The 2026 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival has officially opened its booths, and this year marks a milestone — the festival's 30th anniversary. That legacy shows up in touches like a Mickey-shaped macaron nodding to the event's 1996 debut, but nostalgia alone doesn't guarantee flavor. Reviewers worked through the new menu lineup and found results ranging from a perfect 7 to a disappointing 1.
Among the standouts, the Basil Pesto Chicken Dumplings from Gyozas of the Galaxy earned a rare perfect score, with the balsamic-fonduta combination drawing particular praise. The Caramel-Apple Cheesecake Baumkuchen at Connections Eatery came close behind with a 6 out of 7, thanks largely to what was called "unbelievably good" caramel sauce. The BBQ Braai Chicken Pizza and the Frozen Waffle Old Fashioned — a bourbon-butterscotch blend topped with a liege waffle — each pulled a solid 5.
Not everything fared as well. The Pistachio-Chocolate Mochi Doughnut at Connections Cafe scored just a 1, described as stale and chewy. The Mexico pavilion's new drink offerings struggled too, with the Fruta de la Pasión margarita landing at a 1 and the Cherry Nostalgia at a 2. The Taco de Camaron, a 30th-anniversary item featuring tempura shrimp, also scored a 2. On the plant-based side, the Sweet Chile-Lime Plant-Based Chicken Strips earned a middle-of-the-road 4, while the Edamame Dumplings with butternut squash and sage were a pleasant surprise at 5.
Several booths — including The Wedge, Coastal Eats, and Earth Eats — have staggered opening dates, with some not available until October 2. Reviews for those locations will be added as they open. Prices across the new items range from $4.99 for the Smoked Chocolate Bread Pudding to $17.50 for the Frozen Waffle Old Fashioned.
Planning Your Trip
Undercover Tourist is an authorized seller of Walt Disney World tickets, often at a discount off gate price.
Full reviews and ratings were published by WDWNT, whose team attended as hosted media at Disney's invitation.
