No matter when you go to Disney World, we can predict at least one of three things will happen: 1.) You will sweat. 2.) You will get rained on. 3.) You will hunt down some water (preferably a FREE cup of it) during your day in the theme parks. It’s inevitable!
Partner’s Statue
But what if we told you that there is ONE handy product available on Amazon that takes care of ALL THREE problems? In fact, it solves a TON of theme park-related struggles we face on a daily basis, and it’s only $60! Prepare to be amazed.
DISCLOSURE: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning when you click the links and make a purchase, we receive a commission.
OK, seriously, this thing has it ALL! The fanny pack comes in multiple colors and includes everything you see in the photo! In total, this is a 10-piece set with tons of handy accessories! Items include a personal fan equipped with a USB charger, a cooling towel, a collapsible silicone water bottle, a silicone reusable straw with a case keychain and cleaner, an emergency poncho, two refill ponchos, AND a sphere keychain to hold them. WOW!
Theme park essentials fanny pack
We tested this out in Disney World and can confirm it is 100% worth the money. It’s so convenient, and the accessories are thoughtful and easy to pack.
Fan
From the reusable straw to the cooling towel, we have recommended each of these items for YEARS, so it’s amazing to see it all included in one product.
Straw
Whether you’re planning a trip to the Magic Kingdom or taking a Disney Cruise, these items should come with you wherever you go.
Cooling towel
The fanny pack holds a LOT, so you’ve got plenty of room for your phone and other travel essentials.
Collapsible water bottle
Oh, and this poncho case is GENIUS! It’s a great way to keep your poncho safe before (or after) a rainstorm.
Just pack it away
Make sure to check it out on Amazon now! There’s even a coupon — make sure to apply it before you check out.
Can you believe it’s already September? The first week of September will continue bringing us closures around Disney World, but now we know when a popular spot will reopen!
Blizzard Beach Water Park
Disney recently announced that Blizzard Beach will once again be reopening this winter! It does seem appropriate that a water park named “Blizzard Beach” will be open in the coolest months of the year but don’t worry, you can still have a fun time in the warm water. Find out when Blizzard Beach will officially open along with what other closures will affect Disney World this week below!
While we’re looking forward to the reopening of Blizzard Beach, we have a few months to wait yet. This week, there are still a few other closures affecting Disney World. Keep reading to find out what will be closed the week of August 31st through September 7th.
Magic Kingdom
Jungle Cruise
The wild river ride closed on August 26th, and no this is not some joke the Skippers just came up with!
Walls are up at Jungle Cruise
The punny ride will be closed for refurbishment, but will luckily reopen on October 18th, if everything goes to plan. If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom over the next month and a half, we’re sorry to report that you will not get to see the eighth wonder of the world — the backside of water. Hopefully, the next time you visit you’ll get to “ooo” and “ahhh” and this marvel!
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
We had to say goodbye to an opening day attraction on June 23rd.
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade with construction walls around it
The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade was around for generations and provided simple fun to all who played. Now, the attraction has closed to make room for a new Disney Vacation Club lounge. This lounge will be the third in Disney World, joining one in EPCOT and one at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Disney has not yet announced when the new lounge will open.
Tomorrowland Terrace is a quick-service restaurant that has been closed since the 2020 pandemic-related closures, but even before that, this spot was only occasionally open.
Tomorrowland Terrace
Once in a while, you’ll see the dining room open as a rest area (and it’s still being used for the Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Parties), but it’s usually all roped off and empty.
Restaurant Marrakesh is currently closed as a dining location in the Morocco pavilion of EPCOT’s World Showcase, and there’s no word yet on when the restaurant could fully reopen.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid is currently closed in Disney World. We recently spotted some construction walls up at the show!
Construction walls are up at Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Disney is going to introduce a new, updated show in this spot, though it will still be themed to the animated movie The Little Mermaid! The new show will be called “The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure” and is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Fall 2024.
Since July 29th Everything Pop has been getting some work done. The refurbishment is set to last until September 29th. However, while the work is being done, guests can still use the Disney World app to mobile order food. You may need to use alternate entrances to access the food court and seating may be limited.
Barbados Leisure Pool
The Barbados leisure pool will be closed at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort from July 29th through the end of September 2024.
Barbados Pool
This resort is organized into villages and each area has its own leisure pool. While the Barbados leisure pool is closed, check out one of the other several options around the resort!
Halloween Horror Nights runs on Wednesday through Sunday nights from now through November 3rd, 2024. The event is quite different from Disney’s event in that you’re not encouraged to wear costumes, there’s no parade or special fireworks, and there’s no trick-or-treating. However, you get a lot more scary stuff, including ten haunted houses and five scare zones that are sure to get your blood pumping. However, if you just have one night to visit Halloween Horror Nights, you might have to pay extra to walk through all those haunted houses with little to no wait.
If you plan on visiting Halloween Horror Nights, a regular ticket starts at $83 and goes up to $123, depending on the night (Saturdays in October are the most expensive). That’s significantly cheaper than Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, which can run up to $200. However, Halloween Horror Nights brings serious crowds and long lines to each haunted house, so if you’re lucky, you MAY get to visit about half of the houses in one night, and that’s without doing anything else, skipping things like entertainment, shopping, and food.
Halloweed Horror Nights line
However, you can purchase additional add-ons (on top of the ticket price) to give yourself more of an opportunity to visit more houses. The Halloween Horror Nights Express Pass allows you to skip the line at every haunted house once during the night. It starts at $149.99 per person (the price can be even more, depending on the date).
You can also purchase a Scream Early ticket (in addition to the ticket for the event) that lets you get into Halloween Horror Nights early and then allows you to wait in the “Stay & Scream” area until the event begins, which will give you a headstart to get to the haunted houses. That one starts at $55 per person. However, you’ll still have to wait in the long lines that will form later on for the houses.
