During October the Food and Wine Festival is in full swing and gives the visitor the opportunity to sample speciality dishes from, not only the cuisines of countries permanently represented in Epcot but also from several other guest countries whose temporary stands, dotted around the lagoon, cannot fail to attract those with an appetite to try something a little different.

We tend to enter the park via the International Gateway and stroll in an anti clockwise direction in the hope of timing our visit to coincide with a performance from the Japanese drummers whose energetic and rhythmic routines are truly exquisite.

This spot is also provides a great photo opportunity with the Japanese arch set against a red sky with the familiar Spaceship Earth globe as the backdrop.

We’ll probably get a quick bite to eat from one of the temporary stands, the Australian Kangaroo steaks can be recommended, and then walk towards the American Garden Theatre which probably holds around a thousand people. This is located adjacent to the Great American Adventure and is attractively set amongst trees with fairly lights suspended from their branches.

The concerts last for half an hour appeal to all tastes. Artists such as Sheena Easton, Sister Hazel and David Cassidy were all performing during the Food and Wine Festival.

The culmination of the day’s events is the Illuminations, Reflections of Earth firework spectacular which takes place every evening at nine o clock and visitors tend to claim their favourite vantage spots up to an hour before. In our opinion this just isn’t necessary because viewing all around the lagoon is more or less unobstructive.

We tend to ease our way around the United Kingdom pavilion which not only provides great views of the lagoon but also givers us the opportunity to slip quietly out of the park once the fireworks have finished.

If there is anybody reading this that hasn’t yet seen Illuminations then we can tell you that, in our opinion, this is the best firework display in Disney and should not be missed.