Eat to the Beat Dining Package

Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival 2019 is going strong with its delicious food, fun drinks, and informative seminars. But my favorite part may be the Eat to the Beat concerts! The Eat to the Beat concert series features amazing artists from all different genres and is included in your admission ticket. Click here for a full line up for all the performers.

Last night I watched 98 Degrees from the front row thanks to the Eat to the Beat Dining Package! The Eat to the Beat Dining Package allows you to enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner at select restaurants and then receive guaranteed seating for one of the concerts. A dining package is not required to watch the concert, however, it definitely decreases the amount of wait time and ensures you a seat. Here are all the details!

When and where?

• The concerts are located in America Gardens Theatre at Epcot World Showcase
• Dates: August 29 through November 19, 2019
• Showtimes:
  • Sundays through Thursdays 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM, and 8:00 PM
  • Fridays and Saturdays 6:30 PM, 7:45 PM, and 9:00 PM

How go you get a dining package?

An Eat to the Beat specific reservation is required for the dining package and can be made online or on the phone. You can choose from 14 different restaurants with various price ranges. While making the reservation, it will tell you which showtime you are signing up for.

What do you get?

Depending on the restaurant you select, the dining package includes an appetizer, entree, dessert or buffet (where applicable). At the end of your meal, you will receive a sticker stamped with the date and the showtime you will be going to. For those on a dining plan, this experience requires 2 Table-Service Entitlements.

Our experience!

I had made dining package reservations for Via Napoli in Italy Pavillon for 5 pm. This will give us entrance to the last show at 8 pm. Since the meal usually takes 1.5 hours, they want to give you enough time to eat and still get in line for a good seat.

I usually select Va Napoli for my Eat to the Beat restaurant because the food is good, it’s close to the concert location and it’s one of the more affordable packages! For my meal, I chose the calamari for my appetizer, sea bass for my entree, and tiramisu for my dessert. The whole meal was $57 plus tax and tip. I asked for a to-go box for my dessert when I ordered because I wanted to get to the guaranteed seating line about an hour prior to showtime.

There are 2 lines for each show.

• The standby line is located closer to the Italy side of the theater and guests start lining up at hours before showtime.
• The guaranteed seating line is located on the Japan Pavilion side of the theater.

We entered our guaranteed seating line around 6:30 pm and there were only 2 people ahead of us. You do not have to get in line that early. The guaranteed seating section was not super crowded however I had my heart set on being in the front row. Hence, a restaurant close to the theater and my dessert to go. We got to enjoy the 6:45 pm show in line and then at 7:40 pm we were lead into the theater straight to our front row seats!

Final thoughts

• I definitely think the Eat to the Beat Dining Package is worth it to be that close to your favorite artists!
• Breakfast and lunch dining packages are more affordable than dinner. I recommend those if you’re able to make it to the parks early.
• Book a restaurant in the World Showcase. Sometimes service may take a while longer so it’s nice to already be close to the theater.