Don’t forget, the phone lines open at 7 a.m. August 14 for reservations for all of the ticketed events for the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – call 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378). And this year, you can book some of the hottest tickets online at epcotfoodfestival.com: Party for the Senses, mixology seminars, “3D” Disney’s Dessert Discovery, Epcot wine schools and culinary demos in the Festival Center.

We know seats go fast for the signature events, but there are dozens to choose from – find all of the information to help you plan at epcotfoodfestival.com. And try something new this year!

But we’re looking forward to some of the festival events that don’t need reservations and don’t require a ticket, just admission to the park. Of course, there’s the array of tastes around World Showcase, paired with beer, wine and cocktails – we got a sneak taste of the chocolate chili mousse with salted caramel, and can tell you we’re heading there first.

We love stopping to talk with the cranberry farmers in the beautiful “Discover the Cranberry” featuring the Festival Cranberry Bog hosted by Ocean Spray Craisins Brand Dried Cranberries, and this year we can add the new Watermelon Patch (especially fun for kids) as we’re making the rounds. Chocolate lovers will want to head to the Festival Center for the free “The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar” hosted by Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (yep, there’s chocolate samples while you learn). The Festival Center is the perfect place to cool off when the weather heats up – take a seat and listen to the HGTV folks during complimentary 30-minute seminars. Or sit in on a free Authentic Taste Seminar presented by Driscoll’s Only the Finest Berries. Or just stroll through the Festival Center Wine Shop and sample a few of the wines.

Then, when the sun goes down, head to the Eat to the Beat Concert at America Gardens Theatre, with live entertainment every night at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. during the festival. Favorites are back, but new this year are Smash Mouth (Oct. 11-12); Javier Colon, winner of “The Voice” (Oct. 13-14); Blues Traveler (Nov. 5-6) and Dennis DeYoung, original member of the group STYX (Nov. 7-8).

Can you recommend your favorite happening at the festival?

For recipes from the previous Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, see the posts below: