We spent Halloween weekend at Universal and Disney this year with Dom’s sister (Olivia) and her boyfriend (Tristan). It was the perfect time for a trip because Olivia’s birthday is on Halloween and it happened to also be the weekend after my actuarial exam, so a weekend at the parks was the perfect way to celebrate both.

Olivia wanted to spend her birthday at Epcot (and honestly, there is no better birthday activity than eating and drinking around the world while soaking in the beauty that is the World Showcase), so we made our Halloween park reservation for Epcot. In our one day there, we went on almost every ride, saw half of the entertainers, bought some awesome festival merchandise, and ordered food or drinks from 16 of the 34 festival booths. It was an incredible day and it was probably my favorite Epcot day ever – partially because we had such great festival food, but also because we were able to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and see Harmonious for the first time.

I’m going to touch on the festival’s merchandise and entertainment first, and then get onto the important part – our food and drink reviews.

Merchandise

I was really impressed with the variety of festival merchandise available this year. They had classic festival specific merchandise (as well as some Passholder-exclusive items), but they also had collections for Beauty and the Beast, Ratatouille, and “Minnie’s Apple Orchard” – a collection with Minnie baking apple pies.

Dom and I picked up a festival charcuterie board pin for our pin collection, as well as a couple passholder-exclusive merch items; one was a passholder-exclusive Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure pin and the other was a really cute mug.

The festival merch was available all over Epcot. There were small merch booths set up around the World Showcase and the new Creations shop had some of it, but it seemed like the best selection of festival merch was at the Port of Entry shop between Canada and Mexico.

Entertainment

Similar to the Flower & Garden festival, the American Gardens Theatre has performances of both the Mariachi Cobre and Voices of Liberty several times throughout the day. Both groups are fantastic so it’s always great to stop and see them – plus it’s a good halfway point around the World Showcase to sit for a bit. A band from the Central Florida area also plays at the theatre on some evenings (seems like mostly weekends).

The Jammin’ Chefs play a few times during the day as well; they’re located near Spaceship Earth and the main entrance of Epcot. They’re good about interacting with the crowd so it’s a fun show – we caught it between riding Nemo and Spaceship Earth. The Epcot Pianist also was performing at the festival, but we missed them on this trip.

One thing to note is that some of the non-festival entertainment is still going on, so be sure to check the app for those – for example, there’s a band (Alberta Bound) that performs in Canada as well as Matsuriza (Taiko drumming) in Japan.

The only frustration I had while at the festival was that the Walt Disney World app wasn’t completely accurate for all shows (the app said there was an additional Mariachi Cobre performance at 6p when the last one was actually at 4:45p, and the app said the Jammin’ Chefs started at 9:20a when the park didn’t even open until 9:30a). The other show times all seemed accurate, but I would check the signs near each performance area or ask a cast member to be safe.

Festival Gift Cards and Passports

One thing that (I believe) is unique to the Food & Wine festival is that there are special festival gift cards available – they are attached to cords so they can be worn as bracelets. The idea is that this is more convenient than having to constantly pull out your wallet to pay at each booth, which is probably true unless you plan to buy a lot of drinks and tend to get carded. They sell the festival gift cards throughout the park and they can be loaded with at least $15 initially and re-loaded throughout the day as needed.

All of the Epcot festivals (Food & Wine, Flower & Garden, Arts, etc.) also have free Festival Passports available – they’re little booklets that list all festival-specific offerings throughout the park. Most importantly, they list all of the food and beverage menus for the booths, but they also explain the themes for the festival merch and list the festival-specific entertainment. The Passports are really convenient to look through early in the day because like I said in my Flower & Garden festival post, we’ve found it really helpful to mark all of the foods that we’re interested in early in the day so we don’t have to stop and read through each menu as we pass the booths. The Passports also specify where each booth is located in the park.

You can pick up the Passports at the entrance of Epcot (where physical park maps are) as well as most (or possibly all) of the food & wine booths. Also, the booths are listed in the Passports roughly in the direction of Canada to Mexico, but for some reason there isn’t an index of the booths with page numbers in the Passport.

