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The 16th Annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Map |
On September 30, 2011, my mouth will be watering with the anticipation of tasting scrumptious treats from around the world at the 16th Annual Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival! My family has never been to any of these special annual events before, and while the primary focus of our trip is to enjoy the 40th Anniversary celebration of the opening of the Magic Kingdom, I am just as excited to be able to partake of this annual Epcot tradition as well!
Yesterday Cindy received a book from Disney, her “Passport to A World of Flavors“, and while we weren’t quite certain why it was addressed to her — because everyone knows that I am the Disney Addict in our family — we both welcomed it nonetheless! There are 30 different stations that are going to be setup for this event, with food from locations such as Australia, a staple at the F&W since 1997; Mexico (Yum!!!), which has been here since 1996; South Korea, a newcomer to the F&W Festival, introduced in 2010; and these new locations:
- Caribbean (Ropa Vieja with White Rice and Jerk Spiced Chicken Drumstick with Mango Salsa)
- Craft Beers (An assortment of bears, such as Full Sail IPA, Blue Moon, and Red Hook Pilsner)
- Hawai’i (Kalua Pork Slider and the Tuna Poke)
- Portugal (Calamari Salad, Linguica Sausage, and Pastel de Nata)
In my mind’s eye, I can picture Cindy, Sophie, and myself walking around the World Showcase. We stop at the attractions that we want to enjoy, such as Gran Fiesta Tour Starring The Three Caballeros. The weather is gorgeous, with mild temperatures, beautiful blue skies, and the incredible landscaping that Epcot’s World Showcase is known for. As we visit the countries, we get hungry, so we stop at some of the great locations for food and drink. To me, the anticipation of visiting the Food & Wine Festival almost feels like the anticipation I get when I think about attending our state fair held every year in Raleigh, NC. The weather has turned towards fall, the crowds are big, the food is great, and the state fair, just like the Food & Wine Festival, feels like the transition from summer at Disney World to Fall at Disney World.
So, to sum it all up, I love the Food & Wine Festival, even though I’ve never been before, and I can’t wait until the end of September, when we arrive at Walt Disney World.
This is my first Wine & Dine too! I'll be there for the 40th Anniversary and the Wine & Dine Half Relay and absolutely can't wait :D (I'll keep an eye out for 'ya!)
Hey Donna! I'm going to be meeting with my friend Brenda also, so maybe we can all get together and meet!
after hearing about it I want to go. I'm planning on going next year.
I'll post a recap after we get back, CC, and tell you all about it.