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PHOTOS: First Look at Festival Center For 20th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

Steven Miller

by , Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Walt Disney World Resort

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September is my favorite month of the year as I celebrate two awesome things – my birthday and the return of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival at Walt Disney World Resort. The latter is celebrating 20 years this fall, and I can’t wait to taste my way around the world again. I recently stopped by the Festival Center in Future World to check out the merchandise being offered this year. Here are some of my favorite things you will find throughout Epcot.

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The Festival Center is located between Universe of Energy and Mission: SPACE pavilions in Future World. This location houses many experiences including a merchandise location, wine shop, Intermission Café, and cooking demonstrations. This is also a great place to pick up the new scavenger hunt called Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak (see my fellow author Michelle Harker’s article for details.

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This year, there are three distinct art programs for the merchandise – World Showcase logo, Disney characters dressed as chefs, and Brews Around the World. You may recall reading about some of these items in a previous Disney Parks Blog article. Guests will find many of these items including apparel, home décor, drinkware and other goods at this location. One item that won’t arrive until later during the festival is the previously shown Figment coffee mug (just in case you were looking for it).

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I’m also happy to announce a specially designed charm from PANDORA. This sterling silver charm with white and black enamel features Chef Mickey, and it will be released during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

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Finally, we will offer a limited release tee-shirt on our Disney Parks online store from September 25 through October 1. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. You can order the shirt by visiting DisneyStore.com/ParkEvents.

Here are a few other items I found including a new Disney Gift Card and Festival Cookbook. I hope to see you at Epcot this fall!

Comments

  • Steven, My friends and I were wondering about the little icons that look like vegetables on some of the displays. Some say they dont work and look weird, I think they are a nod to the original show from The Land called Kitchen Kaberet…can you enlighten us?

  • Steven,

    You know I just keep thinking of questions…since the Figment mug hasn’t been released, I have to ask: are there other items in addition to the Figment mug that have not been released yet?

    I’m also hoping they still have supplies of the free AP commemorative glass by the end of October…will they be receiving additional quantities throughout the festival (in case they do run out at some point between now and then)?

  • Love the Figment merchandise and the new Dooney bags! Happy Birthday, Steven! May you feel as young as the F&W Festival!

    • @Jennifer – I agree the Figment merchandise is fantastic! Thank you for the birthday wishes. 🙂

  • Is there anyway to get any of these items without going? The Dooney and Bourke bags look amazing and I would love to get one!

  • Looking forward to this year’s event. We have a very special event oi celebrate. I do have a question. I have seen this advertised as the 20th year and also the 20th anniversary. I have a pin from 1996 which I believed was the inaugural year for this. If it was the 20th anniversary, it would have started in 1995. I think you are correct. Am I?

    • @Chris – I had the same question when I first saw the artwork. We are celebrating the 20th time the Festival has been held at Epcot. If you consider 1996 the first year and start counting up (1997 = year 2, 1998 = year 3, etc.), you will get to the 20th year which is 2015.

  • Another question..is the magnet for the character program made of wood like the magnet for the taste your way around the world? Or is the character program magnet just vinyl?

    • @Jonathan – It is a crystalline magnet, not really vinyl.

  • Yep, I was wondering about that figment mug since I hadn’t seen any pictures of it yet!
    I take it there is no deluxe print, correct?

    What is the retail price for the individual dessert plates (character program and taste your way around the world program)?

    I have to wait until the end of October to be there, but there are a few things I hope I’ll be able to order before then! 🙂

    • @Jonathan – There are two posters available this year – the 20th logo shown in the first image and the World Showcase outline artwork. I’ve not seen any deluxe prints.

      Dessert plates are $12.95 each.

  • Hi Steven – We love the festival and look forward to it every year. I am super excited about Figment art this year as he is one of my favorite characters. Is the Figment ornament that was previewed back in July still coming too? I really want him AND the coffee mug! Thank you for a great preview!

    • @Amanda – The Figment ornament should be in select merchandise locations at Epcot now.

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