2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival *HAS ENDED*

[karrit2000]

Just got a TIW e-mail about a preview event for TIW members in July:

Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival
Sneak Preview “Taste Your Way Around The World”
Odyssey Pavilion at Epcot®
Saturday July 28, 2012 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Price: $110.00 per person, plus tax. Gratuity is included.

Buffet Reception:
Florida Local: Florida Shrimp Ceviche with Fire Roasted Vegetables, Fried Plantains and Cilantro
Florida Local: White Corn Arepa with Mangalista Pork Rilette and Zellwood Sweet Corn Salad

New Zealand: Lamb Meatball with Spicy Tomato Chutney
Scandinavia: Iron Horse Fairytale Cuvée
Poland: Frozen Belvedere Lemon Apple "Tea"
Singapore: Marqués de Cáceres Satinela

Plated Dinner

Appetizer

Terra: Chili Colorado with House made Chips and Cashew Cheese, featuring Gardein Beefless Tips
Terra: Paul Dolan Pinot Noir

Salad
Greece: Greek Salad with Pita Bread
Greece: Domaine Skouras Moscofilero

Entrée
Canada: "Le Cellier" Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce
Singapore: Seared Mahi Mahi with Jasmine Rice and "Singa" Sauce
Served with Carrots and Baby Green Beans
Canada: Mission Hill Syrah
New Zealand: Kim Crawford Unoaked Chardonnay

Dessert Trio from Desserts & Champagne:
Yogurt Panna Cotta with Orange Cake, Raspberries and Pomegranate
Dark Chocolate Mousse with Chili and Salted Caramel
Lemon Custard Verrine with Blueberry Compote
Neige Première Sparkling Ice Cider

Soft Drinks, Water, Coffee, Tea

Menu – inspired by the International Marketplaces


The tickets will be available through a special website on July 2. Event is limited to 150 guests

 

[agame2323]

Okay I'm sold. This will be our first time going. Can someone give me some tips or advice on what to do?

Like, how many days is recommended? What time does it start and end each day? What month is best? What day of the week? Any information would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

Weekdays, Mon -Thurs, are by far the best for the festival. If you can help it, do not plan festival touring for a Friday night or a Saturday. Sunday is a little better but if you can do Mon-Thurs, do that instead.

If you're talking about the World Showcase kiosks, they open at 11 when World Showcase opens and shut down at regular park closing time; they do not stay open for evening EMH.

 

[tambam500]

Okay I'm sold. This will be our first time going. Can someone give me some tips or advice on what to do?

Like, how many days is recommended? What time does it start and end each day? What month is best? What day of the week? Any information would be helpful.

Thanks!

I went for a long weekend last year so we had three full food and wine days and we were able to eat and drink everything we wanted to with more than enough time. You would give or take time if you want to schedule a bunch of the extra events.

Stay away from the weekends if possible ...esp Sat cause it's a zoo! Still doable but very busy!

Get there early - 11am when the world showcase opens and you will wait in much shorter lines. The world showcase fills up by dinner time and then the lines grow much much longer.

Don't schedule ADR's for your food and wine days. It's a waste since you will be eating and drinking all day. One of our three days we stopped into Via Napoli for a pizza but other than that i would stick to the food and wine options and counter service.

Try things you wouldn't normally eat. We ordered items that no one had ever eaten before and shared bites. Sometimes we went back for more since people found new things they liked.

Oh one last thing...i went the first weekend last year and it was HOT. I would say the later you go the cooler it will get during the day.

 

[rrali33tt]

During my upcoming trip to F&W I am planning on going Friday and Sunday because I thought the culinary demos in the festival center only took place on the weekends....is that correct?

I am waiting very impatiently for the actual F&W event listing to be announced!

 

[agame2323]

I went for a long weekend last year so we had three full food and wine days and we were able to eat and drink everything we wanted to with more than enough time. You would give or take time if you want to schedule a bunch of the extra events.

Stay away from the weekends if possible ...esp Sat cause it's a zoo! Still doable but very busy!

Get there early - 11am when the world showcase opens and you will wait in much shorter lines. The world showcase fills up by dinner time and then the lines grow much much longer.

Don't schedule ADR's for your food and wine days. It's a waste since you will be eating and drinking all day. One of our three days we stopped into Via Napoli for a pizza but other than that i would stick to the food and wine options and counter service.

