We have attended the Food & Wine Festival a few times over the last few years and we love it! The food is delicious and the entertainment is top notch. (We don’t drink alcohol so I can’t speak to that). The festival lanyards make getting your food very convenient because you just have to pay for your lanyard and then get it punched at each kiosk, no need to keep pulling out your wallet!

World-Class Entertainment to Satisfy All Tastes!

The Food & Wine Festival line-up reflects musical genres of all tastes – from nostalgic bands to modern favorites. Concert headliners include: 

• Feb. 28: Pass Member Exclusive Preview with “Eaglemania: The World’s Greatest Eagles Tribute Band!” This exclusive event is available ONLY for Pass Members to preview the all-new menu of sips and samples at the 6th Annual Food & Wine Festival. Visit buschgardenstampa.com to learn more or purchase your Annual Pass to gain access to this VIP opportunity! 

• Feb 29:                 Collective Soul
• March 1:              The Commodores
• March 7:              Chase Bryant & Danielle Bradbery
• March 8:              Rachel Platten
• March 14:            Ezra Ray Hart
• March 15:            THREE DOG NIGHT
• March 21:            LOCASH 
• March 22:            Fitz & The Tantrums
• March 28:            Home Free
• March 29:            Taking Back Sunday
• April 4:                 Third Eye Blind
• April 5:                 KC & The Sunshine Band
• April 11:               38 Special 
• April 12:               Micah Tyler & Austin French 
• April 18:               Lee Brice
• April 19:               Clint Black
• April 25:               El Gran Combo
• April 26:               Toad the Wet Sprocket & The Verve Pipe

Fans can book the ultimate festival experience with one of two exclusive VIP packages available for each act, including reserved concert seating and a 5-item Food & Wine Festival Sampler Lanyard.  NEW for 2020, upgrade to the ultimate concert-goer experience with Unlimited Food & Wine Festival VIP Seating which includes VIP seating for EVERY concert of our 2020 Festival!

All-New Menu, All-New Flavors!

Busch Gardens’ new award-winning Executive Chef, Ernie Reyes brings a fresh approach to this popular event. With 25 NEW food items in addition to fan-favorite dishes and over 80 wines, beers and cocktails to choose from, the Food & Wine Festival offers an endless variety of flavors to sip and savor! Guests can tempt their taste buds with the following NEW items:

• The ALL-NEW Chef’s Corner cabin: featuring three signature dishes carefully crafted by the park’s head chefs – arroz con pollo, pork belly taco with kimchi slaw, and pork tenderloin with champagne watercress sauce.
• NEW Iconic Coaster Cocktails: including Iron Gwazi Gimlet, Falcon’s Fury Lemon Drop, and Tigris Tea
• NEW Pick-A-Barrel tasting: create your own flight of liquors and wines from around the world

Click here to view the entire menu and pick your perfect upgrade or purchase your Food & Wine Festival Sampler Lanyard – the best way to savor and save on everything the event has to offer!

Guests can purchase a 5, 8 or 12-item sampler lanyard to use at each festival cabin to explore sample-sized dishes and drink offerings with ease, starting at just $32. Pass Members can purchase an exclusive 15-item sampler for the same price as a 12-item sampler and SAVE 20%!

The Best Way to Enjoy the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival

The best value to visit Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival and year-round events is with an Annual Pass that includes 12 months of unlimited visits,FREE parking, FREE Serengeti Safari, merchandise and dining discounts, and special limited-time perks throughout the year. Or for a limited time, buy a Busch Gardens Tampa Bay 2020 Fun Card and an Adventure Island 2020 Fun Card FREE – Florida families can take advantage of this limited time buy-one-get-one FREE offer and get unlimited year-round park admission to TWO until December 31, 2020.

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Epcot guests can begin with the aromas and flavors of 30 festive global food and wine marketplaces that extend from Future World to encircle the World Showcase promenade. New marketplaces include the Appleseed Orchard Marketplace, where guests can pair apple-inspired beers, ciders and cocktails like the Apple Blossom Sky while nibbling on Charcuterie and Cheese. Brews, ciders and wines will be offered individually or as flights, and kids of all ages can enjoy a deliciously sweet Frozen Apple Pie drink.

