When deciding what to pack for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival, maybe just go ahead and grab anything with an elastic waistband. The end. Ok, you know that’s not completely true (but it’s also not a bad idea). Definitely keep elastic waistbands in mind.
I’ve been around the World Showcase a time or two (#understatement) and I like to think I’ve perfected my packing list over these many many years of attending the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. This won’t be your typical day at a Disney park, so there are definitely some special considerations you need to make. This list will ensure your day of getting fat, drunk, and silly goes off without a hitch.
For all my expert Epcot Food & Wine Festival tips, see my full guide in that link!
What to pack for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival
This post contains everything you need to pack for your trip to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival—clothing and apparel, accessories, critical items, extra fun stuff, and all the other stuff to help keep you happy, healthy, and sane.
I’ve also included a free Epcot Food and Wine Festival packing list which you can grab here. This list is printable, packable, check-off-able and is totally free! In includes everything mentioned in this post as well as all the other stuff you (probably, hopefully) typically travel with.
Get your free Epcot Food & Wine packing checklist here.
What to pack for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival: Clothes
Given Epcot’s location in central Florida, you’re going to want to keep the “Florida” part of that in mind, regardless of when you visit. Though some parts of the year are (brain-meltingly) hotter than others, you’ll still want to prepare for a warm trip.
That being said, I’ve attended the Epcot Food & Wine Festival some years when I’ve needed a legit fleece jacket and warm pants. As with any trip, the key is checking the forecast before you leave! Once you’ve got that figured out, there are three things to focus on:
You can check the Disney World area forecast here.
Florida-appropriate clothing
With the seldom exception to this rule, you’ll want to consider packing:
This goes for both men and women. This is Florida after all; tank tops for everyone!
I’d also suggest bringing a (very) light coverup for after the sun goes down, if you’re prone to freezing like I am. I usually just tie a thin flannel around my waist and call it a day.
Food & wine shirts
One of my favorite parts about attending the Epcot Food & Wine Festival each year is getting to see all the creative food and wine shirts everyone’s wearing. Many groups make their own shirts (as I used to do each year) and some pick theirs up on online somewhere.
Wherever you get yours, know that wearing a hilarious eating/drinking shirt is part of the whole experience. Start here:
Comfortable shoes
Even though this is Florida, you will have to wear shoes at the Disney parks. And since you’ll be walking (and maybe dancing) around Epcot for about 12 hours, you’ll want to make sure they’re super comfortable ones. Your style is up to you, but that could mean:
There’s a good chance it’ll rain at some point during your Epcot Food & Wine Festival experience. Check the weather and determine if sneakers or sandals are in order. If there’s a lot of rain forecasted, I stick with sandals since I know my feet are going to get wet. Otherwise, I wear a pair of sneakers I know I can wear all day without pain.
Pro tip: You can add some memory foam insoles to any pair of shoes you’ve got. I do this all the time with the shoes I know I’m going to wear a lot. (Like when I spend all day at Oktoberfest in Munich.)
What to pack for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival: Accessories
Here are a few more worthwhile things to pack that are big on function (fashion be damned). You’ll thank me later.
Minnie mouse ears or other fun Disney accessory
You’ll be surprised how many visitors embrace the Disney theme during their visit. I either rock a mouse ears headband or these low-maintenance ears hair clips. Pro tip: You can get quality mouse ears on Etsy for less than the Disney parks and there are so many creative designs to choose from!
Also check out: The Best Things To Do in Orlando Besides Theme Parks (for Adults)
Small backpack or fanny pack
You don’t want to have to carry a lot of stuff around with you all day, but having a small backpack or fanny pack will definitely help. Chances are you’ll acquire something new today and you don’t want to have to carry around a Disney shopping bag.
A small backpack can carry your light top layer, your water bottle, your Food & Wine passport, and everything else you need. And it doesn’t even have to be that big! When I’m not using my Disney Loungefly backpack purse, I also use my Travelon anti-theft slim backpack.
For something smaller but still pretty useful, a small fanny pack or crossbody bag does the job perfectly. Something like:
Sun and heat gear
The sun and heat at Disney World is no joke. This is especially something to consider when deciding what to pack for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival since sun + heat + tons of food + booze can equal disaster. Here are a few things to ruminate on:
Also don’t forget…
Hydrating electrolytes – Between the booze and the heat, you definitely need to be proactive about your hydration. I always pop a pack of Liquid IV in my festival bag. (Popsicle Firecracker is my favorite.)
Refillable water bottle – Instead of buying expensive bottles of Dasani every hour, bring your own refillable water bottle. There are water bottle refilling stations around the park as well as free water available at the quick-service restaurants. (Pro tip: Make it an insulated one to keep your water super cold. I love my Hydroflask for this!)
Rain poncho
A thin rain poncho is another absolute must-bring for the Disney parks. Florida weather is so crazy, and there’s a good chance it’ll rain at least some while you’re here. You don’t need to bring a full-on rain jacket, but you should bring a super thin poncho.
These ponchos are super thin but durable enough for the short time you’ll need them. They pack up real small so you can just toss them in your bag and go. (And these even have drawstrings for the hood.)
The alternative is buying an emergency poncho while you’re at the park and they are not cheap. I only had to learn this lesson once.
What to pack for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival: Essential items
Here are more of the most important things to add to your list when choosing what to pack for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. Don’t forget:
What to leave behind
Just as important as what you need to bring for the festival are the things you need to leave behind. Here’s what not to pack for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival:
Your Disney costumes
I know the urge to throw on a ball gown for your day at Disney World is strong, but that’s a big Disney no-no. (And no one wants to wear a seashell bra more than me!)
