2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival *HAS ENDED*

[hardybuz]

We will probably be headed home by 5-5:30 so maybe we'll miss the worst of it? The phineas and ferb phone "spy" game was my sons favorite thing last time we came (when it was kimpossible) so I know he is going to want to do it.

I think that's a good plan. We left around that time, too. We prioritized which food booths we really wanted to try, and got them done within the first hour and a half, because the lines got long very quickly. Then we went back and explored the interior of the pavilions, where it wasn't as crowded. I loved watching the kids that were there playing the Phineas and Ferb game! I kind of wished I had done it, too!

Anyway, the really drunken behavior with the crowds didn't get too bad until around 2pm, and sort of deteriorated from there. So maybe if you get your food booth trips done early, then just take your time with the kid cot stops and the P&F game, it'll be just fine. Hope you have a great trip!

 

[coup2516]

Later on the weekends you will get the local college kids coming over for F&W. I have read some pretty incredible things about them. We were there last year and went to F&W on a Saturday night. It didn't really bother us but we are in our 20s. I can see how it would affect others. I definitely wouldn't recommend bringing children during those times. We will probably steer clear of F&W most of the weekend we are there this year.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I just got back from the opening weekend, and sadly can say this was first time I've ever been in a Disney park that was teeming with people acting like loud, drunken jerks. I'm from New Orleans, so am pretty used to seeing this kind of behavior during Mardi Gras, but seeing it at Disney totally took me by surprise. People were tripping over strollers, pushing little kids out of their way, and, as others have mentioned, wearing shirts that said, "Drunk 1" and "Drunk 2"- totally not the Disney family atmosphere, imo. I didn't even bring my kids, and I still left the park four hours early (despite really wanting to see the fireworks) just to get away. Sorry, but as much as I love, love, love Disney, and have been going regularly for 37 years, this was my first and last Food and Wine Festival.

However, since I'm not a regular Festival-goer, maybe my experience was because it was the opening weekend, and your weekend will be much less crowded. I can say that if you want to stay away from the flat-out drunk folks, just avoid the food booths entirely- or maybe have one parent get food at the booths and have the other parent wait with the kids at a quiet spot in each pavilion, since the heaviest and loudest crowds were on the footpath around the lake. Hope that helps!

I was there this weekend... and honestly didn't see anything. I saw the shirts, but those folks were sober when I saw them so no big deal. Not sure what you saw but at 4 PM there were not many "flat out drunks' based on what I saw. (And I was not drinking as I was doing the race later that evening so I couldn't drink so it's not like I was drunk and couldn't tell the difference LOL!) Not to mention that on both Friday and Sunday we all spent a long time "hiding" from the rain with the booths closed (cuts down on the eating and drinking)

Now it was INCREDIBLY crowded. And of course there are always folks acting out (Of course some of them are 8 so .... YMMV) In a crowd things get more magnifed (includng the bratty kid on the wheeled shoes who ran into me and whose mom got told off LOL!)

Now my reviews from the food I did try between Thur evening and Sunday evening.

Mexico - Crispy Shrimp Taco 4 to 5 stars. Really liked this one
Poland - Kielbasa and Potato Pierogie 5 stars. This is one of my favs every year
Poland - Belvedere Frozen Lemon Apple Tea 3 Stars Better then what they tried to pass off last year, but if there is any booze in there you can't tell it LOL!
Hops & Barley - 17th Anniversay Festival Beer, Chocolate Block, 1 star. Not very good glad I only got the 3 oz, Too "chocloate" with beer Strange!
Florida - Shrimp Ceviche with Fire Rosasted Vegtables, Fried Plantains. 2 stars. Ceviche was good. Friend Plantain was bad
New Zealand - Seared Sea Scallop with Kumara Red Curry Puree. - 1 star 1 scallop and the puree was gross IMHO
Ireland - Lobster and Seafood Fisherman's Pie 3 stars. mine was a little spicier then last year and the lobster was overcooked.
Canada - Cheddar Cheese Soup 4 stars Good as always
Canada - Chicken Chipolte Sausage 3 stars. Sausage was a little spice for me
Canada - Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Migon. 4 star. MUCH better then anything I have eaten in the resturant! (Why?) \
Deserts & Champagne - Dark Chocolate Mousse 4 star YUMMMY


Not much beer or wine due to a combo of the heat and the race! I did have one of the beers from Canada that is discussed earlier in this thread and it was very good!