More sweet and savory treats will debut at The Alps Marketplace, a tasty new spot where guests can conjure a snow-capped setting while dipping into a dish of Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Baby Potatoes, Cornichons and Baguette, or Venison Stew with Crushed Potatoes paired with refreshing Frozen Rosé.

Family Friendly Events at the Epcot International Food & Win Festival

Back by popular demand, the Disney du Jour Dance Party in Future World will expand to seven days a week. Sundays through Thursdays, a DJ will lead the interactive fun. Fridays and Saturdays, Radio Disney stars will pump up the mix with live performances. The celebrity lineup includes actress-singer Meg Donnelly (“With U,” Disney Channel’s “Zombies”) Aug. 30-31; Jenna Raine (“A Letter to Me”) Sept. 13-14; Sky Katz (“Like This,” Disney Channel’s “Raven’s Home”) Oct. 11-12; and JAGMAC (“Like a Band”) Oct. 18-19.

Families can also enjoy the all-new Emile’s Fromage Montage,where they can sample a variety of delicious cheeses served in inventive ways. Guests can purchase any five cheese dishes from the official Global Marketplaces listed in the Festival Passport and collect a stamp for each cheese dish purchased. Once guests collect all five stamps, they can take the stamped Festival Passport to Shimmering Sips for a complimentary specialty cheesecake unique to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. Other family activities on tap are Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt and the popular Candy Sushi interactive experience.

Other Festival Highlights

• 30 Global Marketplaces, plus additional locations across the festival, will present fresh flavors at a variety of marketplaces such as Africa, featuring the new Kenyan Coffee Barbecue Beef Tenderloinwith sweet potato and corn mealie pap with Kachumbari slaw. At the Earth Eats marketplace, guests can dig into the new plant-based Cottage Pie with carrots, mushrooms and peas topped with mashed cauliflower and white beans.
• The back-by-demand Sunday Brunch with the Chef series in World Showplace Events Pavilion will kick off Sept. 1 with Chef Jamie Deen and continue on select Sundays through Nov. 17. The chef lineup includes Cat Cora, Carla Hall, Fabio Viviani, Andrew Zimmern, Buddy Valastro, Richard Blais, Robert Irvine, David Burtka, Graham Elliot and Aarti Sequeira.
• Tailgate Tasting hosted by ESPN’s Monday Night Football will be available select Sundays Sept. 8-Nov. 17. The 45-minute program will pair gridiron grub with a beverage tasting inspired by the cities of pro teams playing each Monday night. Guests will also learn how to prepare the dishes for their next tailgate party.
• “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops on select Mondays and Thursdays through Nov. 14 will offer new opportunities for guests to work side-by-side with visiting chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros.
• Popular TV chefs and other culinary icons will entertain guests and inspire their palates on select dates at festival seminars and other events. Big names on tap include Bryan Voltaggio, Kenny Gilbert, Jet Tila, Shaun O’Neale, Keegan Gerhard, Dan Pashman and Rock Harper.
• Book & Bottle Signings by some of the world’s top vintners and chefs will return on select dates this year, in addition to the popular The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli, offering guests samples.
• And don’t forget about the exciting new merchandise to commemorate the festival, as Chef Minnie will join Chef Mickey this year to bring a “sprinkle” of fun. This new merchandise line depicts those true originals busily making cupcakes and other delectable desserts with ingredients that include rose-gold accents and a little sparkle. Chef Minnie will also bring her sense of style to a new cupcake headband and other festival apparel. Guests can also celebrate the festival with returning favorites including the Taste Your Way Around the World, Brews, Figment, and Remy collections.

Many events are included in your Epcot admission price. Party for the Senses, Sunday Brunch with the Chef, Cheese Seminars and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Reservations for special programming and premium festival events can be made by calling (407) WDW-FEST. More information can be found at TasteEpcot.com.

If you haven’t planned your vacation to this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, don’t dismay, there is still time and there are some decent fall discounts still available! Just Email me and we’ll get started!

The post The 2019 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is Almost Here appeared first on The Mom Maven.

In addition to returning fan-favorites, this year’s menu boasts many daring new flavors inspired by cuisines around the country. Guests can begin their culinary road trip with grilled lamb chops featuring a 15-year balsamic drizzle from northern California. Foodies can’t miss mouthwatering Tex-Mex classics like chorizo queso fundido with sweet onions and shishito peppers or grilled elote – the park’s spin on Mexican street corn featuring cotija cheese and lime crema. Island delights feature flavors of paradise with Hawaiian-inspired delicacies including a dreamy pineapple upside down cake or Kona-crusted filet mignon with Maui onion butter. Nostalgic guests can even take a trip down memory lane with a visit to the 60^th Anniversary cabin, featuring recipes inspired by historical Busch Gardens’ treats and snacks from decades gone by.

