Hi Denise,
Thanks for your kind compliment! I'm happy to help you with your question about the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. I just got home from a weekend visit to the festival, which is my favorite special event at Walt Disney World.
You will find all the rides and attractions operating as usual during the festival, and your regular tickets are all you need to enter the park. When the festival is in full gear, you simply will find extra kiosks surrounding the World Showcase featuring food and drink from additional countries.
Many of the special ticket events -- such as the wine seminars, culinary demonstrations and special dinners, -- take place away from the regular attractions areas, such as in the Festival Center near Mission Space or the World Showcase Events Pavilion between Canada and the United Kingdom.
The adults in your party may want to sample some of the food and libations of the festival as you tour the countries of the World Showcase, even if your children don't. And you may be surprised. I don't know how young your children are, but my girls have enjoyed tastes of the festival since they were pretty small.
Your whole family also may enjoy the free
Eat to the Beat Concert Series during the festival, which offers nightly performances by big-name bands.
One word of caution: Since you are traveling with younger children, I would avoid Epcot on Saturday night during the festival. It tends to be crowded and more adult than usual as many groups sample the adult beverages around the World.
I hope that helps. Please let me know if I can answer any other questions as you make your final plans. You will be there before you know it. Enjoy!
Wilma