One of the world’s largest food and wine experiences with more than 100 wineries represented, the festival expands each year with new offerings and events. The park’s 11 World Showcase countries and special festival marketplaces, including this year’s "Australia, Discover Down Under" experience, will serve up food and wine samplings from exotic regions around the globe, with appetizer-sized tastings ranging from $1-$4.50. The festival’s first major Future World experience, "Chocolate, the Sweet Emotion, from Piedmont, Italy," opens near Innoventions Plaza behind Fountain Café. And for the second year, the Eat to the Beat! concert series promises nightly performances by artists including Sister Sledge, The Spinners, Three Dog Night, The 5th Dimension, Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, and Chubby Checker & the Wildcats. In addition, the prestigious Bordeaux Wine School USA returns for a second year, and the Banfi Italian and Australian wine schools make their festival debuts.

Guests also can enjoy scheduled culinary demonstrations, wine seminars and multi-cultural performances at no additional cost. For beer aficionados, there are the "History of Beer in America" tastings and seminars by the Boston Beer Company, makers of Samuel Adams beer.

The Party for the Senses food-and-wine-tasting weekly events each feature the creations of 18 eminent chefs and choices of more than 50 wines and beers. In addition, guest opportunities to reserve the more intimate Food and Wine Pairings have increased by 60 percent, with pairings now scheduled at Coral Reef Restaurant, Le Cellier restaurant and Restaurant Marrakesh.

Dozens of performers ranging from acrobats to musicians add street-festival energy to this seasonal culinary celebration. Walt Disney World guests can toast the festival with champagne and get information at the park’s Festival Welcome Center across from Future World Fountain and Innoventions Plaza.

Scheduled events in addition to daily wine seminars and culinary demonstrations include:

• Eat to the Beat! concert series with evening performances by popular entertainers on the America Gardens stage at no additional cost.
• Party for the Senses, a hip, hot celebration of the senses featuring more than 30 wines with flavorful foods Oct. 18 and 24, and Nov. 1, 8 and 15, for $85 in World Showplace.
• Bordeaux Wine School, a wine education program with lunch and wine school certificates presented upon completion, at Bistro de Paris in the France pavilion Oct. 30 and Nov. 2 for $125.
• Banfi Italian Wine School, a wine education program with lunch and wine school certificates presented upon completion, at L’Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante in the Italy pavilion Nov. 6 and 8 for $125.
• Australian Wine School, a wine education program with lunch and wine school certificates, Nov. 14 and 16, at Spaceship Earth VIP Lounge for $125.
• Food and Wine Pairings, featuring wine experts pairing great food and wines Mondays at Restaurant Marrakesh ($35); Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at Coral Reef Restaurant ($35) and Le Cellier ($30).
• Reserve Dinners, for an elite dining experience that marries great wines and food and includes VIP viewing of "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth," at the Wonders of Life pavilion VIP Dining Room Oct. 19, 23, 25, 30 and 31, and Nov. 6, 7, 13 and 14 (ticket price to be announced).

Additional events in celebration of the festival are:

• Signature Dinner Series, with five courses and wine pairings from featured vintners, to be held at a different Disney signature resort restaurant each Sunday (ticket price to be announced).
• Vertical Tastings, a rare opportunity for wine lovers to sample 10 vintages from stellar producers and hear VIP wine speakers, Saturdays (ticket price to be announced).
• Riedel Crystal Wine Glass Tastings, where wine aficionados can explore the science and artistry behind the design of the world-renowned Riedel crystal wine glasses for $125.

Talented chefs will explore culinary customs and food trends during demonstrations at The Terrace, an alfresco setting between the Morocco and France pavilions. Also at The Terrace, guests can explore the Festival Wine Shop and see Artisans Among the Arbors -- an eclectic array of artists.

A special program for children ages 4-10, Epcot’s Junior Chef Program, is offered at The Land pavilion.

Entrance to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, including wine and beer seminars and cooking demonstrations, is free with regular Epcot admission.

Guests can call 407/WDW-DINE for information or reservations for special events and programs during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, or visit the Web site: www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine starting July 24, 7 a.m., and link to Epcot for festival details.

WHAT’S NEW: “Australia, Discover Down Under” marketplace and cultural experience and “Piedmont, Italy: The Land of Chocolate” exhibit; Banfi Italian Wine School and Australian Wine School; Eat to the Beat! concert series appearances by the Spinners, Three Dog Night and Chic featuring Nile Rodgers, in addition to returning favorites Sister Sledge, The 5th Dimension and Chubby Checker & the Wildcats; expanded capacity at Party for the Senses food and wine grand tasting; Food and Wine Pairings at Le Cellier restaurant in the Canada pavilion and Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco pavilion; Riedel Crystal Wine Glass Tastings; and Lunch and Learn celebrity chef lunches.

