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

[sunflare]

I wanted to book the Festival Sampler Package with my disney gift card but was told that's not possible? Was anyone else able to book the Festival Sampler (8 entitlements, pin, reserved concert seating) with a disney gift card?
Edit: Yes you CAN book the Festival Sampler with a gift card. I just called to try again and had no issues this time!

Yes, you can, as you found out I initially had issues doing it too, but then the CM talked to her manager and realized that she hadn't gotten my reservation info yet. Once she had that, she could see it and book it.

 

[garris3404]

Quick question for those currently at the F&W. Can you use a counter service credit for 3 snack items at any of the food booths (same booth of course)? TIA!

 

[FeralCatRogue]

Quick question for those currently at the F&W. Can you use a counter service credit for 3 snack items at any of the food booths (same booth of course)? TIA!

Yep but some booths its so cheap it's not worth it.

 

[jerseygal]

Does anyone know where we can find reviews of food/drinks at the F&W Food Booths? I found two good sources - but would love to see more.

http://www.easywdw.com/ (Sept 24 & Sept 29 posts)

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2015/...eat-at-the-2015-epcot-food-and-wine-festival/

Pics look SO YUMMY! CAN'T WAIT!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

?..I went to the Burger Block party on 9/25. I had no expectations and I left with mixed feelings. The beef sliders that were served weren't seasoned and no condiments to be found. I guess they felt that the toppings were enough. The booze was abundant and no complaints there. Andrew Zimmern came on stage and yakked for a bit and left. He never even went to his table. I never saw him again....
Cindy

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the burger party. I have tickets for next week - purchased really just because of The Chew hosts. I had assumed (dumb!) that they might have their own burger(s) on the menu or might even cook. I hope it's more than a few minutes of yakking. Oh well, abundant booze is always good!

andrew zimmern was awesome he didnt let the lady talk over him like happened last year when i saw cat cora ill post pics later tonight

I agree, he was great & managed the host well. I hadn't realized (another dumb assumption) that the brunch really wouldn't have anything to do with him and that his demo would only be the last hour. Once he got out there I really enjoyed it.

festival center rold me they were sold out as well as guest relations ill include in my mail that others were able to purchase

As of Tuesday, they said they had only small & medium left in the shirt and didn't know if there would be more coming. I plan to keep checking though.

Quick question for those who have been already... Are the Festival Center and Future World kiosks opening along with Future World (i.e. 9am)? Or, are they delayed to the World Showcase opening time?

On Tuesday the booths didn't open until 11. It was also pouring rain- not sure if that was a factor.

 

[Richard M Nixon]

For the entitlements that come with the tasting sampler, are the CMs good about taking off the highest price item? I was wondering if I should have the GF go behind me and order just the things we want to use entitlements for, so they don't try and give me the $3.5 food for "free" while I pay for the $11 cocktail.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Excuse my ignorance but is the Chase lounge for anyone with a Chase card or does it have to specifically be a Disney Chase card?

As said before, it's currently any Chase Card, but some of us see the crowds at the lounge and wish it were limited specifically to Disney Chase card holders.

 

[psaund9860]

We just returned from WDW’s Food & Wine Festival and are very impressed on how WDW attempts to extract as much money from visitors to the festival as possible. This is Disneyworld and not Las Vegas.

Dining: There are many “Special Offers” that are provided at additional cost such as Food & Wine Pairing Lunches (Italy $83/pp), Eat to the Beat Concert packages (Le Chefs de France $76/pp), and Illuminations Dessert Parties ($49/pp). Had we decided to select just three special event offerings of the dozens offered, our cost for a one day visit to the Food & Wine Festival would have cost $628 for the two of us if we didn’t possess annual passes. This is BEFORE we have even sampled any of the food & wine offered in the World Showcase kiosks.

Beer & Wine: We visited Epcot on Wednesday night, the night before the “soft opening” of the Festival. All the festival kiosks were covered, but cast members were working in and around them preparing for the opening. We stopped at the Refreshment Post for a Yuengling Beer; at $7.50 a bit pricey for a domestic draft beer. On Friday night, the official opening of Food & Wine, we stopped at the same Refreshment Post and were served a plastic cup of Yuengling; only to find that the size of the plastic cup was much smaller than Wednesday. The cast member informed us that WDW does this during Food & Wine.

Free Wine Glass for Annual Pass Holders: Other than the AP magnets they keep sending and the Disney calendar at Animal Kingdom, I can’t remember any free offerings from Disney, so we decided to take them up on the free port wine glass offering at the Food & Wine Festival. As instructed, we had our photo ID, Festival Passport, and our Magic Band which proves that we are annual passholders. We found our way thru the crowd to the Innoventions Pavilion to stand in line. We arrived at the final destination to get our book stamped and were told that we needed valid proof we were Passholders. I explained that our Magic Bands are proof and Disney’s vast electronic capabilities to track and verify magic bands would prove that were are who we are. This Cast Member refused to do that and told us to go to Guest Relations for verification that we were pass holders and then come back with verification. No thanks. So beware, if you have a Magic Band, this does not meet verification requirements for the free offering.

In conclusion, Food & Wine left a bad taste on this recent trip.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We just returned from WDW’s Food & Wine Festival and are very impressed on how WDW attempts to extract as much money from visitors to the festival as possible. This is Disneyworld and not Las Vegas.

Dining: There are many “Special Offers” that are provided at additional cost such as Food & Wine Pairing Lunches (Italy $83/pp), Eat to the Beat Concert packages (Le Chefs de France $76/pp), and Illuminations Dessert Parties ($49/pp). Had we decided to select just three special event offerings of the dozens offered, our cost for a one day visit to the Food & Wine Festival would have cost $628 for the two of us if we didn’t possess annual passes. This is BEFORE we have even sampled any of the food & wine offered in the World Showcase kiosks.

Beer & Wine: We visited Epcot on Wednesday night, the night before the “soft opening” of the Festival. All the festival kiosks were covered, but cast members were working in and around them preparing for the opening. We stopped at the Refreshment Post for a Yuengling Beer; at $7.50 a bit pricey for a domestic draft beer. On Friday night, the official opening of Food & Wine, we stopped at the same Refreshment Post and were served a plastic cup of Yuengling; only to find that the size of the plastic cup was much smaller than Wednesday. The cast member informed us that WDW does this during Food & Wine.

Free Wine Glass for Annual Pass Holders: Other than the AP magnets they keep sending and the Disney calendar at Animal Kingdom, I can’t remember any free offerings from Disney, so we decided to take them up on the free port wine glass offering at the Food & Wine Festival. As instructed, we had our photo ID, Festival Passport, and our Magic Band which proves that we are annual passholders. We found our way thru the crowd to the Innoventions Pavilion to stand in line. We arrived at the final destination to get our book stamped and were told that we needed valid proof we were Passholders. I explained that our Magic Bands are proof and Disney’s vast electronic capabilities to track and verify magic bands would prove that were are who we are. This Cast Member refused to do that and told us to go to Guest Relations for verification that we were pass holders and then come back with verification. No thanks. So beware, if you have a Magic Band, this does not meet verification requirements for the free offering.

In conclusion, Food & Wine left a bad taste on this recent trip.

Sorry, Dining is "we are looking for something to whine about" If you had eaten regular meals at those resturants it would have cost you money, so it's not like they went from "Free" to charge just for Food and Wine, Plus honestly who does three a day (and by the way the Illuminations Desert Party is the same money grab year round, can't blame that one on the festival)

Beer and Wine Not sure how "wine" measures in here, but I had a beer on Sunday and the plastic glass was the same size as the one's I had last Spring. The difference is they remove the glass option on weekends during Food and Wine.

Free Wine Glass. Umm... while I agree they SHOULD be able to read your band you have to have proof for any other discounts etc. so this is another one I am surprised you seem unaware of and are blaming on Food and Wine.

