1. Game Plan · Plan out which direction you want to visit the food booths on a map. Pick out a few dishes that you want to try the most so you don’t overeat. Popular dishes usually come back the following year. Go early in the week to avoid long lines. Stay at a local hotel where they offer bus service. Or if you don’t mind spending a small fortune, stay at one of the onsite Disney hotels (Boardwalk, Yacht Club, and Beach Club).
2. Get a Gift Card · Get that tiny gift card that goes around your wrist for easy access to payment. These can usually be picked up at any store, but they should always have them at the Festival Center located on the east side of the park (left when you walk in).
3. Get a Partner · Samples from every booth can be overwhelming unless you have a partner to help you eat and drink. Not to mention, they can save you some money if you choose to buy every other dish. They can also try to save you a spot at a table when you’re getting the food!
4. Stay Cool · Stay hydrated. Drinking water helps you stay cool and also aids in your digestion. Bring a water bottle and fill it up at the fountains. Cool off in a gift shop. Visit Club Cool for free samples of Coke products from around the world. Any Chase credit card holders and friends can go to the Chase lounge for A/C, phone charging (good luck finding an empty charging station) and free fountain soda. Remember to wear cool and comfortable clothing. Preferably UPF-rated.
5. Sunscreen and Poncho · This is Florida: It can rain on one side of food booth and be sunny on the other. Grab a cheap poncho that you can keep in your pocket. Get some good sunscreen, 30 SPF or higher, because you’ll be out there a while. Remember to apply when necessary. Buy both items outside of Disney.
6. Grab those passports! · Not only the passports provide food listings for each booth, but they provide sections where you can get stamped. It’s a great memory keeper. Usually you can find them in front of the food booth registers and in the Festival Center.
7. Book Demonstrations in Advance · Sometimes the cooking demonstrations and wine tasting events can be sold out so book in ahead of time. These demonstrations are fun and informative. Don’t just eat the food, learn about what you’re eating, where they got it from, and how each ingredient aims to complement each other. Some of these demonstrations can range as little at $15 and can be booked at the Festival Center.
8. Eat to the Beat! · Popular bands and artists will be playing in front of the American Adventure at the outside amphitheater. Check out which ones you want to visit or avoid them. Be prepared to wait hours in line if you want to grab a seat.
9. Ride a Ride · As hard as it is for me to say this…take a break from eating and wait in line for a ride. Ride lines are often long, but many queues are inside with some great A/C. Nonetheless, I would grab a Fast Passes ahead of time.
10. Have Fun · Take your time, enjoy the food and relax. Find a nice spot to sit down or lean on while you sample the foods. Snap a few photos. And mark down which foods you had in your passport!
Though it’s not an exhaustive list, I hope this top 10 helps. If you have a tip of your own, please share it in the comments section below. We’d love to hear them!
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I have one of those Disney Chase cards with Mickey & Friends on the front! I guess I could hang out for a bit in their lounge, which I've never considered doing. That's not too shabby.
Also, about the sunscreen - yeah, 30SPF minimum. And guys, remember you still get all those UV rays on cloudy days too, so even if it looks a little gloomy, put it on!
I don't really have any tips of my own, but this is my favorite time of year at WDW hands down. Food & Wine, and Magic Kingdom's Fall decorations? Amazing!
If anyone has been to Busch Gardens Williamsburg's version of Food & Wine, would you say these same tips apply there? Just curious.
@71.177.166.62 - I like to start at Mexico. The shrimp tacos are nice and light to start off the day.
Nevertheless, going during the F&W Festival allows DDP users to get a decent value (and perhaps a light meal) of their snack credits, which is something many people don't know about.
There've been times in the past where I went to the festival in it's final days and I've never encountered that problem. I think you're good.
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