Thrifty Thursday: Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2012

Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: six words that are sweet, delicious music to every Disney foodie’s ears. 

Walking around the World Showcase, sipping and snacking, is a great way to spend an afternoon (or two … or three) during Food and Wine, but it’s not exactly the most cost-effective way to get your Disney dining done. 

But never fear! I’ve been to the Food and Wine Festival, and I’ve got you covered. Here are my top five picks for the thriftiest treats at this year’s festival: 

1. Pumpkin Mousse from Hops and Barley (American Adventure) 
Not only is this the cheapest eat on my list at $1.50, it’s also my all-time favorite Food and Wine snack. Yes, it’s small, but there are four or five good bites here, and every one of them is delicious. It’s got cool, creamy pudding,  chewy craisins and a little bit of crunch from the oat crumble topping. Perfect, delicious and thrifty.

2. Griddled Greek Cheese with Pistachios and Honey from Greece 
Yum! I’ve already written above my love for this delicious dish, but it’s also a bargain at $3.25 for a slab of crunchy, salty, sweet cheese. Who can say no to a melt bit of cheese slathered with honey and crumbled pistachios? Not me. 

3. Schinken Nudel from Germany
This is a new dish for 2012, and it’s basically mac and cheese with ham baked in. It’s sort of like lasagna without red sauce, and it has an awesome crunchy layer on top that you’ll love. I don’t know how authentic it is, but it’s only $3.25, and it sure reminds me of my childhood!

4. Spinach and Paneer Cheese Pocket from South Africa 
It’s like a glorious little pie … except it’s not so little! This is actually a fairly huge portion, especially for $3.25! I’m a huge fan of spinach and cheese in any form, and here they’re stuffed in a soft, flaky crust. This would be a winner for me even if it didn’t make the thrifty list.

5. Pork Pot Stickers from China
Let’s be honest: no one is writing their mother about these pot stickers, but for $3.75, you get two good-sized pot stickers stuffed with pork and vegetables with a delicious salty, gingery dipping sauce. They’re filling, and you can’t beat the price.

How do you save money during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival? Share your tips in the comments below! 

Find out how the FREE services of a Disney World travel agent can make planning your Disney vacation simple…and for a limited time, get a FREE Disney gift card when you book your trip with me! ($2000 minimum package cost)

Melissa Sue works in higher education communications in upstate New York, where she lives with her husband Robert, a secondary school teacher, and her cavapoo George (as in King George). Melissa began visiting Disney World when she was six and today owns a piece of the magic at Bay Lake Tower. She blogs at Mouse on the Mind and tweets @msorrellsgalley. She’ll be contributing money-saving tips to The Affordable Mouse.