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

[rpb718]

I have ISDP questions for those who have gone to F&W and purchased the PP. Way back when we purchased the PP, it was mentioned that our ISDP was whatever day the PP was assigned to us in MDE - which in our case was on the Monday (but listed for 8:30PM) - and that we wouldn't see a separate entry for ISDP in MDE. My questions are (1) was that the case for others, and (2) did it start at 8PM or 8:30PM? Thanks.

 

[Tozzie]

I have ISDP questions for those who have gone to F&W and purchased the PP. Way back when we purchased the PP, it was mentioned that our ISDP was whatever day the PP was assigned to us in MDE - which in our case was on the Monday (but listed for 8:30PM) - and that we wouldn't see a separate entry for ISDP in MDE. My questions are (1) was that the case for others, and (2) did it start at 8PM or 8:30PM? Thanks.

Mine still shows as 8:30 in MDE but the party starts at 8

 

[cindyfan]

Help please..... can someone tell me what page on this thread are the details for the sampler package? I can't find it in this huge thread.

 

[TinaLala]

If we purchase gift cards here at home can we use them for the food and wine festival food items??

 

[lomillerin]

How are the crowds on weekdays?

 

[pepperandchips]

@rpb718 A few pages back, I posted a somewhat detailed entry about our package having gotten garbled. They fixed it for us by cancelling and rebooking, and everything went off without a hitch on Monday (our ISDP day and the day we intended to book it for). It starts at 8:00. If your MDE shows no time for it or 8:30, you should call. The woman who checked us in on our package was very sweet but didn't seem to know what she was talking about. I would NOT have wanted to burn daylight hours trying to get that straightened out.

As an aside, they let us in about 7:40. You might want to check in early if you want a specific table area.

 

[pepperandchips]

I purchased online for all 4 of us, in one transaction. Two of them are for kids under 18.

You will need an ID for the person whose name the package was reserved under. Doubt you need the others present. I picked up a premium package for 3 and seminar tickets for 3 and just needed my ID. They were in my name on MDE.

 

[karrit2000]

Help please..... can someone tell me what page on this thread are the details for the sampler package? I can't find it in this huge thread.

It's somewhere in the 120's. What specifically are you looking for because I don't think everything was in one post.

 

[KiniShakenBake]

My premium package shows for Thursday, at 8:30 for the ISDP, because that's the day we wanted to go. We'll be picking up our credentials on Monday (or Sunday if they will let us!) and enjoying the package all week. I've got my areas mapped out, Quick Service Substitute plan in place, and each of the Premium Tabs is going for a pricey drink! We got this... I'm aiming to fit as much as humanly possible into our free DDP and premium package and pay for only the smallest bits out of pocket.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

My premium package shows for Thursday, at 8:30 for the ISDP, because that's the day we wanted to go. We'll be picking up our credentials on Monday (or Sunday if they will let us!) and enjoying the package all week. I've got my areas mapped out, Quick Service Substitute plan in place, and each of the Premium Tabs is going for a pricey drink! We got this... I'm aiming to fit as much as humanly possible into our free DDP and premium package and pay for only the smallest bits out of pocket.

Maybe once you're there you'll be able to answer the question I have. I'm hoping to hear you can use a QS credit at a premium area and get food from more than one booth. I don't really know how payment in the premium areas works. I thought I read they each have their own registers. So I'm thinking it might work. Please let us know what you find out!

 

[KiniShakenBake]

Maybe once you're there you'll be able to answer the question I have. I'm hoping to hear you can use a QS credit at a premium area and get food from more than one booth. I don't really know how payment in the premium areas works. I thought I read they each have their own registers. So I'm thinking it might work. Please let us know what you find out!

In the premium package fiasco thread,

Spoiler

which was unfiascoed in a major way once they got to the right people,

the people who just got done with their premium package said that payment happened at the package areas, NOT at the kiosks. This would (logically, which can be quite the crapshoot with Disney) lead me to believe that we can order three snacks and ask them to pay for it with a Quick Service credit as long as the areas we are ordering from are served by that premium area. Which kiosks that are served are less relevant, unless they must ring up each kiosk in a separate transaction. I'm hoping someone who goes before the 25th of October confirms before I get there. We have free dining and I want to make the most of it at F&W. 10 snacks included with our plan is great. 40 snacks (give or take a few because we do need to eat other places on other days...) would be friggin' phenomenal.

And before anyone says that QS credits must be used on pretty expensive things before they're worth the cost - They were free to begin with and if they are left over at the end and we have a bill from paying out of pocket for cheap things, then they were money out of our pockets not to use them, because we paid out of pocket for things we didn't need to pay for. I'm well aware of the economics of the DDP. This community has been the best resource ever on these numbers, and I do appreciate it.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

In the premium package fiasco thread,

Spoiler

which was unfiascoed in a major way once they got to the right people,

the people who just got done with their premium package said that payment happened at the package areas, NOT at the kiosks. This would (logically, which can be quite the crapshoot with Disney) lead me to believe that we can order three snacks and ask them to pay for it with a Quick Service credit as long as the areas we are ordering from are served by that premium area. Which kiosks that are served are less relevant, unless they must ring up each kiosk in a separate transaction. I'm hoping someone who goes before the 25th of October confirms before I get there. We have free dining and I want to make the most of it at F&W. 10 snacks included with our plan is great. 40 snacks (give or take a few because we do need to eat other places on other days...) would be friggin' phenomenal.

