2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival *HAS ENDED*

[TDC Nala]

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.

The good behavior of other guests cannot be guaranteed. Although it seems everyone has a different idea of the extent of "drunken" behavior they are willing to tolerate.

You will cut down on crowding and the influx of local visitors if you avoid Friday nights and Saturdays. If you must go on a Saturday, get there when they open, hit a few booths and get out by 2.

 

[mbtohill]

Just want to echo a common theme running through this thread. DW went to F&W last year for the first time. Spent Wednesday-Friday at Epcot and had a WONDERFUL time. No obvious or distracting drunken behavior from anyone we saw.

Going again this year Oct 16th-19th, Tuesday-Friday.

AVOID THE WEEKENDS if at all possible and you will have a GREAT EXPERIENCE...

 

[onelilspark]

The good behavior of other guests cannot be guaranteed. Although it seems everyone has a different idea of the extent of "drunken" behavior they are willing to tolerate.

You will cut down on crowding and the influx of local visitors if you avoid Friday nights and Saturdays. If you must go on a Saturday, get there when they open, hit a few booths and get out by 2.

We did that on Sunday. We were there right as they were opening the booths at 11am. We didn't wait at all until about 12:30, then crowds started picking up. So by 1pm we were heading out of the World Showcase.

 

[Tamar]

We saw much more rowdiness last year than we do this year. Maybe the weather is keeping some of the rowdier locals away.

On a different subject we missed one of our seminars yesterday. Just forgot to ask for the tickets and then later in the day without the tickets forgot we were scheduled. My own fault but I wish we'd get one confirmation a day instead of one for each thing we've booked we do around 25 seminars over our 10 day visit and each day is different I'm just not the most organized person while on vacation.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

We are braving a few weekend days, but the majority of our F&W visits will be on weekdays.

That being said - I can't wait for Sunday night

Only 3 1/2 days until I leave for my favorite place in the world

 

[LisaS]

On a different subject we missed one of our seminars yesterday. Just forgot to ask for the tickets and then later in the day without the tickets forgot we were scheduled. My own fault but I wish we'd get one confirmation a day instead of one for each thing we've booked we do around 25 seminars over our 10 day visit and each day is different I'm just not the most organized person while on vacation.

I type up an itinerary listing everything we have booked (seminars, special events, ADRs) including the start times and confirmation numbers. I print out a few copies so I can leave one on the table in the room so we can review it over breakfast, I carry one with me and DH has an electronic copy on his phone. The biggest problem is remembering which day it is -- one day is like another when you're on vacation!

 

[redzinner]

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?

2.)What does the Griddled Greek Cheese from Greece taste like? Is it really bitter like greek yogurt? I love feta, goat cheese, fresh mozzerella, so would I like this cheese?

3.) Can anyone recommend any mild wine/beer for me? The only beer I really like is Blue Moon so anything around that? Also, is there any specialty fruit wines that would be good? I am thinking about trying the apple ice wine and the blackberry wine from South Korea? Is there anything else I should consider?

Thanks so much!

The berry flavor I tasted the most was strawberry but the drink is not overly sweet or strawberry flavored. I couldn't taste any rum.

The griddled cheese from the Greek booth is very mild with a texture of a melted mozzarella, not a fresh mozz, but the kind you might find on pizza. Not bitter at all and it does have some honey drizzled over it.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

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.

Attitude is key.

If you go in expecting "druken stupidity" and "idiots" I don't doubt you will find them.
(I expect this attitude is why those 16 year old girls dancing at Off Kilter were reported to security as "drunk"... person was out to PROVE her point LOL!)

 

[Kteacher]

We saw much more rowdiness last year than we do this year. Maybe the weather is keeping some of the rowdier locals away.

On a different subject we missed one of our seminars yesterday. Just forgot to ask for the tickets and then later in the day without the tickets forgot we were scheduled. My own fault but I wish we'd get one confirmation a day instead of one for each thing we've booked we do around 25 seminars over our 10 day visit and each day is different I'm just not the most organized person while on vacation.

Do you need to have tickets in hand for these, or will just your confirmation # work? We are doing a mixology seminar Friday @ 6, but will be at DHS during the day, so won't be getting to Epcot until right before the seminar starts.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Do you need to have tickets in hand for these, or will just your confirmation # work? We are doing a mixology seminar Friday @ 6, but will be at DHS during the day, so won't be getting to Epcot until right before the seminar starts.

