Kirsty Davis

A GUIDE TO EPCOT’S FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL

C H E E R S  T O  F O O D  +  W I N E ! 
Destination: Epcot, Walt Disney World

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1OLGTY2DGvKSl5KVw02QiZZ8cfHZqROeG

Summer has come to an end which means we are switching gears and turning up the fall vibes! This time of year brings all of the fun adventures that come with the change of season. Particularly, the events at Disney World! This includes Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party + much more. 

As you all know, Florida is brutally hot during summer making park hopping pretty miserable. We love visiting Epcot in the late afternoon, when the sun is going down so we are able to enjoy ourselves. We did brave the heat today to check out the very much anticipated Food and Wine Festival! Although we were running to the car in soaked clothing by 3:00, we had so much fun trying new bites + drinks from this year’s festival. 


https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1FPgi0pQ_SmPfD4C1lMwARU1npMQxnJAe

Official Epcot Food and Wine Festival map provided by Disney Food Blog: 


Something so small and simple that Epcot does each year for Food and Wine is the festival passports. It’s a fun way to document your way around the world showcase. This guide provides you with all of the food + drinks that you can try in each country making it easy to navigate and choose what you want to pick. Once you have tried an item, you can mark it off by placing the cute Epcot themed stickers in your book. I love keeping our passport book as a souvenir!

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1OYqaJpsdxH5yZNSY4lk8wHTIrqS4GiXC
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1p3yH4kM1TC09oyn2k1v17_l-voBm31aJ

My biggest tip is to purchase a wristband gift card right when you enter the park. They are available at most kiosks. This thing is a game changer, it makes the check out process much smoother and hasel free. If you are planning on drinking/eating in multiple countries I would definitely recommend loading your card before hand this way you aren’t reaching to find your card and ID each time you are in line.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1gHEDWeHyPvjlu2IOjScflo4NyXc3-4Xq

This year we didn’t have a specific plan or idea of what we wanted to try before we got there. We really just winged it and stopped at each country to see what caught our eye. There were some wins and some.. eh .. For the most part, we were loving our picks! We were hoping to try more beer + wine but we were both so hot. All we wanted was water, $3.50 for a Dasani bottle x 4 (tip for myself, bring a reusable cup). 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=16EUslkaylijhkhgu5JnJ0SSKyQCSFEkz

Let’s Eat:

Pao de Queijo, aka Brazilian Cheese Bread
Rating: 10/10
Brazil 

From first look I honestly was not expecting much but holy sh*t, this bread did not mess around. It was so hot that the cheese was completely melted in the center. Drooling just thinking about these and wanting more at the moment. Maybe I was starving since this was our first stop or it’s just that good.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1okbVAp_Ukt8lVTHh7ZXhhpOWgiTYdTLD

The Italian Margarita 
Rating: 10/10
Italy

This was the ultimate margarita! Not too sweet but not a traditional marg. Being a tequila girl, I was pretty impressed.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1loAh5ZsqElcwct46IAwRRCO7ptBiVxxE

Ravioli Carbonara
Rating: 8/10
Italy

Delicious! It was creamy and cheesy perfection. That’s all.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1kHj3FtXKajgy5Ig39Asx6cWkpTjPRhxE

Pollo and Marinara
Rating: 7/10
Italy

This was Stephen’s jam! He is super picky with food so when he saw crispy chicken with marinara, he was all over it! I did like it but it tasted like a classic ole chicken strip. We both agreed that the marinara made the dish.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=13Aso5L-jPU1zsM3rAWTKdp22te4VNL2Nhttps://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1YwvjztAHD3Y4C7mwVFHe3C8Ofha8lxXV

Springtime Lemon Cheescake 
Rating: 8.5/10
Norway

Okay, presentation is clearly a 10/10. I love the layers of color. I’m also a huge cheescake fan so I am a tough critic, taste wise. I’d say it had more of a mouse/spongy texture. It was very light. It lacked some flavor but I still was so in awe of how adorable it was so I gave it an 8.5.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=10TwO5NscJtTwndca6l276xDUqWQEVN7Z
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Eqw3z6GktUqdAVr3M-zkGz-neOvFJ-Xr