I will be back with the "flat out drunks" later this month As for the college kids I saw LOTS of ID checking with the youngsters in front of me. (I was a little unhappy that I am so old they didn't bother LOL!)

 

[Tink rules]

I just got back from the opening weekend, and sadly can say this was first time I've ever been in a Disney park that was teeming with people acting like loud, drunken jerks. I'm from New Orleans, so am pretty used to seeing this kind of behavior during Mardi Gras, but seeing it at Disney totally took me by surprise. People were tripping over strollers, pushing little kids out of their way, and, as others have mentioned, wearing shirts that said, "Drunk 1" and "Drunk 2"- totally not the Disney family atmosphere, imo. I didn't even bring my kids, and I still left the park four hours early (despite really wanting to see the fireworks) just to get away. Sorry, but as much as I love, love, love Disney, and have been going regularly for 37 years, this was my first and last Food and Wine Festival.

However, since I'm not a regular Festival-goer, maybe my experience was because it was the opening weekend, and your weekend will be much less crowded. I can say that if you want to stay away from the flat-out drunk folks, just avoid the food booths entirely- or maybe have one parent get food at the booths and have the other parent wait with the kids at a quiet spot in each pavilion, since the heaviest and loudest crowds were on the footpath around the lake. Hope that helps!

It's opening weekend...

That's like going to Times Sq. on NYE and saying it's like that all the time....

I hear it's nice during the week... Weekends get lots of locals who work during the week.

 

[EmmaMagsMom]

Later on the weekends you will get the local college kids coming over for F&W. I have read some pretty incredible things about them. We were there last year and went to F&W on a Saturday night. It didn't really bother us but we are in our 20s. I can see how it would affect others. I definitely wouldn't recommend bringing children during those times. We will probably steer clear of F&W most of the weekend we are there this year.

We were there last October with our DD's ages 7 and 8. We didn't have any problems, except for some drunk college kids, pushing in line while waiting for pictures Mary Poppins. We however , don't stay late and leave late afternoon.

 

[SweetSpot]

I've always had to go on weekends and this year will be there for a Sunday and Monday. I assume Monday shouldn't be too crowded but what about Sunday? The weekends were terribly crowded to a point where you couldn't walk easily and definitely couldn't find a spot to sit down and sample anything. Finding an unoccupied top of a trash can was even impossible. I wouldn't bother going back on a weekend again. Will I have better luck this time around?

 

[Alice Sr.]

It's the standard beer cart at the Canadian pavillion that I believe is there year round, NOT the F&W kiosk. The cart usually serves Moosehead, but during F&W they bring out some kegs of Unibroue. Usually Le Cellier is the only place you can get the beers in WDW when not during F&W.

Thanks for the additional information and clarification. We will be sure to stop by.

 

[TDC Nala]

I just got back from the opening weekend, and sadly can say this was first time I've ever been in a Disney park that was teeming with people acting like loud, drunken jerks. I'm from New Orleans, so am pretty used to seeing this kind of behavior during Mardi Gras, but seeing it at Disney totally took me by surprise. People were tripping over strollers, pushing little kids out of their way, and, as others have mentioned, wearing shirts that said, "Drunk 1" and "Drunk 2"- totally not the Disney family atmosphere, imo. I didn't even bring my kids, and I still left the park four hours early (despite really wanting to see the fireworks) just to get away. Sorry, but as much as I love, love, love Disney, and have been going regularly for 37 years, this was my first and last Food and Wine Festival.

However, since I'm not a regular Festival-goer, maybe my experience was because it was the opening weekend, and your weekend will be much less crowded. I can say that if you want to stay away from the flat-out drunk folks, just avoid the food booths entirely- or maybe have one parent get food at the booths and have the other parent wait with the kids at a quiet spot in each pavilion, since the heaviest and loudest crowds were on the footpath around the lake. Hope that helps!