The best way to savor and save on everything the festival has to offer is with a Food & Wine Festival Sampler. Guests can purchase a 5, 8 or 12-item sampler lanyard to use at each festival cabin to explore sample-sized dishes and drink offerings with ease. Pass Members can purchase an exclusive 15-item sampler for the same price as a 12-item sampler.

Enjoy All-Star Performances at Live Concerts 

From country and rock to R&B, the Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival line-up reflects musical genres of all tastes. Fans can book the ultimate festival experience with one of two exclusive VIP packages available for each act, including reserved concert seating and a Sampler Lanyard. Concert headliners include:

• Saturday, March 16, 2019             Daughtry

• Sunday, March 17, 2019                The Band Perry

• Saturday, March 23, 2019             3 Doors Down

• Sunday, March 24, 2019                Blue Rodeo, Kathleen Edwards and Fred Eaglesmith featuring Tif Ginn

• Saturday, March 30, 2019             Justin Moore

• Sunday, March 31, 2019                El Gran Combo

• Saturday, April 06, 2019                 To Be Announced

• Sunday, April 07, 2019                    Josh Turner       

• Saturday, April 13, 2019                 Mighty Mighty Bosstones

• Sunday, April 14, 2019                    Boyz II Men

• Friday, April 19, 2019                       Edwin McCain and Vertical Horizon

• Saturday, April 20, 2019                 Hunter Hayes and Levi Hummon

• Sunday, April 21, 2019                    Mat Kearney

• Saturday, April 27, 2019                 Walk Off the Earth

• Sunday, April 28, 2019                    Foreigner

For more information about the 5^th Annual Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Food & Wine Festival and to learn about all of the exciting events, new shows, rides, and memory-making experiences visit BuschGardensTampa.com.

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One of America’s top food festivals since 1996, the Epcot dine-around extravaganza will surprise guests with new and inspiring sips and bites throughout the park’s World Showcase and on into several Future World venues.

Here’s the latest Epcot International Food & Wine Festival buzz:

• The NEW Taste Track global marketplace featuring specialty croissant doughnuts (add gelato for an extra-sweet treat) joins dozens of popular returning marketplaces.
• For a fourth year, global marketplaces will extend into Future World to offer brand-new taste sensations.
• Disney chefs are in the kitchen whipping up delicious new bites like:
  • Butternut Squash Ravioli with brown butter vinaigrette, Parmesan cheese and pumpkin seeds at The Wine & Dine Studio
  • Charred Chimichurri Skirt Steak with smoked corn cake, pickled vegetable slaw and cilantro aïoli at Flavors from Fire
  • New Brunswick Slider, slow-braised beef brisket “pot roast-style” on a potato roll with horseradish cream, crispy fried onions and pickled vegetables on the side at the Hops & Barley
• The NEW “Sunday Brunch with the Chef” series in World ShowPlace will kick off Sept. 2 with Top Chef All-Star Richard Blais and continue on select Sundays through Nov. 11 with a lineup that includes Jamie Deen, Tiffani Thiessen, Masaharu Morimoto, Buddy Valastro, Art Smith, Geoffrey Zakarian, Carla Hall and Alex Guarnaschelli.
• Eat to the Beat concerts – 225 shows in all – will rev up the America Gardens Theatre stage three times each night with new musical acts including Vertical Horizon, Sheila E, 98 Degrees, MercyMe and Glass Tiger, along with returning festival favorites spanning a broad range of eras and genres from rock and pop to rhythm and blues.
• The grandest of the festival’s don’t-miss tasting events, Party for the Senses at World ShowPlace, will welcome acclaimed chefs and vintners Sept. 22, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and Nov. 10 to showcase creative bites and palate-pleasing sips with sensational live entertainment.
• “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops Wednesdays and Thursdays will offer new opportunities for guests to interact with visiting chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros. Event hosts and topics will be announced this summer.
• Popular TV chefs and other culinary icons will entertain guests and inspire their palates at festival seminars and other events. Just a few of the big names on tap are Robert Irvine, Maneet Chauhan, Jet Tila, Shaun O’Neale, Keegan Gerhard, Dan Pashman and Rock Harper.