Loaded Mac and Cheese
Rating: 5/10 
Active Eats
(I only gave it a 5 because Stephen made me and said I was being too harsh. In all reality, I give this a 1/10. I almost spit it out)

This was my biggest disappointment of the day. I was so excited to try this because I love mac and cheese of all kinds. It really does look delicious but you guys... maybe it’s just an unpopular opinion.. I thought it was awful. It had the weirdest flavor, bbq (not the sweet kind either), chipotle and even some hints of curry. I have no idea, I just didn’t enjoy it. This being said, I have seen so many people rave about this and love it so do not let it stop you from trying! I could have been over eating at that point since it was our last stop. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ihghVFZPbzPBz4N1pvR8pj2Wnlxem70T

Aulani Sunrise
Rating: 6.5/10
Hawaii 

This was another one of Stephen’s picks! If he’s not drinking beer, he likes rum + vodka with fruity mixers like pineapple. We both tried it and it was definitely way too sweet for our liking. I could definitly see my 21 year old self loving this lol. If I’m being real, we were only in it for the tiki souvenir cup.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=12_vUDjnQFpg9CwEr3AIqpBUo--X95_6W

Sweet and Spicy Bushberry Shrimp
Rating: 10/10
Australia 

I loved the flavor of mainly spicy with a hint of sweet. Also, really enjoyed the snap peas and salsa slaw!

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1yX3ndnRdgwpNgz8k-8kL6W-wjInw1NCl


Food and Wine Merchandise:

I love the Food and Wine Festival merch this year. They went super girly with it which I am all about. I love how they chose to display some of the items, on the bakers racks, so stinkin cute! My top picks were definitely the new spirit jersey, the chef Mickey/Minnie mug and of course the FAWF exclusive pins! 


https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=13qo0q1YF-dLrEj_Yv41Eoc4yeYsLxg47
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1xtDRIeGXPkwyZpUYZcNnXxrB3gQiw1op
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=15XLizv5HNcbIux4memslRO92MLtf99NQ
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=162OiAU25LILcm6_V3sCXNFmWvqz8vVHs

Limited Edition Food and Wine Festival Pins:

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1T_6Yi96myyeeUDCHkCbWgyIbiQWwzFvJ
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1K-hHN9fofw3LWfA7VNjuweBdagr0Su05

Limited Edition Food and Wine Festival Cinderella + Gus Gus Pin:

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1uxc3i1g797-WWzLzdz2rlNCqntB6ZqLT

Limited Release Food and Wine Chef Mickey Pin:

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1phpXi3Az-yK2-zwAanygjlpF06rka8gV

Limited Release Passholder Food and Wine Pin:

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1D1V8gYQvduvdB4kSpgHcdZi1vMTDIcng


We are so excited to be back in the fall when we can take our time walking around and enjoy drinking around the world showcase. I will be sure to keep updating this post with our new visits!


WHY YOU WILL LOVE DISNEY’S BEACH CLUB RESORT

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1EhEneZO_VZLU2BCHRboinKljHql1zVfU

A   M I N I   S T A Y C A T I O N 
Destination: Walt Disney World Resorts

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NBDgDTUGIZcLQos426YbYrOfDlVVg3jy
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jk7XkUDmFeP26wzg8MQTz9x2sdfH-P15
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ihVsVylbdGKrvg216_B5FA5D8y58nHSE

We recently took a trip to the beautiful Beach Club Villas, located in the Epcot resort area of Disney World. Being an annual passholder and local to the area, we don’t often stay on Disney property because home is just a short drive away. Being said, sometimes there is nothing better than a weekend getaway to Disney World. We are able to enjoy the parks a little longer without the stress of driving home and it makes me feel like I’m actually on vacation! Some resorts that we have stayed at in the past are The Grand Floridian, Caribbean Beach, The Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Swan and Dolphin (on Disney property but not a Disney resort) and Pop Century.