Signs for the houses
So if you’re serious about getting to visit all ten houses in one night, the pricier option at almost $150 (or more) for the Express Pass may be your best bet (and that puts the price of Halloween Horror Nights slightly higher the price of a Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party ticket). But is it worth it?
Scare Zone
We attended the first night of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando, and we think that, yes, it is worth it to pay extra to skip the long lines at the houses. This also frees you up to spend time in the scare zones, check out the tribute store, do some shopping, eat some fun spooky snacks, and check out the live entertainment.
Inside this year’s Tribute Store
We know it’s pricey, but if you seriously want to do everything at Halloween Horror Nights in one evening, the additional cost of the Express Pass is well worth it. We managed to get through all ten houses and still had time to check out the Tribute store, see some entertainment, and eat some fun snacks. Considering how much there is to see and do, we felt like we got our money’s worth.
Gotta make time to eat
In the end, though, you’ll have to determine if the additional cost of the Express Pass is worth it for you and your group. But if you’re wanting to get the most out of your evening, you’ll get even more by paying more (if that makes sense). We recommend giving Halloween Horror Nights a go if you’re looking for something a little scarier than Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or you just want a different kind of Halloween experience.
Every week, we report the average Disney World wait times in every park so that you can be prepared for your next trip to Orlando!
Magic Kingdom
Disney World saw an unprecedented week of wait time decreases in the final full week of August. Every ride in the resort – – including Flight of Passage – – saw times decrease. Was this due to summer vacation ending, the new Lighting Lane Multi Pass system, or something else?
Take a look at this week’s average wait times!
Magic Kingdom Wait Times
The Magic Kingdom saw dips in wait time across the board this week. Pretty much every ride at the park saw a drop of at least several minutes this week.
(REMINDER: TRON Lightcycle / Run does not currently use a standby queue; it’s not included here, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure does not have a standby queue yet.)
Mine Train
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — 49 minutes
Peter Pan’s Flight — 41 minutes
Space Mountain — 31 minutes
Jungle Cruise — 31 minutes
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — 26 minutes
Haunted Mansion — 26 minutes
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — 24 minutes
Pirates of the Caribbean
Astro Orbiter — 20 minutes
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — 19 minutes
Enchanted Tales with Belle — 19 minutes
Tomorrowland Speedway — 13 minutes
Pirates of the Caribbean — 12 minutes
“it’s a small world” — 11 minutes
Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini — 11 minutes
Test Track, Awesome Planet, Beauty and the Beast Sing-Along, Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival, Impressions de France, and Reflections of China had no wait times this week.
Even Animal Kingdom’s Flight of Passage, Disney’s near undisputed champion of average weekly wait times in recent years, saw a huge drop this week, falling to just 61 minutes.
Hollywood Studiosjoined its fellow parks in seeing wait times dip this week, though to a slightly lesser extent than Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
How long would you wait for your favorite ride? Let us know in the comments below!
Getting Disney merch in Florida is about to get even easier!
Primark is here!
We’re always keeping an eye out for the latest Disney souvenir news — both at the Disney Parks and online. If you’re in the Orlando area and looking for Disney essentials outside of the parks, then you’re in luck — a new store with many Disney offerings is HERE at The Florida Mall!
We were invited to check out the brand-new Primark store located at The Florida Mall — including its special Disney merchandise offerings! Now, if you’re not familiar with Primark, you should know that the best thing about this store is that everything is generally VERY inexpensive.
The location at The Florida Mall is the first Primark Orlando location EVER. The Ireland-based fashion, home, and body store even features an entire floor dedicated to Disney merch! If you’re not familiar with Primark, let’s just say it’s sort of like Target, but the prices are even lower! See that shirt? See the price tag on it? Just $7! You can also find accessories like backpacks, purses, totes, and more. Yes, you can even get Minnie ears here, too!
ALL the Disney stuff
We absolutely loved this Bambi bag collection we discovered. Lug Bag, what? Loungefly, who? We’ll take one of each of these bags!
Bambi bag collection
We even spotted a super fun Stitch collection. If you love Stitch, you’ll definitely have to stop by for a visit.
Stitch collection
Marvel fans will probably want to visit the store, too — we spotted an entire section dedicated to Marvel.
Marvle merchandise
Check out these super fun Mickey shoes.
Mickey shoes
The Disney part of the store alone is MASSIVE.
SO much stuff
How cute is this Mickey and Friends luggage?
Luggage
The store officially opened on August 29th, and the two-story Primark store can be found at the mall across from the American Girl store. The Florida Mall’s location will mark Primark’s second Florida location and 26th in the United States. The Disney collection is on the top floor, while the bottom floor has travel, beauty, accessories, kids, and adults collections. The fitting rooms are also downstairs. There’s a set of elevators, as well as multiple entrances into the store from the parking lot.
The Orlando location is truly unique in that it plays to the Disney World vibes of the city. The entire floor stocked with Disney merchandise is Primark’s first of its kind.
Disney x Primark
Accompanying the store’s opening will be some weekend events including food trucks, illustrators, and performances between August 31st and September 1st.
Primark
For all the latest Disney news, stay tuned right here at DFB!
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Are you planning on visiting Primark for its grand opening? Let us know in the comments!
Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Primark to attend their media preview of The Florida Mall location. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ
The second exclusive Universal Orlando Annual Passholder button available during Passholder Appreciation Days celebrates the 10th anniversary of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Diagon Alley.
UOAP Diagon Alley Button
The silver button features the land’s iconic fire-breathing dragon in the zero of a “10.” “Diagon Alley” is across the top. It comes on a white backing card with “UOAP” in red.