As guests explore the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, they’ll find something for everyone in the family:

• A “Ratatouille”-inspired adventure is back as Chef Remy encourages families to play together during Remy’s Ratatouille Hide ‘n’ Squeak scavenger hunt. This year Remy is hiding in all new locations!
• The complimentary Back to Basics weekend series offered in the Festival Center will share epicurean tips and tricks from the pros.
• Book and bottle signings by some of the world’s top vintners will be available
• The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli, will offer guest samples.
• Culinary Demonstrations and Beverage Seminars will offer daily learning and tasting sessions at the Festival Center.
• On select Saturdays, Cheese Seminars will be a fromage fan’s delight.

Eat to the Beat Dining Packages and other Specialty Dining and Pairing events will be on tap at a number of Epcot participating restaurants. Bookings for special programming and premium festival events is open now Email Me to plan your visit.

The post The 2018 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Begins August 30th appeared first on The Mom Maven.

There are eleven new-to-the-festival bands, including Kenny G., Squeeze, 10,000 Maniacs, The Hooters, Baha Men, Lauren Alaina, Mark Wills, American Authors, Devon Allman, Postmodern Jukebox and Blue October, join 21 fan-favorite musical acts for a diverse lineup of pop hit makers to rock America Gardens Theatre stage throughout the festival’s 75-day run.

2017 Eat to the Beat Concert Series Lineup

• Aug. 31-Sept. 1 Delta Rae “Bottom of the River”
• Sept. 2-3 The Hooters NEW! “And We Danced”
• Sept. 4-5 Baha Men NEW! “Who Let the Dogs Out”
• Sept. 6-7 Fuel “Shimmer”
• Sept. 8-10 STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas “We Built This City”
• Sept. 11-12 Lauren Alaina NEW! “Road Less Traveled”
• Sept. 13-15 Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah”
• Sept. 16-17 Sister Hazel “All For You”
• Sept. 18-20 Air Supply “All Out of Love”
• Sept. 21-22 David Cook “Light On”
• Sept. 23-24 Everclear “Santa Monica”
• Sept. 25-27 Sugar Ray “Every Morning”
• Sept. 28-29 38 Special “Hold On Loosely”
• Sept. 30-Oct. 1 Mark Wills NEW! “19 Somethin’”
• Oct. 2-3 American Authors NEW! “Best Day of My Life”
• Oct. 4-5 Christopher Cross “Sailing”
• Oct. 6-8 Devon Allman NEW! “Ragged and Dirty”
• Oct. 9-11 Dennis DeYoung: The Music of STYX “Come Sail Away”
• Oct. 12-13 Taylor Dayne “Tell It to My Heart”
• Oct. 14-15 Jeffrey Osborne “On the Wings of Love”
• Oct. 16-17 Postmodern Jukebox NEW! Various Hits
• Oct. 18-20 10,000 Maniacs NEW! “Because the Night”
• Oct. 21-22 Toad The Wet Sprocket “Walk on the Ocean”
• Oct. 23-24 Kenny G NEW! “Songbird”
• Oct. 25-26 Billy Ocean “Get Outta My Dreams”
• Oct. 27-29 Tiffany “I Think We’re Alone Now”
• Oct. 30-Nov. 1 Hanson “MMMBop”
• Nov. 2-3 Blue October NEW! “Into the Ocean”
• Nov. 4-5 Living Colour “Cult of Personality”
• Nov. 6-8 Boyz II Men “End of the Road”
• Nov. 9-11 Big Bad Voodoo Daddy “Go Daddy-O”
• Nov. 12-13 Squeeze NEW! “Black Coffee in Bed”

(Songs listed are for artist recognition only and may not be included in the concert play list-music acts are subject to change)

Festival-goers can book Eat to the Beat Concert Series Dining Packages at 15 popular Epcot restaurants, guaranteeing a breakfast, lunch or dinner reservation and confirmed seating at a same-day Eat to the Beat concert. Reservations can be booked at epcotfoodfestival.com, or Email Me and booking your dining is just 1 one of services I offer as your travel agent. If you haven’t booked your fall Disney vacation contact me today.

