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

[MickeyMinnieMom]

General Admission isn't that bad. Just try to get on line as soon as you can. Last year we got in line about an hour to an hour and a half before door open. (Bring an umbrella just in case.)

If you have a small party, then someone can place hold so that the other person can sit down for a bit or stretch their legs.

When you get inside, by pass the first couple of tables. There will be a mad dash for the first tables people see. Just keep going and there are plenty of additional tables in front of the stage and down around the corner.

My wife and I had a table on the far side of the room well before that whole area filled up. We had empty chairs that we were more than happy to share. When I spotted one of the couples that had been waiting in line with us, I happily invited them to make use of the empty chairs instead of standing. (They weren't so lucky as to nab a table. There were too many distractions I guess. And they didn't realize just how much of a madhouse it can be.)

Same thing happened at the Party for the Senses the next night. In this case a family with a bunch of young children had no luck finding a table. We didn't mind sharing then either.

Great advice! So if you don't get a table... you stand and eat?

We're new to these events, obviously.

 

[TDC Nala]

This is the first time I've had to make 4 phone calls and spend the equivalent of 1 hour 20 minutes cumulatively on hold over 2 separate days to get everything I was interested in. And that's with getting through on the phone line the second it opened up on the official booking day. I had to make three phone calls just today.

Argh! I only wanted to book 1 thing, Parisian Breakfast for 11/2. After finally getting thru, CM said it was booked. Even double checked in different ways. Granted I'm in California right now and called at 7:00 local time, with 25 minute hold but still I would have thought this would not be a high demand event. Is it worth calling back? I forgot to ask for a supervisor just because the CM seemed competent.

You should try. Some events apparently did not load into the system until closer to 8 AM. I think some of the CMs didn't understand why they weren't showing up and decided they must be sold out. Mine didn't say that, she said she didn't understand why they weren't showing up either.

 

[JenKatt]

This is the first time I've had to make 4 phone calls and spend the equivalent of 1 hour 20 minutes cumulatively on hold over 2 separate days to get everything I was interested in. And that's with getting through on the phone line the second it opened up on the official booking day. I had to make three phone calls just today.



You should try. Some events apparently did not load into the system until closer to 8 AM.

Were you able to get that last ressie?

 

[Arielle71]

I was on hold for 30 min but I got a great CM and I was able to book all 8 events that we wanted, 5 signature diners, the hibachi experience, 3D dessert party with sweet seats and sweet sunday breakfast with Buddy Valastro !!!

Youhou! only have to wait 55 days now![/QUOTE

Good for you! Just curious as to what time you got through to book the Sweet Sundays. I was told at 7:01am today that it was sold out

I got the line at exactly 7:30, so sorry for you ...the CM told me the same thing for the Jiko diner and at the end of our conversation it was available !!!

 

[TDC Nala]

Got my Parisian breakfast. I explained there were two adults and 1 infant (10 months). They charged me for 3. Is this right? I didn't want to miss out on the reservation and was happy to get it but I didn't know it was a full ticket for a baby. Thoughts?

Yes, that is correct. For food and wine events, there is no exception for any age - everyone pays full price, even infants.

 

[TDC Nala]

Were you able to get that last ressie?

Finally! I see you got your wine view.

 

[JenKatt]

Finally! I see you got your wine view.

Yes, thankfully... it's mom 65th birthday that week

 

[jaygalterio]

Great advice! So if you don't get a table... you stand and eat?

We're new to these events, obviously.

This will be the third year we've done 3D. We did the Party for the first time last year.

If it is the same way as I have experienced, then the floor layout is about the same between both events. The floorplan is like a giant, angular U, with almost 45 degree turns I would guess.

The middle area on the far wall is where the stage is usually set. In front of that is a number of seating tables. Probably about two dozen of these with four or five chairs each. Then a walking space, followed by the Sweet Seats (for 3D) in a cordoned off area. There are probably two dozen of these tables too.

I believe that there were special seats in this same area for the Party, but I don't recall the details of those.

Around the periphery (the arms of the U, you could say) were clusters of additional tables. Usually four or five chairs per table. You enter at the far end of one of these "arms" from a holding room where they drop a curtain. (If you get in line early, try to get as close to the curtain as you can. Position in line is usually lost in the holding room. Placement is everything.)

Now around the periphery of the tables are the tall standing tables. Like bar tops. No chairs, just a lot of leaning.

For the 3D event, the food kiosks are scattered in clusters. I believe with each cluster serving the same items. Usually four or five unique tables, with two or three clusters. The end cap of each table also hands out plenty of wine and scotch.

Make sure you go in hungry and thirsty. Skip dinner. Forget your diet.

But, by all means, don't panic. There is usually plenty of seats. And, if you are in doubt, be nice to the people in line with you. They might just score a good table if you get unlucky.