Wearing a costume at any of the Disney parks (as an adult) confuses the children into thinking you work here or are the actual princess (or British nanny or Jedi or French man candelabra). Add in the beer you’re chugging and your armful of tattoos and they may be left with some serious questions.
For more information on light saber allowance, wing transparency, and how long your cape can be, check out this page. (You’re also not allowed to wear “clothing that touches or drags on the ground.” Now I have questions.)
Also read: The Free Florida Toll Pass for Visitors: How to Get It + What You Need to Know
Your selfie stick
Disney World has banned the use of selfie sticks at all of its parks. At first, they were banned from just the rides (in 2015) but now they’re banned from entering the parks altogether. Click here for the full list of prohibited items. (Don’t even think about bringing your fog machine!)
Snacks
For the love of all that is good and pure, don’t bring your own snacks to a food festival. I know you’re probably trying to save a few bucks… but you just paid SO MUCH to attend this festival. Why even come if you aren’t going to eat the things at the eating festival? Make it make sense.
Your kids
Disney World may be for children (if you say so), but Epcot is far and away for grownups. The emphasis on world travel, the festival’s Eat to the Beat concert series featuring not a single performer that wasn’t around during the Clinton administration, and the fact that “drinking around the world” has basically become an American pastime are your first clues.
Similarly, the Epcot Food & Wine Festival is for grownups that act like kids. And do you really want to subject your offspring to fully-grown adult children with unlimited access to tequila flights? It’s got all the excitement and chaos of a child’s 4th birthday party, but with the appetite for booze of a Mexican spring break.
Don’t get me wrong; the Epcot Food & Wine Festival isn’t at all a raucous event of drunkenness and debauchery (this is still Disney World after all). But the event has alcohol right there in the name. You wouldn’t take your kid to the Cannabis Cup or the annual Western Mass Extravaganja even if they do advertise face painting and a bouncy house, would you? Actually, don’t answer that.
My point is: There’s a slim chance both you and your kids will enjoy the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. One of you is going to have a crappy time and you’re both going home stone cold sober. There are things kids can do here and a couple of rides they might enjoy, but to experience the full potential of the Food & Wine Festival, maybe just bring your adult friends.
More info for your trip to Epcot
- Hotels: Head to Booking.com for your best options. (But Expedia and Hotels.com usually have good deals too.) Or head to VRBO for the best rental properties.
- Rental cars: Check out the best Orlando rental car deals here.
- Travel planning: Pick up a Florida guidebook and this must-have USA customs and culture guide if you’re coming from afar.
- Tours & activities: Check out all the great local tour options here on Viator and Get Your Guide.
- Want more? See all my Florida content here.
Like this post? Have questions about what to pack for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival? Let me know in the comments below! Have fun at Disney!
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Such an informative and fun post . What a great experience one gets there in Epcot Food and Wine Festival. I would love to attend it someday. I loved your super useful tips and packing list as well.
Hahaha really fun to read! I never heard of this festival and would love to go. Well, food and wine, how can it go wrong!
Thanks Fernanda! Yes, you should go — it’s fantastic!
This post is both fun and informative to read. I’ve never been to Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Trying out different kinds of food from different countries all in one place sounds very enticing. Wearing an elastic waistband sounds like a good idea! haha!
Thank you! Yes, it really is so much fun! And all of the food offerings are such high quality.
Hahaha this is a great read – really funny and well-written! Wow I never knew Epcot existed… Need to go at some point. Also will look into Lipsense, it looks pretty awesome. Thanks!
Thank you Zainab! Epcot is the best, it’s such a unique place! I hope you get to visit sometime!
Most hilarious post ever about the food and wine festival which by the way I love and have been to several times. Love the Chase lounge even though it is no longer secret and the lines are just as bad as waiting for the dumbo ride in Disney. Love your shirts especially the one that says I will drink for passport stamps. I felt like a kid collecting them all it is so much fun. Oh one thing – you will leave this festival just as broke as if you had traveled the world for real but so worth it.
Hahaha, thanks so much Joella! I love that you’ve been to the Fest! I’ve never experienced the lounge personally but when my friends went last year they walked right in — no line! And yeah, the festival isn’t cheap that’s for sure. (But so worth going broke haha!)
So funny! I would love to go to Epcot for Food and Wine, but as a teacher, I am probably doomed to wait until retirement. We will just continue to fry ourselves in June. Disney is worth it, though!
Haha, yeah I’m familiar with the teacher/travel schedule. Maybe you can go over fall break if you have that? Labor day weekend? I hope you get to go sometime!
This was a fun read. Thank you. Anybody who parties with Mexican Donald Duck and suggests leaving kids at home for a visit to Disney is ok in my book. To answer the question you didn’t ask, I think childhood ends when you no longer need to ask what really went on between Snow White and those seven men she lived with.
Haha i love your comment. Yes, Epcot is most definitely for (really fun) adults.
Epcot is my favorite park at Disney World, I’ve been twice this year already! We live near Disneyland and they have a smaller version of the food festival. So much great food to try!
Awesome, me too! I didn’t realize there was a smaller version at Disneyland. I’m going to check that out!
Hahaha! I LOVE this post! I’m hoping to do a family trip to WDW in the next few years and I had been thinking about going during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival. Scratch that! Sounds like it would be way more fun with just my husband and me! Your writing style is fab, btw.
Thanks Marcie! Yes – it’s definitely for grown ups and you and your husband would have THE BEST time!
Omg, this is really funny. Major takeaways- no kids, no selfie stick, no granola bars. Got it, lol. Love the part about what lipstick to wear 😉 AND!! I checked out those tees and they’re super cute!!!!
Thanks!! I’m glad you got to experience the Fest with us – now again!!