Craft beer tastings and delicious bites: Your complete guide to the 2022 Epcot Food & Wine Festival

The 2022 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is buzzing at Walt Disney World.

As the longest of Epcot's four annual festivals, this event showcases food and drink from around the globe, featuring over 25 international marketplaces, a popular concert series, exclusive merchandise, and fun activities for the whole family throughout the park.

With an abundance of food, drinks, sights, and experiences, here are our top tips for enhancing your visit to this year's Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

Trip planning: Best times to visit

Spanning an impressive 128 days this year, Epcot's Food & Wine Festival takes place from July 14 to November 19, giving you ample time to visit. With the summer heat and humidity hitting Central Florida as the festival kicks off, we usually prefer to enjoy the food and drinks in the cooler weather of the festival's latter half.

To steer clear of the crowds, it's best to avoid Friday and Saturday evenings, which draw in many locals, while Mondays are often busier with tourists due to extended evening theme park hours for guests at Walt Disney World's Deluxe resorts.

The festival coincides with both the Halloween (Aug. 12 - Oct. 31) and holiday (Nov. 11 - early January) seasons at Walt Disney World, as well as the sold-out runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend. To infuse some seasonal excitement (or exercise) into your visit, consider planning your trip around these events. Be sure to check the schedule and availability for Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party if you're visiting during those times.

Accommodation options

I always suggest staying at a Walt Disney World hotel for the convenience and benefits that come with it. This includes early entry to all four theme parks and complimentary transportation to and from your resort, allowing you to enjoy wine tastings without worrying about driving.

If you plan to dedicate a lot of time to the festival, your best choices are the Epcot-area resorts — Disney's BoardWalk Inn, Disney's Yacht Club and Beach Club resorts, and the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve, all within a short walk or boat ride from the park's International Gateway entrance.

If being within walking distance isn't essential, great options include Disney World's monorail resorts — Disney's Polynesian Village Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort.

Resorts connected by the Disney Skyliner, which has a station just outside Epcot's International Gateway, are also a great choice. These include Disney's Riviera Resort, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Pop Century Resort, and Disney's Art of Animation Resort.

What is the cost of attending the festival?

Entry to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is included with regular park admission to Epcot. However, any food and drinks you sample will be an additional charge.

With a variety of food and drink options to explore, we enjoy visiting on a few evenings during our trip by park hopping — starting our day at a different park and then heading to Epcot in the evening for dining, drinks, and entertainment.

To park hop, you'll need a ticket with park-hopping privileges, which allows you to visit additional theme parks after 2 p.m., as long as you've already entered the park where you have your theme park reservation for the day.

Savoring your way through the festival

Upon entering the park, be sure to grab your Festival Passport, your ultimate "to-eat list."

This complimentary booklet features all the locations and menus for the festival's marketplaces, along with details on entertainment, activities, and merchandise. You can also access the menus online or through the My Disney Experience app on your mobile device.

The Festival Passport offers useful indicators next to menu items for plant-based and gluten/wheat-friendly options. Guests with allergies or dietary restrictions are encouraged to consult a chef or a trained Cast Member before ordering at the marketplaces to ensure the dishes meet their dietary needs.

While most festival marketplaces are situated around the World Showcase, you'll find several in the World Discovery area of the park, ideal for a snack before or after experiencing Epcot's latest attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (don't forget to check TPG's guide to riding this thrilling new coaster).

Essential marketplaces to explore for the finest food and drink offerings

No matter if you're a culinary enthusiast or someone who prefers simpler fare, the festival offers a fantastic opportunity to explore a wide variety of cuisines.

This experience ranges from creative American delights like smoked corned beef and bonfire beer (available at the Flavors from Fire marketplace) to oysters Rockefeller with chardonnay (Coastal Eats) and a pina colada funnel cake for dessert, as well as international options like charcuterie and paella (Spain), escargot brioche (France), roasted bratwurst (Germany), and stone-baked bread (Morocco).

Many dishes are served in small portions, typically priced around $5-$6, allowing you to try various items without committing to a full entrée — you might even find some new favorites!

I'll highlight some of my top picks below, but you can also check out TPG's top 10 must-try dishes at this year's Disney Food and Wine Festival on YouTube.