 

[herb102211]

I got the line at exactly 7:30, so sorry for you ...the CM told me the same thing for the Jiko diner and at the end of our conversation it was available !!!

Thanks! The systems were definitely messed up this year!

 

[meryll83]

This will be the third year we've done 3D. We did the Party for the first time last year.

If it is the same way as I have experienced, then the floor layout is about the same between both events. The floorplan is like a giant, angular U, with almost 45 degree turns I would guess.

The middle area on the far wall is where the stage is usually set. In front of that is a number of seating tables. Probably about two dozen of these with four or five chairs each. Then a walking space, followed by the Sweet Seats (for 3D) in a cordoned off area. There are probably two dozen of these tables too.

I believe that there were special seats in this same area for the Party, but I don't recall the details of those.

Around the periphery (the arms of the U, you could say) were clusters of additional tables. Usually four or five chairs per table. You enter at the far end of one of these "arms" from a holding room where they drop a curtain. (If you get in line early, try to get as close to the curtain as you can. Position in line is usually lost in the holding room. Placement is everything.)

Now around the periphery of the tables are the tall standing tables. Like bar tops. No chairs, just a lot of leaning.

For the 3D event, the food kiosks are scattered in clusters. I believe with each cluster serving the same items. Usually four or five unique tables, with two or three clusters. The end cap of each table also hands out plenty of wine and scotch.

Make sure you go in hungry and thirsty. Skip dinner. Forget your diet.

Are the Sweet Seats reserved for you by name? Or is that still first dibs too?

 

[Arielle71]

Thanks! The systems were definitely messed up this year!

Did you try again ?

 

[mmorrison]

I'm normally big on benefit of the doubt!! I've been in Cust Svc (many moons ago!) as well, and I understand how it is.

However, when I asked for a supervisor, he didn't say a word and just cut me to the survey. I would think that if his intention was to transfer me, he would have said that. He just sounded ANNOYED -- the moment he got on the line.

I'm sure he had a bad morning. But a bad attitude from the get-go in that call - not ok.

All in all, over the years, I've had really good CM experiences. Sometimes uninformed, but VERY RARELY rude like this gentleman was. That said, I get over these things quickly - certainly not worth hanging onto!!

THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME LAST YEAR!!! I was LIVID and we din't get what we wanted when I finally got someone on the phone.

I am sorry.

 

[herb102211]

Did you try again ?

I tried again around 10am and the CM said it was fully booked I might try back again later this afternoon as I was told on Friday and Saturday that Buddy's culinary demo on 10/14 was sold out and then yesterday I was able to book it. So who knows!

Enjoy our events!!

 

[crazy4wdw]

Disney has handled this so badly it isn't even funny! What a sham. Clearly they don't have the technical competency to host a proper website, or handle the incoming calls that result from not having one. The two agents I spoke with after waking at 5a were nearly useless as well and one lost something she had on hold for me which is now sold out (PTFS 10/19 WVL).

Disgusted.

Isn't everyone excited to see My Magic+ implemented after this fiasco over the last several days? Just think what fun that will be - the system goes down or doesn't work and you can't get into you resort room, can't get into a theme park, you can't get into your dining locations with advanced ADR's, etc. Something to look forward too!

 

[heidi8]

The website seems to be working now for booking General Admission for Party for the Senses, and there was availability for October 26 when I just checked. Good luck, all!

 

[jaygalterio]

Are the Sweet Seats reserved for you by name? Or is that still first dibs too?

The year we had Sweet Seats, it was by name. We checked in. Were let into the "holding area" and then we were shown to our seats by one of the hosts. So no rush and no scramble.

 

[skater]

The website seems to be working now for booking General Admission for Party for the Senses, and there was availability for October 26 when I just checked. Good luck, all!

I don't get it. I'm on the website with the events listed, but I can't find a link to actually reserve or check availability for anything?

 

[heidi8]

I don't get it. I'm on the website with the events listed, but I can't find a link to actually reserve or check availability for anything?

It's basically by specific event, and not all the events are available for online booking. But you can link to the ones that are via https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/#/special-events/

This link takes you right to Party for the Senses bookings: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/party-for-senses/
But it's only for General Admission bookings.

 

[Cynth]

I'm wondering if the Party for your senses events sell out fast?
I'm wondering if i should try to book it now, or if I could wait until a closer date, because I'm not really sure if I want to spend that kind of money, and even less sure on what to get.

 

[Steve-O]

Took 15 minutes (start to finish beginning 11:15 ET) to get 2 French Regional Lunches. They still ask for card number multiple times but at least they get all the conf numbers at once and don't have to read the instructions for each reserve.
I'm a little less Grumpy, now.