Before you get in line for the mixology seminar in the Festival Center, you need to pick up your tickets (also in the Festival Center). Any cast member there can point you in the right direction. To pick up your tickets, all you need to provide is is your name and identification (such as a drivers license).

 

[hardybuz]

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.

I think that's excellent advice. I was so excited about trying F&W this year, and I suppose I went in wearing my usual Disney rose-colored glasses and Mouseketeer attitude, not realizing, perhaps naively, that too many weekend people plus too much alcohol could result in a totally different atmosphere than the family-friendly one I've always encountered. I learned the lesson that even Disney people, when drunk, act like drunk people! If we ever happen to go back during the Festival, we'll definitely aim for mid-week to try again. Thanks!

For those who are going with kids, I did discover one major upside to the fact that the biggest crowds seemed to be hanging around the lake's footpath- the counter-service restaurants were almost empty. Even with all the food booths, I still wanted to try my favorites, and we waltzed right up to the Patisserie in France (which was empty! I was almost indignant that no one was there, appreciating those pastry works of art!), the Katsura Grill, the Tangerine Cafe, and the Kringla Bakery with almost no one in line. That was a nice treat.

 

[LVSWL]

I am curious if you can pick up all of your tickets for mixology seminars at one time, or if you have to do it the "day of". Thanks!

 

[Cripey]

For those who are going with kids, I did discover one major upside to the fact that the biggest crowds seemed to be hanging around the lake's footpath- the counter-service restaurants were almost empty. Even with all the food booths, I still wanted to try my favorites, and we waltzed right up to the Patisserie in France (which was empty! I was almost indignant that no one was there, appreciating those pastry works of art!), the Katsura Grill, the Tangerine Cafe, and the Kringla Bakery with almost no one in line. That was a nice treat.

I stopped off at the Patisserie yesterday as a cap-off to the trip before we headed back to catch the ME and thought the same thing...never have I been able to just walk up and order there! The line is usually out the door! I'm sad to already be back...the trip was awesome though. I thought the portions were much larger compared to last year, but maybe that's because it's still the first week? Also, for the first time, I ran into 3 or 4 problems with booths running out of items and not calling for more in time. One booth ran out of water by 1pm (and if you have been there the last few days, you know how oppressive the heat and humidity has been...we really needed the water!), at 12noon on one day, Hawaii was already running out of Tuna Poke, and I had to wait for quite a while for my cheese fondue because they ran out of bread and had to go get more. I saw it all happen and not sure why they couldn't have realized things were getting low and sent someone for the bread BEFORE they actaully gave the last one out...seemed logical to me. The guy they sent for the bread didn't seem in any sort of a hurry either. Oh well, already looking forward to next year...but will plan to visit more on the tail end of the festival and try to avoid the weather. I've been this same week the last 3 years and it wasn't like this, so I guess it was a fluke, but it was miserable...felt like it was the middle of the summer!

 

[TDC Nala]

I am curious if you can pick up all of your tickets for mixology seminars at one time, or if you have to do it the "day of". Thanks!

You pick them up the day of.

You can't pick them up one day for an event on a different day.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

You pick them up the day of.

You can't pick them up one day for an event on a different day.

Yes.

Just to add to that... you can pick up all your tickets for that day at one time. So if you have a culinary demo, a wine seminar, and a mixology session, you can pick up all tickets for that day before the first of those events.

 

[heartsy77]

I'll ask this silly question again. Are the cranberry bog guys making an appearance at the bog? I simply love their commericals and would love to get a pic w/ them!

 

[TDC Nala]

There are Ocean Spray representatives in the bog - but as far as I know they are not the actors from the commercials.

 

[rentayenta]

I type up an itinerary listing everything we have booked (seminars, special events, ADRs) including the start times and confirmation numbers. I print out a few copies so I can leave one on the table in the room so we can review it over breakfast, I carry one with me and DH has an electronic copy on his phone. The biggest problem is remembering which day it is -- one day is like another when you're on vacation!

This is a great idea.

 

[we3peas]

I'll ask this silly question again. Are the cranberry bog guys making an appearance at the bog? I simply love their commericals and would love to get a pic w/ them!

TheOcean Spray representatives are only there the first weekend. What you will see now is Disney CM's. The OS people go back to harvest or something. They set it up, stay for the first couple of days and then turn it over to Disney. The plants around the bog are all from last year (extra tidbit). Don't forgot to get your free sample near the bog of OS cranberries.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Question - if I don't use a gift card, but want to charge to the room with my KTTW card, will I have to sign a receipt at each booth?