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

[TDC Nala]

If you're looking for strictly free stuff (outside your Epcot admission) here it is:

The Eat to the Beat Concerts

Sometimes there are small "demonstrations" at various places around the showcase. some of these may show you how to use spices, etc. They are usually done by representatives of companies trying to sell their products. No actual food will be served.

There will be free seminars Friday-Sunday 12:15, 2, 4, and 6PM at the Festival center. These are usually done by representatives of companies or marketing boards pushing an ingredient product like coffee, vanilla, honey, etc. You might get small tastes of these products but no actual food items. The seminars are called "Authentic Tastes."

Book and bottle signings at the Festival center are included with Epcot admission. However, if you want to buy a book or bottle to have signed - that's extra.

Ghirardelli sponsors a chocolate exhibit at the Festival Center. Yes, they give a few free samples, but they've also had some items for sale.

 

[GrumpyFamilyof5]

If you're looking for strictly free stuff (outside your Epcot admission) here it is:

The Eat to the Beat Concerts

Sometimes there are small "demonstrations" at various places around the showcase. some of these may show you how to use spices, etc. They are usually done by representatives of companies trying to sell their products. No actual food will be served.

There will be free seminars Friday-Sunday 12:15, 2, 4, and 6PM at the Festival center. These are usually done by representatives of companies or marketing boards pushing an ingredient product like coffee, vanilla, honey, etc. You might get small tastes of these products but no actual food items. The seminars are called "Authentic Tastes."

Book and bottle signings at the Festival center are included with Epcot admission. However, if you want to buy a book or bottle to have signed - that's extra.

Ghirardelli sponsors a chocolate exhibit at the Festival Center. Yes, they give a few free samples, but they've also had some items for sale.

ahh chocolate, free samples, sounds good to me! Thx for the info!

 

[jska482]

If you're looking for strictly free stuff (outside your Epcot admission) here it is:

The Eat to the Beat Concerts

Sometimes there are small "demonstrations" at various places around the showcase. some of these may show you how to use spices, etc. They are usually done by representatives of companies trying to sell their products. No actual food will be served.

There will be free seminars Friday-Sunday 12:15, 2, 4, and 6PM at the Festival center. These are usually done by representatives of companies or marketing boards pushing an ingredient product like coffee, vanilla, honey, etc. You might get small tastes of these products but no actual food items. The seminars are called "Authentic Tastes."

Book and bottle signings at the Festival center are included with Epcot admission. However, if you want to buy a book or bottle to have signed - that's extra.

Ghirardelli sponsors a chocolate exhibit at the Festival Center. Yes, they give a few free samples, but they've also had some items for sale.

Thank you! This is a kid focused trip, with our last day at F&W. We don't want to do any shows or seminars, but small sampling---especially free ones--fits the bill! We will be at Epcot 10/6.

 

[TDC Nala]

None of these items are geared for kids. You may want to skip the Authentic Tastes seminars as they are between a half hour to an hour, and would probably be boring for young kids. Older kids who are interested in the culinary arts might enjoy them.

As for the samples they usually have someone handing out Ghirardelli squares. There's not a wide range of free samples.

 

[patster734]

Thank you! This is a kid focused trip, with our last day at F&W. We don't want to do any shows or seminars, but small sampling---especially free ones--fits the bill! We will be at Epcot 10/6.

Last year, Ocean Spray had a Cranberry Bog located between Future World and World Showcase. They were handing out samples of Cranberry raisins. I believe it will be back this year.

 

[jcvalenti]

Is this the first year for the Italian Regional Lunch ? I booked it at Tutto Gusto for 10/14. We did the French Regional Lunch last time around and, with the exception of the escargot ravioli (which I just couldn't choke down), it was fantastic.

If it's been done before, I'd appreciate any info on it.

 

[B'rer Karen]

Is this the first year for the Italian Regional Lunch ? I booked it at Tutto Gusto for 10/14. We did the French Regional Lunch last time around and, with the exception of the escargot ravioli (which I just couldn't choke down), it was fantastic.

If it's been done before, I'd appreciate any info on it.

They had it last year. My husband and I loved it and I'm attending again this year with my mom. It was in Tutto Gusto last year, as well, and was 5 small courses. We sat at long tables with other guests. The first course was Scallops, Braised Fennel, Black Truffle, Tuscan Olive Oil paired with the Bosco del Merlo Prosecco.

The next course was Gnocchi all Sorrentina, which was Potato Dumplings, Bufala Cheese, and Pomodoro Sauce. This was paired with Paladin Pinot Grigio, 2011.

The third course was Duck Breast with Apple and Pomegranate Sauce. I had never had duck and I wasn’t sure I would like duck, but I did, and the sauce was great. This was paired with the Paladin Salbanello, 2011.

Next was the cheese course, Taleggio, paired with Bosco del Merlo Merlot, 2009.

The final course was Mocha Tiramisu, which had espresso in it. It was paired with the osco del Merlo Soandre Verduzzo, 2009. This dessert wine was really sweet but it paired wonderfully with the espresso flavor of the tiramisu.

