What's New and Exciting at 2019 Epcot Food and Wine Festival

Disney World ushers in fall with the Epcot Food & Wine Festival even as the heat index across the state hovers near 100 degrees. This culinary celebration is beloved by Disney-goers for the autumn-inspired dishes and drinks. This year's festival will be a record-long 87 days, spanning from August 29 through November 23.

There are 30 marketplaces around Epcot featuring different kinds of international cuisine. This year's brand new kiosks are Alps Marketplace, which will serve Swiss fare, and Appleseed Orchard, which will carry various dishes that highlight apples. You can look forward to a Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese over baby potatoes, cornichons and a baguette at the Alps Marketplace, and treats like caramel apple popcorn and frozen apple pie drink from Appleseed Orchard.

The Food & Wine Festival is incredibly family-friendly, even highlighting kid-approved foods in the festival passport. Each of these dishes will be marked with a strawberry icon, so kids who are reticent to try new things will know what other children have tried and loved. Of course, kids are welcome to try anything and expand their palates with all kinds of global eats, but the strawberry icons are a great starting point.

The Thailand kiosk is back, and this year you'll find a new Shrimp and Cold Noodle Salad. The locally-sourced Florida shrimp has a bit of a spicy kick, so make sure you have a cold beverage on hand to follow each bite.

Everyone loves eating their way around the world, but when you need a break you can shop 'til you drop for Food & Wine Festival exclusive merchandise. Look for the cork and wine-colored Taste Your Way Around the World collection at Port of Entry and Mouse Gear. The earthy tones make the kitchen gear a great fit for any kitchen.

The Remy's Ratatouille Hide-and-Squeak scavenger hunt was a huge hit, so Disney has added a new game for the festival. Guests can participate in Emile's Fromage Montage, a cheese-themed scavenger hunt of sorts. All you need to do is purchase 5 cheese dishes from any of the Marketplace Food Booths, get your passport stamped for each one, and then you can claim your prize, a unique cheesecake from Shimmering Sips!

Another dish making its debut at the Food & Wine Festival is the Spicy Kenyan Vegan Githeri from the Africa Marketplace. Yes, this entrée is vegan, but anyone, no matter his or her dietary preferences, will love the taste. The mixture of white beans, pigeon peas and corn mixed in a bed of curry rice pilaf is hearty, flavorful and just a little bit spicy.

The Chef Mickey and Minnie Collection of merchandise are full of rose gold, pink and plenty of sparkles. One of the highlights is a glittering rose gold set of Minnie Mouse ears with a cupcake in place of the bow. It's a perfect whimsical piece for a festival celebrating food.

It wouldn't be a party without some entertainment! The Eat to the Beat concert series features 36 different artists, 12 of whom are new to the festival this year. Shows will play 7 days a week starting at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday. Friday and Saturday shows will have a later start time. New artists include Lauren Daigle, Grace Kelly and DCappella, while popular returning artists like Smash Mouth, Mercy Me and Joey Fatone and Friends will round out the schedule.

What's better than coffee and donuts in autumn? The Donut Box is a new booth that will be opening October 1 and will feature an espresso donut along with a black and white cocktail with coffee liqueur. This is going to be such a sweet addition to the Food and Wine Festival, especially for coffee lovers!

Say, "Cheers!" in as many languages as possible with this Brews Around the World Merchandise. Whether you're saying, "Prost" with your German lager or, "Salud" with your Cerveza, this apparel will make drinking around the world stylish and fun!

Speaking of drinking around the world, some of the more popular alcoholic beverages are back, but this time they'll be served in flights. Head to Shimmering Sips for the mimosa flight with blood orange, tropical and key lime flavors. If beer is more your style stop by Appleseed Orchard for a flight of limoncello, cherry tart and spiced apple ciders.

If you have a sweet tooth like me, you're likely wondering what's new in the realm of desserts. The Alps Marketplace has a Blueberry and Almond Frangipane Tart with Crème Fraîche while the Active Eats kiosk boasts a healthy Fruit and Nut Energy Snack. My personal favorite was the Deconstructed Pavlova with Pastry Cream, Berries, and Lemon Myrtle Meringue from the Australia Marketplace. It was light, fresh and just sweet enough. Perfect for a hot Florida day.

Disney never forgets about the kids when it comes to entertainment. The Disney Du Jour Dance Party in Future World will have DJs 7 days a week so kids can dance the day away. On Fridays and Saturdays, you'll find live performances from Radio Disney stars like Meg Donnelly.

Whether you're there for the sweets, the global cuisine, the beer, the wine, the entertainment or just the atmosphere, the International Food & Wine Festival has something for everyone. Epcot is the place to be this fall. Do you have your ticket yet?