*2013* epcot food & wine festival 9/27-11/11

[2xcited2sleep]

Does anyone know is it just one autograph per person? My sister would love Robert Irvines autograph but so would I and she's not travelling this time so wanted to check if I can take two books or just one

You shouldn't have an issue. I have seen people with multiple books and/or multiple people in a party who want autographs, photos etc. You won't have unlimited time but signing two books shouldn't be a problem- at least not based on past practice. You just have to be sure to get there first thing in the morning in order to get the wristband... they are quite strict about that. Enjoy!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

From the Beers and Ears website:

The Beer of Epcot International Food and Wine Festival 2013!

Thanks for posting!

Fully agree with their take. While nothing amazing, I think what they have at the Craft Beer booth is a step in the right direction with Dogfish Head Namaste and Widmer Brothers Alchemy Ale, but the Belgium booth continues to disappoint

 

[TDC Nala]

First page updated with new links.

If you're looking at the Narcoosee's signature I had to have it pointed out to me that it is not a dinner - it is a lunch. That may explain the relatively lower pricing for that one.

 

[gismo1554]

You shouldn't have an issue. I have seen people with multiple books and/or multiple people in a party who want autographs, photos etc. You won't have unlimited time but signing two books shouldn't be a problem- at least not based on past practice. You just have to be sure to get there first thing in the morning in order to get the wristband... they are quite strict about that. Enjoy!

Thanks so much! I just know it would make a fantastic Christmas pressie if I could get something for her too!

Does anyone know how good the selection of books at the event is? Only asking as limited luggage space to bring one over with me

 

[PatriciaH]

First page updated with new links.

If you're looking at the Narcoosee's signature I had to have it pointed out to me that it is not a dinner - it is a lunch. That may explain the relatively lower pricing for that one.

Thank you for that.

 

[ryansstitch]

Hi all! DH and I are excessively excited to attend our second f&w trip! For some reason, I'll blame it on pregnancy brain I was thinking I would be 26 weeks pregnant during the dates we have booked. I will not, I'll be 29 weeks!!! I'm a first time mommy, and not sure what 29 weeks, officially 3rd trimester will bring, so I'm thinking of pushing our dates back to opening weekend and the following Monday, Tuesday morning. A few questions for veterans: I know it's crowded during that time, but if you had to compare opening weekend to closing weekend (veterans day and jersey week), is one usually much worse? I'm pretty sure I read that booths are often open on the day before official opening. Is this always so? It would be great to get a head start on booths, then focus on deminars Saturday and Sunday afternoon, back to booths on Monday/ Tuesday. Thanks for the input!

 

[BeerMe]

Generally there is a soft opening the day before. They normally aren't open the entire day, but it varies. Enjoy.

 

[willidc]

Hi all! DH and I are excessively excited to attend our second f&w trip! For some reason, I'll blame it on pregnancy brain I was thinking I would be 26 weeks pregnant during the dates we have booked. I will not, I'll be 29 weeks!!! I'm a first time mommy, and not sure what 29 weeks, officially 3rd trimester will bring, so I'm thinking of pushing our dates back to opening weekend and the following Monday, Tuesday morning. A few questions for veterans: I know it's crowded during that time, but if you had to compare opening weekend to closing weekend (veterans day and jersey week), is one usually much worse? I'm pretty sure I read that booths are often open on the day before official opening. Is this always so? It would be great to get a head start on booths, then focus on deminars Saturday and Sunday afternoon, back to booths on Monday/ Tuesday. Thanks for the input!

First of all, congrats on the upcoming little one. As far as doing any and all things Disney while pregnant, I have some experience since all three of my boys were 'at the parks' before they were born. While I did eliminate Space Mountain and Humunga Cowabunga (at Typhoon Lagoon), the rest of the vacation was typical. My doctor felt being reasonably active was a good thing and walking was so much better than just sitting around waiting for the baby to come.

What I did notice was how much more the heat and humidity bothered me when I was pregnant. It was much easier to breathe when the weather was a bit cooler, so it looks like a trade off for you since the earlier you go for F&W, the hotter (most likely) it will be.

Everyone is different, but I had no issues in two late mid trimester and one early third trimester trips. Plus, you will always have a seat on the monorail and bus. Even when I declined to take an offered seat I was told "Please sit down---you are making all of us nervous!" LOL!

Best wishes with your decision and your new family addition.

 

[karrit2000]

I am so excited that the schedule is (mostly) out!!

A couple of questions for those who have been, as this is my friend's and my first time. I keep reading on Disney Food Blog that the French Regional Lunch (Frunch) is the best thing at FAWF. But when I read past reviews, I'm nervous about the food they're serving. I'll try anything when it comes to flavor combinations and fruits/vegetables/grain/dairy, but I'm picky when it comes to proteins. (I eat very little seafood and am not crazy about uncommon meats. I'm a poultry/beef/pork kind of girl.) What is it about the the Frunch that makes it so special? The speakers and atmosphere, or the food? It makes me nervous to gamble that amount of money on a meal I may not want to eat.