Notes on Food and Drink Reviews

Now for the most important part – what we thought of all of the food and drinks we tried at the festival booths. Like I mentioned, we made it to 16 of the 34 festival booths and between me, Dom, Dom’s sister, Olivia, and Olivia’s boyfriend, Tristan, we tried a really good variety of the offerings. Dom and I are vegetarians so we stuck with the plant-based and vegetarian friendly options. Olivia and Tristan tried some of the meat offerings so I’m very appreciative of them for letting me post their ratings (and putting up with me constantly asking for their ratings at every booth) and use their food and drink pictures for this post.

We rated the items from 1 to 5, with 5 being something we definitely recommend, and 1 being something we completely regret getting (as a spoiler, we thankfully didn’t have any 1’s). I was honestly surprised with how many 5’s we ended up giving out but so many of the options were just that good.

Other than our rating, I included prices that I found on Disney Food Blog – I didn’t write down the prices while I was at the festival and Disney itself doesn’t post them. I also included the two dietary notes that Disney uses on the menus – one notes if an item is plant-based and the other is for gluten/wheat-friendly items. I’m still crossing my fingers that someday Disney will add a marker for vegetarian friendly items (i.e., have dairy but no meat) but until then, I’ll only include the two that are on the menus.

I’ll start with the non-World Showcase booths first (using the new names for the areas – World Celebration, World Discovery, etc.), and then go though the World Showcase from Mexico to Canada.

Food and Drink Reviews

World Celebration

Earth Eats – Hosted by Impossible

As vegetarians, Dom and I were very excited for this booth – especially since the Food & Wine festival has fewer plant-based / vegetarian options than the Flower & Garden festival. The Earth Eats booth is sort of set off by itself and is right next to a seating area that tends to be a little less busy, so it’s a nice place to stop.

The Impossible Burger Slider – with Wasabi Cream and Spicy Slaw on a Sesame Seed Bun

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $6.00
• Plant-based
• Thoughts: The slider had a lot of great flavors and the spiciness wasn’t overpowering, which I had wondered about with the wasabi cream. It’s pretty small since it’s just a slider so it’s not great for sharing – Dom and I did split it but probably should have ordered two, especially since we really liked it.

Impossible Three-Bean Chili

• Rating: 4/5
• Price: $5.50
• Plant-Based; Gluten/Wheat Friendly
• Thoughts: This was a really good portion size compared to most festival items. It had a really good flavor but didn’t stand out as anything too special, and I think it would have been better if it was served on top of something – when I was at A Touch of Disney in the spring, they served an Impossible Chili on Waffle Fries and it was the perfect combination. I would still recommend it; it’s just not at the top of my list and I thought the Impossible Slider was the better of the two food options at Earth Eats.

World Discovery

Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Co

There are quite a few Joffrey’s in Epcot, so if you want one of the festival drinks be sure to head to the Joffrey’s that is specified in the Festival Passport.

Cocoa Cold Brew – Kona Mocha topped with Whipped Cream and drizzled with Chocolate

• Rating: 4/5
• Price: $6.39
• Thoughts: Tristan tried this and said it was good but a little too sweet. Dom has thought the same thing about other special Joffrey’s coffee drinks he’s tried around the parks, so I think overall this just depends on the person – if you’re a fan of sweeter coffees, you’ll probably enjoy this more.

Mac & Eats

This is a new booth this year and I really hope it sticks around – it was one of my favorites because it’s literally a booth dedicated to different types of mac & cheese.

Traditional Macaroni and Cheese – with Herbed Panko

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $4.75
• Thoughts: While this isn’t as exciting as some of the other food options, it was still one of my favorite items at the festival. Admittedly, it’s hard to mess up mac & cheese – but this was honestly really good. It also was a pretty good portion size, especially since it is one of the few food items priced at less than $5.

The Donut Box

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This is a returning booth from previous years and it seems like it’s always a big hit which, kind of like Mac & Eats, makes sense – it’s a booth full of donuts.

Cookies & Cream Donut – Chef’s Donut of the Day

• Rating: 3/5
• Price: $5.00
• Thoughts: This was good but not anything special; I think I was expecting it to taste like the incredible Joffrey’s giant sprinkle donuts (I always pick one up on our Hollywood Studios days) but it wasn’t as good as those. I would stick with Joffrey’s sprinkle donuts or try one of the other donuts before getting the Cookies & Cream.

Crispy Chicken on a Sriracha-glazed Donut

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $8.50
• Thoughts: Olivia ordered this and it was in her top 3 favorite foods from the festival – she said it was delicious. It was a good size for the price and is also just really fun because it’s literally a donut & chicken sandwich.

