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Walt Disney World Tickets



Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2006

The 11th annual fall event will run for six weeks, from September 29 – November 12, 2006. All festival events are included with regular Epcot admission.

The festival features such activities as the Great American Gardeners lecture series, the Eat to the Beat Concert Series and Disney Gardening at Home presentations, as well as many floral displays and dozens of the topiaries that at one time could be seen all over Walt Disney World.

Here's a rundown on what's going on at the Festival in 2006:


Culinary demonstrations have always been a mainstay of the event. Photo by Sue Holland.

Festival Center events

The Festival Welcome Center inside Innoventions West is open daily from park open to park close. Inside the center, you can:


South Africa's marketplace is located near the Outpost. Photo by Sue Holland.

International marketplaces provide tastes from around the world

Two dozen culinary marketplaces featuring foods and beverages from around the world tempt you all around the World Showcase. The appetizer-sized portions range from $1.50-$4.50, and most of the locations offer food and beverage pairings. Argentina, India, Thailand and Turkey are new additions this year. The complete list of marketplaces is:


Even at eleven-thirty in the morning, the Specialty Beer Garden was doing a bit of business during the 2003 Flower & Garden Festival. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Seminars and tastings teach about foods and beverages

Special tastings and seminars take place around World Showcase most days, providing a chance to get more insight into how to compare various foods and beverages.

Child-focused events and features

To make sure young ones don't feel left out, the festival also includes these child-focused activities:


The Buzz About Honey tent appeared during the 2003 Flower & Garden Festival. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Eat to the Beat Concert Series

Concerts take place three times nightly at the America Gardens Theatre, at 5:45, 7:00 and 8:15 p.m. Be careful if you decide to dance after sampling too much food from the international marketplaces, as your stomach may not appreciate it. [Note: As always, entertainment is subject to change without notice.]


The Festival del Cioccolato entry in Italy Pavilion was popular during the 2003 Food & Wine Festival. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.

Special events provide hard-ticketed culinary experiences

The number of events that require separate, advance payment have exploded this year. Nearly 150 different events of 14 types with prices ranging from $40 to $300 per person will probably all sell out. Many of these events sell out in the first day or two of reservations becoming available. Reservations, which can be made at 407-WDW-FEST (407-939-3378), for these events opened on July 31. Nearly all take place in Epcot, though some are located in various high-end restaurants around Walt Disney World. Separate theme park admission required unless indicated otherwise.

Sweet Sundays – At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on Sundays from 9-11 a.m. and 12-2 p.m. ($60 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Starting with a light breakfast or lunch (depending on the time of the session), watch a celebrity pastry chef create three dessert items that you sample throughout the event.

The Cook, the Book and the Bottle – At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on select Thursdays and Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ($150 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). A celebrity chef prepares a three-course lunch for you, and you also receive an autographed book and commemorative bottle of wine.

Odyssey Kitchen Conversations – At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on select Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to noon. ($75 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Food Network personalities chat with guests, demonstrate food preparation, and provide an autographed copy of their book.

The Odyssey Cooking School – At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ($150 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). A Walt Disney World chef assists a visiting chef in guiding teams to create a themed lunch, which is sampled and paired with wines at the end of the class. Limited to 24 guests per session.

Chefs A' Field - Culinary Adventures That Begin on the Farm – At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ($135 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Well-known chefs lead guests to the field and back to the kitchen, then turn the gathered ingredients into a three-course meal. Based on the popular PBS television series. All guests also receive a complimentary copy of the Chefs A' Field book.

Epcot Wine Schools – At the Wonders of Life pavilion unless otherwise noted on selected Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ($150 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). A comprehensive program including continental breakfast and lunch, this is facilitated by a prestigious wine authority and provides a certificate of completion. Theme park admission is not required for this event.

Cheese & Wine Pairing Workshop – At Ariel's at the Yacht and Beach Club Resort on Saturdays from 2-3:30 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on September 30 only ($45 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Industry experts provide information about interesting regional cheeses and wines. Theme park admission is not required for this event.

Wine & Food in Balance Workshop – At Ariel's at the Yacht and Beach Club Resort on Sundays from 2-3:30 p.m. ($45 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Experts teach how to pair wine with food for everyday and special occasions. Theme park admission is not required.

Vertical Wine Tastings – At the California Grill at the Contemporary Resort on Saturdays from 1:30-3 p.m. (prices vary by session). Guests experience an educational tasting of 10 vintages from a specific vineyard. Theme park admission is not required.

Food & Wine Pairings – At various Epcot restaurants on different days and times at each location ($40 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Three different wines and three tasting portions are provided at each session.

Party for the Senses - Eat, Drink and Celebrate – At the World Showplace between the Canada and U.K. pavilions on Saturdays from 6:30-9 p.m. ($125 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). This highly-popular event starts with reserved seats at the 7:00 performance of that evening's Eat to the Beat concerts, followed by an event featuring more than 25 chefs and over 70 wines and beers at tasting stations throughout the pavilion while Cirque du Soleil La Nouba provides entertainment.

Exquisite Evenings at Epcot – At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on various evenings from 6:30-9 p.m. ($195 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). This top-priced event features a team of celebrity and Walt Disney World chefs preparing a five-course meal, while a wine expert provides information and recommendations. Theme Park admission is not required for this event.

Regional Feasts – At the Odyssey Restaurant between Future World and World Showcase on various dates from 6:30-9 p.m. ($145 per person, plus tax, gratuity included). Each of these events will feature cuisine from different regions of the world. Theme Park admission is not required for this event.

Signature Dinners – At various Walt Disney World restaurants on selected days from 6:30-9 p.m. (costs vary by event). Celebrity chefs join Walt Disney World chefs to prepare special five-course dinners.

List of chefs in attendance

List of wineries in attendance