2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival *HAS ENDED*

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the food was not bad or expensive....
 
Not sure if it has been posted yet but the grapefruit beer is sold out. Not just tonight but for the rest of the festival! Didn't get to try it. Was about to get on line and noticed the sold out sign over it. When I passed by earlier I had the lychee drink from china so figured I'd get the beer later. Oh well maybe next year.
 
Not sure if it has been posted yet but the grapefruit beer is sold out. Not just tonight but for the rest of the festival! Didn't get to try it. Was about to get on line and noticed the sold out sign over it. When I passed by earlier I had the lychee drink from china so figured I'd get the beer later. Oh well maybe next year.

If anyone has transportation and wants to try the grapefruit beer badly enough, they currently have it on tap at World of Beer on Sandlake Road.
 
I was so bummed about the grapefruit beer being sold out!

Is it normal to get gifts during the Mixology classes? We got a gift bag with a really nice Cointreau Margarita glass and a Mt. Gay bottle opener and a Corona holder for a Coronarita drink. That was definitely a nice surprise!
 


I was so bummed about the grapefruit beer being sold out!

Is it normal to get gifts during the Mixology classes? We got a gift bag with a really nice Cointreau Margarita glass and a Mt. Gay bottle opener and a Corona holder for a Coronarita drink. That was definitely a nice surprise!
We attended three Mixology seminars. We got something at one of them (a bottle of coffee liqueur) but nothing at the other two.

One of the wine seminars we attended had a trivia contest and handed out some nice prizes.
 
We attended three Mixology seminars. We got something at one of them (a bottle of coffee liqueur) but nothing at the other two.

One of the wine seminars we attended had a trivia contest and handed out some nice prizes.

Yum I would have liked that coffee liqueur! I was hoping for some alcohol in ours but I was okay with the marg glass, it is really nice although i didn't love walking around Epcot with it after or putting it on my luggage.
 
Yum I would have liked that coffee liqueur! I was hoping for some alcohol in ours but I was okay with the marg glass, it is really nice although i didn't love walking around Epcot with it after or putting it on my luggage.
We haven't tried it yet. I should have mentioned that it is a very small bottle, like the ones they provide on airplanes to people who order a mixed drink.
 


My husband & I LOOOVED the \schinken nudel from Germany! Anyone know where I can find the recipe? It wasn't in the book!
 
Where can I find the dates for next year's food and wine? Thanks!

Nothing official, but if the usual formula (including the extra day for a Monday Veterans Day holiday) is followed, it will be September27 - November 11.

At the festival itself yesterday, they were saying that next year's dates have not been finalized.
 
Most disgusting thing in Epcot last night was a group of young people (early 20's) by the fountain in France. Clearly very drunk. One in the group offered one of the guys $100 to go to the bathroom in the fountain and the guy almost did it. Had his hand on his zipper and looked ready to go. Ugh! The look of horror on the kid sitting 3 feet away on the side of the fountain mirrored what we were feeling.

This was the week we were there, so glad we missed that lovely display.

We can at least now cross the F&W off our Disney bucket list. I don't think we'll be going back. It's just not our thing and between the huge crowds and the drunk idiots that we encountered, we're just not interested in going back. Disney really does have something for everyone and this just isn't for us.
 
This was the week we were there, so glad we missed that lovely display.

We can at least now cross the F&W off our Disney bucket list. I don't think we'll be going back. It's just not our thing and between the huge crowds and the drunk idiots that we encountered, we're just not interested in going back. Disney really does have something for everyone and this just isn't for us.

i agree that it's great to try once, but we're not doing it again (not due to "drunk idiots" though as i didn't see any drunk people either of the 2 days we were there). the festival was way too expensive for very mediocre food and horrible drinks. i also missed out on a lot of what epcot normally has to offer as a park because i was too busy running from booth to booth. i loved going during october though because the weather is great. so maybe next time we go, we will plan for a christmas time so we can have the nice weather without the food and wine festival.
 
i agree that it's great to try once, but we're not doing it again (not due to "drunk idiots" though as i didn't see any drunk people either of the 2 days we were there). the festival was way too expensive for very mediocre food and horrible drinks. i also missed out on a lot of what epcot normally has to offer as a park because i was too busy running from booth to booth. i loved going during october though because the weather is great. so maybe next time we go, we will plan for a christmas time so we can have the nice weather without the food and wine festival.

