever, is the time to plan your visit to the 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. More details are available at www.TasteEpcot.com.

RELATED ARTICLE: 8 Reasons Why We Love the Epcot Food & Wine Festival

by Mike and Jamie Sylvester

When we see the month of September appear on the calendar it’s not because of our anniversary, birthdays, or any other big family celebration… it’s simply because that means the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is about to begin! Countdown with us for our top 8 reasons why we love the Epcot Food and Wine Festival and why we are sure you will too!

8 – Fall in Florida

Disney World Imagineers surely had all of us in mind when they planned for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival because they picked the most amazing time of year – the Florida fall season. With the festival taking place from August 30 – November 12 this year, we all have an opportunity to leisurely explore Epcot and the many festival happenings without the humid summer heat. This fall time really is perfect because it’s not chilly but it’s not typically steaming hot, especially in late October and November festival days. Yay for enjoying the festivities without melting!

7 – Beautiful Scenery

Other than Epcot’s Flower and Garden Festival, the Food and Wine Festival is one of our favorite times to catch Epcot’s scenery at its’ best. Among the specially shaped shrubs, romantic lighting, and unique artworks displayed, we also enjoy that there are so many more countries represented. As you travel around the World Showcase, you’ll spot the usual 11 countries – but take a look at the special kiosks that represent diverse countries from all around the world. Get that camera ready to snap photos!

6 – Special Merchandise

Let’s go shopping! Food and Wine Festival merchandise is available throughout many of the typical Epcot gift shops, especially around the World Showcase. Don’t forget to head to the Festival Center to explore the merchandise available there! They have many more unique items to select from including specialty gift shops such as the Wine Shop and the Stockpot Shop. Maybe it’s a good thing they don’t have shopping carts!

5 – Scavenger Hunt

The inner child in us has a great love for the Epcot Food and Wine Festival Passport. This baby gives you the location of where all the different kiosks are and provides you with the ability to sort of “check off” where you’ve been. It’s a fun way to be sure you are hitting all the booths you want to and to look back a few months down the road and retrace your steps down memory lane. Kids in tow? Get them involved! Better yet – check out the Remy’s Ratatouille Hide and Squeak. Purchase a special map and stickers and let the scavenger hunt begin.

4 – Celebrity Spotting

Did you know the Food and Wine Festival is an excellent place to spot celebrities from all over?! We aren’t just talking about our favorites like Mickey and Minnie, but celebrity artists like Blue October, Dennis DeYoung, The Hooters, Hanson, Boyz II Men… and so much more! But – wait, that’s not all. The festival also has had TV celebrities from ABC’s “The Chew”, world-renowned Chefs, authors, and even the world’s top beverage experts. This is one trip where you might end up with some autographs besides the usual Disney characters!

3 – More Bang for Your Buck

So, you’ve always wanted to visit Epcot but you think the park admission might be a little steep? The Food and Wine Festival is the perfect way to get more bang for your buck. Most of the festival activities are included in your park ticket. Plus, you have to eat anyway – so why not pick and choose what you’d like to eat around the World Showcase? Make it easy on yourself and purchase a gift card upon arrival so you can go around the world cash free! Visiting Epcot during the Food and Wine Festival is the perfect way to get more of an “experience” out of your park admission.

2 – The Music

Have you heard about the Eat to the Beat Concert Series? Well, it’s just more to add to your experience with your standard park admission! Eat and drink with musicians performing in a concert setting in the American Gardens Theater. This live music isn’t performed by just anyone – but instead, they are well-known artists that most of us have downloaded their songs at one point in time or another (some named above). Don’t forget to check out the Eat to the Beat Dining Packages for reserved seating.

1 – FOOD and WINE

Well of course – one of our favorite reasons why we love the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is because of just that – the food and the wine! The FOOD… oh my goodness, the food is unbelievable. Known as the “celebration of global cuisines” it’s hard not to try a little bit of something from as many of the roughly 35 kiosks as possible. The different flavors of wine are out of this world and fun to delight in the small (or large) tastings. It’s ok, you’re at a festival – have another!

These are our top 8 reasons why we love the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Why do you love this incredible festival? We’d love to hear from you!