Try things you wouldn't normally eat. We ordered items that no one had ever eaten before and shared bites. Sometimes we went back for more since people found new things they liked.

Oh one last thing...i went the first weekend last year and it was HOT. I would say the later you go the cooler it will get during the day.

Great insight! Thanks! May I ask how long did partake eating everyday? For example did you start at 11am and by 3pm you were full? Or is this something that you need an entire day to enjoy?

 

[crazy4wdw]

During my upcoming trip to F&W I am planning on going Friday and Sunday because I thought the culinary demos in the festival center only took place on the weekends....is that correct?

I am waiting very impatiently for the actual F&W event listing to be announced!

No, that's not correct. There are wine tasting seminars and culinary demos scheduled just about every day of the festival.

Here's a link for some of last year's seminars: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011-epcot-food-and-wine-festival-seminars-and-demonstrations/

 

[crazy4wdw]

Disney Parks Blog has a photo posted of Duffy the Bear which is themed to this year's F&W festival:

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...ar-adds-international-flavor-to-his-wardrobe/

 

[TDC Nala]

During my upcoming trip to F&W I am planning on going Friday and Sunday because I thought the culinary demos in the festival center only took place on the weekends....is that correct?

I am waiting very impatiently for the actual F&W event listing to be announced!

No, it is not correct. However, there are more demos on the weekends, and the celebrity chefs are almost always scheduled for the weekends.

Oh no. pleeeze don't turn the festival into a sales vehicle for Duffy. and the LE pins have Duffy on them too. stop with the Duffy already.

 

[crazy4wdw]

No, it is not correct. However, there are more demos on the weekends, and the celebrity chefs are almost always scheduled for the weekends.

Oh no. pleeeze don't turn the festival into a sales vehicle for Duffy. and the LE pins have Duffy on them too. stop with the Duffy already.

That's good information to know. I plan my festival days on Monday through Thrusday so I've never really paid that much attention to the weekend schedule. I'm not a fan of Duffy either.

 

[LazyDaisy]

They really couldn't get a bit more creative than Duffy? For goodness' sakes...

 

[tambam500]

Great insight! Thanks! May I ask how long did partake eating everyday? For example did you start at 11am and by 3pm you were full? Or is this something that you need an entire day to enjoy?

We definately started at 11 and then walked around and ate and drank for a few hours. I would say like 11-2 or 3...then we would go ride soarin or test track or take a break at the hotel to cool off. We didn't get terribly full fast cause you waited in lines/walked from place to place and really everything was very small portions. there was never a point where i was stuffed but i also wasn't hungry for a whole meal at any point.

I think if you plan to do the world showcase early and schedule your other evens for late afternoon and eve it would work out well.

 

[SeattleSuz]

So, I saw pictures of previous ones, will there be an Australia booth this year, does anyone know?? When I saw the photo of he menu from last year, it had me excited that I could get a Lamington while we are there.... I'm excited to go for the first time!

 

[Sweet Melissa]

So, I saw pictures of previous ones, will there be an Australia booth this year, does anyone know?? When I saw the photo of he menu from last year, it had me excited that I could get a Lamington while we are there.... I'm excited to go for the first time!

Yes, there will be an Australia booth. The Disney Parks Blog has already mentioned it in one of its earlier posts about the Festival. I don't know if they've said anything about whether the Lamington is returning, though.

 

[Naima1922]

We definately started at 11 and then walked around and ate and drank for a few hours. I would say like 11-2 or 3...then we would go ride soarin or test track or take a break at the hotel to cool off. We didn't get terribly full fast cause you waited in lines/walked from place to place and really everything was very small portions. there was never a point where i was stuffed but i also wasn't hungry for a whole meal at any point.

I think if you plan to do the world showcase early and schedule your other evens for late afternoon and eve it would work out well.

What an excellent tip! Thanks so much! This will be our first F&W! Whoo-hoo!!