I was interested in finding a resort on Disney grounds that checks off the wishlist of most guests who are planning a trip to the happiest place on earth! Some of these include kid friendly accommodations and a good location with easy access to the parks and other Disney attractions.

While doing our search for the perfect getaway spot, we were in between a couple Disney resorts. Some that were recommended to us were Saratoga Springs, Old Key West and The Yacht Club.
(A little side note - While searching for our hotel, we saw so many great specials + deals on rooms. One of my favorite perks of being an annual passholder is the summertime resort savings. We took full advantage of this perk when making our decision. We received $400 off the nightly rate!)

For this trip to Disney, it was just my mom and I. We wanted to have a mini girls getaway and weren’t planning on doing any park hopping. Our main focus was the pool and the access to non park attractions like The Boardwalk and Disney Springs.

Our final decision was Disney’s Beach Club Resort and Villas and here is why! 
(P.S we both concluded that this resort could be a great destination for families with kids or even a couples retreat).

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17OFkfRjcUgNJ9wmPLxEUTCYjOhSMWJ9X

Checking In:

The first thing that caught my eye about The Beach Club Resort was its aesthetic and the prime location. Directly across from the boardwalk and equip with its very own beach and Epcot access, I was ready to book a stay right away!

What I love about entering the Beach Club Resort is how bright and open it is. At times, it was extremely crowded with guests checking in and arriving from a Disney cruise but to our surprise we never felt like it was overwhelming or loud. The layout of the resort is wonderful. Unlike some Disney resorts, the lobby is spacious. It feels very welcoming from the second you walk in. We were even greeted by the cutest cast member who gave us some fun Disney facts while we were waiting in line. 

We checked in early and the bell hop took our luggage and stowed it for us while we were waiting for our room to come available.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AqjUZXKFgXT78kDMGgP5fddVyJo8YUZc
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https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1TZpgwhSrRs65WdQvLihvaf-AAox98cRj
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1z7QPzVblZ2nbj8DXlb9auugb72n5NfXK
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1b2LarokXpua03DCIygtfFbr7u1BqeczS

The Beach:

This is one of my favorite features of the Beach Club Resort. Giving guests a true Florida experience, Disney has brought the beach to the middle of Orlando. Outlined by the boardwalk and lagoon, it is a calm and quiet area that is often times not as crowded as the pool. The beach has access to chairs and cabanas for resort guests. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1OK2kNiBtUwosx5bspDuVgLDUGSzslme7
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1F7ql4xzbLMIWLHK5mh9agiIXRJD6_9tw
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1lUOuMUfx0l19nRZypWbLg0JB4GGb0GZ3
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1BGQVvdmc9Ex8FfG_yz2Lz5ZTM1wJ25kc

The Pool:

I would say that The Beach Club Resort hands down has the best pool of all the Disney properties. This is a huge driving point of why we chose to stay here for our mini getaway. There are multiple pools, some with sand bars and even a lazy river!

Over on the villa side we had our own private pool that was less crowded and exclusive to the DVC members and villa guests. We loved having both options during our stay!

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1-z3Pj64g4XEPOXmvG-1HmfEJbTXnDCjI
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1udZX52cjUKSAqZAjKauC0UxqH1BJkh2e
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https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1VsNC53tD8GMwNU-XIH1VD3J_DfpOsLx8

The Beach Club is definitly kid friendly when it comes
to water activities and amenities. The lazy river was a big hit amongst all the little ones and so was the pirate ship slide. 

Hurricane Hanna’s Waterside Bar and Grille is a great poolside amenity that has a full bar and offers a large menu of food items. I ordered the kids chicken tenders and it came in the cutest sand pail. So clever!

