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Spring Will Bring 75-day International Flower & Garden Festival to EPCOT

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Winter isn’t even technically here, but already I can smell the faint aroma of fresh flowers and giant topiary. It will all snap into place on March 4-May 17, 2015 as EPCOT blooms with a fresh take on lush gardens, inspired flavors and lively entertainment during the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. At 75-days, the festival is nearly as long as Spring itself.

This year there will be new Disney character topiary, including a nod to the blockbuster animated film, “Frozen,” which will offer colorful #selfie and family photo ops. Outdoor Kitchens will serve a fresh take on sweet and savory noshes. And guests can get “hands-on” with festival fun during Disney-led gardening seminars.

More details are below the jump:Read More »Spring Will Bring 75-day International Flower & Garden Festival to EPCOT

A Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

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To kick off the 2014 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival local media were invited to taste a few of the new selections and have the chance to meet some of the chef’s and brands involved in the festival. Executive Chef Jens Dahlmann gave the following welcoming speech sharing a little history of the event and describing not only the food we were about to sample, but the new marketplaces as well.

I was able to taste a number of the new small bites available at this year’s event. It was hard to pick a favorite, they were all so good, but there were definitely a few surprises.

Read More »A Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival

Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney canceled for 2014

If there’s one event at Downtown Disney I look forward to every year, it’s the very popular and long running Festival of the Masters. Unfortunately, due to construction of Disney Springs, Disney has decided to cancel the event for 2014. This November 7-9th would have… Read More »Festival of the Masters at Downtown Disney canceled for 2014

Epcot Food & Wine Festival “Eat To The Beat” Concert Series Band List

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One of the many pleasures associated with EPCOT’s annual Food & Wine Festival Five is the ability to sip and nibble on fine food and drink why listening to some talented musicians from yesterday and today. This year at the “Eat to the Beat” concert series 17 fan-favorite bands are joined by 5 new acts to complete a lineup with music from nearly every genre.

New-to-the-festival bands Jo Dee Messina, Fuel, Jim Brickman, Los Lonely Boys and David Cook — and 17 returning acts including Sister Hazel, Hanson and Boyz II Men — will rock the America Gardens Theatre stage during concerts at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. daily. (Schedule may vary.)

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The lineup (subject to change and included in Epcot admission) includes:

Read More »Epcot Food & Wine Festival “Eat To The Beat” Concert Series Band List

Flower Power Concert Lineup for 2014 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

The Flower Power concert series that is part of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is a crowd favorite bringing many guests to the park to relive some great times enjoying the music of their favorite bands and stars. The Flower Power concert series… Read More »Flower Power Concert Lineup for 2014 EPCOT Flower & Garden Festival

Five Dishes to Make Your EPCOT Food & Wine Experience A Success

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Had some friends in town and my wife and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary this week, so we planned a return trip to EPCOT yesterday with the goal to graze around the world sampling some of our old favorites and a few of the new dishes that debuted at this year’s festival. I think it’s safe to say the evening was a success.

All in all I think Disney has done a great job with the festival this year. Many of the old favorites have returned and there are a healthy dose of new dishes to sample this year. They’ve improved the seating around the popular Belgium and Germany booths. The Eat to the Beat concert lineup is also very strong this year.

I’m still not a fan of having so much of the festival take place away from the world showcase in the old Wonder’s of Life pavilion (but I do appreciate the air conditioning there). I also think they’re under utilizing the World Showplace (the big blue tent originally built for the Millennial Celebrations) as it could hold a day long party for all attendees just as well as the few big evening events. I’d love to see food from 60+ countries one day instead of the 25ish we have now. Finally, generally speaking (but not 100% in all cases) the food is much saltier this year than before. After two days of sampling and coming home feeling red in the face with fingers swollen, I’m not happy about all the salt.

Planning your own trip to EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival in 2013? While I haven’t sampled all the various dishes (I’m not made of gold), I think I have found a few of the newer selections that really are worth a trip. They are, in no particular order:Read More »Five Dishes to Make Your EPCOT Food & Wine Experience A Success

Sounds Like Summer Concert Lineup for EPCOT

Believe it or not, it’s almost time for yet another festival at EPCOT – Sounds Like Summer tribute band concert series. Classic hits U2, The Bee Gees, The Police, and many more will entertain guests with a blast from the past. As usual, the performances… Read More »Sounds Like Summer Concert Lineup for EPCOT

18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 27-Nov. 11 Early Details Announced

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The 18th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will return to Walt Disney World this fall with exciting new flavors and entertainment options. This year your culinary trip around the world will include tastes from the Scotland marketplace and a return trip to Brazil as part of more than 25 total marketplaces around the world showcase. Five new acts have also been added to the Eat to the Beat Concerts.

Fresh for 2013:
Super Festival Sips

  • New marketplace debuts; favorites return – Traditional flavors with a twist will pair with beers, meads and Scotch at the new Scotland Marketplace designed by Walt Disney Imagineering. Scottish officials were so impressed with the hit Disney film, “Brave,” that they contacted festival planners about participating in this year’s festival. The Brazil Marketplace returns by popular demand with an exciting new menu following a one-year hiatus. Hawai’i is back with its flavorful Kalua Pork Slider, and Terra, which debuted last year, returns with vegan favorite Trick’n Chicken Curry.

    • Read More »18th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Sept. 27-Nov. 11 Early Details Announced