We're also thinking about doing the Mexican Tequila Lunch, the Italian Food & Wine Lunch (the one at Via Napoli), the Hibachi sake dinner (yay, new!), and Party for the Senses. Anyone have any advice on those? Worth it, not worth it? Also potentially the Grand Marnier event, but it seems to get mixed reviews. Man, are these all expensive. But it's why we're taking this trip, so it is what it is!

Finally, the cooking demos and signings. I know we're supposed to go to the desk first thing in the morning for a schedule and wristbands, but do they release the names of the chefs and details ahead of time, or only that day? The way my itinerary is looking now, we'll have one afternoon/dinner for kiosk food and one for a couple of demos. Not that it really matters, but I'd love to know in advance which will be which!

Thanks for any advice!

I notice that no one has really responded to any of your questions yet so here goes.

I plan to try to book the Frunch for both weekends we will be at F & W. They didn't have them last year as the restaurant was still undergoing renovations. It can be hit or miss with the speakers. There is one Female we've had in the past that we had mixed experiences with. She was much better the second time we attended an event she hosted. Note that in the past they did tend to use seafood & different meats quite a bit. One time we were served venison, it was absolutely delicious they way they prepared it. The Champagne ones are a lot of fun as they keep refilling as long as you can catch them before they open the next course offering. If there is anything you really have a problem with they usually are quite accommodating. My mother is unable to eat seafood with wine so they have always substituted something else in place of the seafood for her. They've done this without issue in both France & Italy. She also has issues with nuts & anything with seeds (including tomatoes). Of course it helps to speak with someone at the venue 2-3 days before the event so they can make a note on your reservation. You can request that Disney Dining note food issues on the reservation when you make it but we've had mixed results with that.

We always had fun at the Grand Marnier event but we skipped it last year due to them holding it at the Festival Welcome Center rather than in a restaurant. We might do it again this year now that it's back in France. Note that they serve dessert type foods after the actual Grand Marnier tasting & drink mixing. There is no "meal" with this one. So I suggest having a snack from a booth or two before going to this one.

Last year we did all three options in Italy. While the Tutto Gusto Regional Lunch was nice I didn't find the speaker during the one we attended very impressive. He didn't really explain much about the wines being offered and spent little time with most of the patrons. There were a few tables he spent most of his time with & the rest of us were left out of the loop for the most part. The Food & Wine Lunch we attended at Via Napoli was wonderful but I can tell you that what I saw on the menus for some of the other weeks I would never be able to get past my lips. I don't do Squid & Octopus so I would have had an issue at some of the meals. The surprise hit for me was actually the Food & Beer Pairing. The food served our week was absolutely wonderful and I really enjoyed 3 of the 4 beers they served especially the one made from Chestnuts.

I did the Tequila Lunch also. I really enjoyed it but I don't know that I would do it again as I'm not that into Mexican food. It was a lot of fun and I do recommend trying it if you are at all interested. It was definitely worth the money, and the food was really wonderful but I'd rather do the Frunches.

I've only done PFTS once & would rather spend my money on these other events as I feel I get more enjoyment for my money at them. Others prefer the Party & all the different food & drink you can get at them. Of course if someone were to give me a ticket to the PFTS I would go as long as I'm not paying for it myself.

You won't see me at the Hibachi event as I'm not into Asian cuisine so I can't advise anything on those type offerings.

As for the Cooking demos & other seminars they should be posting that info any day now since they start selling to AP/TIW/DVC next week. During the week it is usually the chefs from the Disney resorts who do most of the cooking demos. What ever weekends you see certain chefs listed for special events those are usually the dates they would be signing so for example where you see Robert Irvine is scheduled to do Kitchen Memories he will most likely be doing a cooking demo and book signing that same weekend. They would also mot likely be serving at PFTS that weekend.

Hope that answers most of your questions.

 

[TDC Nala]

There are no wristbands for the cooking demos. You sign up, they check your name off a list, and they give you a paper ticket which you turn in when you are seated. The only time you'd get wristbands is if you are registered for a book signing. These are separate from the demos and you have to be there at 9 AM on the day of for most of them (especially if they feature celebrity chefs) if you want to get in.

As for accommodations, they will do accommodations for allergies, medical conditions and POSSIBLY lifestyle choices like vegetarianism (mixed results on that one depending on the event). I don't know if they will be able to accommodate a request for no proteins outside of pork or beef or chicken based on a preference. You may end up getting something that isn't really worth the cost of the event and they won't reduce the price.

The Hibachi event is new this year and nobody will be able to advise you on that.