I thought it was a very good value and am really looking forward to it this year.

 

[jska482]

None of these items are geared for kids. You may want to skip the Authentic Tastes seminars as they are between a half hour to an hour, and would probably be boring for young kids. Older kids who are interested in the culinary arts might enjoy them.

As for the samples they usually have someone handing out Ghirardelli squares. There's not a wide range of free samples.

Good to know. I'm sure we'll find plenty to do for 1 day at Epcot with or without hitting up these seminars. I love the tips--thx!!

 

[bookgirl]

Last year, Ocean Spray had a Cranberry Bog located between Future World and World Showcase. They were handing out samples of Cranberry raisins. I believe it will be back this year.

I going to admit something awful.....this exhibition was sometimes the only fruit/veggie I got. I really try to eat balanced but F&W did me in a few days.

 

[AuroraRora]

I going to admit something awful.....this exhibition was sometimes the only fruit/veggie I got. I really try to eat balanced but F&W did me in a few days.

I've already accepted that this years F&W will mostly be unhealthy food samples and cocktails

 

[Angel Ariel]

The kiosks aren't open during EMH, and those who come for the festival generally are not there to do the rides.

The kiosks aren't open during PM EMH, even though they list WS as open until 11pm as well?

 

[TDC Nala]

The kiosks do not stay open during evening EMH.

They will close at 9, 10 on weekends.

You might find a few of them will be open a little later, but not for the entire EMH.

 

[Angel Ariel]

Good to know - thank you!

 

[patster734]

I going to admit something awful.....this exhibition was sometimes the only fruit/veggie I got. I really try to eat balanced but F&W did me in a few days.

Last year, we did have dinner at Rose and Crown, so we had some vegetables with our meal there. This year, we don't have any dinner reservations booked so that we can focus on eating the kiosks food. So, besides the cranberry raisins, our day will probably be fruit/veggie short too! Oh wait a second, I think the nachos at La Cantina contain lettuce and chopped tomatoes! (We won't be exclusively limited to the Food And Wine food)

 

[BeerMe]

I was neutral about MDE but not now after spending 45 minutes on the line with tech support. Be careful, be very, very careful, when setting up a profile.

I set a profile for my wife months ago and then forgot about it. I've been making tons of reservations for our upcoming trip using MDE. Her birthday is listed with a 2013 year. A couple of reservations for demonstrations are now showing her as an infant and I wasn't charged for her reservation. I called tech support and after being put on hold for 30 minutes I was told they can't fix it until all her reservations are canceled. WHAT? Are you kidding me??????

Of course I am not doing that, but what a colossal screw up! I'll have to fix the reservations with her as an infant though - they do show 2 prople but she wasn't charged. I think I'll do that.

They also wanted our APs unlinked.

 

[TDC Nala]

I decided not to delete the post above about My Disney Experience problems, as the problems listed may impact the poster's festival bookings. See the first post, it notes that this thread is only for discussing the Food and Wine Festival. I don't want to start a general discussion of My Disney Experience on this thread, so if the previous post is discussed, let's stick to the festival aspect of it.

If you have culinary demonstrations everyone is supposed to be charged, even infants. There should not have been a free entry for an infant. Persons under 21 are not supposed to be able to attend beverage seminars or mixology at all. You do have a problem because they might still tell you that she needs a paid ticket.

My DME also shows one of my friends as an infant and he is older than me. But I haven't booked him for any culinary demos so I don't know if it would have been the same thing.

 

[BeerMe]

I decided not to delete the post above about My Disney Experience problems, as the problems listed may impact the poster's festival bookings. See the first post, it notes that this thread is only for discussing the Food and Wine Festival. I don't want to start a general discussion of My Disney Experience on this thread, so if the previous post is discussed, let's stick to the festival aspect of it.

Thanks. I think the only thing this glitch in MDE would affect might be special events at activities like the F&W demonstrations.

 

[bookgirl]

Last year, we did have dinner at Rose and Crown, so we had some vegetables with our meal there. This year, we don't have any dinner reservations booked so that we can focus on eating the kiosks food. So, besides the cranberry raisins, our day will probably be fruit/veggie short too! Oh wait a second, I think the nachos at La Cantina contain lettuce and chopped tomatoes! (We won't be exclusively limited to the Food And Wine food)

Yeah I had to really scramble some days to figure out if I ate ANYTHING that wasn't a protein or a starch. (I don't count potatoes as veggies). I was a there for a week last year and I think I did F&W at some point of every day except one, so I wasn't eating many sit down meals or even CS. So I tried to grab some craisins every day and on the days I did sit down for a meal I tried to eat extra fruits and veggies. But I am a true Midwest girl. Meat and potatoes with some pasta/bread thrown in for variety dominated my choices.

But I also walked 37 miles and lost 7 pounds so I guess all's well that end's well.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I've already accepted that this years F&W will mostly be unhealthy food samples and cocktails

wait, I was always under the impression that instead of calories Disney food was full of wishes and magic

 

[KPSmithSr]

I thought in previous years someone listed what F&W events were sold out and what events still had seats. Is someone doing that this year and I just can't find it?