If you’re familiar with Epcot at Walt Disney World, you know it is (basically) the festival capital of Disney. Every few months or so an annual festival is setting up shop at Epcot.
It’s glorious and we are here for it!
Except, sometimes when that festival focuses around food and wine and you happen to not be much of a drinker and you tend to eat mostly vegetarian and vegan. Specifically, I am talking about the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
You end up feeling a little left out at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! Almost so much so that you think, what’s the point of even going?
Well, let me be the first to tell you, it is worth it!
Epcot Festivals
As a matter of fact, and this is true for any festival at Epcot, the Epcot Internation Food and Wine Festival adds to the magic of the park. It’s a great excuse to visit and creates a festive atmosphere throughout the park. Yes, it does make things a little insane, perhaps a little overcrowded, but with a proper festival strategy and a list of foods that you can eat, you’re going to be good to go.
First, let me preface this article with the disclaimer that I am not a strict vegan. I do not have any food allergies that prevent me from outright eating any food (just some discomfort on occasion!), nor do I have a religious reason for not eating animal products. As a family, we have just decided to eat a primarily plant-based diet in order to improve our overall health and help preserve the environment.
Plant, Based Diet Plus Flexitarian
At times I will even call myself a flexitarian. What is a flexitarian? Well, it’s someone who doesn’t stay strict to a certain diet. On occasion, I will eat pizza or enjoy some regular ice cream. For the most part though, plants, plants, plants, and more plants make up the majority of my diet.
The first time I went to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festive I thought there was going to be nothing for me to eat at all. Even though, as claimed above, I tend to be a flexitarian, I do like staying as close as I can to a vegan, or at least a vegetarian diet when out.
Doing a little research on the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival I realized I could eat from a large number of the food booths and stick closely, even if not being super strict, to my regular ‘plant-based, vegan’ diet. The foods featured at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival tend to be primarily vegetarian, as opposed to vegan. It’s hard to get away from cheese, butter, and eggs, y’all! Yet, there are at least a few vegan selections.
Let’s take a look below at the booths I recommend for those staying on a (mostly) vegan/vegetarian diet but planning to attend the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Information and Plan
Before we dive into the food, it’s important to know the when, where what and why of the Epcot International Food Festival.
Plus, you need to have a plan in place on how to handle the festival. There is a LOT to do at the festival, so much so that it’s impossible to get it all in in a single visit. Instead of stressing yourself out and cram it all in at one time, create a loose plan, with wiggle room, for your time at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. This is especially true if you are traveling with little ones. Empty bellies plus a hot sun can make for some super crabby little ones!
When is the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?
The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is held from August 29th through November 23. That’s a whopping 87 days!! It’s the longest Epcot International Food and Wine Festival ever!! Which just means more time to enjoy ALL OF THE FOOD!
And, yes, if you are a big Star Wars fan, you probably noticed that the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival starts the same day that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opens up. While both are popular events, hopefully, the fact that the two events share a date will dilute the crowds in the two areas.
Where is the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?
Judging by the name, Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, you’ve probably already guessed that the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is held at Epcot. It’s held primarily in the World Showcase portion of the park, but there are some features in Future World as well.
Epcot’s primary address is 200 Epcot Center Dr, Orlando, FL 32821. If you see the giant geospheric ball standing tall above the park, you’ll know you made it to the correct place. Or you could just follow your nose to the smells of yummy food…
What Time Does the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Occur?
The Epcot International Food and Wine starts at 11:00 am every morning of the party. It ends at the park closing in the evening, so there is plenty of time to ‘eat around the world’.
Be sure to get to the festival right at 11:00 am. Crowds tend to not be as intense at 11:00 am and the heat is more forgiving at this time. You’ll be able to snack a little bit before the crowds start making more of an impact around noon. If you eat from 11:00 am to noon, the odds are you’ll be satisfied until a little later in the afternoon. Then, perhaps around 4:00 pm, you can start ‘snacking’ again before the evening crowds start filtering into the parks closer to 5:00 pm.
By strategizing and planning to eat on ‘off’ hours, you might be lucky enough to beat some of the crowds to the best Epcot International Food and Wine Festival marketplace booths.
Is Food Free at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?
With so many fun and amazing foods to try at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, you could probably eat for days and still not be full!