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Guests can sample tapas-sized tastes of inventive cuisine at the Farm Fresh Marketplace during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The popular fall festival also features wine tastings, culinary demonstrations, mixology seminars, nightly “Eat to the Beat” concerts and a broad range of premium dining events. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

The annual Disney tour of tastes from six continents, running 62 days from Sept. 14-Nov. 14, has become one of America’s top food festivals and features inspired flavors at more than 30 global marketplaces. For the second consecutive year, ABC’s Emmy Award-winning lifestyle series, “The Chew,” will arrive to produce a full week of programs on the show’s exclusive Epcot festival stage.

• Culinary notables Geoffrey Zakarian, Maneet Chauhan, Elliott Farmer, Masaharu Morimoto and Graham Elliot will step up to the stove to host their first festival special events such as seminars and culinary demonstrations. Other chef icons like Robert Irvine, Cat Cora, Norman Van Aken, Elizabeth Falkner, Buddy Valastro and Jamie Deen will return in 2016 to entertain foodies and inspire their palates at premium events that include Party for the Senses grand tastings featuring reimagined entertainment.
• First-time festival resort experiences include Brunch with a Twist at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa; Culinary Adventures with a Master Chef for a hands-on chef’s table experience in a professional working kitchen; The Secret of Flavor three-course lunch that gives guests a “sensory-food connection” at Yachtsman Steakhouse; and a tropical “Zombie” encounter during Behind the Scenes at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort.
• “Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!” hands-on workshops at the Festival Center will offer guests a chance to learn a variety of culinary skills from chefs, bakers, mixologists and other pros.
• For a second year, global marketplaces will extend into Future World to offer a wider range of taste sensations. New this year will be: The Chew Collective in the Next Eats area of Future World; the Wine & Dine Studio and Chocolate Studio, also in Future World; plus Islands of the Caribbean marketplace in World Showcase.
  Festival guests can pair wines, beers and ciders with savory and sweet dishes as they stroll the World Showcase Promenade using their complimentary festival passports as a guide.

New marketplace menus debut and festival favorites return – Hard soda float, anyone? Guests can choose a favorite hard soda to mix with vanilla ice cream for a sweet treat at Desserts & Champagne marketplace. A savory vegan dish will debut at the Greece marketplace, and the popular Farm Fresh marketplace will showcase Florida’s bounty with new savory dishes. Up to 47 percent of the menu food items are new or reimagined dishes.

Celebrity chefs, wine experts and mixologists join the fun – Celebrities ranging from Rock Harper to master sommelier Andrea Robinson will share their food and beverage know-how during culinary demos, beverage seminars and a variety of other events spanning the festival’s 62 days.

Guests attending the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World Resort join a daily culinary demonstration at the Festival Center. Seminars offer guests an opportunity to meet a featured chef, learn some useful culinary tips and sample the featured dish with a paired beverage. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

The popular Festival Private Label California Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are back and available by the bottle or by the glass.

Ratatouille returns — Chef Remy of “Ratatouille” returns with his fun-for-the-family culinary scavenger hunt that features six brand-new collectible pins this year.

Festival Center cooks on all burners –Festival Center highlights will include new festival merchandise, the complimentary Back to Basics weekend series featuring epicurean tips and tricks from the pros, book and bottle signings and The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar, hosted by Ghirardelli and offering guest samples.

Plan for a premium adventure:

• Rockin’ Burger Block Party and Party for the Senses grand tasting events will showcase creative bites and palate-pleasing sips from eminent chefs and beverage experts plus new live entertainment.
• Intimate dining and tasting events to book will include the “Umami” Tokyo Pairing and other Epcot restaurant experiences as well as multi-course lunches and dinners at Disney Springs and resort restaurants.
• Rest and recharge at the Chase Lounge – Chase debit and credit card members – including Disney Visa card members — will find complimentary non-alcoholic refreshments, a charging station and comfortable seating for a relaxing break at the Chase Lounge at American Adventure.

Included with Epcot Admission:

Back to Basics series, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

Special Programming by Reservation:

The Party for the Senses grand tasting events, signature dinners and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. When a reservation booking date is announced this summer, guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) and get details at EpcotFoodFestival.com.

I can’t wait to eat my way around the world! Are you planning on attending this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival? Need help planning your trip? Email me I’m happy to help you plan a memorable vacation.