Diagon Alley opened at Universal Studios Florida on July 8, 2014, four years after Hogsmeade opened at Universal Islands of Adventure.
The button will be available starting on September 1, the day Harry and his schoolmates go to Hogwarts. It will be available through September 30 while supplies last. Passholders can pick it up at Five and Dime in Universal Studios Florida from park open to close, or at the UOAP Lounge in Toon Lagoon at Universal Islands of Adventure from 11 a.m. to park close.
For more Universal Studios news from around the world, follow Universal Parks News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news, visit WDWNT.
Many Disney fans have their favorite snacks they like to enjoy at the Disney Parks. Earlier guests were upset when big menu changes hit Sleepy Hollow at Magic Kingdom. Now …
Mater is looking festive in his vampire costume. His face is light purple, and in addition to his normal teeth, he has two fangs hanging out the top of his mouth. He wears a red necklace with a gold star in the center across his bumper and a black wig with a distinctive widow’s peak on his head. Usually, Mater has friendly wide-open eyes, however, his eyes are squinted in a villainous manner here.
The remainder of Mater’s body is dark purple with a red stripe along the bottom. The purple collar of his cape stands straight up around the sides and back of his head.
The truck bed is its typical rusted orange color and features a tow cable and yellow hazard light.
The back of the bucket features a dirty yellow and black patterned bumper. Mater’s usual “A-113” license plate is crooked on the right side. A-113 refers to the character animation classroom at CalArts and is referenced in some way in every Pixar movie.
The tow bed lifts, allowing for the Kid’s Meal to be served inside the truck bed. Though this item is not being sold individually, we found that it can also be obtained by adding it to an order of French Fries in the Disneyland mobile app.
The bucket features an orange detachable strap. The design on the strap depicts Mater with bat wings, a spider web, half of a white moon with cars in it, a “Git-R Done!” road sign, and “EEK!”
In 2022, a Mater popcorn bucket arrived at Disney California Adventure Park to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Cars Land. Last year, the Mater popcorn bucket got a holiday makeover for Christmas.
What do you think of the Vampire Tow Mater Bucket? Let us know in the comments.
For more Disneyland Resort news and info, follow Disneyland News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. For Disney Parks news worldwide, visit WDWNT.
The second episode of Primos this week reminds us that one of the best characters in the series has been sitting on the sidelines while Nacho meets his longtime penpal, at last. Summer of Imi-Tater You may have forgotten about Nellie, Tater’s bigger little sister. While a big part of the first episode or two of […]
As invited media, Disney provided WDWNT with a gift card for food and beverages for the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, so some of the following coverage was hosted. As always, WDWNT will still provide our honest thoughts on the below.
The first day of the 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is here, and we’re ready to try all of the NEW offerings! Below you’ll find a comprehensive review of each item, along with a score out of seven (yeah, seven) to help you decide which items to try, and which ones you should steer clear of.
Global Marketplaces
*NEW* Macatizers
Food:
Cheesesteak Macaroni and Cheese – $6.50
Beverages:
Crooked Can Brewing Company Vinifera Velvet Lager – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Southern Tier Brewing Co Raspberry Shine Summer Wheat Ale – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company Kentucky Pumpkin Bourbon Barrel Ale – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
with Shaved Beef, Peppers and Onions, and Breadcrumbs
The peppers are really nice, adding a little roasted tang without heat. It comes in a nice, hefty portion. The flavors are exactly what you’d expect, but surprisingly good.
Rank out of 7: 6
Macatizers can be found at 40 on the map below.
Connections Eatery
Food:
Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich – $12.49
Beverages:
Blackberry Caipiroska – $15
*NEW* Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich – $12.49
with Pickled Cucumbers on a Brioche Bun
This is juicy, it’s the right thickness, and the flavors were fantastic. Sweet and savory played together perfectly, and the bun was fresh. This should be a permanent item on the menu.
Rank out of 7: 7
*NEW* Blackberry Caipiroska – $7
Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Minute Maid Lemonade, Strawberries Blackberry syrup, and Frosted Mint syrup
This appears to be a “Russian” take on a Brazilian Caipirinha using vodka instead of cachaca. It has a medicinal syrup taste that gets worse the further you get into it. We hated it, but bystanders who tried it thought it was okay.
Rank out of 7: 1
Connections Eatery can be found at 1 on the map below.
Coastal Eats
Food:
Roasted Warm Water Lobster Tail with Garlic Butter – $13.00
*NEW* Roasted Warm Water Lobster Tail with Garlic Butter – $13.00
This is a pretty good value for $13. The taste was good. Some complained about the taste of the garlic butter, but, in our eyes, that wasn’t enough to ruin a good offering.
Rank out of 7: 6.5
Coastal Eats can be found at 3 on the map below.
The Fry Basket
Food:
Fry Flight – $8.00
Truffle-Parmesan Fries
Barbeque Bacon Fries with Smoked Aïoli
Sweet Potato Casserole Fries
Beverages:
Collective Arts Brewing Mango-Rita Sour with Chili, Ontario, Canada – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Fry Flight – $8.00
All of the fries are cooked nicely — soft on the inside with a light crunch on the outside. The barbecue bacon fries were our favorite. They were perfectly seasoned, and the smoked aioli added to the BBQ flavor.
The sweet potato fries are the sweet option to contrast the two savory dishes. They have a cinnamon sugar seasoning. You don’t taste much of the marshmallow cream (ours melted). The candied pecans add crunch and more sweetness to the fries.
