The popular six-week-long Epco Food & Wine Festival showcases chefs and vintners, cooking demonstrations, wine pairings and live entertainment.

Now is a great time to start planning for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival 2011!

To be held Sept. 30-Nov. 13, the 2011 Epcot Food & Wine Festival is a culinary mecca. Expect all sorts of free, low-cost and high-dollar wine and culinary events, as well as many booths at Epcot’s World Showcase with food from all around the world. The Eat to the Beat! concert series is another fun extra, with music performances from well-known acts.

Take a look at 2010’s festival guide, booths and menus, free and low-cost demos, and special and signature events to get an idea of what you can expect in 2011.  More solid information should become available in April, with the bulk of the details about seminars and events becoming available in July and August. Online booking for seminars will be available at that time.

So what you can do now? Book a room or Magic Your Way Package, and then at 180 days out from your check-in, you can begin making your dining reservations.

Currently, there aren’t any special offers for room or dining discounts during October and November, but that doesn’t mean that a new discount won’t be announced between now and the start of the festival, so keep your eyes peeled.

Another thing you can do now is register for the Wine & Dine Half Marathon, to be held during Food & Wine opening weekend on Oct. 1. It’s $145 until March 27, and registration includes a lot of cool goodies and entrance into the exclusive after-hours Epcot Food & Wine Festival party.

Have fun planning, and we’ll have more info in a few months!

A variety of cakes and shapes are available, personalized for your special occasion. You can even get one in the shape of Mickey’s head! The Disney World bakery asks for 48 hours advance notice. To order any custom bakery cake, call the Disney World bakery at (407) 827-2253.

The cake at right was presented at California Grill during a first anniversary dinner. The Mickey and Minnie are hand-painted white chocolate figurines.

Throwing a party for a special child? Personal-size party cakes are available as either Disney Princess Jewelry Box or Pirates Treasure Chest, with a special surprise toy.  These are available at most family table service locations.

Forget to order ahead of time? No problem. You can still order a plain 6-inch cake in chocolate or vanilla with no notice necessary. Just let a cast member know upon arriving at the restaurant. it’s available at most of Disney World’s table service restaurants.

'Ohana Barbeque

At Disney World, the dining options are vast. Where to start? If you have a family or a large group of friends, consider heading to one of Disney World’s interactive restaurants.

These restaurants are both tasty and fun — at some, servers or other cast members interact with diners, while at others, there’s live entertainment during your meal. Here are a few restaurants to consider during your visit.

Hollywood Studios

50s Prime Time Cafe: Be sure to eat your veggies! At 50s Prime Time Cafe, you’re back home in mom’s kitchen, getting served homestyle favorites like meatloaf, pot roast and chicken pot pie. There are TVs at some tables showing classic sitcoms from the 1950s, and servers here are a lot of fun. 50s Prime Time Cafe is a great choice for some comfort food favorites and friendly banter with your server, Uncle Bob, Aunt Judy or Cousin Sal. Click here for more info on 50s Prime Time Cafe.

Epcot

Biergarten: It’s Oktoberfest every day at Biergarten! Long tables line the theater-like hall, where diners gorge on German favorites like bratwurst, spaetzle, sauerkraut and more. Up on stage, German performers dance and entertain the crowd. Kids are often invited onstage with the performers, so be sure to send your outgoing little one up to the front! Click here for more info on Biergarten.

Restaurant Marrakesh: Exotic and fun is the name of the game at Restaurant Marrakesh! Shish kebobs, baklava, couscous and more is found on the menu at Restaurant Marrakesh. And your mealtime entertainment is Morrocan musicians and belly dancers. If you have an adventurous group wanting to try some authentic North African eats, then Restaurant Marrakesh should be your destination. Click here for more info on Restaurant Marrakesh.

Chefs de France: Oui, oui! If you’re a fan of French eats and Disney-Pixar’s Ratatouille, head on over to Chefs de France. If you’re lucky, Chef Remy himself will make an appearance and interact with your table. Even if he doesn’t make it out during your meal, there’s still plenty to be happy about, like the menu filled with authentic French favorites, like escargot, creme brulee and pommes frites! Click here for more info on Chefs de France.

Resorts

Whispering Canyon Cafe: Howdy , partner! Whispering Canyon is a fan favorite for some rootin’-tootin’ fun for the whole family. Located at Disney World’s Wilderness Lodge, Whispering Canyon Cafe is the place to have fun with your servers. They’re always looking for ways to make your dining experience fun — there are kids’ pony races, and they might even play a trick on you! Be sure to ask for ketchup — see what they do! The menu is great, too — filled with all-you-can-eat skillets of ribs, chicken, baked beans and more — as well as some great a la carte items, too. Click here for more info on Whispering Canyon Cafe.

Ohana: Ohana, located in the Polynesian Resort, is a great place to take the family or a large group.  Breakfast is character dining, and dinner is an all-you-care-to-eat Hawaiian-style feast, topped off by Ohana Pineapple Bread Pudding a la mode! Kids are welcome at Ohana — every 30 minutes or so, they’ll be called up to race coconuts and learn authentic Hawaiian dances. Click here for more info on Ohana.

