EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, Sept. 25 - Nov 16 2015

[dmask]

Just over an hour on hold, call was taken just after 8am and booked:
11/14 Parisian Breakfast
11/14 beer seminar

And will try on the 30th for the sampler package (CM recommendation....)

 

[minie_meese]

Wasn't able to call till 7:30. The Disney Visa number gave a wait time of 2 1/2 hours so I left it on hold and tried the Disney Dining number on my cell phone. This gave a wait time of 20 minutes. About an hour later both were still on hold. My original call was the first to be answered at about 65 minutes (so much for giving you a wait time). I was looking for 3 things and got 2. The Beverage Boot Camp was the thing I wanted the most and was able to get it.
Sat 9/26 World Class Artisan Cheeses - booked
Sun 9/27 Beverage Boot Camp - Exploring wines from 1996 - booked
9/28 Mediterranean Food and Wine Pairing - it wasn't showing up

Despite wasting an hour on the phone I was happy with what I got and the CM was terrific.

 

[VrBchJ]

Did I read that someone got the Premium Pkg? The CM I talked to said they weren't offering it this year. She didn't seem to know much about Food and Wine events. Fortunately I had my cheat sheet at hand so I could guide her along. Didn't do my any good though.

 

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

Soooo called back like I was told to. Waited an hour for a CM to tell me they weren't booking the sampler. Asked for a sup. got transferred to Guest Relations. She said they got an e-mail at 7:53am today telling them that because of "system enhancements" they wouldn't be able to book sampler, premium packages, eat to the beat packages, or VIP tours until the 30th. I asked about the sampler being available on only certain days or every day for the festival since the website has nothing, and I don't want to waste my time Thursday if they don't offer it for the day I want. She looked at the disney website, and confirmed it wasn't there. Then she said it wasn't there because it's not bookable yet. I pointed out the other things were up on the web before they could be booked. She said she escalated the issue, and could not confirm any details of the sampler since it wasn't on the website yet.

 

[mommyrosa2]

Called exactly at 7:00a and my 40 min hold turned into an hour. I originally wanted the wine and beer luncheon at Via Napoli as I thought it was being offered on Thursdays but once the CM looked into it, she said it's only on Tuesdays and she couldn't book it because it wasn't loaded in their system yet and to call back. Since we already have a V&A ressie for the Tuesday we're there and aren't changing that, I decided to book the Tutto wine pairing luncheon instead. Originally, I wanted Wednesday, 10/21, but she said there was nothing available so I ended up booking it for Monday, 10/19!

 

[mrobin023]

I was in right at 7am. Had hold time of 35 minutes was answered in 45 minutes. No availability except general admission for PFTS 10/3. No availability for Parisian breakfast on10/10. Got French family lunch on 10/4 then her computer crashed. She had to reboot and go back in. French family lunch no longer available. Those were our top three picks. Did get Italian regional lunch, tequila lunch and Mediterranean lunch for later in that week. Guess I'll be up again Thursday. She checked for me on the Premium package. It will be available to book Thursday.

 

[AllyBri]

I was able to get the Rockin Burger Party with the Chew
Tokyo Pairing
French Breakfast
French Lunch
That took 2 hours and 3 calls. I will call back on thursday for the Habachi Exp.

 

[goodeats]

I'm in CA and just called in a few minutes ago. I called the regular dining res line, no real wait except for the phone system maze. The French Family Meal Tradition was "not loaded" for 10/23 so I'll have to call back. For people who have booked French Family Meal Tradition - what day are you booked for? Was I supposed to call it something else?

I was able to get the culinary demo I wanted and that's all I booked for now. We'll play it by ear for Mixology and Beverage seminars.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Just to make you feel better. I had to change two nights on my DVC booking because the weekend I originally booked I can't stay . That took over an hour and TWO phone calls. Sad that as bad as the booking for Food and Wine is the booking for a room is WORSE! LOL!

