2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival *HAS ENDED*

[MeLady]

We have always been to Disney in Dec/Jan! This year we are heading to Disney for my cousin's wedding which will be our first F & W. So need to get to planning & understanding!

 

[Happy Mom2]

We picked up one of the booklets last year. The Festival Welcome Center and most of the Festival Marketplace Booths have them. They're just a free collectible "passport" that lists all the booths in the Festival Marketplace and the items they sell. The booths you visit will stamp your passport and you can check off the menu items you tasted. It's a cute little keepsake.

Thanks! I'm getting more and more excited!!

 

[Krissalee]

I am so looking forward to theis years F&W Fest. DH and I will be there from 11/2 to 11/9. This is the latest in the year we have ever gone during festival. I'm looking forward to the French Lunches, PFTS and the food booths. Depending on the venue, I may even be up to booking a specialty dinner.

Just 152 days to go until I hit the World for F&W!

 

[rentayenta]

Subbing and reading back

 

[franandaj]

Subbing and reading back

 

[Sweet Melissa]

I am so looking forward to theis years F&W Fest. DH and I will be there from 11/2 to 11/9. This is the latest in the year we have ever gone during festival. I'm looking forward to the French Lunches, PFTS and the food booths. Depending on the venue, I may even be up to booking a specialty dinner.

Just 152 days to go until I hit the World for F&W!

We'll be there late this year too. Our tentative dates are 10/31 to 11/10. We prefer late October and/or early November, though. The crowds tend to be a little smaller than they are in the beginning of F&W season.

 

[rentayenta]

PFTS is usually held on most Saturdays. Though in the past couple of years they seem to have been not having it on the first Saturday of the Festival.

PFTS? What does it stand for and what is it please?

 

[PNO4TE]

PFTS? What does it stand for and what is it please?

Party for the Senses

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/party-for-the-senses/

 

[rentayenta]

Party for the Senses

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/party-for-the-senses/

I've got a lot to learn about F&W. I had no clue how many cool extra things went on.

 

[redzinner]

PFTS? What does it stand for and what is it please?

Most concise way to describe Party for the Senses: mega cocktail party with food and beverage stations. An expensive extra ticketed event held during select Saturdays during the Food & Wine Festival. For the past few years there have been two tiers of ticket prices: main room with tables but no reserved tables or Wine View Lounge in the Main Room with reserved tables.

Here is a review from 2010 on the Disney Food Blog.

 

[dgbg100106]

Subbing and reading back

 

[rentayenta]

Most concise way to describe Party for the Senses: mega cocktail party with food and beverage stations. An expensive extra ticketed event held during select Saturdays during the Food & Wine Festival. For the past few years there have been two tiers of ticket prices: main room with tables but no reserved tables or Wine View Lounge in the Main Room with reserved tables.

Here is a review from 2010 on the Disney Food Blog.

Thank you! Great summary! Are you guaranteed a seat even though you don't have a reserved table? Going to check out the link!

 

[NejTheLion]

Thank you! Great summary! Are you guaranteed a seat even though you don't have a reserved table? Going to check out the link!

PFTS was intended to be an event where you stroll around the room (mind you, it's a room the size of a football field) without sitting down for extended periods of time. In the main room, there are a number of tables available, but there are not guaranteed seats and/or tables for all guests. The hope was that guests would get some food, sit down for a few minutes, and then get up and move along, but there are many guests who either prefer or require having a table all night. There was a mad rush at the beginning of the evening to "claim" the available tables, and many guests choose to stay there all night.

With the advent of the Wine View Lounge (and what appears to me to be the addition of more tables in the main part of the room), this hasn't been quite as hectic in recent years.

If you need to have a seat throughout the evening, consider the Wine View Lounge. It is more expensive, but there are additional benefits, and you do have a reserved table. If you don't need a seat, think about arriving a few minutes after the start time. You'll probably be able to stroll in without waiting in the massive crowd.

This event does have its cons, but it's something we look forward to every year. Wouldn't be the F&W Festival without it

 

[franandaj]

I've got a lot to learn about F&W. I had no clue how many cool extra things went on.

I actually love the extra stuff of the F&W Festival, more than the kiosk stuff!

PFTS was intended to be an event where you stroll around the room (mind you, it's a room the size of a football field) without sitting down for extended periods of time. In the main room, there are a number of tables available, but there are not guaranteed seats and/or tables for all guests. The hope was that guests would get some food, sit down for a few minutes, and then get up and move along, but there are many guests who either prefer or require having a table all night. There was a mad rush at the beginning of the evening to "claim" the available tables, and many guests choose to stay there all night.

With the advent of the Wine View Lounge (and what appears to me to be the addition of more tables in the main part of the room), this hasn't been quite as hectic in recent years.

If you need to have a seat throughout the evening, consider the Wine View Lounge. It is more expensive, but there are additional benefits, and you do have a reserved table. If you don't need a seat, think about arriving a few minutes after the start time. You'll probably be able to stroll in without waiting in the massive crowd.

This event does have its cons, but it's something we look forward to every year. Wouldn't be the F&W Festival without it

That's what Fran and I are considering because with her scooter we need a guaranteed seat. At Taste in CA, we had these tables we put on the front of our scooters, but i'm not sure we can ship them there or do that so we'll see once we start talking about this trip.

I'm not sure it will really happen, I'm kind of in the mindset that we will be canceling it in September since we have canceled the last two trips, sort of like we should sell our DVC becuase we will never go again, but who knows, maybe we will go again and I will drop the cynical attitude!

 

[RachelTori]

That's what Fran and I are considering because with her scooter we need a guaranteed seat. At Taste in CA, we had these tables we put on the front of our scooters, but i'm not sure we can ship them there or do that so we'll see once we start talking about this trip.

I'm not sure it will really happen, I'm kind of in the mindset that we will be canceling it in September since we have canceled the last two trips, sort of like we should sell our DVC becuase we will never go again, but who knows, maybe we will go again and I will drop the cynical attitude!

Alison, just keep believing - third time's the charm!

 

[vettegirl]

Just scored the Yacht Club with the military salute rate for 5 nights to include 3 days of the festival cannot wait! Taking a girlfriend from work who hasn't been to WDW in ages and needs a break from her hectic live. Cannot wait to hear more as info comes available.

 

[rentayenta]

Thank you Nej! We don't have to have a seat but don't want to stand and eat the whole evening either.



No canceling Alison. I'm sending all sorts of mojo and pixiedust!

 

[crazy4wdw]

Mouseplanet is reporting that reservations for the Party for the Senses (and I assume other F&W special events) will begin on August 14th. Anyone else heard this?

 

[redzinner]

Mouseplanet is reporting that reservations for the Party for the Senses (and I assume other F&W special events) will begin on August 14th. Anyone else heard this?

Yes, Pam Brandon mentioned it in a Reply on the Disney Parks Blog.

"Pam Brandon on May 29th, 2012 at 6:26 pm
Reservations for Party for the Senses open Aug. 14."

We are assuming that Aug 14th will be the booking date for all the special events. Not necessarily the food demonstrations and beverage seminars but the other extra cost ticketed events.

 

[loricdietzel]

This will be our first F&W festival and I am very excited! HOWEVER, due to having a child not old enough for the Neverland Club and refusing to spend $150 to have someone I don't know sit in the hotel room with my children for three hours, we will be attending with a 4 and almost 2-yr old. Any tips or advice??? (Besides for go during the week?) We will be there Oct 19-Nov 2.