The post It’s Almost Time for the 21st Annual Epcot International Food Food & Wine Festival appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Disney has just announced that the Eat to the Beat Concert Series now has Fastpass+! I just checked it out on my My Disney Experience app and sure enough, the concert series is now a Tier 1 Fastpass+ selection for dates during the festival. I am sure this will be a wonderful addition for those vacationing and even more-so for the locals who like to pop over in the evening for a concert. With just a little advanced planning you can be guaranteed a seat in the American Gardens Theater.

2015 Eat to the Beat Concert Series Line-Up

Entertainment and appearances are subject to change without notice.

• David Cook – Sept. 25-27, 2015
• Wilson Phillips – Sept. 28-29, 2015
• Christopher Cross – Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 2015
• Starship – Oct. 2-4, 2015
• Smash Mouth – Oct. 5-7, 2015
• The Pointer Sisters – Oct.8-9, 2015
• 38 Special – Oct. 10-11, 2015
• Rick Springfield – Oct. 12-13, 2015
• Sugar Ray – Oct.14-16, 2015
• The S.O.S. Band – Oct. 17-18, 2015
• Air Supply – Oct.19-21, 2015
• Fuel – Oct. 22-23, 2015
• Tiffany (NEW!) – Oct. 24-25, 2015
• Dennis DeYoung – Oct. 26-28, 2015
• Jo Dee Messina – Oct. 29-30, 2015
• Everclear (NEW!) – Oct. 31-Nov. 1, 2015
• Boyz II Men – Nov. 2-4, 2015
• Sister Hazel – Nov. 5-6, 2015
• Big Bad Voodoo Daddy – Nov. 7-9, 2015
• Hanson – Nov. 10-12, 2015
• Maxi Priest (NEW!) – Nov. 13-14, 2015
• Chaka Khan (NEW!) – Nov. 15-16, 2015

Pretty good line-up! If you already have plans to visit Epcot during the 20th Annual Food and Wine Festival, I suggest you choose your Fastpast+ now because as word gets out, they will go fast. If you need help making your reservations let me know by using the Travel Quote page. I’m happy to help you plan your trip to the festival and my services are free!

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Make Plans Now to visit the 2015 Food and Wine Festival

Garden Grill to add Breakfast and Lunch

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photo courtesy of Disney Chloe Rice, photographer

If you have never been to the Food and Wine Festival…why not? You are surely missing out! I love strolling around World Showcase trying foods from all over the world. The global party atmosphere during the festival makes a visit to Epcot even more fun. The 20th Annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival will run from September 25-November 16, 2015 so you have plenty of time to celebrate two decades of food and wine.

I recommend getting a Food and Wine festival gift card and loading it with your chosen budget for the day since it is easy to over eat and over spend at this event. There are over 30 global marketplace experiences for you to enjoy. Along with the food and wine this festival also features educational offerings, concerts and premium events events. The Back to Basics series, Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Discovery Passport and attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

The Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2015 Premium Events

Reservations are required for all premium events. These events fill up fast. Reservations open at 7 a.m. on Thursday, July 30, 2015: 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378) or have your vacation planner make the reservations for you! All event prices listed below do not include tax or gratuity. These events also require theme park admission, which is not included in the event price.

Party for the Senses 7:00-9:30pm October 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 prices range from $169-$319 per person.

Rockin’ Burger Block Party 7:00-9:00pm September 25, October 8 and November 6 prices range from $99-$199.

What’s Cookin’ With… Brunch with Celebrity Chefs 10:00am-Noon Fridays and Sundays from September 27- November 15, click the link to see the list of chefs. $129 per guest.

Tokyo Pairing Thursdays 4:30-6:00pm $100 per guest.

Cheese Seminars Saturdays 10:00-11:30am $79 per guest.

Exploring Wines from 1996 Sunday, September 27 1:00-3:00pm $119 per guest.

I’ll Take Manhattans: History and Origins of Aromatic Bitters Sunday, October 18 1:00-3:00pm $119 per guest.

Culinary Demonstrations Daily at 1:00, 3:00 and 5:00pm $15 per guest. Click here for complete list of culinary demonstrations.

Mixology Demonstrations Daily at 6:00pm $15 per guest. Click here for a complete list of mixology demonstrations.

Wine and Beverage Demonstrations Daily at noon and 4:00pm $15 per guest. Click here for a complete list of wine and beverage demonstrations.