Wouldn’t it be amazing if all of that food was free? It would be!
Unfortunately, the cost of food is not included your Epcot admission ticket. However, the food isn’t too horribly priced. Due to the smaller snack-sized portion, food usually ranges from $4 to $8/$9 or so. Beverages range a little higher from $3 to $10/11 dollars. While it’s not super inexpensive, the prices are better than if you were paying for a full meal which costs more. Plus, if you’re a fan of variety this is your jam!
Disney Dining Plan
Guess what? If you are participating in the Disney Dining Plan, the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival marketplace booths are a great place to utilize your snack credits. A ton of the items offered at the marketplace booths can be purchased with snack credits.
If you’ve ever left a Disney trip with a surplus of snack credits or meals, this is for you! You will be able to snack around the world to your heart’s content. No more leftover snack credits! You can use your Disney Dining Plan snack credits on so many Epcot International Food and Wine Festival items!
Is the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Just About Food (and Wine)?
No! The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival is NOT just about food.
I mean, food plays a huge roll in the festival. It does make-up part of the festival name. Yet, the festival has so much more to offer! There are free nightly concerts, food demonstrations and seminars to beverage pairings to so, so much more! So much more, it would take a completely separate blog post to cover all of the excitement!
Do You Need a Separate Ticket to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?
You do NOT need a separate ticket to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
Woohoo!!
Admission to the festival is included in the cost of your Epcot ticket. However, not every single thing at the festival is free. As noted above, there are lots of events that cost extra and require advanced reservations. Thankfully, the costs of the different seminars range in price, helping to satisfy all budget ranges. Plus, we’ve already discussed that all food and beverages cost money!
Alright! Got all the info you need to have a general plan in place for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival? If not, leave a comment down below! For now, let’s move onto the star of the show: The Food!!
16 Substantial Vegan/Vegetarian Snacks and Desserts at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival
Again, as a disclaimer, these items are not certified vegan, but all should be vegetarian. Please be sure to confirm with the Cast Members if you have any specific questions. These are all just foods that we, so-called ‘flexitarians’ that eat primarily vegetarian like to enjoy at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
1. African Githeri
Africa is bringing the ‘yum’ with their vegan Githeri!!
What the heck is Githeri?
Good question! I had no clue either.
Turns out Githeri is a Kenyan meal made from beans and corn. The two are boiled together and spices are added, namely curry. At the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, the Africa marketplace is serving up a dish of Spicy Kenyan Vegan Githeri with white beans and pigeon peas. It’s served with curry rice pilaf and kachumbari slaw.
Where is the Africa Marketplace Booth Located?
The Africa Marketplace Booth is located in the Outpost. If you are traveling around the ‘world’ in a counter-clockwise direction, you’ll hit it before you hit China.
2. Belgium Waffles
Do Belgian Waffles fall under the dessert or main dish category?
I mean the waffle is a socially acceptable form of breakfast and that’s one of the main meals of the day. Therefore, waffles are qualified as a main meal!
You can get two different types of waffles in Belgium. One waffle with chocolate ganache and whipped cream and the other with berry compote and whipped cream. Just be sure to eat something with a little less sugar in it before you dig in so you don’t have a sugar crash after indulging. …or save the waffles for dessert.
Where is the Belgium Booth located at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?
The Belgium booth is located between the France and Morocco pavilions.
3. Earth Eats Burgers (Most Promising Booth for the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2019)
The booth I am most, most, most excited about is the Earth Eats booth. Hosted by Impossible foods, it offers a few alternatives to the beef-based dishes featured at the festival.
Who are Impossible Foods?
If you’re not familiar with Impossible Foods, let me shed a little light. First, Impossible Foods is a company with a mission to help make our planet a better place. One of the biggest issues we are facing today as a population is the destruction of our environment. A huge cause of that destruction has been linked back to meet. Most everything surrounding meat: the production of meat, the packaging of meat, the shipping of meat and the consumption of meat. Not saying meat is bad all the time, but it definitely causes lots of issues.
Knowing that most people don’t want to give up meat, this amazing company did some research. Impossible Foods took a step back and figured out why we crave meat and created an amazing product that helps to meet that craving.