World Showcase

China

Pan-fried Chicken Dumplings – with House-made Sweet and Spicy Sauce

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $5.00
• Thoughts: I think Olivia settled on this being her favorite item of the day. It looked delicious – I wished they had a vegetarian option to try.

Mango Bubble-Milk Tea – Assam Black Tea, Whole Milk, and Mango Syrup

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $7.25
• Thoughts: Olivia also tried and loved this – she said it tastes just like one of her favorite bubble teas from home.

The Alps

Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese – with Baby Potatoes, Cornichons, and Baguette

• Rating: 2/5
• Price: $4.50
• Thoughts: I think this was the only disappointing item that Dom and I tried at the festival. It just wasn’t great – it was literally exactly what the description says and didn’t have a great flavor or really any seasonings. The baguette was good but not good enough to redeem it overall.

Germany

Roast Bratwurst – in a Pretzel Roll

• Rating: 4/5
• Price: $5.75
• Thoughts: Tristan had this and it seemed liked it was good but not anything too special.

Italy

Ravioli – Grilled Chicken Ravioli with Alfredo Sauce, Romano Cheese, and Prezzemolo

• Rating: 3.5/5
• Price: $13.00
• Thoughts: Olivia and Tristan had this – they said the noodle wasn’t great, but anything covered in Alfredo is bound to be pretty good so overall not too bad. If you’re on the fence about getting it, I would probably pass given the price and because it was one of the lowest ratings of the day.

Moscato

• Rating: 4/5
• Price: $11.00
• Thoughts: Olivia and Tristan both tried this and it seemed like it was really good, which helped make up for the ravioli leaving a little to be desired.

Japan

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Teriyaki Chicken Bun – Steamed bun filled with Chicken, Vegetables, and Teriyaki Sauce

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $6.50
• Thoughts: Olivia and Tristan each had one of these and they went on and on about them; I think this was Olivia’s second favorite item of the day. It was a really good portion size and it was another item that I really wished had a vegetarian alternative.

Kochi Lemon Drop – Vodka, Yuzu, and Lemon Juice garnished with a Lemon Jelly

• Rating: 4/5
• Price: $8.00
• Thoughts: Dom and I shared this because lemon drops are one of my favorite drinks, and it didn’t disappoint. It kind of seemed like one of the happiest moments of Dom’s day was eating the lemon jelly (he LOVES gummy / sour candies like that). The drink was delicious, sugary, and refreshing but not the best one of I’ve ever had, so we went with a 4 for it.

Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina

Dom and I tried two of the foods here and Tristan tried another one; all three ended up with 5/5 ratings so this is one of the booths that I highly recommend stopping by; I hope it returns with the same or similar foods in future years.

Fried Falafel Pita – with Tahini Sauce

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $5.25
• Plant-based
• Thoughts: Falafel is one of Dom’s favorite foods so his 5/5 on this is pretty high praise. I don’t always love falafel but I really liked it, too. It also was a good portion size.

Stone-baked Moroccan Bread – with Hummus, Zaalouk, and Zhoug Dips

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $5.00
• Thoughts: The bread was warmed up in a little stone oven in the cafe and as a self-proclaimed bread expert, I will say it was some very good bread. I really liked the Zaalouk and Zhoug dips – the Zaalouk is a red eggplant and tomato sauce which was delicious, and the Zhoug is a spicy herb / cilantro sauce. The Zhoug was only moderately spicy – not anything crazy.

Grilled Moroccan Spiced Lamb Kebab – with Couscous, Tomato-Onion Salad, and Garlic Aioli

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $5.75
• Thoughts: Tristan said this was really good. Note that you could also get lemon-garlic chicken or harissa-marinated beef tenderloin tips instead of lamb – I thought it was nice that they had different options.

France

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We had an early boarding group for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and stopped at the France booth after the ride, so this was our first Food & Wine booth of the day. It was a really great booth to go to early because everything was good and France can get crowded later in the day.

Beignet aux Trois Formages – Warm Beignet filled with Three Cheeses

• Rating: 4/5
• Price: $4.75
• Thoughts: Given this is a Beignet filled with cheeses, it would have been hard for it to not be good. I think it could have been a little better if one of the cheeses had been a little cheesier (it almost tasted like a gravy than a cheese sauce) but it was still good.