Artist Point at the Wilderness Lodge.

Disney World veterans know that there’s more to life than burgers and hot dogs while at the World. Fine cuisine can be found all around the theme parks and resorts. So here’s a primer on the crème de la crème of Disney World cuisine.

All listed below are 2 table service credits on the Disney Dining Plan, unless otherwise noted.

Artist Point, located in the Wilderness Lodge. Evoking the tastes and feel of the Pacific Northwest. Famous for its seasonal Copper River salmon.

Bistro de Paris, located in Epcot’s World Showcase. (Not available on the Disney Dining Plan.) Authentic French cuisine — the brainchild of three of France’s most decorated chefs: Paul Bocuse, Roger Verge, and the late Gaston Lenotre.

California Grill, located in the Contemporary Resort. Located atop the Contemporary Resort with a spectacular view of Magic Kingdom fireworks, the menu changes often and gets great reviews.

Citrico’s, located in the Grand Floridian Resort. Fresh, upscale American dining. Great steaks, seafood, and famous for its Tropical Fruit Creme Brulee.

Flying Fish Cafe, located in the Boardwalk Inn. Seafood is the name of the game here. It has a fresh, whimsical, carnival-like atmosphere.

Hollywood Brown Derby, located in Hollywood Studios. A replica of the famous Hollywood landmark, the food here is top-notch. Famous for its Cobb Salad and Grapefruit Cake.

Jiko, located in Animal Kingdom Lodge. A highly acclaimed taste of Africa, with an extensive South African wine list. The signature entree: Oak-Fired Filet Mignon with Macaroni and Cheese and Red Wine Sauce.

Canada’s Le Cellier Steakhouse, located in Epcot World Showcase (2 credits for dinner starting March 2011, 1 credit for lunch). It’s almost impossible to get a reservation here, so book early. Famous for its bread service, Canadian cheddar cheese soup, steaks, and maple creme brulee.

Narcoossee’s, located in the Grand Floridian Resort. Upscale, but casual, located on the Seven Seas Lagoon with an excellent view of fireworks and the Electric Water Pageant. Surf and turf is the name of the game.

Victoria and Albert’s, located in the Grand Floridian Resort. (Not available on Disney Dining Plan). The most critically acclaimed restaurant in Florida, with a AAA five-diamond rating. This is the place for a truly special meal experience.

Yachtsman Steakhouse, located in the Yacht Club Resort. Known for its hand-cut steaks, this is the place to go for meat lovers.

This post is part of the DisMarks Disney Blog Carnival! Check it out for more great Disney-related content and information.

Enjoy Crepes or Escargot in France

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is a yearly celebration of food and spirits from around the world, running in 2010 from October 1-November 14. This year, the festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary, and they’ve pulled out all the stops!

At the festival, you can try food, wine and beer at international booths situated around the Epcot World Showcase; attend free and low-cost seminars on food and wine with renowned chefs; and indulge in decadent meals from around the globe at culinary events at various Walt Disney World restaurants. Then you can top it all off with one of the nightly concerts – Sugar Ray, Air Supply and Boyz II Men are just a few artists who will visit the Epcot America Gardens Theatre stage.

Here’s more on what you can expect:

International marketplaces:
More than two dozen international booths will be set up around the World Showcase Lagoon, showcasing cuisine from around the world. Small plates will be available for purchase – some of which will be eligible as snack credits on the Disney Dining Plan. New this year is South Korea, Belgium, and Charcuterie and Cheese booths. You can also get a Marketplace Discovery Passport and receive stamps from all of the booths! Click here for Food and Wine Festival Booth Menus.

Free and low-cost events:
Culinary demonstrations and food and wine pairing seminars will be held daily for as little as $8 per person, with booking for the general public available Aug. 28 (Tables in Wonderland members and Annual Passholders can book on August 26th). And there are many free events to take advantage of, such as book signings and author meet and greets, bottle signings, short films and seminars. Click here for information onFood and Wine Festival free and low-cost events.

Special culinary events:
These more pricey events are for those wanting to truly indulge in a food experience for the senses. Booking for these events began on July 20, so hurry and get your spot reserved (call 407-WDW-FEST). Whether you’d like to get a taste of the festival before anyone else (Delicious Discoveries First Bites, Sept. 30, $195), experience a night with Cat Cora herself (Celebrating Family & Friends in the Kitchen at Kouzzina, Oct. 29, $140) or feed your cheese obsession (Cheese seminars, Saturdays, $75), there’s something for every foodie. Click here for 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Special Events.

Eat to the Beat! Concerts:
Each night, various artists will play concerts at the Epcot America Gardens Theatre. Showtimes are 5:15 p.m., 6:30 p.m. and 7:45 p.m. nightly. Taylor Dayne starts off the concert festivities from Oct. 1-3, while Big Bad Voodoo Daddy pulls up the rear from Nov. 12-14. In between are a host of artists such as Jon Secada, Taylor Hicks, Sister Hazel and more. Click here for the 2010 Eat to the Beat! Concert Schedule.

