Planning out what you’re going to do and eat at each EPCOT festival can take a LOT of time, especially with the constant changes of menus, live entertainment, and exclusive festival offerings.

That’s why we’re letting you in on 4 new rules we can expect for the EPCOT festivals next year because it’s better to be prepared than surprised!

Rule #1: Check For Merchandise That COMES With The Item Instead Of Buying It

This first one is a money-saving tip — check for the food and drink items that COME with a free souvenir instead of buying one in the gift shop. A lot of the time, specialty beverages will come with a souvenir cup you can take home. If you’re going to get the drink anyway, you might as well save yourself some money and keep that cup instead of buying one of the festival cups from the gift shop.

This is also true for the completer prizes. Once you eat a certain number of items and collect stamps in your festival passport, you can collect your completer prize at one of the booths, which is often an exclusive souvenir! Of course, it’s not going to be a T-shirt, so you’ll have to buy those at the gift shops, but it may be a cup or cookware! Double-check what the prize is before you spend your own money on it!

Finally, some of the best prizes are the FREE ones! When you buy a scavenger hunt map at each of the festivals, not only will you be entertained, but you’ll also get a prize at the end! This prize may be available for purchase in the gift shop, so it’s always good to check before you have double!

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Rule #2: Don’t Stop At The First Booth You See

There are nearly 20 booths at every festival each year, and those booths can have anywhere from two to five items, not including the drinks offered there, too! In order to hit every must-try item on your list, you have to plan very carefully, which is why you should not stop at the first booth you see. There are PLENTY of food booths around the park. If you’re starving and may not make it to the next booth, we won’t judge, but in all other cases, head to the booth YOU want.

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Rule #3: Don’t Stay At The Park The Whole Time

While some festivals may have limited time, it’s important to listen to yourself and your body, which means you will need to plan to take breaks. It’s okay to head back to the hotel for a refresh. It’s okay to leave the park early if you’re exhausted. It’s not okay to feel worn out to the point you’re dragging your feet to get to the next food booth. Plan for those breaks because they are MUCH needed.

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Rule #4: Make The Festival More Than Just About Eating

There is SO much to do at the EPCOT festivals, and this goes beyond eating and drinking at the food booths. From live entertainment to scavenger hunts, there are plenty of other things to enjoy at the festivals! At the Festival of the Arts, you can see artists in action through chalk art, live paintings, and more! At the Flower and Garden Festival, there are performances from live bands and singers at the Garden Rocks Concert Series! The Food and Wine Festival will bring you the Eat to the Beat Concert Series, while you can enjoy Holiday Storytellers and the Candlelight Processional at the Festival of the Holidays.

Keep these rules in mind during your 2027 trip to the EPCOT festivals! Stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more Disney news, updates, tips, and tricks!

There are quite a few more changes happening at Disney World in 2027. Check them out in the video below!

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Are you headed to an EPCOT festival in 2027? Let us know in the comments below!