New to the trio is the parmesan fries. They were the least remarkable. They are just basic fries with a little bit of parmesan cheese. Compared to the smoky taste of the bacon fries and the sweet taste of the sweet potato fries, they don’t offer much. We were split between 5 and 6, but the blandness of the parmesan fries wasn’t enough to drop the rating.
Rank out of 7: 6
The Fry Basket can be found at 4 on the map below.
Flavors from Fire
Food:
Impossible Montreal-Style Burger Slider – $6.00
Steakhouse Blended Burger – $6.25
Beverages:
Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Porter, Bend, OR – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
The Impossible Burger was great. The vegan cheese was typical plastic but the burger itself was amazing. It was cooked perfectly and the tomato was a good accompaniment. The sesame bun adds a touch of class. We give this 5/7 but vegans will probably give it 7/7.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Steakhouse Blended Burger – $6.25
Beef and Wild Mushroom Slider with Truffle Brie Cheese Fondue, Arugula, and Truffle Potato Chips on a Sesame Seed Bun
The steakhouse burger was phenomenal (if you like mushrooms). It’s definitely a contender for our top 7 items of the festival. It’s perfectly cooked, with a mushroom-forward flavor that melds with cheese to create a luscious burger. The potato chip was fine but frankly, unnecessary, though it did add a bit of crunch. Again we appreciate the upgraded sesame bun.
Rank out of 7: 7
Flavors from Fire can be found at 5 on the map below.
These are predictably hot. The spice was tolerable but intense, at least to our group who are accustomed to eating spicy offerings at Disney. You probably won’t find anything spicier at Walt Disney World right now. The sauce seems to be a paste applied to the wings and adds a bizarre layer to the texture before your mouth is overwhelmed by heat. Overall, this is a solid offering.
Rank out of 7: 6
Brew-Wing Lab can be found at 6 on the map below.
Mexico
Food:
Tostada de Camarones – $7.75
Flauta de Barbacoa – $8.00
Pan de Elote – $6.00
Beverages:
Mango Sunrise Margarita – $13.25
Poblano Margarita – $13.00
*NEW* Tostada de Camarones – $7.75
Tempura-Battered Shrimp atop a Fried Corn Tortilla with Guacamole, Cabbage, Chipotle Aïoli, Diced Mango and Chile-Lime Powder
This Tempura batter is better than any we’ve ever had from the Japan Pavilion. Really, the shrimp is so good. They’re plump, juicy, and a good size. The accompaniments don’t add anything to the dish, but the shrimp are so good that we have to give this a great rating.
Rank out of 7: 6
*NEW* Flauta de Barbacoa – $8.00
Fried Tortillas filled with Barbacoa Beef topped with Salsa Verde, Crema Mexicana and Queso Fresco
This has a nice kick, but the flavors are basic overall. That being said, sometimes you want the most basic version of the thing that you ordered. If you want a flauta that is going to check all the boxes without doing anything overly great, this hits the spot.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Pan de Elote – $6.00
Traditional Mexican Cornbread topped with Chocolate Sauce and Queso Fresco
What a great dessert. If you can get all the flavors in one bite, it’s like eating an entire meal. You get the sweetness of the cornbread and the richness of the dark chocolate, and then the cheese sneaks in and brings it all together. This is unlike anything we’ve ever had at the festival.
Rank out of 7: 6
*NEW* Mango Sunrise Margarita – $13.25
Dos Hombres Mezcal, Centinela Tequila, Mango Purée and Black Currant Liqueur, with a Chile-Lime Salt Rim
The drinks always disappoint us at the Mexico booth, and this year is no different. This drink tastes like Chloraseptic. The salt is good, but how hard is it to put a good rim of salt on a margarita? Skip this drink.
Rank out of 7: 2
*NEW* Poblano Margarita – $13.00
Lalo Tequila Blanco, Abasolo Corn Whisky, Lime Juice and Ancho Reyes Verde Chile Poblano Liqueur with a Salt Rim
There is nothing special about this drink. It tastes like a margarita, so if that’s what you want, then great. But there is no poblano flavor at all. We wanted some heat, or at least a little extra flavor. Instead, this is just bland and watered down. Go to one of the locations in Mexico that sells margaritas every day and you’ll get a much better drink.
Rank out of 7: 3
Mexico can be found at 10 on the map below.
China
Food:
Crispy Duck Bao Bun with Hoisin Sauce – $8.25
Shanghai Scallion Noodles with Shrimp – $8.50
Beverages:
Mango Peach Bubble Tea (nonalcoholic) – $7.75
*NEW* Crispy Duck Bao Bun with Hoisin Sauce – $8.25
This was a little small for $8.25, but it’s a decent item. The meat is nice and tender, but it’s also flavorless. All we tasted was the Hoisin sauce, so if you like that flavor, then this could be a good option for you. The bao is cooked well and soft, but we’d probably skip this for the price.
Rank out of 7: 4
*NEW* Shanghai Scallion Noodles with Shrimp – $8.50
This looks so much better than it tastes. The shrimp was really bad. It was chewy and tasted like it hadn’t been microwaved long enough to be considered fully cooked. The noodles were fine, but there was nothing great about them. We’re probably being generous with our rating.
This drink is the best new item from this booth. If you like peach, you’re going to love this. If you don’t like peach, you’re going to hate this. It was very refreshing.
Rank out of 7: 5
China can be found at 11 on the map below.