Hopefully that helps lay out what you can expect from the 2010 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival! You can keep you to date with the Disney Food Blog’s index page on the festival here! Or check out the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Guide and Map!

Be sure to follow us over on Twitter (@DisneyBasics) to discuss your Food and Wine Festival plans!

This post is part of the DisMarks.com Disney Blog Carnival! To read more great Disney posts or learn how you can be part of the carnival, click here!

A Typical Kids' Picks Sign

At most Disney World quick-service restaurants, you can now find a program called “Kids’ Picks.” This program not only gives kids the option to customize their counter-service meals with healthy choices, it also makes those healthy picks the primary options!

Here’s how it works: when you and your child approach a Disney counter-service location, your little one can choose from the standard kids’ meal entrees available and then choose from the list of kids’ picks for side items and drinks. The primary options listed as side items are relatively healthy choices: usually dishes like fruit gelatin, applesauce, apple slices, grapes, and carrot sticks. For a drink, your child is given the main options of milk, water, or apple juice.

Now, in small print, the kids’ picks signs will always give your child the choice of adding standards like french fries, chocolate pudding, cookies, or soft drinks, but these are cleverly hidden below the giant cartoon images of the healthier options.

It’s just one more way that Disney is redesigning their dining and upgrading their menus resort-wide to give you and your family healthier choices for theme park food.

Guess What! This post is part of the DisMarks Disney Blog Carnival! Click on that link to see many more fantastic blog posts about Disney food, planning, history, and more.

Morocco's Tangerine Cafe

• Making Advanced Dining Reservations
• Disney Dining Plans
• Tables in Wonderland Dining Discount Card
• Other Dining Discounts
• Character Meals

MAKING ADVANCED DINING RESERVATIONS
There are lots of dining options inside and outside of WDW property. If you want to try Disney restaurants, it makes sense to make reservations–even if you’re traveling during a slow season.

Making reservations (which Disney currently calls “Advanced Dining Reservations,” or ADRs) is quick and easy. Simply call 407-WDW-DINE, answer a few voice-activated questions, and you’ll be transferred to a dining agent who will book your meals for you.

You can also book online, using the Disney World Website. Simply click on this link, find the restaurant that interests you, and click the booking button.

At this time, you may make a dining reservation at most Disney restaurants up to 180 days in advance of your meal there. If you are staying at a Disney Resort during your time in Orlando, you may call 180 days in advance of your arrival date and make dining reservations for up to 10 days.

I’ll refer you again to Mousesavers, as they have a fantastic and in-depth page about advanced dining reservations. Some restaurants and dining experiences, like the Polynesian Resort Luau and Fort Wilderness’ Hoop Dee Doo Revue, allow a longer pre-booking period. We suggest you use the PS Calculator–this stands for “priority seating” calculator, as Advanced Dining Reservations were previously referred to as priority seating arrangements. This calculator will determine the dates you should call for your reservations based on your arrival date.

DISNEY DINING PLANS
Once you’re familiar with the Disney World dining reservation procedure, be sure to read here about Disney’s Dining Plans. These are plans you can add onto a vacation package (and only a vacation package–you cannot book a dining plan with a room-only reservation), essentially pre-paying for your meals. Plans usually include a set number of pre-paid snacks and full meals, which you may use according to your timeline throughout your stay. This usually presents a cost savings for most guests.

At this time, Disney offers the following plans:

• Quick-Service Dining Plan
• Regular Dining Plan
• Deluxe Dining Plan
• Premium Package with Dining
• Platinum Package with Dining

For more in-depth information about the Disney Dining Plans and to compare one plan against another, visit the AllEarsNet Disney World Packages page

TABLES IN WONDERLAND DISCOUNT CARD
The Tables in Wonderland Card (formerly referred to as the Disney Dining Experience) is an annual membership available to Florida residents or Disney World annual/season passholders for $100 and $75 respectively.

The membership allows cardholders to recieve 20% off food and beverages (including alcohol) at most Disney World restaurants and lounges. Cardholders are also entitled to free valet parking at resorts if they are dining there.

For more information about how to order the Tables in Wonderland card, call (407) 566-5858 (Monday – Friday, 9 am – 6 pm EST).

OTHER DINING DISCOUNTS
Disney World offers other dining discounts to other membership groups as well, including annual passholders, Disney Vacation Club members, Florida residents, AAA members, and others. Mousesavers.com has the most detailed information on their dining memberships page.

Also, due to the tourist industry in Orlando, many restaurants in the Orlando area have signed onto discount and coupon programs. This might be the best way to save some cash on your Disney trip–or just enjoy a night away from the Mouse.

CHARACTER MEALS
Whether you’re young or not-so-young, it can be fun to “dine with the characters!” You can have breakfast with Mickey, dinner with the Fairy Godmother, or even lunch with Donald! There are many more experiences to be had–check out the Disney Information Station’s list of character dining experiences.