The Fry Basket

This year's festival introduces a new marketplace that’s a must-fry!

The Fry Basket features four types of fries: plant-based adobo yuca fries with garlic-cilantro aioli, plus a fry flight that includes sea salt and malt vinegar fries, barbecued bacon fries, and sweet potato fries topped with toasted marshmallow cream and caramel whisky. We enjoyed them all, but the yuca fries stood out as our favorite from this booth.

India

The India marketplace has captivated newcomers to Indian cuisine with three substantial and flavorful offerings: crispy paneer, potato-and-pea samosas, and chicken tikka masala. Priced at $6 or less, these generous portions deliver big taste without breaking the bank.

We suggest sharing if you want to save some space — all three dishes are delightful yet quite filling.

Attention all noodle enthusiasts!

Whether you like your noodles in a savory broth or loaded with cheesy goodness, there’s a dish waiting for you starting Aug. 15, when two additional must-visit booths featuring comfort food favorites open a month after the festival kicks off.

At the Noodle Exchange, you can enjoy four different bowls of steaming noodles in rich broth — from traditional spicy Vietnamese beef pho to char siu pork udon, shrimp and coconut-curry rice noodles, and tofu pho topped with enoki mushrooms and Thai basil.

Mac & Eats will offer three varieties of mac and cheese: classic macaroni and cheese with herbed panko; cowboy mac and cheese featuring smoked pork belly, brisket burnt ends, pickled peppers, onion straws, and barbecue aioli; plus a plant-based option — chili-cheese mac with plant-based sour cream and cheddar cheese.

We haven't tried this vegan option yet, but last year's plant-based mac was so creamy and satisfying that we didn't miss the dairy at all.

Earth Eats

The festival offers a variety of delicious plant-based choices for vegans and vegetarians. One standout booth dedicated to plant-based delights is Earth Eats, presented by Impossible.

This year, a fan favorite returns: the Impossible Burger slider topped with wasabi cream and spicy slaw, along with a new dish, the Impossible Meatball served with herbed polenta, rustic puttanesca sauce, and basil pesto. I adore both and can't pick a favorite!

More than just wine

Though it's known as the Food & Wine Festival, with a plethora of wine varietals to delight wine lovers, beer and cocktail aficionados will also find plenty of opportunities to sample new beverages. From pumpkin barrel ale and roasted coffee hard cider at Hops & Barley to Key lime kolsch at Refreshment Outpost and St. George Ethiopian lager from the Kenya marketplace, beer enthusiasts have plenty to explore.

If cocktails are more your style, don't miss the drink that's had guests buzzing for the second consecutive year: the bourbon bloody mary from the Swanky Saucy Swine, crafted with Seaside Grown bloody mary mix and Labrot & Graham Woodford Reserve bourbon whiskey, and topped with a slice of bacon.

Wine, beer, and cider enthusiasts looking to savor a variety without going overboard should seek out the beer, wine, and cider flights, which feature three tasting portions and are available at many marketplaces.

The festival's 'coolest' booths

Most of the festival's marketplaces are located outdoors, so you'll usually find yourself enjoying your meal at high-top tables or nearby outdoor benches and picnic tables.

If the scorching Florida sun becomes too intense, you can escape the heat in one of the festival's two main indoor marketplaces: Appleseed Orchard in the Canada pavilion and Brew-Wing at the Odyssey. While Tangierine Cafe could be considered a third option, its limited indoor space makes it less reliable for cooling off.

Appleseed Orchard utilizes space from the Circle-Vision 360 presentation, "Canada Far and Wide." Visit for delicious apple ciders, apple-infused beers (flights available for those who can't decide), and apple crumble tart; enjoy the cool air conditioning and the stunning 360-degree orchard visuals while you're there.

The name says it all at Brew-Wing at the Odyssey, where you can sample five varieties of chicken wings alongside fruit-infused beers, ciders, and a plant-based option — crispy Brussels sprouts tossed in Buffalo sauce. Some wings pack quite a bit of heat, but there are plenty of indoor tables to help you stay cool while you enjoy your meal.

'Eat to the Beat' concert series

Festival-goers can enjoy performances from some major artists — no concert ticket required — three times each evening at the America Gardens Theatre. Enjoy shows from acts like Air Supply, Boyz II Men, Hanson, 38 Special, and Billy Ocean every night at 5:30 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 8 p.m.

