The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival has returned for 2025, and Disney Parks fans are flocking to Walt Disney World Resort to experience the limited-time international bites and sips. But this year, some festival behavior is raising eyebrows among theme park fans.
In 2025, the International Food & Wine Festival features more than 30 Global Marketplace booths, alongside Quick Service locations throughout EPCOT offering special festival-inspired items. Portion sizes are intentionally small, giving guests the chance to sample dozens of dishes around the World Showcase.
This year, Walt Disney World Resort guests have noticed something unusual while rope-dropping at EPCOT. Families and festival-goers are showing up well before the booths open, often waiting over an hour just to be first in line for a snack-sized dish or drink.
Disney Food Blog reported on September 9 that during several early-morning visits to EPCOT, guests were seen forming lines before festival service even began. The International Food & Wine Festival booths usually open shortly after park opening, but some attendees appear determined to be among the first to taste the limited-time offerings.
For most Walt Disney World Resort guests, lining up so early may be unnecessary. For much of the day, wait times for festival booths are often under ten minutes. But starting early could be a strategic move for guests hoping to hit multiple spots around the World Showcase in a single morning.
The 2025 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs from August 28 through November 22, offering more than just food and drinks. Guests can take home exclusive festival merchandise, attend the “Eat to the Beat” concert series, participate in the Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt, complete Emile’s Fromage Montage, and enjoy festival-themed PhotoPass opportunities throughout EPCOT.
Have you rope-dropped any EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival booths? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