Refreshment Outpost
Food:
Impossible Spicy Sausage – $6.50
Curried Chicken and South African Boerewors Sausage Stew – $5.75
Chocolate Amarula Mousse with White Chocolate – $6.25
Beverages:
Keel Farms Blackberry Apricot Jam Hard Cider, Plant City, FL – $12.00
with Piri Piri Peppers and Onions and Piri Piri Aïoli
This is a nice big portion for the price. It has a little kick to it, but it’s not overwhelming. The sausage is well cooked, though it doesn’t taste like the sausage they have everywhere else. However, that may be because of the sauce. Definitely worth it.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Curried Chicken and South African Boerewors Sausage Stew – $5.75
with Chickpeas and Potatoes served in a Bread Bowl
This reminded us of the Lentil and Sausage Soup available at Boma. It’s very earthy with a grainy flavor. It won’t blow you away, but it’s tasty. We’d wait until the weather cools off a bit before eating this. In October and November, this could be a 6.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Chocolate Amarula Mousse with White Chocolate – $6.25
This is essentially a large Zebra Dome from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. It’s a good size for the price. Other than size, the difference is the base, which is a chocolate cookie wafer instead of cake. We prefer the cookie.
This is a fantastic dessert. It’s nice and soft. The cake is moist. There’s the perfect level of sweetness. This is a must get.
Rank out of 7: 7
Refreshment Outpost can be found at 13 on the map below.
Germany
Beverages:
Von Trapp Brewing Dunkel Lager, Stowe, VT – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Schöfferhofer Lemon Zest Hefeweizen, Mainz – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Germany can be found at 15 on the map below.
Spain
Food:
Spanish Charcuterie – $6.50
Paella Negra – $8.00
*NEW*Spanish Charcuterie – $6.50
Jamón, Manchego and Pan Con Tomate
The Jamón takes a bit of work to cut. The bread is nice and crunchy, and of course, you can’t go wrong with melty manchego. All around, this charcuterie is very good and everything is how you want it to be. For the price, we think it’s a killer deal. The portion was enough for our entire group to get more than a bite or two.
Rank out of 7: 6
*NEW* Paella Negra – $8.00
Squid Ink Rice with Shrimp, Bay Scallops, and Octopus served with Garlic Aïoli
We started with the shrimp in the paella because it’s the least adventurous. The octopus is a little chewy, and the shrimp is sadly not great. Both are a bit dry for our tastes. Our rice was also not cooked well. The dish is also quite fragrant, and not in a good way.
Rank out of 7: 3
Spain can be found at 16 on the map below.
Italy
Food:
Italian Style “Nachos” – $9.25
Polpettine Toscane – $8.50
Vanilla Cheesecake – $7.75
Beverages:
Bellini Spritz – $14.00
*NEW* Italian Style “Nachos” – $9.25
Homemade Beef Ragout, Pasta Chips, Tomato Sauce and Dried Ricotta Cheese
Every year, the Italy booth does something gross. There have been a couple of times recently when they had edible dishes. This, however, looks like something you would feed to your dog. We really didn’t want to eat this. If you had not described this as Italian, and you told us that a child put the menu together, we’d think it was okay.
The seasoning on the meat is more akin to school lunchroom taco meat rather than Italian seasoning. We also don’t think there are enough chips to account for the cost of these nachos and to balance the amount of meat in the dish.
Plain and simple, this is gross.
Rank out of 7: 1
*NEW* Polpettine Toscane – $8.50
Beef Meatballs, Rosemary Focaccia, and Pomodoro Sauce
This dish is also reminiscent of school lunchroom food. The sauce is so powerful, that it almost tries to mask the meatball. The meatballs themselves are dry, overseasoned, and almost too salty on the inside. The rosemary focaccia is serviceable.
Rank out of 7: 1
*NEW* Vanilla Cheesecake – $7.75
Vanilla Cheesecake, Whipped Cream and Fresh Strawberry Sauce
We wish this had some kind of crust, but instead, it’s just a coin of cheesecake. It’s not a bad cheesecake, but still is to the level of school dessert to us. The portion is terrible for the price.
Rank out of 7: 2
*NEW* Bellini Spritz – $14.00
The Bellini Spritz is a little syrupy, sticky, and perhaps too sweet, but is likely what most people would want. It’s very crisp and dry.
Minute Maid Lemonade and Chipotle Pineapple Syrup, with a Chili-Lime Salt Rim
This is a great mix of spicy and sweet, and we’d call it the best drink we’ve had of the festival so far. The warmth of the Tajin lingers, which we enjoy. You can also add vodka to it for $9.70 total, and that might be the best $9.70 you’ll spend at EPCOT. Even without said alcohol, we still think it’s great.
Rank out of 7: 6
Block & Hans can be found at 20 on the map below.
Flavors of America
Food:
New York-Style – $6.75
Chicago-Style – $6.75
Carolina-Style – $6.75
Southwest-Style – $7.75
Freshly-Baked Chocolate Pudding Cake – $5.00
Beverages:
Brewery Ommegang Farm Fresh Ale conditioned on Wildflower Honey, Cooperstown, NY – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Goose Island Beer Co. Hazy Beer Hug Hazy IPA, Chicago, IL – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Wicked Weed Fest Bier, Asheville, NC – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
*NEW* New York-Style – $6.75
All-Beef Hot Dog with Sauerkraut, Onion-Tomato Sauce and Spicy Mustard in a Brioche Bun
This is great. The sausage link is perfectly cooked. It doesn’t have a tough exterior. It’s tender with a good flavor. The bun is fresh and soft. The sauerkraut and onion-tomato sauce complements the dog well.
Rank out of 7: 6
*NEW* Chicago-Style – $6.75
All-Beef Hot Dog with Tomato, Dill Pickle, Pickled Sport Pepper, Diced Onions, Yellow Mustard and Chicago Green Relish in a Poppy Seed Bun
Obviously the sausage on this hot dog is the same as the New York-style dog — tender and well-cooked. It’s good but these toppings are a little harder to eat without making a mess. It doesn’t work as well as the others.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Carolina-Style – $6.75
All-Beef Hot Dog with Chili, Coleslaw, and Yellow Mustard in a Brioche Bun
This chili isn’t standard Disney chili. It’s excellent. The coleslaw is good, too.
