The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival presented by CORKCICLE was well underway at Walt Disney World Resort on July 27, 2023, and it was scheduled to continue through Nov. 18, 2023. With a span of 114 days, this festival promised a delectable experience filled with tempting tastes, live entertainment, and fun for visitors of all ages.
Guests had the opportunity to embark on an international gastronomic journey by exploring Global Marketplaces, each featuring culinary delights from different corners of the world. Whimsical scavenger hunts and food strolls enticed visitors to immerse themselves fully in the festival’s offerings. To top off each day, musical performances from both past and present were featured in the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, presented by Florida Blue Medicare. Special packages were available, which included dinner at one of the park’s renowned restaurants and guaranteed seating for the concert performances.
The festival commenced with 25 Global Marketplaces scattered throughout the park, offering a diverse array of bites and sips. Additionally, six more Global Marketplaces were set to debut later during the festival. This ensured an unparalleled foodie experience that would delight both seasoned connoisseurs and those with curious palates.
A new addition to this year’s festival was the Brew-Wing Lab at the Odyssey, where guests could indulge in flavorful adventures featuring culinary creations and comical mishaps courtesy of Muppet Labs. Hosted by Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his trusty partner Beaker, festival-goers could sample an array of concoctions, including traditional chicken wings and plant-based options, with unique flavors like Unnecessarily Spicy, Yet Extremely Tasty Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings with Cool Cucumber Yogurt and Peanut Butter and Jelly Sticky Wings. Traditional favorites were also given a twist, such as Impossible™ Buffalo Chicken Tenders served with plant-based blue cheese, plant-based ranch, and celery. The innovative beverages, like the puckery Pickle Milkshake and the Frozen Fusion featuring Twinings Pomegranate and Raspberry Herbal Tea fused with Orange Ice Cream Molecules, provided the perfect cooling accompaniments.
In addition to the new offerings, Flavors of America in The American Adventure presented three new dishes: the sumptuous Italian Hot Beef Sandwich, the savory Cioppino seafood stew with saffron-infused tomato-fennel broth, and the mouthwatering Chilaquiles with corn tortilla chips tossed in salsa verde, Ranchero chicken, queso fresco, cilantro-lime crema, and topped with a soft-poached egg.
As the festival progressed, two fan-favorite destinations, Hawaii featuring flavors from the Pacific paradise, and The Noodle Exchange offering savory ramen and noodle bowls, were set to make a comeback on August 15.
On September 22, the festival planned to introduce four all-new Global Marketplaces as part of the Disney100 celebration, commemorating the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. These new additions promised to offer dazzling culinary contrasts and unique experiences.
One such addition was Char & Chop, drawing inspiration from classic butcher shops and presenting a fusion of greens and grilled meats. Dishes included Roasted Porchetta with lemon-parsley salsa verde and shaved fennel salad, Grilled Impossible™ Spicy Sausage with herbed polenta, puttanesca sauce, and ricotta, and Meat Assorti – a trio of shaved meats with baby arugula, pickled mustard seeds, truffle oil, and grilled ciabatta.
Wine & Wedge aimed to delight visitors with delightful cheese and beverage pairings. The menu featured Southern Pimento Cheese with bread-and-butter pickled vegetables, offering an upscale take on a regional favorite, as well as Boursin Fig & Balsamic Soufflé with fig tapenade, perfectly balancing sweet and savory flavors. These treats were best enjoyed with Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spätlese, Hartley Apple Brandy, and Florida Orange Groves Winery Black and Blue Port. Bubbles & Brine contributed to the celebratory ambiance with a menu of fresh seafood and Champagne. For those with a sweet tooth, Swirled Showcase offered indulgent and whimsical desserts, including a Mickey-shaped liquid Nitro Cake and Fanta Floats. Moreover, several guest-favorite Global Marketplaces made their return to this year’s festival, including The Fry Basket, Flavors from Fire, Greece, Canada, India, and Spain.
Throughout the festival, live musical performances took place at the America Gardens Theatre every night. Local bands entertained the audience from Tuesday to Thursday, while well-known artists graced the stage each week from Friday to Monday. The lineup for this year’s Eat to the Beat Concert Series included a mix of established and new performers, such as Ruben Studdard with Haley Reinhart, Joey Fatone & Friends, Los Amigos Invisibles, Boyz II Men, Orianthi, FOR KING + COUNTRY, We The Kings, Ayron Jones, Phillip Phillips, Raul Acosta and Oro Solido, 98°, Billy Ocean, Hanson, Sheila E., and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
To enhance the concert experience, Eat to the Beat Dining Packages were available at select EPCOT restaurants from Friday to Monday, offering visitors guaranteed seating for performances.
At the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, fun awaited the whole family. One of the delightful attractions was Emile’s Fromage Montage, a cheese-lover’s dream come true. Guests could savor delectable cheeses served in various ways. To partake in this adventure, they simply needed to purchase any five cheese dishes listed in the Festival Passport and collect stamps. Once they had five stamps, they could head over to Shimmering Sips, hosted by CORKCICLE, to enjoy a special treat.
For those seeking an enchanting adventure, Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak offered a “Ratatouille”-inspired experience that was truly magnifique! Participants could obtain a map and stickers from designated festival merchandise locations and embark on a search for Remy statuettes throughout World Showcase and the Global Marketplaces. Completing the hunt wasn’t a requirement; they could redeem their map for a unique festival keepsake regardless.
To usher in the spirit of the season, Pluto’s Pumpkin Pursuit ran from Sept. 29 through Oct. 31, or while supplies lasted. This delightful activity was perfect for kids of all ages. Guests could join the fun by purchasing a special map and stickers, and then embark on a search throughout EPCOT for hidden Disney character-themed decorative pumpkins. At the end of the hunt, whether they completed it or not, maps could be redeemed for a spooky festival keepsake.
For those wanting to take a piece of the festival home, there were crave-worthy festival merchandise collections available for purchase. Three distinct collections included the 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival Event Logo Collection, featuring vibrant colors and bold graphics; the Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Picnic Collection, offering whimsical design elements; and the 2023 EPCOT International Food & Wine Disney Encanto Collection, celebrating joyous gatherings with a burst of vibrant color. Festival mementos could be found at Creations Shop, Food & Wine merchandise kiosks throughout EPCOT, and in World Traveler at International Gateway.
Beyond the festival, EPCOT offered a plethora of possibilities to explore. Guests could immerse themselves in thrilling experiences, such as saving the galaxy on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, shrinking to the size of Remy on Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and even dining with Disney Princesses at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall.
Starting on Sept. 22, visitors could also take part in the Disney100 celebration, commemorating the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. EPCOT marked this momentous occasion with enjoyable photo opportunities, special culinary creations, and nightly spectacular lighting displays on Spaceship Earth.