🍷 Why the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Is a Must for Disney-Loving Foodies (Even With Kids!)

If you’ve ever dreamed of sipping and snacking your way around the world at Disney, the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is your moment.

This festival is one of my absolute favorites—and honestly, it’s a huge reason why we always visit Disney in the fall. The food, the flavors, the cozy vibes, and the magical extras (like Remy’s Hide & Squeak cheese scavenger hunt 🧀)—it’s our happy place.

Whether you’re planning a girl’s trip, a date day, or bringing the kiddos (like we do!), here’s why Food & Wine is so worth working into your Disney plans.

🗓️ 2025 Festival Dates

This year’s festival runs from July 25 to November 23, 2025—so you’ve got plenty of time to plan your magical foodie adventure.

🍴 What to Expect: Foodie Heaven on Every Corner

Dozens of Global Marketplaces pop up throughout World Showcase and beyond. Think handheld street food, seasonal desserts, creative cocktails, and Insta-worthy snacks from countries all over the world.

Some of our must-haves:

  • 🧀 Germany’s Schinkennudeln – MY personal favorite! This cheesy pasta gratin with ham and onions is warm, cozy, and absolutely delicious. It’s like German mac and cheese and a hug in a bowl.


  • 🍞 Brazil’s Pão de Queijo (cheese bread = always a win)

  • 🍲 Canada’s Cheddar Cheese Soup


  • 🍝 Italy’s fresh pasta dishes

  • 🍮 The Alps’ melted raclette cheese over potatoes & bread

  • 🍫 Flavors from Fire’s spiced chocolate cheesecake

  • 🧃 Refreshing drinks, slushies, and cocktails galore


🧀 Doing the Fromage Montage?
If you're a cheese lover like me, don't miss the Fromage Montage—a curated list of cheesy dishes (including my fave Schinkennudeln!).


Get 5 qualifying cheese items stamped in your Festival Passport and you’ll earn a FREE specialty treat at the end—usually something sweet and delicious, served in a souvenir cup!

It’s like a cheese crawl with a prize—and I’m always in.

👧🏼 Yes, It’s Kid-Friendly!

We always bring Lennon, and she has the best time. Why?

  • Kid-approved snacks at every booth

  • The Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt is a must-do—she has so much fun finding the little Remy statues

  • Outdoor concerts, festival playgrounds, and wide stroller-friendly walkways

  • The princess meet-and-greet game is strong here—EPCOT is the best park for meeting princesses like Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Mulan, and more, all around World Showcase

  • AND you don’t have to spend time (or money) on a sit-down character meal—because the Food & Wine Festival kiosks offer tons of variety, quick service, and fun options that let you snack as you go

It’s the perfect setup for families who want to keep things flexible, fun, and flavorful.


💡 My Pro Tips:

  • Go early in the day for smaller crowds and cooler weather

  • Split everything—more bites = more to try

  • Grab a Festival Passport when you enter to track what you’ve tried

  • Wear your comfy shoes (and maybe stretchy pants 😉)

  • Book Dining & Ride Reservations and Park Passes early if visiting on a weekend

  • Do the cheese crawl. Always.

🛍️ Bonus Perks

  • MagicBand + mobile ordering makes life easier at select booths

  • Annual Passholders usually get a free magnet and special offers

  • Festival-exclusive merch = yes, please

✨ Why We Love It So Much

For us, the Food & Wine Festival has become a tradition. It’s part of why we always visit this time of year. There’s something so magical about walking through EPCOT, snacking on global bites, doing Remy’s scavenger hunt with Lennon, soaking in that Disney fall energy, and saying hi to princesses along the way.

And I’ll just say it again: don’t skip the Schinkennudeln in Germany or the Fromage Montage—you’ll thank me later. 😉 Bonus tip: the Germany booth is right next to the Snow White meet & greet, so grab your cheesy goodness and hop in line for a royal hello!

📩 Planning a trip during the festival? I’d love to help you book the perfect resort, score park passes, and make the most of your Food & Wine experience. Message me or fill out this form here and we’ll make the magic happen!

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