Rank out of 7: 7
*NEW* Southwest-Style – $7.75
All-Beef Hot Dog wrapped in Bacon with warm Pinto Beans, Tomatoes, Jalapeños, Avocado Crema and Queso Fresco in a French Roll
This one’s also great. The French roll is a little harder than the other buns but it’s excellent.
This is a good chocolate lava cake although we’ve never had a bad one. It instantly melts in your mouth. It has a rich dark chocolate flavor. The bourbon caramel sauce is a perfect accompaniment. It’s not ideal for Labor Day weekend weather but it will be the perfect dessert in 6 – 8 weeks.
Rank out of 7: 6
Flavors of America can be found at 19 on the map below.
Funnel Cake
Food:
Tiramisu Funnel Cake – $12
*NEW* Tiramisu Funnel Cake – $12
with Vanilla Ice Cream topped with Chocolate Rum Sauce, Cream Cheese Whipped Cream, dusted with Cocoa and Espresso Powder
The festival funnel cakes are always a hit and this is no exception. Everyone likes funnel cake and ice cream, and though not everyone likes tiramisu, this will still satisfy many. It’s not their best funnel cake ever but it’s good.
Rank out of 7: 7
Funnel Cake Kiosk can be found at 21 on the map below.
Japan
Food:
Wagyu Temaki Sushi – $9.50
Eel Temaki Sushi – $9.50
Beverages:
Kyoho Grape Sour – $8.75
Kyoho Drink (nonalcoholic) – $7.00
*NEW* Wagyu Temaki Sushi – $9.50
Hand-held Sushi with Sweet and Savory American Wagyu Beef, topped with Takana Japanese Pickles and Spicy Mayo Sauce
This isn’t really hand-held, it’s a bit too messy and hot. The ground beef is well-cooked and well-seasoned. The rice is cooked fine, too. It’s nothing special, we could probably make it at home. It’s essentially a Japanese cheeseburger. That said, it tastes good.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Eel Temaki Sushi – $9.50
Hand-Held Sushi with Grilled Eel, Egg Crumbles, Cucumber and Pickled Daikon Radish served with Eel Sauce
This is decent. It’s cooked well. It’s not chewy or fishy. The sauce gives it a nice sweet flavor.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Kyoho Grape Sour – $8.75
Kyoho Black Grape Cocktail with Japanese Vermouth and Shōchū
This is delightful. It’s light and refreshing with a bit of sweetness. It tastes like a grape soda.
Rank out of 7: 6
*NEW* Kyoho Drink (nonalcoholic) – $7.00
Calpico with fragrant, mellow, Kyoho Black Grape flavor
This reads like a non-alcoholic version of the Kyoho Grape Sour but it’s much sweeter. It feels like it needs to be colder with more ice. Kids will like it.
Rank out of 7: 5
Japan can be found at 22 on the map below.
Greece
Beverages:
Greek Melon Limeade – $11.50
*NEW* Greek Melon Limeade – $11.50
Kleos Mastiha Spirit, Aelred Melon Apéritif De Provence, Pearl Vodka and Lime Sour Mix
It’s got a unique flavor for the festival. There aren’t a lot of minty drinks. It’s a good palate cleanser. We wouldn’t normally order it but it’s better than many festival drinks.
Rank out of 7: 6
Greece can be found at 23 on the map below.
Tangierine Café: Flavors of the Medina
Beverages:
Keel Farms Blackberry Pear Hard Cider, Plant City, FL – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Coppertail Brewing Fallen Fruit Tamarind Mint Hard Cider, Tampa, FL – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Tangierine Cafe: Flavors of the Medina can be found at 24 on the map below.
Belgium
Beverages:
Brouwerij St Bernardus Dragòn Wit, Watou – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Brouwerij Verhaeghe Vichte Duchesse Red, Sweet & Tart Cherry Ale, Vichte – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
Belgium can be found at 25 on the map below.
France
Food:
Moelleux aux Oignons Caramélisés et au Fromage de Chèvre – $7.95
Brioche aux Escargots – $7.95
Crème Brûlée Mangue et Passion a la Confiture – $5.95
Beverages:
Cocktail au Gin et Aux Fraises – $13.95
Frozen French Cosmo – $14.95
Mas La Chevalière, Pinot Noir, Pays d’oc – $6.95
*NEW* Moelleux aux Oignons Caramélisés et au Fromage de Chèvre – $7.95
Egg Moelleux, Goat Cheese, and Caramelized Onions
It has a quiche-like texture. It tastes mostly like butter, salt, and cheese. The flavors aren’t very varied.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Brioche aux Escargots – $7.95
Escargot Brioche with Garlic and Parsley Cream
There was a little grit in the escargot but the flavor was good. However, there was barely any escargot filling. It’s garlic-forward.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW*Crème Brûlée Mangue et Passion a la Confiture – $5.95
Mango Passion Crème Brûlée with Fruit Compote
The top was delicious and crisp, the custard is great, but the compote is not. It weakens the dish overall.
Rank out of 7: 4
*NEW* Cocktail au Gin et Aux Fraises – $13.95
Rose d’Argent Strawberry Gin, Cranberry Juice and DOLE Pineapple Juice
This looks like dirty mop water. Luckily, it tastes better than it looks. We were pretty divided on this one. It’s pineapple-forward. If this is your type of drink, it’s a solid choice. If you’re iffy, skip it.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Frozen French Cosmo – $14.95
Vodka, Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka, Grand Marnier and Cranberry Juice
This is basic, but good basic. It’s what the people want. It’s exactly what you expect it to be and it’s nice and refreshing.