Let me be the first to tell you, what Impossible Foods has created is amazing. This is coming from someone who, despite eating mostly a plant-based diet, is actually is actually no stranger to meat. Growing up we had meat for just about every single meal. I know what it tastes like, what it looks like, what makes it good and what makes it bad. I understand why people love their ‘meat’.
Impossible Foods Made Meat!
Impossible Foods has created a product that is ‘meat’. Meat in plant form. Actually, they created a product that is BETTER than meat. I’m not joking. Their products really are THAT good.
If you don’t want to give it a try at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, it’s available at more and more locations nationwide. Burger King is actually serving Impossible Burgers at many of its locations. If you DO want to try Impossible Foods at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival you’re in LUCK!
Impossible Foods will be featured at the Earth Eats booth in the form of Burger Sliders and a Cottage Pie. Although the Impossible Burger is vegan, both food items may feature some elements that are not vegan. Be sure to check with the marketplace Cast Members.
Plus, when you are all done, you can wash that yummy burger or cottage pie down with some Suja Organic Kombucha.
Where is the Earth Eats Marketplace Booth Located?
The Earth Eats Marketplace Booth is located on the right before you even enter the actual World Showcase.
4. Donuts and Corn Fritters
The Donut Box isn’t set to open until October 1st, but when it does, it’s going to have a sweet corn fritter!!!
It’s not an option that I have had the opportunity to try yet, but it sounds promising. Most likely the item is just vegetarian and not vegan, but again, if you are able to be a ‘flexitarian’ in your diet, give this item a try.
Plus, you can also get the strawberry-dusted yeast donut holes and a strawberry smoothie at this booth! Bonus: The strawberry smoothie is made with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk!!
If you really do not want to stand in a bunch of lines this is the booth for you. This and the Earth Eats booth. Between all five items, you’re going to be all set for the day!
5. Indian Bread and Dipping Sauces
India always is a crowd-pleaser with the vegetarian group who visits the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
The warm Indian bread with pickled garlic, mango salsa, and coriander pesto dips are so delicious. The bread is warm and the dips each have a unique flavor. Note that this snack item is vegetarian and not vegan.
Aside from not being vegan, do you want to know the only problem with this dish? It’s gone way too quickly. I’m going along and before I know it, it’s completely gone!
I usually fix this problem with the madras red curry dish. Madras red curry is served with roasted cauliflower, baby carrots, chickpeas, and basmati rice. It’s definitely a more filling ‘snack’ when it comes to vegan options. It’s delicious and I vote that it gets served year-round at Epcot!
Where is the India Marketplace Booth Located?
The India Marketplace Booth is located right by China. You’ll hit it before you hit China if you are traveling in a counter-clockwise direction around World Showcase.
6. Morocco’s Hummus Fries
Morocco is my favorite place to eat at World Showcase on an average Epcot day. An average Epcot day meaning a day without a festival occurring. It’s so good!
For the festival, Morocco has an Epcot International Food and Wine Festival marketplace booth that is worth a visit. Delicious spicy hummus fries served with cucumber, tomatoes, onions, tzatziki and chipotle sauce. If you want to stay vegan, skip the tzatziki and chipotle sauce.
If the snack isn’t enough Moroccan food for you, just head over to any of the restaurants located in morocco and dig in!
Where is the Morocco Marketplace Booth Located at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?
The Morocco Marketplace booth is located right outside of the Morocco Pavillion in World Showcase.
7. Homemade Trail Mix from Active Eats
Featured at Active Eats is a homemade trail mix. Named by Disney as a Fruit and Nut Energy Snack. It features apricots, almonds, pecans, coconut, puffed rice, and chocolate chips.
Personally, I don’t think this booth is worth a stop unless there is no line and you just want a quick snack. I’m not a huge fruit and nut trail mix person. That right there skews my opinion, but if that excites you be sure to stop. I’m sure it’s 100x better than the packaged trail mix you can buy in the grocery store at home. You know this trail mix is going to taste fresh!
If you try it leave a comment and let me know if it’s a must-stop spot for a future trip!
Where is Active Eats Located?
Active Eats is located right next to the Cheese Studio if you enter into World Showcase on your right. If you reach Canada, you’ve gone too far! Be sure to pick up an Epcot International Food and Wine Festival map before you go hunting for this location.
