This year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival will return to the park September 19 – November 10, and we just received the list of performers who will participate in the Eat to the Beat concert series.
New acts coming this year include the Jo Dee Messina, Fuel and Los Lonely Boys. There are also several returning favorites, including Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Boyz II Men.
Check out the full schedule below.
- Sept 19-21 – Jo Dee Messina
- Sept. 22-23 – The Pointer Sisters
- Sept. 24-25 – The Commodores
- Sept. 26-27 – Christopher Cross
- Sept. 28-29 – Hanson
- Sept. 30-Oct. 2 – Air Supply
- Oct. 3-5 – STARSHIP starring Mickey Thomas
- Oct. 6-8 – Sugar Ray
- Oct. 9-10 – Fuel
- Oct. 11-12 – Sister Hazel
- Oct. 13-14 – Richard Marx
- Oct. 15-16 – Billy Ocean
- Oct. 17-19 – Night Ranger
- Oct. 20-22 – Smash Mouth
- Oct. 23-24 – Jim Brickman
- Oct. 25-26 – Los Lonely Boys
- Oct. 27-28 – Wilson Phillips
- Oct. 29-31 – Dennis DeYoung, original member of STYX
- Nov. 1-2 – 38 Special
- Nov. 3-5 – Boyz II Men
- Nov. 6-7 – David Cook
- Nov. 8-10 – Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Comments
My experience matches Julie’s. I got there Friday night for Jo Dee Messina around 5:10 or so. The Italy side line had just entered, and they were starting to open up the rest of the theater. There were still a few under-cover seats availalble, but I took a center open-air seat instead. Cast Members were on-hand with towels to help dry the benches, as it was still drizzling a bit. As the concert progressed, I promptly got rained on. 🙂
I heard it got worse as the night went on, but I didn’t stay for the rest of her sets, which she implied would be different. I’m taking most of the week off from concert-going, but will be attending Christopher Cross Friday night. Hopefully the weather will be better.
We just attended Jo Dee Messina last night and Chase has the VIP suite still, but CHASE is NOT giving out VIP armbands this year. The front rows of seating (previously Chase VIP seating) is now reserved for ‘Eat to the Beat’ program where you reserve dinner (or lunch) at a participating restaurant and then you reserve a concert time. Once done with your meal, you get a pass for ONE of the concert shows that evening. That pass then allows you to line up on the FRANCE side of the concert entrance (the Italy side may allow you to line up as well but I didn’t see it – and in years past that side was general admission line) and you get to sit (first come first serve) in the front reserved sections. We were pleased with the seats even though Eat to the Beat costs a bit more – it was worth the minimal line and GREAT seats up by the stage (plus under the roof when it rains)
@Patricia, Food & Wine (and thus, Eat to the Beat) ends a few weeks before Thanksgiving. There won’t be any concerts that week.
@Margaret, I’ll check tonight if they have wristbands again. They did in the spring, if memory serves. They also offer a dining package with reserved seating, and I don’t remember that from last year. They always clear out the theater after every performance. I often just grab a sandwich from the France Pavillion and sit on the fountain wall outside of American Adventure. You don’t see much, but you hear everything.
Do you know yet if Chase cardholders are going to be able to get a wristband for early admittance to the concerts? Also, if you get in to the 5 o’clock show, do you have to leave before the 6:45 show starts? Thanks!
Are there any concerts scheduled for the week of Thanksgiving – November 24 – 29?
Daily show times for the Eat to the Beat Concert Series take place at 5:30pm, 6:45pm, and 8:00pm. Usually the only “fast pass” for these concerts is to pick up the eat to the beat package where you eat at a participating restaurant and they give you a printed showtime on a card that you can take and use to get in early for that show only. Kind of like the candelight processional package.
Frances-yes, you show up and there is a line by the American Pavillion theater stretching toward Italy. I have seen people start getting in line two hours or more before a show.
In previous years when this was sponsered by Chase, Chase cardholders could get a wristband to get into a special line stretching toward Japan, that got in before the other line. Chase appears to sponsoring again, but no word on the wrist bands. We can hope!
What happen to Rick Springfield… Wasn’t he supposed to be there on the 26? I planned my trip all around seeing Rick Springfield.
So, how does this work? Do you just show up, and, if yes, where and what time. Or, are there tickets?
Note: the Commodores just replaced Rick Springfield today
Is this correct because the musical acts on the Epcot site does not show Rick Springfield I am reserved at Fort Wildernesss for him. Do I need to cancel my trip and save for another time??????
Karen- i spoke with dave from survivor two months ago and he said they should be playing this year… i think they are the TBD… but the bands calendar needs to be updated…who knows.
I am a huge Big Bad Voodoo Daddy fan. Looking forward to hopefully seeing.
any idea when Oct 13th and 14th will be announced?
Donna- Admission to the concerts are included with admission to the park. We’ve been the last three years and, to my knowledge, there are no meet and greets. At least, I’ve never heard of them doing them. There are typically three shows a night- one around 5:30, one in the six o’clock hour, and one around 8 or so… get there early, because the line fills up.
Want to see Rick Springfield in September however was wondering as to what I need to do to purchase tickets? Is it just the price of admission to Epcot?
and also, is there a way either the entertainer or Epcot can have a meet and greet package deal? (sort of like they do for the concerts).
Are fast passes available for this concert series?
Can’t wait for RS! Saw him at the Hard Rock and at Epcot, he’s still just as good today as he was the first time I heard him back on GH when he was just starting out. Glad he’s back.
Oh no! Where is Survivor?! 🙁 I sure hope they fill in the TBD spot. They are the only reason we’ve gone to F&W the past two years.
What time are the concerts usually? This will be my first time there for the event.
Rick Springfield!!!!! FINALLY!!! Just booked 4 nights at POR & will be seeing him both nights in September!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAHHHHHHH!! (Husband not QUITE as excited as me, but he’s a great sport!! 🙂
OMG! Rick Springfield! Thank you Disney for getting him to join in. And for two nights!
I have every intention of going to all six Hanson shows. Fourth year in a row! I am so excited to see them again, they put on such a good show! I adore them!
David Cook’s coming? Awesome!
I can’t wait to see TBD on Oct 13th!
I’ve been waiting patiently for this announcement. We love seeing these concerts. We are very excited that 38 Special and Boyz II Men will be playing during our trip. We haven’t seen them before and enjoy their music.
I am ready to mmmbop!
The same group that played during my F&G visit is playing during my F&W visit. D’oh! Are the GoGos playing?
Great line-up but a question. The Go-Gos aren’t listed in the line-up but their photo is above. Are they performing as well?
Mark.
Why would you tease us with a picture of the Go-Go’s if they aren’t in the lineup this year? Not nice!!!
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