The 2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival kicks off August 28th and runs through November 22nd, and there’s a lot more to it than just strolling around World Showcase with a drink in hand.

From exclusive eats and returning fan-favorite booths to live music and limited-edition merch, the Festival is PACKED with options — and your day can get overwhelming fast if you show up without a plan. Before you start mapping out your booth-hopping strategy, here are a few things you’ll want to know so you can hit the ground running when the Festival opens later this month.

Study Those Menus Ahead of Time

There’s no shame in planning your booth order like it’s your Fantasy Football draft. The EPCOT Food and Wine Festival has a ton of Global Marketplaces (aka booths), each with a unique menu of bites and sips. Some of these booths are returning classics, others are brand new for 2025, and a few won’t open until later in the season. That means what’s available on opening day might look a bit different from what you’ll find in October or November.

Menus are released ahead of time, and trust us, you do not want to wing it when you’re standing in the sun trying to decide between Brazilian cheese bread or that one impossible-to-pronounce drink from the Greece booth. Review the full booth list and menus online before your visit, and make a short list of must-try items. And yes, prices are posted in advance too — which makes it a lot easier to stick to your budget (or at least pretend you’re going to). Bonus tip: Some of the more popular booths can get slammed midday. If there’s something you really want, hit those booths early or later in the evening when lines die down.

2025 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Booths, Menus, and FOOD PHOTOS

The Eat to the Beat Concerts Aren’t Just Background Noise

You might be laser-focused on the food and drink, but the Eat to the Beat Concert Series deserves your attention, too. These performances happen nightly at the America Gardens Theatre, and the lineup includes everything from classic throwback acts to more current artists. Some names return every year, and others are brand-new for the 2025 season. If there’s a band you have to see, check the performance schedule ahead of time — popular shows fill up FAST.

If you’re not in the mood to camp out in the Florida heat for a spot, there’s a workaround: Eat to the Beat Dining Packages. These allow you to book a meal at a participating EPCOT restaurant and get guaranteed seating at the concert. Think of it like dinner and a show — with air conditioning and no mad dash for a seat. Dining Packages usually open up for reservations early, and the popular ones get scooped up quickly. If you’re interested, keep an eye on booking dates so you don’t miss your shot.

Check out the FULL Eat to the Beat Concert Series Line-Up!

Yes, Festival Merch Is a Thing — Plan For It

We know, you’re probably thinking your money is already fully committed to food and drinks, but don’t sleep on Festival merchandise. EPCOT loves a limited-edition collection, and Food and Wine is one of their biggest seasons for it. You’ll see everything from spirit jerseys and Loungefly bags to themed kitchenware, pins, mugs, and collectible MagicBands. Some of it’s cute, some of it’s over-the-top, and all of it tends to sell FAST once the Festival is underway.

The best way to avoid overspending or impulse buying? Budget ahead. Look through previews of the merch online before your trip and decide what’s actually worth it for you. If you know you’re a pin collector or have a soft spot for Figment gear, make sure to build that into your overall budget. And if you see something you love in the park, buy it when you see it — Festival merch doesn’t always get restocked.

FIRST LOOK at This Year’s EPCOT Food & Wine Festival Merchandise

The Bottom Line

The EPCOT Food and Wine Festival can be an amazing experience — if you go in with a plan. Review the menus ahead of time so you’re not overwhelmed at the booths, check out the concert schedule and book any dining packages early, and figure out if that limited-edition cutting board is coming home with you before you’re three drinks deep. The Festival has so much to offer, and a little prep can go a long way toward making your day more fun and less stressful.

If you want to get a head start on what to expect during the 2025 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival, make sure to check out our video about the festival in 2024. While things will change from year to year, the video will give you a great idea of what to expect!

Stay tuned to DFB for all your Disney World news and full coverage of this year’s EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival!

Here’s EVERYTHING You Need to Know About the 2025 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival!

What are YOU most excited to try at the International Food & Wine Festival this year? Let us know in the comments!

The post What To Know Before the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival Opens Later This Month first appeared on the disney food blog.