<\/span>Yay!\u00a0 It’s here again!\u00a0 This why fall is my favorite time of year.\u00a0 Pumpkin spice everything, Halloween, and The Food and Wine Festival (with the added bonus of being in Florida so it’s not even cold)!\u00a0 I was a bit concerned that this years addition of food and wine to the Flower and Garden Festival (March 6-May 19, 2013) would dampen my enthusiasm for the Food and Wine Festival.\u00a0 I was was wrong.\u00a0 It’s still super exciting.<\/p>\n <\/span>I’ve been attending the Food and Wine Festival for approximately a bijillon years, and every year there are new offerings to try as well as old standards that reappear.\u00a0 It doesn’t matter how hot and sticky it is outside, people will still wait in line for Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup.\u00a0 Unfortunately, every year also sees the passing of some of my favorites. (R.I.P. Aussie Wine Walk About).<\/p>\n While I do think the Epcot Food and Wine Festival is pretty much the best thing ever, there are of course some draw backs.\u00a0 One such draw back being crowds.\u00a0 When anyone asks me what the best time to visit Walt Disney World is I still tell them September\/October (because hey, food and wine!) but I’m afraid word of the festival has gotten out.\u00a0 Every year seems more crowded than the last. Sometimes it looks like this, and that’s terrible.<\/p>\n \n <\/span>It’s still far from the busiest time you could visit, but especially on weekends you can expect to wait in line for the more popular booths.\u00a0 This coupled with a lack of seating makes for an interesting dining experience.\u00a0 If your lucky you can find one of the high-top cocktail tables set up for the festival, but that’s kind of a holy grail on a busy day.\u00a0 Most of the time you’ll find yourself leaning on a trashcan, which is a little disconcerting for the more germaphobic among us.\u00a0 If you’re an advanced multi-tasker, last year they rolled out a small tray you can purchase for right around $6 that has a cup holder for your wine (this years fits beer too!) and a place to put your plate of food.\u00a0 This was one of those brilliant “why did it take them this long ideas.?”\u00a0 I highly recommend picking one up at the festival center or at any merchandise booth along the way.\u00a0 Don’t worry, it’s Disney, there are plenty of them!<\/p>\n <\/span>As the tone of the post indicates though, I think the good far outweighs the bad at the festival.\u00a0 There are all sorts of new foods to try and they’re all smaller portions if you just want to grab a snack, or make a meal out of several items.\u00a0 This is the best time of year to be on the Disney Dining Plan because almost all of the food items are considered “snacks” on the plan.<\/p>\n <\/span>You can also take advantage of special events such as wine tastings, mixology seminars, cooking classes, and chef’s dinners for an additional cost.\u00a0 You almost always need to book those in advance and can do so at the Walt Disney World <\/a>website.<\/p>\n <\/span>If you’re local, here for an extended period of time, or just up for a challenge you can grab a passport at the front of the park or any of the booths.\u00a0 Every location you visit will give you a stamp and help you keep track of what you tried at each country.\u00a0 I get a passport every year so stopping at all the booths feels like an accomplishment (you get a completion stamp!) and not just a huge drain on my bank account.<\/p>\n <\/span>I make it a point to hit all of the booths every year, but I am a distinct advantage living in Orlando and having relatively unlimited access to the festival.\u00a0 So, I have the luxury of being able to pace myself, other wise it can get expensive (and embarrassing).\u00a0 If you’re just visiting for a few days, I would recommend just hitting the highlights.<\/p>\n This time of year can make drinking around the world extra challenging, but also extra rewarding!\u00a0 Sometimes you conquer food and wine, and sometimes it conquers you.<\/p>\n \n Stay tuned as I continue to update my journey around the world!<\/p>\n And remember, day drinking is okay… you’re on vacation, or at a vacation destination, or it’s your day off and it’s warm outside.<\/p>\n \n Jump to:<\/p>\n![\"IMG_6897\"](\"https:\/\/magsonthemove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/09\/IMG_6897.jpg\")
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