Epcot Photo Update 9/8 – Food & Wine Festival Prep; New Merchandise and Food; Off-Season Photos!

Hi everyone!

The parks have been really slow this month, which has been great when we have time to head to them! We spent the afternoon at Epcot yesterday, and I wanted to share a look around the park. We have photos of some Epcot Food & Wine booths, new merchandise, food and more!

Electric vehicle charging popped up a couple of weeks or so ago at the front of Epcot. There were several cars being charged when we arrived. It does cost money to charge the cars with a minimum of $1.50.

We’ve had a lot of rain lately, and that was yesterday’s forecast as well for much of the day.

Rain does create lovely photo opportunities, including reflection shots of Spaceship Earth.

We moved quickly to our Maelstrom reservation, to find the stand-by entrance at just 5 minutes. We’d picked up a friend along the way, and entered that way (it wasn’t even 5).

Looking out at Norway during the ride.

A new Olaf purse has arrived to Walt Disney World.

If “Frozen” does take over Maelstrom, I can’t imagine we’ll see slow days here anytime soon after.

A Friendship boat passes in front of the Italy pavilion.

Epcot Food & Wine booths are up around World Showcase. The Epcot Food & Wine Festival begins September 19th, 2014.

In Germany, there is a new World Showcase shirt that features beer, sausage and a pretzel.

Looking across World Showcase toward Canada.

Spaceship Earth.

Every country was empty, which made for a nice visit. It will get much busier once the Festival starts!

Spaceship Earth from Italy.

We had a little break in the weather while walking around World Showcase.

At the America pavilion, a food booth.

One of our favorite stores to stop at is the Mitsukoshi store in Japan. It doesn’t matter how often we go, there is always a lot of new merchandise to look at. Hello Kitty is available now in her Halloween outfit.

Domo wears a sock puppet outfit.

Hello Kitty Halloween light.

Sonic the Hedgehog t-shirt.

Domo backpack and slippers.

Godzilla iPhone case and trucker hat.

Sailor Moon iPhone case, hats.

Nyan Cat with sound.

Hello Kitty iPhone cases.

Japan’s booth for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

We found this a few weeks back – an Escargot kit in France!

The World Showcase Players will be leaving near the end of the month, along with Off-Kilter and other Epcot entertainment. We will miss them!

The World Showcase Players always draw a crowd.

They were giving everyone a button when we were there, since the buttons are only good for a few more weeks.

One Direction shirt in the UK.

Tigger and Winnie the Pooh had no line when we stopped by. This was our first visit to this character location.

Off-Kilter was playing as well. September 27th is their last day. This cut was the most surprising, since I can’t think of any other group at Walt Disney World that has been as popular.

We always like the merchandise in Canada’s Northwest Mercantile, including this Text Appeal sleepshirt that just arrived!

The Bear Bum long pajamas have been here for weeks, and is another favorite.

Several different sock styles are here now too.

And you can buy a plush Moose for your wall!

This is one of my favorite views in Epcot (but to be fair, I have a lot of favorite views!)

This is a new Halloween popcorn bucket.

Greece is gearing up for the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

A monorail passes The Land pavilion.

We went to the Imagination pavilion to pick up Figment comic #4. We’ve picked up the last 3 Figment comics here.

Halloween themed Disney Parks cups.

Since it was raining, we took a ride on Living With the Land. The Mickey plant here has really filled in since our last visit a couple of weeks ago.

It has been a long time since we’ve seen a 10 minute wait for Soarin’. Good thing we had Fastpass! 🙂

Gourmet popcorn is now being sold at Epcot. Cheddar, Buffalo Bleu Cheese, and Sour Cream and Chive were being sold at this cart.

Spaceship Earth.

New Duffy costumes are being sold: Donald Duck and the Jake & the Neverland Pirates Duffy the Disney Bear costumes.

Haunted Mansion Mickey Vinylmation.

Guests can buy tails of Tigger, Sully, and other characters.

C3PO Mickey ears.

We stopped at Starbucks for some pumpkin bread. They also are selling other pumpkin and autumn items, including the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

There were 3 specialty items in the case. We miss the pumpkin scone, I hope it still shows up.

They warmed it for us.

And at the Electric Umbrella, new menu items have been added (and some taken away).

The French Dip Burger is new.

And the Veggie Naan Wich is new.

We haven’t tried either of these new items, nor the cupcake that was added.

That was our day at Epcot yesterday! It is nice having a little time to explore the parks off-season.