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Travel the world
I’m an admitted Disney fan(atic): A baby boomer raised on Sunday night’s Wonderful World of Color, weaned on Peter Pan and Tink’s magic, and eventually so irresistibly drawn to the nostalgia of Walt Disney World’s Main Street USA that I attach myself to every visit any relative or friend is willing to take with me in tow.
But this is for all of you who find Disney and his “World” just so, uh, Mickey Mouse: EPCOT’s Food & Wine Fest is another side of the Disney mountain.
This was my third pilgrimage to the popular event, but I hope not my last.
It has grown from about 12 nations to 22 this year plus several other “destinations” offering additional fare, bringing the total spots to visit to 36.
From its inception in 1982, EPCOT drew me in. Its premise was to offer a glimpse at all the fantastic technological advances in our not-too-distant future plus a look at humankind’s development in the front half of the park, and an opportunity to “travel the world” through restaurants, shops and entertainment of countries around the globe in the back half.
But in the fall, for more than a month, the 11 permanent countries of World Showcase — Mexico, Norway, China, Italy, Germany, the U.S., Japan, Morocco, France, England and Canada — are joined by other temporary kiosks offering samplings of those cultures’ traditional foods, plus wine suggestions for those who want to indulge, at the Food & Wine Festival.
To be clear, “samplings” does not mean free. But the hors d’oeuvre-size offerings are more reasonably priced than most Disney fare: this year, prices ranged from $1.75 to $6.25.
The beauty of the fest is the opportunity to try traditional treats from that wide array of countries in one place.
The accompanying wines are also sample-size, and menu boards suggest what pairs well with each food.
Though I don’t partake myself, I’m sure that contributed, on my first visit years ago, to more tipsy people in WDW than I’d ever seen. While I was eating my way around the world, many others were drinking their way.
This year, however, the tipsy factor was not apparent, perhaps because water was a better thirst-quencher on one of Florida’s famous blazing days.
Regardless of which you choose to do — eat, drink, or both, you need a plan if you want to get to all the countries — a rule I neglected to follow this year, with disappointing results: by the time we got to England’s fish and chips, Ireland’s lobster and seafood fisherman’s pie, Canada’s rainbow trout and filet mignon, Greece’s griddled cheese and spanakopita, Scotland’s vegetable cakes and seared scallops (we would definitely have skipped the haggis), and Hawaii’s pork sliders, we were stuffed and anticipating an actual dinner reservation a few hours later. (In retrospect, not a good idea, but one born of the fact that the samplings on the prior trip weren’t nearly as filling.)
Luckily, Disney wisely added a “Discovery Passport” you can pick up at shops and kiosks as you enter World Showcase and in which you can collect the unique stamp of each destination.
Had we read it before we embarked on our tour, we could have bypassed some countries in favor of others we preferred.
However you decide to do it, it’s probably best enjoyed sans all but the most culinarily adventurous kids, so if yours are in tow, plan some alternate activities for them.
Then just relax, spread your epicurean wings, and — bon appetit!