 

[crostorfer]

Well that was a waste of time. 15 min wait turned into 1.5 hours. Could only book Parisian Breakfast on Sept 26, wanted Oct 3rd but was not available. Festival Tasting Sampler was off course "not in our system yet."

Not available because it was sold out, or not available because it wasn't in the system?

 

[salemnews]

Not available because it was sold out, or not available because it wasn't in the system?

Just was told it was not running that day

 

[crostorfer]

Just was told it was not running that day

But other people have booked it? I wish that all CM's could get on the same page.

 

[CinderElsa]

Friend called & tried to book Wine & Beer Luncheon (not loaded), World Class Artisan Cheeses (she got this one), Mediterranean F&W Pairing (she had to choose a different day), Parisian Breakfast (unavailable).

Friend: "I'll try for the breakfast on Thursday when I call back for the luncheon."
CM: "I don't believe they are holding back availability for that event."

Likely to be as accurate as a message from a game of Telephone, but...

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I'm in CA and just called in a few minutes ago. I called the regular dining res line, no real wait except for the phone system maze. The French Family Meal Tradition was "not loaded" for 10/23 so I'll have to call back. For people who have booked French Family Meal Tradition - what day are you booked for? Was I supposed to call it something else?

I was able to get the culinary demo I wanted and that's all I booked for now. We'll play it by ear for Mixology and Beverage seminars.

Did you give her the date and time? Seriously , they seem to have all kinds of trouble with names it's probably still called whatever it was last year in the system LOL!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Friend called & tried to book Wine & Beer Luncheon (not loaded), World Class Artisan Cheeses (she got this one), Mediterranean F&W Pairing (she had to choose a different day), Parisian Breakfast (unavailable).

Friend: "I'll try for the breakfast on Thursday when I call back for the luncheon."
CM: "I don't believe they are holding back availability for that event."


Likely to be as accurate as a message from a game of Telephone, but...

CM was wrong. They do hold back. A LOT!

 

[crostorfer]

I looked at the F&W merch available this year, and I'm very interesting in that special edition Dooney, but I hope it isn't the same poor quality as the HM Dooney, with the nightmare problems trying to exchange them for non-defective models.

 

[Jessica Gruzo]

Called 407-939-3378 at 7am this morning and was on hold for 50 minutes, before I had to hang up and go to work. Since some posts on here were told to call back after 9am anyway, I called again at 9- was on hold for about 10 minutes, then spent half an hour booking most of what I wanted. CM very pleasant and helpful, if a little slow.
11/12- 1p Culinary & 6p Mixology available
11/13- French Family Meal Traditions
11/16- 6p Bev. Seminar available; Italian Regional Luncheon NOT showing up in her system, even though she was looking at the exact restaurant/time- will try again later today in case it was her/her system
This is my first time doing F&W, so no expectations with the booking experience, but not as bad as I was afraid of (ie. the ominous mentions of two years ago).

 

[Missyrose]

Just as an FYI, the Beer vs. Wine pairing lunches have been loaded, I booked Oct. 20 a few hours ago.

 

[goodeats]

Did you give her the date and time? Seriously , they seem to have all kinds of trouble with names it's probably still called whatever it was last year in the system LOL!

I did. Friday October 23rd, 12 - 3:30. She confirmed that this event was at Monsieur Paul - so it's not like she had no idea what I was talking about. Maybe this is one of the "select Fridays" that it's not offered? I'll call back I guess and try again.

 

[YodasMom]

I called back again after a work meeting. The CM said that a lot of events still have not been loaded into the system and that they're recommending people to call back on the 30th. She was also not able to tell me which days certain events / packages would be available if they have not yet been loaded.

I also asked if she knew when Disney would be updating their own official Food & Wine Festival webpage with details of all the special events and packages. She said that she was hopeful they would do it by the 30th. She also suggested writing to disney or completing an online survey conveying concerns and frustrations.