 

[TDC Nala]

New info - TIW is sending out an email stating that pre-booking for culinary demonstrations, beverage seminars and mixology will open on August 9. This generally applies to DVC members and AP holders too. Pre-booking is by phone only.

This is only for the Festival Center demos and seminars - the other events open for booking August 13 for everyone.

According to the TIW e-mail, online booking will be available on August 13 and will apply to the following events:

Culinary demonstrations
Beverage seminars
Mixology seminars
Scotland: Land of Food and Drink (general admission only)
Party for the Senses (general admission only)
Disney's Dessert Discovery (general admission only)
Spirits Confidential (general admission only)

 

[crazy4wdw]

New info - TIW is sending out an email stating that pre-booking for culinary demonstrations, beverage seminars and mixology will open on August 9. This generally applies to DVC members and AP holders too. Pre-booking is by phone only.

This is only for the Festival Center demos and seminars - the other events open for booking August 13 for everyone.

Thanks!

Still no details regarding the culinary demos or wine tastings?

 

[ryansstitch]

First of all, congrats on the upcoming little one. As far as doing any and all things Disney while pregnant, I have some experience since all three of my boys were 'at the parks' before they were born. While I did eliminate Space Mountain and Humunga Cowabunga (at Typhoon Lagoon), the rest of the vacation was typical. My doctor felt being reasonably active was a good thing and walking was so much better than just sitting around waiting for the baby to come.

What I did notice was how much more the heat and humidity bothered me when I was pregnant. It was much easier to breathe when the weather was a bit cooler, so it looks like a trade off for you since the earlier you go for F&W, the hotter (most likely) it will be.

Everyone is different, but I had no issues in two late mid trimester and one early third trimester trips. Plus, you will always have a seat on the monorail and bus. Even when I declined to take an offered seat I was told "Please sit down---you are making all of us nervous!" LOL!

Best wishes with your decision and your new family addition.

Thank you for the info! the plan will be to get in early and get out early, stopping at air conditioned rides, buildings in between booths.

 

[sasmmb]

Thanks!

Still no details regarding the culinary demos or wine tastings?

Lots of info came out today on the everything EXCEPT the details on the culinary demos and wine tastings. See http://cdn.media.tablesinwonderland.com/Files/TIW F&W Booklet For Guests.pdf

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Now comes the stressful part .....deciding the order of booking. Wonder how fast the French breakfast will sell out hmmm.....

 

[thorphin]

Anyone care to hazard a guess as to what the Scotland Land of Food and Drink and Chocolate Dinner events at World ShowPlace will be like?

This is our first food and wine and we're having a hard time deciding which event to book. I haven't been in World Showplace since 2000. Is it stupid to consider these two events just because they are in World Showplace? haha...

I'm a pretty picky eater, and while I want to take advantage of F&W to expand my horizons, I'm a little nervous about spending $100-$160 on a dinner that might amount to 5 or 6 tasting portions.

Also, I assume that these events would be done instead of Reflections of Earth? I know a couple events (3D Dessert and...I think a Chocolate Dinner at American Adventure in 2003) include ROE viewing, but I'm not seeing that listed for these additional, new events.

 

[TDC Nala]

ROE is at 9, or at 10 on weekend nights during the festival. It starts at park closing, so the event venue is usually working on closing up at that time as well. The event doesn't have to include viewing - just make sure you walk outside in time to see it. You may not have the best view if you do it that way, but there are plenty of places to watch around UK and Canada near the World Showplace.

I would be surprised if we see the culinary demo, etc. schedules before at least August 7.

 

[Nakkira]

Thanks for posting!

Fully agree with their take. While nothing amazing, I think what they have at the Craft Beer booth is a step in the right direction with Dogfish Head Namaste and Widmer Brothers Alchemy Ale, but the Belgium booth continues to disappoint

Too bad Dogfish is showcasing it's Namaste. I personally think it is disgusting.

I LOVE their Midas Touch, Raison D'Entre, & 90min IPA.
However who am I to complain. They are local to me so I can have them anytime I want.

 

[gwynne]

Food and Wine information is gradually filling in on this page:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/

It isn't all F&W, they do list other events and tours, but I think it's still a helpful one stop source.

 

[TDC Nala]

Food and Wine information is gradually filling in on this page:

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/

It isn't all F&W, they do list other events and tours, but I think it's still a helpful one stop source.

Per the information given by TIW yesterday, you will not be able to book any Festival events online except the Festival Center deminars (culinary, beverage and mixology), and general admission at four large events: Party for the Senses, 3D dessert party, Scotland Land of Food and Drink, and Spirits Confidential.

If you want premiere or reserved seating at those four events, or if you want to book any other event, it will need to be by phone.

So there will be the usual sitting on hold the morning of the 13th!