EPCOT festivals are some of the most exciting offerings throughout the year in the park.

It’s a fantastic way to try some new dishes you normally wouldn’t know about, experience other cultures without purchasing an entire meal, and experience some amazing entertainment. However, Disney has changed something this year which means there’s about to be a pretty awkward period in the park later this year.

In past years, Disney World typically puts their festivals right next to each other with very few days in between. However this year, that has changed.

In fact, there are 92 (!!) days in between the end of EPCOT’s Flower and Garden Festival (May 27th) and the beginning of EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival (August 29th). At this time, we do not have dates for the beginning of EPCOT’s International Festival of the Holidays, but it typically starts the day after Thanksgiving, which is November 29th this year.

So what exactly does this mean? Well, it won’t seem like there’s too much of a difference for people who don’t pay a lot of attention to festivals when they’re in EPCOT anyway, but for the vast majority of EPCOT fans who travel there specifically to experience the festival offerings, you may feel like the park is lacking some of its pizzazz. 

All the booths will be closed around the park, limited the dining options you have around the park by around half, and there won’t be any special concerts or entertainment happening. While you’ll still be able to experience all the attractions the park typically has to offer, festival-goers may feel like they’re really missing out.

If you find yourself in EPCOT during this time and are missing these opportunities, there are a few things we suggest doing to still fulfill those cultural experiences you’re looking for!

• Check out the restaurants and stands around World Showcase! Even without festivals going on in EPCOT, there are consistently open quick service and table service offerings in the World Showcase that will give you a fantastic taste of the culture of that country. Some of our favorites are Spice Road Table in Morocco, La Cava del Tequila in Mexico, Chefs de France in France, and Biergarten in Germany, just to name a few!
• Head out of the park early and go to Disney Springs for some live entertainment! Disney Springs often has local and popular bands playing at the various stages around the area. You can grab some great food at different restaurants in the area and have a wonderful evening.
• Research the park’s year round offerings, such as the rides, shows, and what transportation options are available to other parks in case you prefer to park hop. You can take the Skyliner to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Monorail to the Ticket and Transportation Center and then to Magic Kingdom, and a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

This is also why it’s important to wait until Disney makes announcements about festivals before booking your trip, if at all possible, so you’re not disappointed if you happen to miss the festival. We’re always here to help you plan your next vacation and bring you all the latest news, so stay tuned to DFB!

Learn all about EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival here to get prepared!

What’s your favorite EPCOT festival? Tell us in the comments!

The post The 92 Days That’ll be Massively AWKWARD in EPCOT This Year first appeared on the disney food blog.