Looks to me like you went looking for something to complain about so you worked hard to find something

 

[JayLeeJay]

Free Wine Glass for Annual Pass Holders: Other than the AP magnets they keep sending and the Disney calendar at Animal Kingdom, I can’t remember any free offerings from Disney, so we decided to take them up on the free port wine glass offering at the Food & Wine Festival. As instructed, we had our photo ID, Festival Passport, and our Magic Band which proves that we are annual passholders. We found our way thru the crowd to the Innoventions Pavilion to stand in line. We arrived at the final destination to get our book stamped and were told that we needed valid proof we were Passholders. I explained that our Magic Bands are proof and Disney’s vast electronic capabilities to track and verify magic bands would prove that were are who we are. This Cast Member refused to do that and told us to go to Guest Relations for verification that we were pass holders and then come back with verification. No thanks. So beware, if you have a Magic Band, this does not meet verification requirements for the free offering.

Free Wine Glass. Umm... while I agree they SHOULD be able to read your band you have to have proof for any other discounts etc. so this is another one I am surprised you seem unaware of and are blaming on Food and Wine.

It seems to me that they are either changing how they determine who gets a stamp or the cast members have their own preference, but I got two stamps and needed two different forms of ID. The first time, they accepted either a band they could scan or the ID with card (discount card or actual ticket). The second time I went, they were only scanning bands and would not let me use my ID with card. When I said I had used it the last time, the CM just said that they changed what they were doing. The second time they also weren't checking ID, just scanning bands.

 

[River Country]

Seriously what page in this massive thread is the pic of the pin and credential from the Sampler?

EDIT I found it

 

[rpb718]

Not sure how to note this so future folks can see it, but anything before page 124 of this thread predates the opening of the 2015 F&W festival. Starting on page 124 are pics of menus and "soft opening" comments, and everything after page 125 or so contains posts of F&W experiences, including pics of the PP credentials, bag and contents as well as the Sampler package credentials and related items - including the pin.

This DIS link for food photos is http://www.disboards.com/media/categories/epcot-food-and-wine-festival-2015-food-photos.560/

The DFB site also has photos and more by clicking on each kiosk link - similar (and more) food photos and MANY more drink photos.

This video shows a tour of the kiosks, the Festival Center, and a quick overview of F&W related merchandise:

- including the 20th anniversary cookbook.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Anyone have any ideas where the tapings of The Chew will occur next week? I was told it is "outside" so I am thinking maybe the "theater" in the American pavilion?

 

[LauraLea]

Anyone here going to the first French Family Meal Traditions tomorrow?

I am anxiously waiting on the first reviews of this.

Laura

 

[Disney102015]

I've seen updates about picking up the premium package items, but has anyone seen reviews about the premium package seating areas? I am wondering about shade, seating, if its saving much time vs. waiting in each line, etc. Also, does anyone know if the premium package dessert party is in the same spot as the regular dessert party? Thanks!

 

[LifeWithLouie]

We are traveling down to the F&WF with a pregnant woman who is jealous about the beers and cocktails that she can't enjoy (the trip was planned before she got pregnant).
Are any of the cocktails at F&WF available as VIRGIN cocktails?

 

[SothrnChic]

Anyone have any ideas where the tapings of The Chew will occur next week? I was told it is "outside" so I am thinking maybe the "theater" in the American pavilion?

I really don't think it will be in the theater since that is where the concerts are located each night. My guess is that it will be somewhere out of the main flow of traffic... Too many possible hecklers otherwise, esp for the 12:00 tapings.

 

[luvpooh]

I saw something on twitter that said it was in the open area when you first enter the World Showcase. Which I believe I recall being the setting for other talk shows in the past, with Spaceship Earth in the background.

Found the tweet: https://twitter.com/WDWNT/status/648953291280416769

Gigantic stage being installed on the World Showcase promenade for The Chew's show taping http://t.co/x2fuozul9l

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We are traveling down to the F&WF with a pregnant woman who is jealous about the beers and cocktails that she can't enjoy (the trip was planned before she got pregnant).
Are any of the cocktails at F&WF available as VIRGIN cocktails?

Unfortunately most of them are premixed and delivered to the stands. But you can always ask

 

[FeralCatRogue]

Anyone here going to the first French Family Meal Traditions tomorrow?

I am anxiously waiting on the first reviews of this.

Laura

I am is ther any specific you want to know about it? I don't drink so if there's something about drinks I may not be the best authorityon how things are.