Rank out of 7: 6
France can be found at 27 on the map below.
United Kingdom Beer Cart
Beverages:
Strawberry Basil Cocktail – $17
*NEW* Strawberry Basil Cocktail – $17
Fords Gin, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, Seagram’s Ginger Ale, and Strawberry and Basil Syrups
The elderflower is overpowering, and we’re not gin drinkers. We’re not fans of the combination.
Rank out of 7: 4
United Kingdom Beer Cart can be found at 28 on the map below.
Refreshment Port
Beverages:
Boulevard Beverage Company Quirk Ginger Grape Fizz Hard Seltzer, Kansas City, MO – $12
Refreshment Port can be found at 31 on the map below.
Australia
Food:
Grilled Bushberry Spiced Shrimp Skewer – $7.00
Beverages:
Bulletin Place Sauvignon Blanc, Riverina – $6.50
Fowles Wine Farm to Table Shiraz, Upton Hills – $6.50
with Sweet and Sour Vegetables and Coconut Chili Sauce
This is a relatively basic and unremarkable dish. On the positive side, the shrimp is not fishy. It’s well-cooked. But other than the enjoyable sweet chili sauce, there’s not a lot going on here. The vegetables are bad — they’re kind of soggy and don’t have a good flavor. Five shrimp for $7 is a decent value, but this still gets a low rating.
They freeze it in front of you, which is neat. It’s so weird, but so good, almost like a chunky pumpkin pie. It’s excellent. It might be the best new thing we had at the festival.
Rank out of 7: 7
Swirled Showcase can be found at 34 on the map below.
Shimmering Sips hosted by CORKCICLE
Beverages:
Berry Mimosa – $7.00
Fruited Sour Beer and Sparkling Wine Cocktail – $9.00
*NEW* Berry Mimosa – $7.00
La Gioiosa Berry Fizz and White Cranberry Juice
This is the darker of the two beverages above. The berry mimosa tastes like basic sparkling red wine. It is refreshing and crisp. The crispness softens the red wine flavor a bit, and overall we enjoyed it.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Fruited Sour Beer and Sparkling Wine Cocktail – $9.00
Brewery Ommegang Dream Patch Fruited Sour with Cherry, Blueberry and Raspberry, and Sparkling Wine
Dry by design, this is just meh. There’s so much going on that it numbed our senses. There’s no aftertaste at all, which is a good thing, but it’s hard to recommend this. We’d call this sparkling wine and heartburn since it gave us instant heartburn. That being said, there is an audience for this.
Rank out of 7: 3
Shimmering Sips can be found at 32 on the map below.
Hawaii
Food:
Hawaiian Rice Bowl – $6.25
Beverages:
Maui Brewing Co. Orange Mango Guava Hazy IPA, Maui, HI – Coppertail Brewing Fallen Fruit Blueberry Pie Hard Cider, Tampa Bay, FL – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
*NEW* Hawaiian Rice Bowl – $6.25
Spam, Eggs, Eel Sauce, Spicy Mayonnaise and Furikake
This was terrible. The only thing we tasted was salt. The spam chunks were huge and gross. The Furikake flavor came through a bit, but not enough to save this. Don’t even think about getting this. It’s a must-skip.
Rank out of 7: 1
Hawaii can be found at 33 on the map below.
*NEW* Bramblewood Bites
Food:
Grilled Cider-Brined Pork Tenderloin – $6.75
Grilled Bison – $8.75
Cast Iron-Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Root Vegetables – $5.00
Beverages:
Spiced Apple Old Fashioned Inspired Cocktail – $12.00
This is phenomenal. The pork is incredibly tender and well-seasoned. The fennel gives a nice crunch with a subtle heat countered by the apple cider gastrique. It’s also a good portion for the price.
Rank out of 7: 7
*NEW* Grilled Bison – $8.75
with Butternut Squash Purée, Roasted Mushrooms, and Huckleberry Gastrique
The huckleberry doesn’t quite work. The bison is kind of bland, overpowered by the tart huckleberry. The elements are disjointed.
Rank out of 7: 3
*NEW* Cast Iron-Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Root Vegetables – $5.00
with Dried Cranberries, Candied Pecans, and Maple Bourbon Glaze
There weren’t a lot of Brussels sprouts in our Brussels sprouts, but it’s good anyway. It’s all the flavors of Thanksgiving dinner that you love in a bowl. There’s sweetness, heartiness, sage and spices, a crunch from the nuts. It’s really enjoyable and definitely one of the better vegetable dishes.
Rank out of 7: 6
*NEW* Spiced Apple Old Fashioned Inspired Cocktail – $12.00
with Boyd & Blair Rum
It’s on the sweet side with spice on the back end. It’s more like a cold hot toddy than an old fashioned.
Rank out of 7: 4
Bramblewood Bites can be found at 37 on the map below.
*NEW* Milled & Mulled
Food:
Boursin Fig & Balsamic Cheesecake – $5.25
Pear and Almond Frangipane Pâte Brisée – $5.25
*NEW* Boursin Fig & Balsamic Cheesecake – $5.25
with Fig Jam and Pomegranate
It’s very soft and flavorful. The cheesecake is airy and delicate, like a mousse. The Boursin gives a muted tang. It’s very good.
Rank out of 7: 7
*NEW* Pear and Almond Frangipane Pâte Brisée – $5.25
It looks like an empanada. The almond flavor is undetectable, and it’s just okay. Frangipane should be almond-forward. It’s forgettable.
Rank out of 7: 4
Milled & Mulled can be found at 35 on the map below.