Be sure to check the schedule ahead of time to catch your favorite performances.

While stand-by seating is usually available, if you’re eager to secure prime seats for your favorite band, "Eat to the Beat" dining packages can be booked at six different Epcot restaurants. For a fixed price that varies by restaurant, you’ll receive an appetizer, entrée, and dessert (or buffet where applicable), along with a nonalcoholic beverage and guaranteed seating for the concert.

Embark on a scavenger hunt throughout the festival

Disney has created a perfect solution for parents wanting to keep their kids engaged while they savor drinks and snacks around World Showcase.

Each Epcot festival features at least one seasonal scavenger hunt, which is always my kids' favorite part of every event.

During the Food & Wine Festival, participants embark on a quest to find Pixar's rat chef Remy in Remy's Ratatouille Hide & Squeak throughout the park.

To join the fun, purchase a map for $9.99 at various shops around the park and search for Remy hidden with some of his favorite ingredients among the festival marketplaces (hint: Remember to look up!). Once you've completed the hunt (or even if you don’t finish), you can collect a prize at several redemption locations.

If you’re visiting between Sept. 29 and Oct. 31, there's another scavenger hunt to enjoy — Pluto's Pumpkin Pursuit. This Halloween-themed pumpkin hunt previously launched at Disneyland's Downtown Disney District and makes its debut at Walt Disney World this September.

If you prefer your challenges to be delicious, Emile's Fromage Montage offers a cheesy twist on a scavenger hunt throughout the festival. Sample five dishes from a selection of ten of the festival's most cheese-centric options and collect a stamp in your booklet for each one (duplicates are permitted).

After savoring all five, head to Shimmering Sips hosted by Corkcicle, the festival's presenting sponsor, to claim an edible prize (no extra purchase necessary).

Unsure which dishes to pick? Some of our favorites include the griddled cheese from Greece, crispy paneer from India, and warm raclette from The Alps.

Limited-time festival merchandise

It’s no surprise that during the festival, "shopportunities" flourish, featuring five exclusive festival merchandise collections.

Find souvenirs inspired by Princess Tiana, Chef Mickey, Chef Minnie Mouse, Chef Figment, the 2022 festival artwork, and the event logo, along with a special collection for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders. Beyond the typical Minnie ears, Spirit Jerseys, and MagicBands, Food & Wine Festival merchandise also includes themed kitchen and picnic items like aprons, rolling pins, wine glasses, and cooler bags.

'Be Our Guest' Spaceship Earth showcase

Epcot introduced its "Beacons of Magic" display, illuminating Spaceship Earth with synchronized "points of light" and music, for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary, which began on Oct. 1, 2021. Since then, each Epcot festival has seen the debut of a new lighting display and accompanying song. For Food & Wine, Walt Disney Imagineers designed a show to the melody of "Be Our Guest" in both English and French, featuring visuals that resemble rising Champagne bubbles and the colors of the French flag.

Additional delights for food enthusiasts: Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic

If one food and wine festival isn’t sufficient, plan your trip to coincide with the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Food & Wine Classic, happening on Nov. 11-12.

As previously mentioned, the Marriott-owned Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve are perfectly located for easy access to Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival. They provide Deluxe-level accommodations on Walt Disney World property at a lower cost than Disney-owned Deluxe-tier resorts. They also offer great opportunities for using Marriott Bonvoy points when available for bookings.

A $165 ticket to the Food & Wine Classic grants unlimited tastings from the resort's award-winning restaurants, along with unlimited wine, beer, and beverage samples. Set on the resort's beautiful palm tree-lined causeway between the Swan and Dolphin hotels, the event features live entertainment, themed areas, and optional interactive seminars.

The bottom line

Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival enriches a visit to the park with an additional layer of food, drink, and entertainment options.

While festivals can sometimes attract larger crowds, they also help distribute demand throughout the park and typically lead to shorter wait times for food and beverages due to the numerous additional outlets that emerge.

Even if food and wine aren't the main focus for your family, the scavenger hunts, reasonably priced tasting portions (my kids love picking their own dishes from the Festival Passport), and live music all contribute extra excitement and variety to a day at Epcot.