The 2025 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival is officially underway, and Disney Park guests have noticed a surprising trend—long lines forming for some of the festival’s most popular bites and sips over an hour before the theme park opens.
In 2025, the International Food & Wine Festival features more than 30 Global Marketplace booths across EPCOT’s World Showcase, along with additional Quick Service dining locations offering limited-time festival-inspired items. The small portions are designed so Walt Disney World Resort guests can sample a wide variety of flavors without committing to a full meal.
But this fall, rope-droppers at EPCOT are noticing something unusual. Many Walt Disney World Resort guests are arriving well before the festival booths officially open, lining up for over an hour in hopes of being among the first to try certain items.
On September 9, Disney Food Blog reported multiple sightings of early lines forming outside the festival kiosks. While the booths typically open after the park, some families are showing up long before service begins to secure early access to the limited-time menu items.
There’s really no reason to line up so early, considering most lines for EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival booths remain under ten minutes throughout the day. Still, an early start might make strategic sense for Walt Disney World Resort guests with a long list of booths to visit.
The EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival runs from August 28 to November 22, 2025, and offers a variety of experiences for festival-goers in addition to food and beverages. Guests can purchase exclusive festival-themed merchandise, enjoy the “Eat to the Beat” concert series, participate in the Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak scavenger hunt, complete Emile’s Fromage Montage, and take part in festival-themed PhotoPass opportunities throughout the park.
What’s the longest line you’ve waited in at the EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