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1IWklI-mP8gUoarbgowlqCsmO3uszXs3z
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1IsruW4u1BUL0A-JYqt-UZTgPd-bG0Nny

Resort Restaurants:

The resort has a couple different dining options. The most accessible, located right off the lobby is The Cape May Cafe. A buffet style dining experience, the menu has a range of choices to choose from, including a salad bar, seafood, all american cuisine and dessert options. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Oq5SbVZ1CLgY9BmfFMG2-McSJW00gaph
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ayFCGMtszwAqM0xJc28tJYOopDI5mrxK
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1X7wsoiZ63mXi9pgVkcpEVkJ84YqxQDPX

Beaches and Cream:

One of the most popular places to find a sweet treat at Disney World is definitely Beaches and Cream, located in the pool area of The Beach Club Resort. Known for its kitchen sink dessert and massive sundaes, this soda shop does not disappoint! I went right for the Minnie Milkshake and it was just as good as it looks!

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1FfdG5C98qu0CCcoQC7eP6Oc0riWtRUF9
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1iDH-vULxQZaYIhChtJQtjBIXsLH0LxTl
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1MMihv9NloapI1yR3q-Kt-oUuWld4Jwvn

The Grounds:

It’s undeniable that the resort is absolutely gorgeous. We enjoyed walking around and looking at all of the beautiful details of the building and scenery.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11_tw610fGBdF8dGJOSYhuEUOch1qKl8g
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NfbiGyt1VrH0pj3V0mx5LQoJ5bP1ijT-
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18BvBLS3brltK0gihMYroPP3GRtco97n9
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1g-v2UlKQjMnmlvTk-E5x_o3h5w7C-IBG

The Villas:

The Villas have a separate location right off of the main resort. The villas are for Disney Vacation Club members or can come available in the off season for guests who are not in the DVC program. The villas have a private pool access alongside access to all of the amenities in the main resort area. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=17mxExBzeZI_rJWKZBMfZXzTWh1K70Wcm
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https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jnPpPv5k317MjDOreM19asP5j32Ur88S
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https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=13Pa7OEfRTnE_87OHEk6HOx_Ky06-pM4f

Our Villa:

Our villa was very spacious and had a small balcony overlooking the pool. Since the villas are mostly occupied by DVC members, they do have special features including a small kitchen, living room area and a larger bathroom. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1YiJuuvPwl317YVwH5cLaoae2IrtTb_07
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11pUSxX8Ed9xKu5-ORylZ8Y4GfApuAD1f
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Connection to the Yaht Club:

The Beach Club is conveniently connected to the Yaht Club, another beautiful Disney resort. We found this so accommodating, providing more dining options during our stay. The Yaht club has a more warm and cozy feel as you enter the lobby. We loved watching the boats pull up to the dock. It gave a great overall experience, making you feel emerced in the nautical theme. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1qRhgfnHHnUnq0RsxJrMok5YteaOegt5X
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1xgT6KEXZC73bZClRc9U46UCgfUPBOumO
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https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1RAbm_h2eJdsZGVxe2MPnSf7Bq3Mm0rAC

Walking distance to the Boardwalk:

We were so excited to have the Boardwalk within walking distance of our resort. We strolled over to the fu outdoor dock to grab lunch and do some shopping. On the boardwalk you will find an assortment of restaurants and Disney themed shops where you can load up on all things Mickey and Minnie or even rent a biketo travel around the Epcot resort area.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1CNUchcjTU3zvdPA1xOf45NqNb_YMCGvq
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Back entrance to Epcot:

This is a huge advantage especially when Epcot is having a large event such as the Flower and Garden Festival or The Food and Wine Festival. This back entrance is just a short 2 minute walk from the resort and puts you in the back end of Epcot’s World Showcase. The lines are often very short and this area of the park is much less crowded. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=14fbQVh5sRVobN5C0DL90YO0ZwCbYk4RR
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1QIEWJoUItdslu4Hc8J-cfnTz2uPTEDMA

Overall, we absolutely loved our weekend getaway at the Beach Club Resort and Villas! I would highly recommend this location if planning a Disney World trip with family or kids. There is so much to do around the property and the location is prime!

To book your stay or for more information on The Beach Club Resort and Villas, visit:


For more information regarding the villas, visit:



https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NgMcZ2BQitVcG_vtIWKKUG0dc6Kkh-Ww
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Cr6U_ruNRff5vnOP8bALW5Xty4Iz-12l


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