*NEW* Forest & Field
Food:
Autumn Chili – $7.75
Pumpkin Mascarpone Ravioli – $5.25
Burrata – $5.50
Beverages:
Lievland Bushvine Pinotage, Paarl, South Africa – $6.50
Piper-Sonoma Brut, Sonoma County, CA – $7.00
Brewery Ommegang All Hallows Treat Chocolate Peanut Butter Imperial Stout, Cooperstown, NY – $5.75 for 6 oz/$9.75 for 12 oz
*NEW* Autumn Chili – $7.75
with Bison, Lamb and Pork Belly, Root Vegetables, Jalapeño Cornbread, Smoked Cheddar and Crème Fraîche
It’s good, but it’s August. We really don’t want chili in August. The cornbread is sweet and spicy. It’s excellent. The meat is perfectly cooked, it’s well spiced, and the portion is large. But we’ll be waiting until later in the season to enjoy it again.
Rank out of 7: 7
*NEW* Pumpkin Mascarpone Ravioli – $5.25
with Sage-Brown Butter, Pecorino Cheese and Hazelnut Praline
It has a nice crunch with rich fall flavors enhanced by the cheese. The sage brown butter is a nice touch. We loved this.
Rank out of 7: 7
*NEW* Burrata – $5.50
with Seasonal Fall Fruit, Spiced Pecans, Apple Purée and Fig Vinaigrette
We were divided on this, but those who liked it loved it. It appeals to a different audience than the first two dishes here, and a fall burrata is strange, but it works well. Those of us who didn’t like it were put off by the texture and the cheese.
Rank out of 7: 6
Forest & Field can be found at 36 on the map below.
Earth Eats
Food:
Red Wine-Braised Beef Short Rib – $8.50
Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Lemon Icing – $4.50
Beverages:
Harken Wines Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, Parlier, CA – $6.00
Blood Orange Agua Fresca (nonalcoholic) – $4.75
*NEW* Red Wine-Braised Beef Short Rib – $8.50
with Goat Cheese Polenta, Puttanesca Sauce, Shaved Pecorino and Petit Herbs
The short rib is a little dry but tender. That could vary depending on when you get the dish, though. We love all the accompaniments. We could just eat the polenta and puttanesca sauce and call it a day. For one festival dish, this is practically an entire meal.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Lemon Poppy Seed Cake with Lemon Icing – $4.50
This is nice. There’s the perfect amount of icing. The cake is light and fluffy. We’ll get this again.
Rank out of 7: 7
Earth Eats can be found at 38 on the map below.
Sunshine Seasons
Beverages:
Caramel Apple Milk Shake (nonalcoholic) – $10.99
*NEW*Caramel Apple Milk Shake (nonalcoholic) – $10.99
Artisanal Gelato, Pâte Brisée, Whipped Cream, Candy Apple Cake and Caramel Drizzle
The candy apple cake is a delicious red velvet cake pop. The consistency is like fudge. The shake’s consistency is more like marshmallow cream than milk, with an apple pie flavor. The pie crust on top (pâte brisée) is super salty. All that said, it’s good and super Instagrammable.
Rank out of 7: 6
Sunshine Seasons can be found at 39 on the map below.
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
Beverages:
Joffrey’s in World Discovery (Near Mission: SPACE): Coconut Mocha Latte (nonalcoholic) – $6.49
Joffrey’s in the Canada Pavilion: Hazelnut Mocha Latte (nonalcoholic) – $6.49
Joffrey’s in the American Adventure Pavilion: Coconut Banana Cream Pie Latte (nonalcoholic) – $6.49
Joffrey’s Near Disney Traders: PB&J Latte (nonalcoholic) – $6.49
*NEW*Coconut Mocha Latte (nonalcoholic) – $6.49
A decadent blend of Espresso, Milk, Coconut Syrup and Dark Chocolate Sauce, garnished with Whipped Cream, Toasted Coconut Flakes and Dark Chocolate Drizzle
This is pretty average. The coffee is not outstanding and the coconut is very strong on the backend. It’s a fairly refreshing drink, but basic.
Rank out of 7: 4
*NEW* Hazelnut Mocha Latte (nonalcoholic) – $6.49
A nutty blend of Espresso, Milk, Hazelnut Syrup and Dark Chocolate Sauce, garnished with Whipped Cream and Dark Chocolate Drizzle
This is our favorite of the Joffrey’s drinks this year. It has a rich chocolate sauce flavor and reminds us of a mocktail version of Tipsy Ducks in Love from Joy of Tea in the China pavilion. We’d get this again.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* Coconut Banana Cream Pie Latte (nonalcoholic) – $6.49
A comforting blend of Espresso, Milk, Coconut Syrup and Banana Syrup, garnished with Whipped Cream and Toasted Coconut Flakes
The banana flavor is pretty muted here, but it’s definitely better than the PB&J (below) and the Coconut Mocha Latte. It’s not too sweet and has a great boost of caffeine for the halfway point around World Showcase.
Rank out of 7: 5
*NEW* PB&J Latte (nonalcoholic) – $6.49
A delicious blend of Espresso, Milk, Peanut Butter Syrup and Raspberry Syrup, garnished with Whipped Cream
This is pretty basic. Again, it tastes like the syrup they put into it. An alcoholic version is available with Bailey’s. An idea would be to offer this with peanut butter whiskey like Skrewball and some Chambord.
Rank out of 7: 3
The various Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company locations can be found at 2 (Near Mission: Space), 7 (Near Disney Traders), 18 (The American Adventure Pavilion), and 29 (Near Canada Pavilion) on the map below.
Video Review
Check back for our full video review.
Map of Food & Wine Outdoor Kitchen Locations
The 2024 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is running from August 29 to November 23.
Cheesesteak Macaroni and Cheese – $6.50