8. Caramel-Apple Popcorn from Appleseed Orchard (Location New for 2019)
Popcorn on the other hand, now that calls me. That’s a snack stop for sure.
Popcorn is one of the most popular snacks in all of Walt Disney World. It’s one thing that’s associated with the parks and sought after by guests young and old alike.
The popcorn featured at the Appleseed Orchard is caramel-apple popcorn. It’s new for 2019 but it’s definitely worth a try. Let us know if you are able to try it! Is it sweet, too sweet, just right?
You’ll have to give the frozen apple pie drink a try as well!
Where is the Appleseed Orchard Located?
The Appleseed Orchard is located between Canada and the United Kingdom.
9. Cheese Bread from Brazil
Bread, although it definitely can qualify as a whole meal, is a snack at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. A snack that will be pretty satisfying though!
The Brazilian cheese bread: Pão de Queijo from the Brazil booth is exactly what it sounds like: bread with cheese baked into it. If you follow a vegetarian diet, give it a try! It’s a big hit with the kiddos as well.
Where Can You Find the Brazil Marketplace at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?
You can find the Brazil marketplace right between France and Morocco.
10. Butternut Squash Ravioli from The Wine and Dine Studio
If you’re okay with a little brown butter and some parmesan cheese and you’re in love with pasta, don’t miss the butternut squash ravioli. Served with a brown butter vinaigrette, parmesan cheese, and pumpkin seeds, these little pockets of deliciousness go down easy.
Pasta, on the average, does tend to be a heavier meal, so be sure to make sure you aren’t walking around in the direct sunlight for the hours after eating this. Even the portion isn’t huge, you might not feel the greatest doing so. Odds are you’re probably going to need a nap! Instead, maybe nosh on this little snack and then head to one of the ‘sit-down’ events offered at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. A sit-down event in an air-conditioned building!
There is also a cheese plate the is comprised of three types of cheese offered at the Wine and Dine Studio. We aren’t huge solo cheese fans, flexitarian or not, over here. Therefore, the cheese platter is a pass for us!
Where is the Wine and Dine Studio located?
The Wine & Dine Studio is located between the Chocolate Studio and the refreshment port. Located right before Canada when you enter World Showcase and head to the right.
11. France Marketplace Booth at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival: Fondue Savoyard (and Crème Brûlèe
The Fench Marketplace Book is located right in France.
You’re probably really going to have to play the flexitarian card if you plan to dine in France. They do have two vegetarian options, but both are a far cry from being vegan.
First up at the France Marketplace booth is the Fondue Savoyard. Fondue Savoyard is a fondue created with imported cheeses and chardonnay served alongside croutons. Since it’s a fondue, it’s more of a snack than a meal. Yet, a very, very rich snack.
Second is a crème brûlèe made with a chocolate hazelnut cream. Crème brûlèe is always a crowd favorite, but definitely a heavier dessert. Maybe enjoy it while sitting at a table in France as you pretend you really are in Paris! Crème brûlèe is definitely a dessert, but it’s lumped in with the fondue so you don’t miss it when you visit France.
Speaking of desserts, let’s move onto more!
Desserts
12. The Chocolate Studio: Practically Perfect Fall Shake
Hello, all things gloriously fall and chocolate!
Rolled into one fantastic sounding shake is the Twinings Pumpkin Spice Chai Tea and Chocolate Shake. You’re going to need to be a fan of pumpkin spice, chai tea, and chocolate to get on board this crazy train, but I’m guessing it’s a journey you’re going to want to take!
Where is the Chocolate Studio Located?
The Chocolate Studio is located right to the right when you first enter World Showcase if you are heading from the right. The marketplace booth is located between the Wine & Dine Booth and the Cheese Studio booth. It’s located up a walkway to the right after you first enter World Showcase. If you hit Canada, you’ve gone too far!
13. Hops & Barley: Carrot Cake to the Rescue
If you know me at all, you know I’m not a huge cake fan (or pie or tart or cobbler…).
Yet, one cake has bypassed the line of good vs bad and is a favorite of mine.
That cake is a carrot cake!
Luckily, at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, you can enjoy some carrot cake with cream cheese icing. Let’s face, is it really carrot cake if it doesn’t have a cream cheese icing?? The answer is no. No, it’s not. At the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, you don’t have to worry about this carrot cake being the real deal. It IS the real deal!
