Greetings from the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival! For those of you coming to Walt Disney World over the next month and a half for the festival, here’s a quick tour of the Food and Wine Festival Center!

Located in Future World (within the old Wonders of Life Pavilion – go left at MouseGear), this is where you’ll head for many of the culinary demonstrations and seminars.

You’ll also find HGTV events here, as well as some terrific Festival merchandise.

Let’s take a little tour, shall we?

Festival Center Attractions

When you come down the ramps to enter the building, you’ll find helpful Cast Members at the Information Booth ready to answer all of your questions and steer you in the right direction.

This is also where you’ll find your Food and Wine Festival Passports – great for gathering stamps to commemorate your mission to eat and drink your way around the World!

The info booth is also where you’ll go to get wristbands for celebrity chef meet-and-greets and book signings. 2 signings per wristband this year!

The check-in area is where you’ll go when you’re ready to check in for any seminars or demonstrations that you’ve signed up to attend. TIP: Head to the check-in area if you don’t have a reservation for an event, but you’d like to attend. They just might have some openings!

This interactive kiosk is a fun new addition to the Festival Center, and makes getting information about the Marketplaces and other attractions a snap!

With this handy map of the Festival Center, you’ll know exactly where to go.

If you aren’t paying attention, you might miss the Art of Food and Wine Shop with its position nestled behind the ramps leading into the space.

Feeling a little hungry or thirsty after talking about all that food and wine? Grab a snack or something to drink at Intermissions Cafe.

Serving light sandwiches and other bites, in addition to wines, beer, dessert wines and ports, and soft drinks. There’s also a Vegan Trio Option offered here!

The Spotlight stage is where you’ll go for Authentic Taste Seminars throughout the day! You’ll find it located right across from The Stockpot Shop.

Already, The Stockpot Shop is a bustling place! This is where to find all of those great merch items!

Just past the shop, you’ll find the Chef’s Showcase.

With its large seating area and stage set up for culinary demonstrations, this is a terrific place to learn about tastes and new dishes with some of your favorite celebrity chefs!

In the center of the space is the Festival Center Theater. Here, you’ll find Seasons of the Vine, a seven-minute film that offers a “behind-the-scenes introduction” to wine growing. They’re also showing some HGTV in there this year!

You can also attend meet and greets with HGTV stars here.

New in 2012, Ghirardelli presents From Bean to Bar, an immersive chocolate experience, where you can learn, shop, and sample CHOCOLATE! Sign me up!

Taking in a Wine Tasting or Mixology Seminar?

The Vineyard Stage will be the venue for these fun and informative talks.

And whether you’re looking for a special bottle to celebrate the fun you’ve had at the Festival, a special gift, or you’d just like to take something home that you’ve tasted, you’ll likely find it in the Festival Wine Shop.

Chase Lounge

Also new for 2012, Chase Cardholders (including Disney Chase Cardholders) and their guests can relax in their very own VIP Lounge each day from 9 am to 7 pm. It’s a time to cool off, enjoy a beverage, and rest up for more food and wine!

For access, just present your Chase debit or credit card.

While there are restrooms in Festival Center, these are also an extra set within the Chase Lounge area.

Inside, you’ll find a cool area with soft light, decorated with the emblems of this year’s Festival theme, Taste Your Way Around the World.

There’s also another interactive kiosk within the Lounge. Lots of fun to play with!

Enjoy a complimentary cold or hot beverage while you chill with friends!

And while you’re there, why not do a quick survey? 😉

More About the Festival?

We’ll be updating you with all of the special demonstrations and experiences that we have booked throughout this year’s Festival, but in the meantime, stop by our Food and Wine Festival Page to check out all the info about Marketplace Booths, and Special Events.

Also, if you’re headed to the Festival, check out our DFB Mini-Guide to the 2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival e-Book for a full schedule of events, touring strategies, tips and tricks, and a full section on the World Showcase booths this year!

What will you be doing when you stop by Festival Center?