 

[Naima1922]

We have NEVER been to this event before. Has anyone every been to the Food and Wine Festival on the 2nd weekend? We will be going on the weekend of October 5th... and we have a BUNCH of questions:

1. Just wondering how hard it is to get the different foods and really enjoy the World Showcase during that time.

2. I heard that foods are available at different kiosks...about how much does it cost to eat at each place?

3. Are the concerts like "Fantasmic" (at Hollywood Studios) where you have to get there at least 30 minutes in advance?

Any other tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[mbtohill]

We have NEVER been to this event before. Has anyone every been to the Food and Wine Festival on the 2nd weekend? We will be going on the weekend of October 5th... and we have a BUNCH of questions:

1. Just wondering how hard it is to get the different foods and really enjoy the World Showcase during that time.

2. I heard that foods are available at different kiosks...about how much does it cost to eat at each place?

3. Are the concerts like "Fantasmic" (at Hollywood Studios) where you have to get there at least 30 minutes in advance?

Any other tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

1. Weekends are certainly more crowded than during the week, you will have to wait for certain foods, recommend getting to World Showcase early.

2. The food costs vary from $3 to $8 or $9 if I remember correctly. Small bites, but delicious stuff.

3. As far as the concerts go, if you want a seat in the American Gardens Theater then YES you do have to get in line really early. However, if you just want to HEAR the music and not worry about lines, sit across the walkway outside the American Pavilion and enjoy the music without the hassle.

 

[TDC Nala]

1. Just wondering how hard it is to get the different foods and really enjoy the World Showcase during that time.

You say you are going on a weekend. Unless the weather is really bad, this is how it will go. Friday morning from about 11 to 3 will be fine. After that it will start getting crowded. By the evening it will be slammed. Saturday will be totally slammed from about noon on. Get there when they open. The lines at the kiosks will look deceptively long but will move rather quickly - however, by afternoon there will be enormous crowds of people and lines for EVERYTHING in WS including the bathrooms. Sunday will be a little better, but weekdays Mon-Thurs are the most uncrowded days.

I heard that foods are available at different kiosks...about how much does it cost to eat at each place?

The samples cost between $3 and $8 for food. Some alcoholic beverages may be more than that. Each kiosk will have about 3 or 4 food options. Desserts tend to be the least expensive. Last year there were 28 separate kiosks.

Are the concerts like "Fantasmic" (at Hollywood Studios) where you have to get there at least 30 minutes in advance?

Actually Fantasmic without the dinner package requires about an hour in advance.

They open the theater about 30 minutes before each concert at Epcot. There will be a line that has formed to get in. If the performer is very popular, the line may be down into Germany. Can't say you wouldn't get a seat if you got in line right when they open the theater but you won't be down in front and probably not under the overhang (meaning you'll be sitting in the sun at the earlier concerts if that's OK with you). With some of the concerts you will be able to walk in right when it's starting and get a seat, with others you will need to get there earlier, with some a good bit earlier. There's also standing room at the back of the theater on the walking path.

If you don't care whether you see the concert and can do with just hearing, you can hear from anywhere in the America pavilion and pretty much to the outskirts of Japan or Italy.

 

[karrit2000]

The dessert trio was definatly different last year then what was offered in 2010. They can never seem to have a really great selection though. I always get the trio to try, and there's usually only one I really like and the other two are eh.

That's the way it is for me too. I'm finally learning that I should just get one dessert and a glass of champagne at that booth. Last year I liked the lemon chiffon dessert, thought the tres leches thing was okay, and skipped the chocolate one completely.

Looks like this will be the Dessert Trio this year:

Dessert Trio from Desserts & Champagne:
Yogurt Panna Cotta with Orange Cake, Raspberries and Pomegranate
Dark Chocolate Mousse with Chili and Salted Caramel
Lemon Custard Verrine with Blueberry Compote

I don't know about chili in my Chocolate Mousse and I don't do yogurt anything since it doesn't agree with me. So I definitely won't be purchasing the trio. I may try the Mousse, hopefully it won't be spicy. And the Lemon one sounds good to me. Maybe that was one of the choices a few years ago?

 

[Sweet Melissa]

Looks like this will be the Dessert Trio this year:

Dessert Trio from Desserts & Champagne:
Yogurt Panna Cotta with Orange Cake, Raspberries and Pomegranate
Dark Chocolate Mousse with Chili and Salted Caramel
Lemon Custard Verrine with Blueberry Compote

I don't know about chili in my Chocolate Mousse and I don't do yogurt anything since it doesn't agree with me. So I definitely won't be purchasing the trio. I may try the Mousse, hopefully it won't be spicy. And the Lemon one sounds good to me. Maybe that was one of the choices a few years ago?

I think that between my partner and I, we'll actually enjoy the whole trio this year. I don't care for chocolate, but I like the chocolate/chili combination enough to give it a taste. We'll probably both like the panna cotta and I know I'll enjoy the lemon custard.