On May 15, Walt Disney World released information on its 15th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which will take place Oct. 1 – Nov. 14, 2010 as is being celebrated as “15 years of delicious discoveries.”
The 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival marks the return of favorite global cuisine and welcomes new regional cuisines. In addition to sampling tapas-sized portions of food, guests can drink wines, beers and spirits from around the world.
Enjoying international food and drink are only part of the fun of the six-week Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Guests may attend educational seminars on diverse topics, from cooking tips to wine to tequila, and enjoy live entertainment.
Delicious discoveries at the 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
This year’s “delicious discoveries” theme reflects the festival’s history and invites Disney guests to explore its diversity.
The 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will include two new International Marketplaces, Beligum and South Korea to add to the 27 tasting stations. Many of its previous popular marketplaces – Argentina, Australia, Chile, Poland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, and U.S.A., among others – will return with new menu offerings to please the palate.
Celebrity chef appearances will include, a short list, Warren Brown, Cat Cora, Todd English, Gale Gand, Robert Irvine, Art Smith, and Andrew Zimmern, among others.
Eat to the Beat! Concerts, with its diverse schedule of classic rock, soul, R&B, funk, and jazz, showcases different artists. Concerts take place three times nightly at America Gardens Theatre. Click to see the 2010 Eat to the Beat! concert series schedule.
For Disney foodies looking to complete a culinary tour, the Food & Wine Festival offers a complimentary Marketplace Discovery Passport. Guests can have their passports stamped at international marketplaces they for a fun souvenir.
In addition to the international marketplaces, culinary demonstrations and seminars, there are a number of Epcot International Food & Wine Festival special events – signature dinners, food and drink seminars, and parties – available on a limited basis. These special events require reservations and an additional admission fee, although some events do not require theme park admission.
2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival special events
- 3-D Disney's Dessert Discovery
- Celebrating Family & Friends in the Kitchen
- Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining
- Cheese Seminars
- Epcot Wine Schools
- First Bites Opening Reception
- Food & Wine Pairings
- French Regional Lunches
- Mexico Tequila Tastings
- Party for the Senses
- Sweet Sundays
- Taste, Shake, and Indulge Like the French
Disney guests will also have the opportunity to experience two Epcot World Showcase restaurants opening fall 2010. Italy’s Via Napoli will operate as a table-service pizzeria. Mexico’s La Hacienda de San Angel (formerly Cantina de San Angel) will offer counter service during the day and table service in the evening.
2010 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend – Oct. 1 – 3, 2010
During the Food & Wine Festival’s opening weekend, Disney will also host the inaugural Wine and Dine Half Marathon Weekend. Disney’s first nighttime half marathon, with a start time of 10:00 p.m., promises a brand-new running course through three theme parks. The half-marathon will also provide a relay option. Participants and their family and friends can enjoy an exclusive after-hours party inside the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival that runs until 3:00 a.m.
The weekend events also include a 5K run/walk through the Magic Kingdom, the only Walt Disney World race to do so, kids’ events, and a health & fitness expo. Click for more information on the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend.
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival admission and details
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival events included with theme-park admission: Authentic Taste Seminars, Authors Without Borders, Eat to the Beat! concerts, live entertainment and cultural adventures, and the Marketplace Discovery Passport.
The international marketplaces’ tapas-sized samples cost between $3 – $8 each; they can be paired with recommended wines and beers for approximately the same cost. For their convenience, Disney recommends guests purchase a festival Disney Gift Card. The card can be reloaded at several park locations and may be used at international marketplaces, restaurants and shops.
For details, guests may download these festival brochures, in .pdf form:
- 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Guide
- 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Map
As mentioned above, Food & Wine Festival special events and programs require additional fees and tickets. Availability is limited for some special events, and reservations are required. Guests can call 407-WDW-FEST (407-939-3378) for information and to make reservations for special events and programs.
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival details, available mid-July, will also be found at Disney’s website. Readers may also be interested in Disneyland’s foodie event, Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, which focuses on Californian regional cuisine and beverages. Dates for the 2011 Disney's California Food & Wine Festival have been released.
Update (July 6): Registration for special programs and events that are part of the 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival opens July 20, 2010.
Update (Aug. 25): Registration for 2010 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival low-cost cullinary demonstrations and beverage seminars opens Aug. 27, 2010.
This article is part of the Disney Dining series. You can also read other articles on Disney news, deals, and advice, or sign up for a free subscription to this Disney Travel column.
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