I was there too on Saturday (not Sunday). Did not see what you saw. I saw a couple of loud groups. It does not matter to me what their shirts say but especially on the weekend you are going to see the "drink around the world" groups with shirts they have made themselves, and yes, they will generally refer to drinking. I saw that group, but they were behaving themselves when I saw them. Did not see any intentional pushing and shoving, not even of children, or flat out frat party style drunkenness. However, I do not recommend festival weekends (ANY weekend) for guests who are not interested in the festival, guests who prefer to keep out of crowds, or guests traveling with very young children. there were a LOT of people and with crowds that size there is going to be some pushing and shoving and stroller tripping, even at MK. I've been in enough crowded parks to know that tripping over strollers doesn't mean you are drunk.

Sundays in general are less crowded than Saturdays but the best days are Monday-Thursday. Yesterday was crowded for a Monday. Part of that was the influx of fans for Epcot's 30th (there were LONG lines to buy merchandise for that).

Here's my countdown on the food items though.

South Africa, spinach paneer pocket
Argentina, beef skewer (no line for this on Saturday night for some reason)
Morocco, sausage in a pita
Ireland, fisherman's pie (I don't like this as much as most people do, it's not bad)
Hawaii, tuna poke (this is mostly seaweed salad, with four cubes of tuna, but I like the salad)
Terra, the un-chicken curry (tastes like chicken, textured more like processed chicken, I'm guessing it's made of something like tofu)
New Zealand, lamb meatball (only one meatball in a "bread bowl" with tomatoes, tastes pretty good)
China, pot stickers (straightforward. They appear to have a new, stickier sauce. Handy because it's easier to keep it on the plate, but I liked the runnier sauce better)

Nominee for the best item this weekend was the spinach and paneer pocket from South Africa, and I like the grapefruit beer.

 

[TDC Nala]

I also haven't seen it here, but the Festival wristband gift cards no longer have the coiled plastic band. The new ones have a rubber band-type wristband.

 

[LisaS]

I also haven't seen it here, but the Festival wristband gift cards no longer have the coiled plastic band. The new ones have a rubber band-type wristband.

Do you like the new wristband better or do you think the coiled one was better? I saved my coiled band from last year so I'm wondering if I should bring it to use this year. It was pretty comfortable, especially compared to the coiled band from the prior year which was too tight. ETA: In re-reading your post it sounds like you don't have one yet. If you do get one, I would be interested in hearing whether it's comfortable. Thanks!

Terra, the un-chicken curry (tastes like chicken, textured more like processed chicken, I'm guessing it's made of something like tofu)

Gardein's chick'n products list the following common ingredients: water, soy protein isolate, vital wheat gluten, expeller pressed/canola oil

and then variations depending on the product, for example their chick'n strips list the following ingredients after the ones listed above: organic ancient grain flour (kamut®, amaranth, millet, quinoa), modified vegetable gum, yeast extract, potato starch, sea salt, organic cane sugar, natural flavors (from plant sources), onion powder, vinegar, garlic powder, pea protein, spices, carrot fiber, beetroot fiber, extractives of paprika and turmeric.

 

[TDC Nala]

I did not get a new one, I have one from two years ago and I didn't see the point in getting a new one. I understand some people collect them. But I'm not sure I like the rubber band. I didn't test one to see how strong it was or if it is tight.

If you're up to trying the un-chicken, they give you a slab of it with sauce and a little rice. For those who were expecting something like a stew.

 

[muffy0110]

I just got back from the opening weekend, and sadly can say this was first time I've ever been in a Disney park that was teeming with people acting like loud, drunken jerks. I'm from New Orleans, so am pretty used to seeing this kind of behavior during Mardi Gras, but seeing it at Disney totally took me by surprise. People were tripping over strollers, pushing little kids out of their way, and, as others have mentioned, wearing shirts that said, "Drunk 1" and "Drunk 2"- totally not the Disney family atmosphere, imo. I didn't even bring my kids, and I still left the park four hours early (despite really wanting to see the fireworks) just to get away. Sorry, but as much as I love, love, love Disney, and have been going regularly for 37 years, this was my first and last Food and Wine Festival.

