The 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival will be here before you know it! Mark your calendars for September 25-November 16, 2015!

That’s more than seven full weeks to enjoy all that this incredible event has to offer. And there is so much to do and see!

I’ve often thought through the years that it would be great to stick around for the entire Food and Wine Festival and take in every special event, cooking demonstration, and Eat to the Beat Concert. But we both know that’s not gonna happen. Who has that kind of time, right?

Well, here’s the good news. Even if you’re short on time, you can still enjoy so much of what the festival has to offer by planning ahead.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a look at some of the Touring Strategies featured in the DFB Guide to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. And don’t forget — when you pre-order the 2015 Guide, you’ll receive the 2014 immediately for free, so you can get started planning right away!

Today, we’ll get started by discussing how to make the most of the festival when you only have one day to enjoy it!

Get An Early Start

Even if you only have one day to spend at the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival, you can still make the most of your time. Plan to arrive early — a day where there are morning Extra Magic Hours would be ideal. And then head to the Festival Center when it opens at 9:00AM.

Here, you can browse the shops and pick up your free Marketplace Passport — they make great souvenirs! Also take time to check in at the Information Desk to confirm if there are any book signings or meet and greets with celebrity chefs, and obtain a wristband if they’re being distributed.

If you haven’t signed up for any culinary demonstrations or beverage seminars, you’ll want to do that now as well. Ideally, you’ve booked these ahead, because they tend to fill up fast. But there are often some openings for a last minute sign up.

Here’s a TIP: Historically, beverage seminars take place at 12:00, 2:00, and 4:00, while culinary demonstrations are scheduled for 1:00, 3:00, and 5:00. Mixology seminars are usually at 6pm. Book earlier in the day to leave your evening free for special dinner options, or later if you favor special events that take place during breakfast hours.

Check Out the Marketplace Booths and Enjoy a Demo

Once 11:00AM rolls around, head to World Showcase to Dine Around the World! The Marketplace Booths offer a great opportunity to enjoy a lunch-into-dinner experience. And by hitting the booths early in the day (especially during the weekends) you’ll stand a better chance of avoiding long lines.

If you’ve booked a seminar for the afternoon, you’ll then head back to the Festival Center to enjoy the presentation.

Splurge on a Special Event

When evening rolls around, you have lots of options. Book a Mixology Seminar, and learn from the experts how to make the best cocktails for a bargain experience.

Pair your demonstration with an evening stroll of the World Showcase Promenade to check out any booths that you may have missed earlier, and cap off the evening with IllumiNations!

Or you can treat yourself to something extra special, like Party for the Senses or a Signature Dining Event.

Keep in mind that there are also plenty of special dining events that take place during the day throughout World Showcase, such as the Tequila Pairing Lunch in Mexico and the Parisian Breakfast in France. Be sure to stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more details as they become available, so you can make the most of your time at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival!

Want More Details About the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival?

We are always working to bring you all of the latest and most important news and updates on the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival right here, so stay tuned for details and check out all of the info below!

Be sure to join our Disney Food Blog Newsletter for the latest information and details. And keep an eye on our 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Page for updates.

Start Your Planning Today! The DFB Guide to the 2015 Epcot Food and Wine Festival e-Book is now available for Pre-Order!

Want even more great tips and touring strategies? This 200+-page guide to the Festival offers insider tips and advice as well as all of the details you need to know to plan your best Festival visit ever. Pre-order your 2015 edition today, and download the 2014 guide for FREE — immediately!

Your purchase includes several bonus items as well — including a full daily schedule of events at the Festival and a printable World Showcase Booth Menu Checklist to carry with you as you Eat around the World!

Use code Chefs at check-out for a $3 discount!

Be sure to check our main Epcot Food and Wine Festival Page frequently for updates, and also check out Epcot Food and Wine Festival 101 for even more information about the festival!

What’s your best Touring Strategy for seeing and tasting everything at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival? Leave a comment and let us know your great ideas!