To be completely honest, our first EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival with our toddler son was a hassle and not completely magical. We had gone before without him and absolutely loved it. Unlike all the other Walt Disney World parks and events, kids aren’t the target audience for the Food & Wine Festival. We needed a better plan to make it work for us and him.
Learn from us, here are some tips to make your trip around the world delightful and delicious.
Stroller – #1 Tip: If in doubt, bring a stroller. This will make your (and their) experience much, much better. For kids, standing in line is the worst park of the vacation even when there is an exciting attraction at the end. They find nothing exciting about a pint of beer or a fancy snack. Besides being a seat for your kid, you can pack plenty of snacks and activities for them as well. Also the loop around world is approximately 1.2 miles (that’s just the loop) so a stroller with help those little legs. BIG BONUS: Strollers have cup holders perfect for your adult beverages!
Attractions - EPCOT is filled with two new exciting attractions like Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy which can be scheduled and purchased through Genie+. If your main focus for your EPCOT visit is the Food & Wine Festival, attractions might not make the agenda (for those that have one).
Kidcot Stations – They are back! It’s nothing spectacular but it’s a free, fun activity that keeps your child excited about the next country on your way to the next food/drink booth. The Kidcot Stations are where your kid can pick up a memento from each country. Each card features facts and an activity based on each country. It’s a free souvenir too. We treat it like a scavenger hunt; who can find the Kidcot sign first.
Play Disney Park App – If you are an electronics free family, skip this tip. For the rest of us, if you haven’t already, download the Play Disney Park app. Kids of all ages enjoy the silly little Disney activities, games and trivia all loaded on this app.
Time Out Spots – Not really. There are several special spots around the world that you can take a “time out” to relax, enjoy your food and beverages while the kids get a break from the stroller and have the opportunity play. For example:
Our personal favorite is the Germany train stop. In addition to amazing food/drink booths and a bathroom between Germany and Italy, you will find a miniature train set. This location is a prime relaxing location for you and your family. If your kids aren’t too impressed with the festival’s food offerings, a bag of caramel corn from Karamell-Küche always satisfy my family.
The hedge maze in the United Kingdom is another hidden gem. This kid-sized hedge maze is tucked back into the courtyard garden next to The Toy Solider toy shop. Since it’s off the main path around the world, you won’t feel rushed giving you and your family plenty of time to enjoy the festival’s food and wine.
Canada’s Critter Crossing was a new find for our family. We have skipped the back side of Canada for years so hope you don’t make the same mistake. Critter Crossing is a small path with a find and seek type activity for kids. Another perfect spot for you all to enjoy.
Divide and Conquer – This is my husband’s tip. Prior to your visit, familiarize yourself with the festival passport (menu). This will help you map out your main stops around the world and will cut down on trying to read all the signs. Also instead of the entire family standing in line, some adults can entertain the kids while the others stand in the food/drink lines.
Learn from our experiences. The longer they are happy, the longer you’ll be happy. Now our son is eating his way around the world.
Enjoy your visit to the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival now through November 19th.
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