If you love Mickey Mouse, wine, and food, and you’re in central Florida sometime between now and November, visit the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2021. This year, Corksicile is sponsoring the event, and nearly every pavilion has new menu and beverage items for the tasting.
About Epcot
Originally conceived by Mr. Walt Disney as the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, today’s Epcot is a 305-acre theme park in Disney’s Orlando campus. Epcot first opened in 1982 and was twice the size of the original Magic Kingdom.
A celebration of human achievement, Epcot features rides and attractions that highlight the international culture and technological advancements.
About the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kicked off in 1995, and over the years, it’s become one of the best things to do in Central Florida during the late summer and early fall. People come from far and wide to eat, drink, and be merry in the happiest place on Earth.
During the festival, country pavilions and park eateries offer tasting dishes representing the world’s culinary traditions alongside beers, wines, and cocktails that pair well with the menu items. Being Disney World, non-alcoholic options also abound.
And the festival is more than just a massive buffet. Scavenger hunts and live music events are also on tap!
You don’t need an additional ticket to join the fun; a general admission ticket grants access. However, the food and drinks are on you. But don’t worry about filling up too quickly. The portions are sample size, making it easy to nibble your way from booth to booth without maxing out!
Standouts From This Year’s Event
This year’s Epcot International Food & Wine guide is over 200 pages long. And while everything looks delicious, we noticed a few standouts.
Lobster Landing: Fans of the clawed crustaceans should make a beeline for Lobster Landing. This year, the restaurant has a New England lobster tail and bisque sauce, a lobster chowder with bacon, and baked lobster dip with Old Bay chips for gluten-free eaters. To drink, Lobster Landing has a salty crew blonde ale from the Coronado Brewing Company and a sparkling sauvignon blanc from South Africa. Cape codders — a cocktail with vodka, cranberry, pomegranate, and lime — are also available.
Mexico Pavilion: Epcot’s Mexico booth is serving up chilaquiles con chorizo, ribeye tacos, and a chocolate bread pudding doused in a crème anglaise icing. To whet your whistle, try a Mexican craft beer, El Tigre margarita, or white passion fruit sangria.
French Pavilion: Get ready to indulge in some highly caloric — yet incredibly delicious — dishes at the French pavilion! Its three-cheese beignet is gooey goodness, and the coq au vin with bacon is an upscale option for true foodies. For dessert, don’t pass up the creme brulee infused with Grand Marnier liquor.
France also has a bevy of sparkling waters from which to choose, in addition to mimosa, rosé, chardonnay, and merlot wine options. There’s also a slushy martini for folks in search of something strong and chilled.
This year, the festival kicked off on July 15 and ends on November 20. Some COVID-19-related restrictions are in effect, but nothing that distracts too much from the fun.