I agree with you. I was disappointed that most of the menu's at the international marketplaces were for the most part the same as last year's. I'm still planning a trip next October but the focus will not be on the F&W fest. Thw weather at WDW during the later portion of October is usually just about perfect.
 
raraavis said:
i agree that it's great to try once, but we're not doing it again (not due to "drunk idiots" though as i didn't see any drunk people either of the 2 days we were there). the festival was way too expensive for very mediocre food and horrible drinks. i also missed out on a lot of what epcot normally has to offer as a park because i was too busy running from booth to booth. i loved going during october though because the weather is great. so maybe next time we go, we will plan for a christmas time so we can have the nice weather without the food and wine festival.

I agree Raraavis. I had some tasty dishes but nothing that left me wanting more. The portion sizes turned out to be much smaller and the prices higher in relation to size than I anticipated even though I had been fanatically following the Disney Food Blog and EasyWDW reviews. I would go again if I am there at that time but I had way better time at MNSSHP the two nights I went. I would plan another trip around going to the party for sure, but not around FW.
 
This was our third F&W festival. We enjoyed it very much and are looking forward to going again next year. There is a different atmosphere in Epcot during F&W. We find people are friendlier and more interactive. We have met lots of really nice folks while sharing tables around the WS and at the seminars. It has become one of my favorite times to be at WDW.

We really enjoy the seminars. I always learn something, we get to sample some good food and wine and we usually have some fun people at our table. This year, one seminar in particular really stood out from the rest. Back in late summer when I was looking over the seminar schedule, DH suggested that we book a California winery seminar. I chose one presented by a winery located in the Sonoma Valley. The name of the winery was the "Lasseter Family Winery". It wasn't until later (thanks to comments made in this thread) that I learned who owned the winery! John and Nancy Lasseter gave a very entertaining presentation covering everything from purchasing and restoring the vineyard and winery to making the wine to working with the artist who designs their beautiful labels. During the Q&A we also got to hear all about Wreck-It Ralph!

So now we're counting down the months until the F&W festival planning starts again next year. I've already booked our room!
 
So now we're counting down the months until the F&W festival planning starts again next year. I've already booked our room!

My SIL and BIL went this year and had to cut their trip short to come home before Sandy hit. They loved the 3 days they had there and want to go back next year. We want to go with them and likely will go around mid-October for 4 nights. We own DVC points at OKW and HHI (SIL/BIL own at SSR and AKV) and will book at 7 months out and try for BCV or BWV...which I know might be difficult to get during F&W. Also need to see what the kids' school schedule will be and decide if they will come with or stay home. I am excited. I have always wanted to go to F&W.
 
I agree with you. I was disappointed that most of the menu's at the international marketplaces were for the most part the same as last year's. I'm still planning a trip next October but the focus will not be on the F&W fest. Thw weather at WDW during the later portion of October is usually just about perfect.

Yes it is basically the same thing every year with a handful of changes.
I am less and less impressed every year - especially since the seminars went from free, to a nominal fee ($5) to $14

It is a nice excuse to go to Disney without the Family though and enjoy the weather
 
I think the festival has gotten too big for its britches. Crowds, even on weekdays. The ordering/distributing has gotten more efficient to compensate, but it's not going to be a nice stroll through a nearly empty WS anymore. I won't be doing the seminars again. Although I had a good time at the whiskey debate. That may have been because nobody sat next to me and I got extra whiskey.

I'll do some of the restaurant based tastings and pairings and lunches next year. Hope I can make it for a Party for the Senses because they don't do it every weekend anymore. and I hope Big Bad Voodoo Daddy comes back again.

I don't believe I purchased a single taste of wine this year. I had wine at the Party for the Senses and the Italy lunch. I mostly had beer. There were lots of beers to choose from and they weren't as expensive as wine. And I had a few mixed drinks/spirits.
 
2012 marked the fifth straight year that DH and I attended F&W, and we both agreed that it greatly exceeded our already high expectations and that the food and wine selections were even better than previous years. We both said that it was remarkable that each of the small food booths could produce such quality food and drink in such an efficient manner.

I think we managed to hit about 14 of the 28 booths in addition to the Cheese seminar, a piesporter dinner at Citricos, the chef cooking demonstrations the tequila lunch and PFTS and we were impressed with each of them. Although there were some food booths that impressed us more than others, it was not the quality of the presentations that set one apart from the other, but rather our own personal preferences.

We attended Thursday through Sunday of the second full weekend. Although crowds were energetic and large, they were not too unwieldy and the waits in line, even on Friday night and the weekend, were not at all bad. Very efficient crowd control and service. We also did not see anyone misbehaving or drunks - we saw Disney fans - who were also food and wine fans - enjoying themselves. Were people consuming adult beverages and exhibiting the giddyness that accompanies that? Absolutely! And it was fun to watch and be part of, but it was never out-of-hand during our time there this year (or any of the other previous four years for that matter).

I heard a rumor that the F&W may be extended next year because Thanksgiving falls later in November. Another week of F&W would be great!
 

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