We LOVE Food and Wine!!! This year will be the first time in five years that we will not be there for it (we are going in 11 days - wahoo!!!) and I know that I will start to feel the pain of missing it this fall. There is no extra cost if you don't go into any of the special shows or meals (mostly dealing with cuisine or wine), but it is a blast to walk around the countries and sample little tidbits here and there. My son started going when he was 8 and we typically were able to find some samples that he would try (most countries have some kind of a dessert). Now that he is almost 13, he is really trying something from almost every country - he found out that he likes blackened sea bass!! They also do "Kidcot" stops in every country. The kids can make a mask for free in any of the countries, then the goal is to go into every country and have something from that country added (usually a stamp from the country on the handle, but also something that attaches to the mask - a viking ship cutout in Norway, a maple leaf in Canada...etc). My son has 5 masks and even at almost 13, he wants to do it again this year (his excuse will be that he is making one for his little sister, at 22 months, she is not quite up to the task!). If your kids aren't into masks, you can get them a "passport" in Epcot. Then they go to each country and the staff there write something in the passport, usually in the language native to the country. They kids will also get a kick out of the different shops in each country, they all feature toys that are popular in that country. Look out for Japan - they have all the anime stuff that American kids love and a TON of Hello Kitty merchandise!!!
Ahhhh, just writing about it is making me think about a short second trip down in the fall!!!