KEY COMPONENTS:

• Festival Welcome Center across from the Future World fountain and Innoventions Plaza has cast members answering festival questions and offers champagne by the glass for purchase.
• Eat to the Beat! concert series with evening performances by popular entertainers on the America Gardens Stage:

  Oct. 18-22 Oct. 23-27 Oct. 28-Nov. 1 Nov. 2-6 Nov. 7-11 Nov. 12-16

  Sister Sledge Spinners Three Dog Night The 5th Dimension Chic featuring Nile Rodgers Chubby Checker & the Wildcats

• Forty-five-minute wine seminars and tastings at The Terrace between France and Morocco in World Showcase and at the Odyssey pavilion in Future World. More than 70 wineries are conducting seminars this year.
• More than 20 international food and wine marketplaces around World Showcase, with wine and appetizer-sized portions from $1-$4.50. A new cultural experience this year showcases the customs, foods and wines of Australia in “Australia, Discover Down Under,” and a universal indulgence, chocolate, is featured in its own “Piedmont, Italy: The Land of Chocolate” experience. “Explore the Cape Region of South Africa” returns for a second year.
• For beer lovers, there will be more than 30 national and international beers available around World Showcase and a specialty beer garden near American Adventure. Returning to the American Adventure courtyard is “The History of Beer in America” presented by the Boston Beer Company, makers of Samuel Adams beer, with seminars and tastings. Next door at the UK pavilion, guests can sample Old World brews in daily seminars.
• Interactive culinary demonstrations daily at The Terrace in an open-air venue between Morocco and France. Tips on grilling and other secrets of the trade from Walt Disney World chefs and celebrity guests. Also wine seminars, a wine shop, wine tasting bar and artisans.
• A festive Oktoberfest celebration comes to the Germany courtyard with food and beer offerings.
• Junior Chef Program “Making Nestle Toll House Cookies” experience at The Land pavilion in Future World for youngsters ages 4-10, daily.
• Kitchen Karnivale! A new interactive experience along a lush garden path in Future World that stars the Kitchen Kabaret Players and celebrates fruits and vegetables. Kids discover that “eating your colors” can be fun and healthy. Parents learn fresh and tasty ways to present fruits and veggies to kids.
• Pumpkins & Gourds Galore! Colorful fall harvest showcased in The Land pavilion greenhouses and experienced during the boat tour.

TICKETED EVENTS:

• The prestigious Bordeaux Wine School USA, Banfi Italian Wine School and Australian Wine School are respected one-day wine education programs with lunch and certification; $125 each program. The Bordeaux school is Oct. 30 through Nov. 2 at Bistro de Paris in the France pavilion; Italian school is Nov. 6 through 8 at L’Originale Alfredo di Roma Ristorante in the Italy pavilion; Australian school is Nov. 14 through 16 in Spaceship Earth VIP Lounge.
• Party for the Senses food- and wine-tastings are grand-scale events in World Showplace between the United Kingdom and Canada pavilions, with 18 eminent chefs and featuring more than 50 international wines and beers; $85. Includes VIP seating for the Eat to the Beat! concert series and viewing for “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.” Oct. 18 and 24 and Nov. 1, 8 and 15 (Epcot admission required).
• Signature Dinner Series features themed evenings reflecting the world’s great wines and food. Five-course dinner with Walt Disney World chefs, with wines paired by vintners selected wineries; $110. Hosted at a different Disney signature restaurant each week. Oct. 26, Nov. 2, 9 and 16.
• Reserve Dinners. Elegant, six-course dinners with celebrity chefs and Walt Disney World chefs, in the Wonders of Life VIP dining room, Future World. Reserve wines chosen by vintners who share their passion and knowledge throughout the meal; $175. Limited to 36 guests, Oct. 19, 23, 25, 30 and Nov. 6, 7, 13 and 14. Includes private viewing area for “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.” Jackets requested for men.
• Food & Wine Pairings at Coral Reef Restaurant in The Living Seas pavilion ($35) and Le Cellier restaurant in the Canada showcase ($35) on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. At Restaurant Marrakesh in the Morocco showcase ($35) on Mondays. Varietal wines paired with food by a wine expert. Limited to 30 guests (Epcot admission required).
• Vertical Wine Tastings. Wine aficionados can taste at least 10 vintages from stellar producers and hear VIP wine speakers at Ariel’s at Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Saturdays; $125.
• Riedel Crystal Wine Glass Tastings. Guests can explore the science behind the renowned Riedel crystal wine glasses while sampling and comparing wines served from these extraordinary glasses and wines served in every-day glassware at Cítricos, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Oct. 26 and Nov. 6 and 16; $125.
• Lunch and Learn. Step into the kitchens of Walt Disney World signature restaurants while a celebrity chef prepares lunch including appetizer, entrée and dessert. Ask questions of the experts and take home recipes. Wines served to complement dishes. Celebrity chefs scheduled to appear include Rick Bayless, Rick Tramanto, Gale Gand, Mark Franz, Emily Luchetti and Allen Susser. Sundays, $75.

REGIONS OF THE WORLD AND TOPICS REPRESENTED:
Australia, Discover Down Under (new)
Piedmont, Italy: The Land of Chocolate (new)
South America (new)
Great Beers of the World (new)
Champagne & Sparkling Wine
Cognac, Brandy & Port
Canada
China
France
Fresh from Florida
Germany - Oktoberfest
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Mexico
Morocco & Mediterranean
New Zealand
Poland
Russia & Eastern Europe
Scandinavia
Southeast Asia
Spain
Specialty Beer Garden
South Africa
U.S.A.

WEB SITE: www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine

FOR ALL RESERVATIONS: 407/WDW-FEST