Coq au Vin, Pommes Dauphine – Chicken braised in Burgandy Wine with Bacon and Puffed Potatoes

• Rating: 4/5
• Price: $6.25
• Thoughts: Olivia and Tristan had this and liked it, but like the Beignet for Dom and me, it just didn’t make the list of top items at the festival for them.

Creme Brûlée au Grand Mariner – Vanilla Creme Brûlée with Grand Mariner Liquier (Contains Alcohol)

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $5.50
• Thoughts: I had a little bit of regret about not trying this – Olivia and Tristan got it and loved it. They said you can taste the alcohol in it so just something to be aware of if you aren’t interested in that.

Strawberry Rose Mimosa – Pol Remy Sparkling Wine, Orange Juice, and Monin Strawberry Rose

• Rating: 4/5
• Price: $8.50
• Thoughts: Olivia and Tristan also had this; I watched the cast members make this while I was waiting on the Beignet and noticed it was a very good sparkling wine to orange juice ratio (i.e., mostly wine). It looked really good.

Ireland

Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake – with Irish Cream

• Rating: 4/5
• Price: $5.50
• Thoughts: This was really good and I was glad we got it, but it wasn’t the most delicious chocolate cake ever or anything. If you’re in the mood for a chocolate dessert, I think this may be one of the only ones at the festival and I would recommend it.

Guinness Baileys Shake

• Rating: 4/5
• Price: $11.50
• Thoughts: Tristan had this and I was really impressed with the aesthetic of it. I think it was also one of the larger drinks for the price compared to other alcoholic drinks at the festival.

Appleseed Orchard

Located in the Canada pavilion in the theater were the Canada Far and Wide 360 Film used to be, the Appleseed Orchard is a fun place to stop by for the ciders and because it’s decorated really well. It’s also a good place to escape the rain or sun depending on the day.

Dom and I had the cider flight which overall I would give a 5/5 – all of the ciders all had good flavors, it’s a pretty good deal at $9.75, and it’s a good item to split if you’re trying to decide on which full size cider to get. Note that the ciders at this booth are $5.00 for 6oz or $9.00 for 12oz.

Collective Arts Brewing Circling the Sun Hard Cider – Ontario, Canada

• Rating: 4/5
• Thoughts: This was one of those good, classic ciders. I think this was my favorite of the three but not anything too unique.

Original Sin Hard Cider McIntosh – New York, NY

• Rating: 4/5
• Thoughts: This was another good, classic cider. Dom said he liked this one more than the Collective Arts cider (above), though.

Blake’s Hard Cider Co Saint Cherl Bourbon Barrel Aged Cherry – Armada, MI

• Rating: 5/5
• Thoughts: Dom really loved this one and it was very unique – it wasn’t the classic cider taste. It was really fun because of that – you could really taste the cherry in it.

Canada

Canadian Cheddar and Bacon Soup – served with a Pretzel Roll

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $5.75
• Thoughts: Olivia and Tristan had this and it’s a repeat item from previous Food & Wine festivals – I remember loving it when I had it in my pre-vegetarian days. I think it’s one of those universally loved items from the festival each year.

Refreshment Port (Near Canada)

Maple Boursin Cheesecake – with Whipped Boursin Maple Bourbon Cheese and Candied Pecans

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $4.50
• Thoughts: Olivia picked this up as her birthday cake for the day – there weren’t a lot of cake options at this festival compared to Flower & Garden, so I was glad they had this.

The Noodle Exchange

Tofu Pho – with Enoki Mushrooms and Thai Basil

• Rating: 5/5
• Price: $5.50
• Plant-based; Gluten/Wheat Friendly
• Thoughts: Dom picked this up and we were both impressed by the portion size – it was the largest portion of the day and about the same price as most items. It had a ton of flavor and a good amount of spice – just something to be aware of if you’re not a big fan of spicy foods.

Final Thoughts

We had an overall amazing day at the Food & Wine festival – we were really impressed with the vast majority of the foods and drinks we tried, we were able to ride Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure for the first time, and we really liked the new Harmonious night show (despite the fact that the barges ruin the view during the day). Food & Wine is one of the Disney events that I look forward to the most, so I’m already looking forward to see what items return and what new items show up at next year’s festival.

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