Cheese Seminars Saturdays 10:00-11:30am $79 per guest.

Plus other events that have been hinted at but are not yet announced. If you are interested in other premium events make sure you check out epcotfoodfestival.com for up-to-date offerings.

Guests can sample tapas-sized tastes of inventive cuisine like the Loaded Mac n’ Cheese with Nueske’s Pepper Bacon at the Farm Fresh Marketplace during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

I was honored to attend the Party for the Senses back in 2009 and it was a wonderful event. This year I would love to try the Rockin’ Burger Block Party, how about you?

If you would like to visit Walt Disney World this fall, I’d love to help you plan a memorable and magical vacation. My services are free! Just fill out the form on my travel quote page and we can get started.

The post Make Plans Now to Visit the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2015 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Ticket Deals

Adventure Island Fun Card FREE, with a Busch Gardens Fun Card Purchase

For a limited time, guests can receive an Adventure Island® Fun Card FREE with the purchase of a Busch Gardens Fun Card, which lets guests pay for a day and visit both parks now through 2015. Enjoy the thrills of Busch Gardens through Dec. 31, 2015 and all the water-soaked fun of Adventure Island’s 2015 season, including the park’s newest family thrill slide, Colossal Curl.

The two-park Fun Card includes admission to an incredible lineup of events including Busch Gardens Tampa’s Real Music Series, the inaugural Food & Wine Festival, Summer Nights, Christmas Town and Adventure Island’s Island Nights. Price does not include tax and service fees. Visit buschgardens.com for more information.

FREE 2015 SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Preschool Pass

Busch Gardens is commemorating five years of family-friendly experiences with Sesame Street® Safari of Fun by bringing back a limited-time offer. With Preschool Pass, kids 5 and younger can enjoy all the excitement of Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld® Orlando for FREE from Jan. 5 through Dec. 31.

Join everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends at Busch Gardens’ Sesame Street Safari of Fun for a family-friendly African adventure filled with kid-size rides and cool water fun. This is a limited-time offer and online registration is required. The Preschool Pass does not include daily parking, separate-ticketed events or other Pass Member discounts.

To learn more about Preschool Pass, and to register, visit buschgardens.com.

Any 2 Parks for $99

For a limited time, enjoy any two parks for any two days for $99! Choose between SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica®, Busch Gardens Tampa, and Adventure Island. Choose SeaWorld Orlando and you’ll soar like a ray on Manta, visit Busch Gardens Tampa and dive face-down at 60mph on North America’s tallest freestanding drop tower Falcon’s Fury®, take the plunge down Ihu’s Breakaway Falls at Aquatica, or hurtle high on Colossal Curl, Adventure Island’s newest family thrill slide.

• Valid for two visits to SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa, Aquatica Orlando, or Adventure Island.
• Visits do not need to occur at the same park.
• Visits must be used by May 22, 2015.
• Advance purchase only. Not available at park.
• Restricted to residents for United States and its territories, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

There are no blackout dates, visits do not need to occur at the same park and visits must be redeemed by May 22, 2015. Visit buschgardens.com for more information.

Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival

Busch Gardens® Tampa keeps the hits coming during the Food & Wine Festival this spring with concerts for every taste. The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival takes place on Saturdays and Sundays from March 7 through April 26 and is included with any Pass, Fun Card or daily admission. Food and beverage is not included with park admission and is available for an extra fee. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to consume alcoholic beverages. For more information, visit buschgardens.com.

Entertainment Line-up

• Saturday, March 7-Gavin DeGraw
• Sunday, March 8-Fifth Harmony
• Saturday, March 14-Kool & The Gang
• Sunday, March 15-Boys Like Girls
• Saturday, March 21-Kenny Rogers
• Sunday, March 22-Pentatonix
• Saturday, March 28-Steven Curtis Chapman
• Sunday, March 29-El Gran Combo
• 8 more acts to be announced

It has been over a year since I have been to Busch Gardens. I’d love to go and see Pentatonix in concert! Which concert would you choose?

The post New Events and Ticket Deals at Busch Gardens for 2015 appeared first on The Mom Maven.

Cranberry Bog

To read my full trip report from the 2011 Epcot Food & Wine Festival click here.

The post Wordless Wednesday-Epcot Food and Wine Festival appeared first on The Mom Maven.