And before anyone says that QS credits must be used on pretty expensive things before they're worth the cost - They were free to begin with and if they are left over at the end and we have a bill from paying out of pocket for cheap things, then they were money out of our pockets not to use them, because we paid out of pocket for things we didn't need to pay for. I'm well aware of the economics of the DDP. This community has been the best resource ever on these numbers, and I do appreciate it.

Looks like you're only going to arrive there a couple days before i do. Maybe someone else will confirm this for us.

I, too, have "free dining" and with F&W fest don't know how I'll ever use all those QS credits if I can't use them at the festival. Traveling solo I don't see myself getting three items from the same booth.

 

[mara512]

In the premium package fiasco thread,

Spoiler

which was unfiascoed in a major way once they got to the right people,

the people who just got done with their premium package said that payment happened at the package areas, NOT at the kiosks. This would (logically, which can be quite the crapshoot with Disney) lead me to believe that we can order three snacks and ask them to pay for it with a Quick Service credit as long as the areas we are ordering from are served by that premium area. Which kiosks that are served are less relevant, unless they must ring up each kiosk in a separate transaction. I'm hoping someone who goes before the 25th of October confirms before I get there. We have free dining and I want to make the most of it at F&W. 10 snacks included with our plan is great. 40 snacks (give or take a few because we do need to eat other places on other days...) would be friggin' phenomenal.

And before anyone says that QS credits must be used on pretty expensive things before they're worth the cost - They were free to begin with and if they are left over at the end and we have a bill from paying out of pocket for cheap things, then they were money out of our pockets not to use them, because we paid out of pocket for things we didn't need to pay for. I'm well aware of the economics of the DDP. This community has been the best resource ever on these numbers, and I do appreciate it.

Arriving the same day and have the same plan! Good Luck

 

[KiniShakenBake]

We are arriving October 25, so I really hope that others report back sooner!!

 

[KiniShakenBake]

Looks like you're only going to arrive there a couple days before i do. Maybe someone else will confirm this for us.

I, too, have "free dining" and with F&W fest don't know how I'll ever use all those QS credits if I can't use them at the festival. Traveling solo I don't see myself getting three items from the same booth.

It was unclear to me if you had the premium package. Do you? That's the only way we're going to be able to make it work if it works at all. Good luck!!!

 

[AngiTN]

I have ISDP questions for those who have gone to F&W and purchased the PP. Way back when we purchased the PP, it was mentioned that our ISDP was whatever day the PP was assigned to us in MDE - which in our case was on the Monday (but listed for 8:30PM) - and that we wouldn't see a separate entry for ISDP in MDE. My questions are (1) was that the case for others, and (2) did it start at 8PM or 8:30PM? Thanks.

@rpb718 A few pages back, I posted a somewhat detailed entry about our package having gotten garbled. They fixed it for us by cancelling and rebooking, and everything went off without a hitch on Monday (our ISDP day and the day we intended to book it for). It starts at 8:00. If your MDE shows no time for it or 8:30, you should call. The woman who checked us in on our package was very sweet but didn't seem to know what she was talking about. I would NOT have wanted to burn daylight hours trying to get that straightened out.

As an aside, they let us in about 7:40. You might want to check in early if you want a specific table area.

Just to point out, the time shown on the ISDP day is meaningless. If it shows the right day, you are fine. The package will get you in to the Dessert Party area when it opens, period. You are not limited to enter at the time shown on the reservation. That is simply there as a place holder because all their reservations require a day and a time. So they stuck 8:30 as the time.

All Dessert Parties at Disney operate that way.

 

[BwoZoo22]

I have ISDP questions for those who have gone to F&W and purchased the PP. Way back when we purchased the PP, it was mentioned that our ISDP was whatever day the PP was assigned to us in MDE - which in our case was on the Monday (but listed for 8:30PM) - and that we wouldn't see a separate entry for ISDP in MDE. My questions are (1) was that the case for others, and (2) did it start at 8PM or 8:30PM? Thanks.

Our MDE shows 8:30 too. Specifically, "Epcot Food & Wine Festival Premium Package 8:30 PM." I feel bad for the guests who do not follow the boards and believe the information MDE is providing to be accurate. They will show up at 8:30 and have very limited time to enjoy the desserts or drinks. Maybe that was the plan all along...

 

[AngiTN]

Our MDE shows 8:30 too. Specifically, "Epcot Food & Wine Festival Premium Package 8:30 PM." I feel bad for the guests who do not follow the boards and believe the information MDE is providing to be accurate. They will show up at 8:30 and have very limited time to enjoy the desserts or drinks. Maybe that was the plan all along...

I'm not fully clear on why they do differing times. Mine shows 8:00. I think they do it to try and stagger the arrival times.
The only nice part is they keep the desserts out till the end of Illuminations. But those who arrive late will have a less than ideal choice of tables left.
One thing is clear, most people know to arrive before the time shown. There are always lines to go in well before they open the viewing areas. Be it, the parties at HS, the Dessert party at MK or the Illumination ones

 

[mickey1968]

If we purchase gift cards here at home can we use them for the food and wine festival food items??

Yes, the special food & wine ones just have different graphics and the wrist thingy.

 

[DVC4US]

Thank you for the wonderful review We have reserved seating for the 17th...now I wish we would have went ahead and splurged for the wine view ( next time) ...LOL I'm sure we will enjoy our reserved seating also...can't wait to go

Looks like we have many of the same plans. We have reserved seating for the 17th too! Maybe a meet-up? We should be easy to spot - total of 9 of us, 7 women and 2 men, all adults between the ages of 19-71. Are you guys doing the Halloween party - we are on the 16th.