Carrot cake is definitely not vegan, but it does have carrots in it. So it balances out, right?
Where is the Hops & Barley Booth Located at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?
The Hops & Barley Marketplace booth is located between Japan and the American Adventure.
14. Ireland’s Chocolate-y Pudding
I have a weak spot for chocolate pudding. I’m not sure why. Growing up I wasn’t a huge pudding ‘snack pack’ kid. You know the kind you might have got in your lunch? Or the kind that Adam Sandler talked about in his movie Billy Madison?
Whether you know about ‘snack packs’ or not, there’s just something about a chocolate pudding that calls to me. At the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, I can get that pudding at the Ireland marketplace booth. Plus, in addition to my love of chocolate pudding, I have a soft spot for all things inspired by Ireland. Therefore, the warm chocolate pudding with Irish liqueur custard is worth a try at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.
Where is the Ireland Marketplace Booth Located at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival?
The Ireland Marketplace Booth is located right outside of the United Kingdom.
15. Banana Almond Sundae Suprise! (Minus the Surprise)
Looking past all the mimosas at the Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar, you’ve got a nice selection of food goodies!
First up, the banana almond soft-serve sundae! It’s made with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Almondmilk along with fresh berries and a chocolate almond streusel. If you skip the streusel you’ll have a vegan dessert.
Second, there is a cheesecake trio of raspberry, chocolate, and new york-style (the classic!) cheesecake bites. Just a little sampling of all the different tastes! Cheesecake, although not vegan, will fall into the vegetarian category.
Finally, there is a shimmering strawberry soft-serve that is served in a waffle cone. More of a ‘plain Jane’ type of choice, but if you go during the hotter months of the festival, it will probably be very much appreciated!
Location of the Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar
The Shimmering Sips Mimosa Bar is located by the World Showcase Pavilion, right behind the United Kingdom.
16. Refreshment Port for the Win: Dole Whips
If all the new eats at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival has you in analysis paralysis, never fear! When in doubt, you’ve always got a Dole Whip you can pick up!
Served at the Refreshment Port, the Dole Whip is vegan, gluten-free and 100% pure magic. Even though I love Dole Whips, I probably wouldn’t make a separate trip to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival just for the Dole Whip, you know it’s not going to disappoint!
Location of the Refreshment Port
The Refreshment Port is located right across from the Australia booth before you get to Canada if you are heading into World Showcase from the left.
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Photo Tip
To capture the fun and magic of eating and trying all these different foods from around the parks, be sure to snap a few pictures.
First, take a picture of the booth that you purchase the food from. Bonus if you are in the shot!
Then, take a picture of the food itself, whether you are holding it or it’s sitting on a table.
Finally, take a picture of you and your family enjoying the food. Be sure to just not take the photo when you’re chewing. Instead, just hold the fork and the food up. It’s a little more flattering that way!
Conclusion
There ya go!
A list of locations that you can eat at for some vegan/vegetarian cuisine while enjoying all the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival has to offer.
Not every single vegetarian option was listed, but a large majority of them. I left off a few that just didn’t sound super appealing. My tastes are specific to me, so you might feel differently.
For a complete list of offerings at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, be sure to check out the menus on Disney’s Epcot’s Food and Wine Marketplaces website.
Once on the Disney website, you’ll notice a ‘key’ as follows: (V) meaning vegetarian but does not mean vegan. (KA) meaning kid-approved items and (GF) for gluten-free items. Just a little extra help as you make your way through your selections!
Disclaimer for Food Sensitivities and/or Food Allergies
Finally, keep in mind, while Disney tries its best to accommodate guests with food allergies/intolerances at its regular restaurants, it’s a lot tougher to do at the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival booths. The marketplace booths don’t have separate kitchens in order to prep food for guests with allergies or sensitivities. While they try hard to make the food accessible to all, it’s impossible to prevent every possible encounter due to the limited working space. Be extra cautious if you know you are highly sensitive or have any issues at all.
Let me know what food items you’ve tried and what are your favorites. I don’t know about you, but after writing and reading this list, I’m ready to go eat ALL THE FOOD!
Now that you’ve read all about the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, be sure to check out these posts on what Must-Dos at Epcot and the best Epcot photo locations.
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