Hey there, Michelle!
I am so happy that you came here today to talk about one of my absolute favorite subjects..... wine!
Michelle, the
Yachtsman Steakhouse is currently not open, and therefore the Wonderful World of Wine experience has unfortunately been suspended.
While we do not have any information on when this experience will return, to turn those
sour grapes into something more appetizing, I am happy to help you
uncork a few wine-centric experiences for your upcoming trip.
The first thing that you will want to do is to visit the central hub of all things wine at Walt Disney World Resort, the World Showcase at EPCOT. While here, you must stop by the Italy, France, and Germany Pavilions where you will find authentic, regional specific wines. In fact, at the
Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in the Italy Pavilion and at
Les Vins de France the France Pavilion, you can even customize a tasting to your specifications. I love it here because the Cast Members are incredibly knowledgeable about the history and unique characteristics of each vintage.
Michelle, I see that you will be visiting during
a Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. During this festival, you can find a wide variety of outdoor kitchens where you can indulge in unique and limited-edition food and beverage pairings.
If you are looking for a unique experience outside the theme parks, you absolutely must visit
Sanna located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani. Did you know that Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge has one of the largest collections of South African wines in the US? I would even go so far as to say Sanna also has the best wine list on property, with some wonderful flights that pair perfectly with the famous Indian-Style Bread Service.
Speaking of resort wine selections, did you know that each Deluxe Resort's gift shop carries wines specific to that resort? At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, for example, you will find a host of South African wines for a reasonable price. You absolutely must grab a bottle of the Black Pearl, my absolute favorite South African wine. At Disney's Wilderness Lodge you will find themed wines like Purple Cowboy and Frontier Red. At the end of a long day, my husband and I like to try a new bottle of wine from the hotel gift shop and relax on the balcony after we put the little ones to bed.
Finally, if you are looking for a
top-shelf experience, make sure you stop by
Wine Bar George in Disney Springs for a one-of-a-kind tasting. While I haven't had the pleasure of meeting him yet, I have heard that Master Sommelier, George Miliotes, is a regular and loves to help educate guests.
I hope this gave you some ideas for a
wine-a-rific holiday at the Most Magical Place on Earth. Please come back here to planDisney if we can help answer any other questions for you! After all, planning a perfect Walt Disney World Resort vacation really is
a tale as old as wine.
Cheers!
Sarah B.