However, since I'm not a regular Festival-goer, maybe my experience was because it was the opening weekend, and your weekend will be much less crowded. I can say that if you want to stay away from the flat-out drunk folks, just avoid the food booths entirely- or maybe have one parent get food at the booths and have the other parent wait with the kids at a quiet spot in each pavilion, since the heaviest and loudest crowds were on the footpath around the lake. Hope that helps!

I have done the Food and Wine Festival for 12-14 days since it started. Rule of thumb. NEVER go on a weekend. I NEVER even go near Epcot on Fri, Sat or Sun. That is the type of behavior you will find. It is very BIG with the locals. Hope if you decide to ever try it again you will try a Wed. It's still my favorite time of the year.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I also haven't seen it here, but the Festival wristband gift cards no longer have the coiled plastic band. The new ones have a rubber band-type wristband.

This happened overnight.... Somewhere there were cast members busily attaching rubber bands. Thursday they had the plastic coil from last year and by Saturday we were using rubber bands. A Cast Member told me the plastic coils were falling apart almost immediately when folks put them on.

I have mine from last year and will refill it as I know it works

 

[cdtommie]

I am in Canada, drinking Ephemere. They also have trois pistoles and Blanche du chambly. 8.50.

A steal for a 20 oz pour by Disney standards...trois pistoles is 12 bucks for a four pack of 12oz bottles at my local store. My vote for the best Disney beer value!

 

[mdsd8700]

Just reading along. We leave in a week for our very first F&W, DH and I are really excited. We feel like "newbies" even though we have been to Disney tons of times. Thanks to everyone who has posted. I am keeping notes and lists for our trip!

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

Ugh. This was what I was fearing. Unfortunately we are only there over the weekend so a weekday isn't an option. However we are early risers and have a breakfast scheduled at akershus so we will be out early. We will probably be headed home by 5-5:30 so maybe we'll miss the worst of it? The phineas and ferb phone "spy" game was my sons favorite thing last time we came (when it was kimpossible) so I know he is going to want to do it.

I think if you leave around 5:30, you'll be fine...it gets rowdier as the night progresses on weekends, but earlier in the evening should be okay.

 

[Scrappy_Tink]

I have a couple of questions, I am trying to finalize my Must Try list!! Any advice is appreciated!

1.)What does the Dragon Berry Colada from the Caribbean Islands taste like?? I am very curious and have heard great things. Does it just taste like berries and what kind of berries? Dragon berry?? Haha is there such a thing?

Pure yumminess!! It's hard to describe, but it's like a sweet tropical berry slushie with a kick! it's by far my favorite!!

 

[jedijill]

Pure yumminess!! It's hard to describe, but it's like a sweet tropical berry slushie with a kick! it's by far my favorite!!

They are soooooo good! I drank a ton of them last year.

Jill in CO

 

[TeresaWen]

I have done the Food and Wine Festival for 12-14 days since it started. Rule of thumb. NEVER go on a weekend. I NEVER even go near Epcot on Fri, Sat or Sun. That is the type of behavior you will find. It is very BIG with the locals. Hope if you decide to ever try it again you will try a Wed. It's still my favorite time of the year.

Same here. We come down every year for 10 days (Tuesday - Thursday) and it works great for us. On the weekend we are there we relax by the pool at the beach club, go to dinner usually at another hotel (AK - Jiko is a favorite Saturday night date) or even venture out to another park. During the week, especially during the afternoon, it is wonderful. We stroll through EPCOT and really enjoy ourselves!

I cannot wait to get there!!!!!!!! Soon...save some wine for us please!

 

[kelleigh1]

This will be our first F&W Festival. I'm looking forward to the experience, but not looking forward to drunken stupidity. Hubby and I don't hardly ever drink and we don't plan on partaking while we are there either. We are staying at YC so we'll have easy access to Epcot and will probably spend more time there than usual, so I'm really hoping that we can enjoy F&W and not have to deal with too many drunk idiots.