Epcot International Food & Wine: a Ten Year Comparative View
Forgive me for not being out of the gate on the International Food & Wine event at Epcot this year. Honestly, I chose to take my time sampling from the menu rather than indulging all on one weekend. I also have tired of just doing food reviews for that alone. But I wanted to give some context to this year’s review, and not simply do a quick food review–though there is still plenty of that for those wanting it. We look at how this lines up with the festival ten years ago, as well as last year’s and a few others in between. What are the hits and what are the terrible misses? From food to entertainment to facilities, we look at all this and even whether coming to the Epcot festival today is better than attending ten years ago. You may be surprised at the answers, so join us for Epcot International Food & Wine: a 2014-2024 Comparative View.
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Global Marketplace Comparisons & Review
World Showcase
14 out of 28 marketplaces in World Showcase are the same as ten years ago–technically. But take a look at some of the choices, and you see that the differences lie in whether you focus on Hops and Barley one year and the funnel cake kiosk another. And of course, the real differences lie in the taste.
Two dramatic comparisons from the past to the present: Puerto Rico from 2014 and Australia from 2024. These
Mexico
Mexico Menu
Food Items:
- Tostada de Camarones: Tempura battered shrimp atop a fried corn tortilla with guacamole, cabbage, chipotle aïoli, diced mango, and chile-lime powder (New) ***
- Flauta de Barbacoa: Fried tortillas filled with barbacoa beef topped with salsa verde, crema Mexicana, and queso fresco (New) ***
- Pan de Elote: Traditional Mexican cornbread topped with chocolate sauce and queso fresco (New) ***
China Menu
Food Items:
- Pan-fried Chicken Dumplings with house-made sweet-and-spicy sauce *
- Crispy Duck Bao Bun with hoisin sauce (New)
- Shanghai Scallion Noodles with shrimp (New)
Germany Menu
Food Items:
- ???? Schinkennudeln: Pasta gratin with ham, onions, and cheese
- Bratwurst on a pretzel roll with mustard*
- Apple Strudel with vanilla sauce**
Greece Menu
Location: Between Japan and Morocco
Food Items:
- Spanakopita
- IMPOSSIBLE Moussaka (Plant-based)
- ???? Griddled Cheese with pistachios and honey ***
- Lamb Gyro with shaved lettuce, tomato-cumber relish, and tzatziki on warm flatbread
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina Menu
Location: Morocco
Food Items:
- Grilled Kebabs with carrot-chickpea salad and garlic aïoli
- Chermoula Chicken
- Moroccan-spiced Lamb
- Fried Falafel Pita with tomato-cucumber relish and tahini sauce (Plant-based)
- Stone-baked Moroccan Bread with assorted dips (Plant-based)***
- Pistachio Cake with cinnamon pastry cream and candied walnut***
Belgium Menu
Location: Between France and Morocco
Food Items:
- Beer-braised Beef served with smoked gouda mashed potatoes
- Belgian Waffle with warm chocolate ganache *
- Belgian Waffle with berry compote and whipped cream *
Brazil Menu
Location: Between France and Morocco
Food Items:
- Feijoada: Black beans with pork belly, Brazil nut pesto, and BEN’S ORIGINAL Long Grain White Rice
- ???? Pão de Queijo: Brazilian cheese bread***
France
France Menu
Food Items:
- Moelleux aux Oignons Caramélisés et au Fromage de Chèvre: Egg moelleux, goat cheese, and caramelized onions (New) ***
- Brioche aux Escargots: Escargot brioche with garlic and parsley cream (New) *
- Boeuf Bourguignon, Pommes de terre roties: Braised short ribs in cabernet with roasted potatoes
- Crème Brûlée mangue et passion à la Confiture: Mango passion crème brûlée with fruit compote
Canada Menu
Food Items:
- Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Soup served with a pretzel roll***
- Filet Mignon with mushrooms, Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs mashed potatoes, and Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs butter**
Hawaii
Hawaii Menu
Location: Near Port of Entry
Food Items:
- Slow-roasted Pork Slider with sweet-and-sour DOLE Pineapple chutney and spicy mayonnaise
- Hawaiian Rice Bowl: Spam, eggs, eel sauce, spicy mayonnaise, and furikake (New)**
- ???? Passion Fruit Cheesecake with toasted macadamia nuts
World Celebration, World Nature & World Discovery
This is where Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival truly is different. So much more of the festival lies on the bottom half of World Celebration, World Discovery and World Nature. It simply wasn’t that way ten years ago–with one big exception, that we’ll cover under Festival Offerings
Coastal Eats Menu
Location: Near Mission: SPACE
Food Items:
- Roasted Warm Water Lobster Tail with garlic butter $13
- Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail with cocktail sauce
The Fry Basket Menu
Location: Near Refreshment Station Hosted by Coca Cola
Food Items:
- Adobo Yuca Fries with garlic-cilantro aïoli (Plant-based) **
- Fry Flight *
- Truffle-Parmesan Fries *
- Barbeque Bacon Fries with smoked aïoli
- Sweet Potato Casserole Fries with candied pecans, toasted marshmallow cream, and bourbon maple syrup
Brew-Wing Lab Menu
Location: The Odyssey
Food Items:
- Traditional Buffalo Wings with celery and ranch **
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Sticky Wings **
- Garlic-Parmesan Wings
- IMPOSSIBLE Buffalo Chicken Tenders with ranch and celery (Plant-based) ***
- Unnecessarily Spicy Yet Extremely Tasty Carolina Reaper Pepper Curry Wings with creamy cucumber raita (New)
- Fried Pickle Spears with dill ranch *
Beverages:
- Frozen Pomegranate & Raspberry Tea: Twinings Pomegranate & Raspberry Herbal Tea infused with orange ice cream molecules (Non-alcoholic)
- Pickle Milk Shake (Non-alcoholic) **
Forest & Field
Forest & Field Menu
Location: Between World Showcase and Imagination! Pavilion
Food Items:
- Autumn Chili with bison, lamb, pork belly, root vegetables, jalapeño cornbread, smoked cheddar, and Crème Fraîche (New)
- ???? Pumpkin Mascarpone Ravioli with sage-brown butter, pecorino cheese, and hazelnut praline (New) **
- Burrata with seasonal fall fruit, spiced pecans, apple purée, and fig vinaigrette (New)
Milled & Mulled
Milled & Mulled Menu
Location: Between World Showcase and Imagination! Pavilion
Food Items:
- Freshly-baked Carrot Cake with walnuts and cream cheese icing
- ???? Boursin Fig & Balsamic Cheesecake with fig jam and pomegranate (New)
- Pear and Almond Frangipane Pâte Brisée (New) **
CommuniCore Hall
NEW! Macatizers Menu
Location: CommuniCore Hall
Food Items:
- ???? Traditional Macaroni and Cheese with herbed panko
- ???? Cheesesteak Macaroni and Cheese with shaved beef, peppers and onions, and breadcrumbs
- ???? Truffle Macaroni and Cheese *
- ???? IMPOSSIBLE Chili Macaroni and Cheese with sour cream and cheddar (Plant-based)
CommuniCore Hall: NEW! Festival Favorites Menu
Food Items:
- Kielbasa and Potato Pierogis with caramelized onions and sour cream
- ???? BBQ Pork Rinds served with pimento cheese
- Key Lime Tart **
Beverages:
- Frozen S’mores: Chocolate Milk Shake with marshmallow syrup topped with mini marshmallows and a graham cracker (Non-alcoholic) **
Festival Offerings
In summary, they may have done a better job retrofitting Wonders of Life than they did building CommuniCore from the ground up. They certainly have not taken advantage of what could be done within the CommuniCore space. How it is utilized in this year’s festival is a massive disappointment. See the images below:
Wonders of Life Festival Welcome Center
CommuniCore Hall
Marketplace Offerings
Comparing the Total Epcot Experience
Souvenirs for You and Your Organization
Here are questions you may want to ask yourself when it comes to how you do business:
- Who is your audience?
- How do you continually cater and give reason for that audience to return?
- Could you modify something better than building it from the ground up?
- What assets are you not creating greater value from?
- How do you balance your long term assets and your short term assets?
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