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

Redwitch said:
Any idea if you can book the Eat to the Beat dining package on line? I can see the option, but it won't "complete the request."
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The dining reservations are buggy half the time it seems. It took about 3 times to book What's Cooking With this morning. I also had to try about 4 times tonight just to book a regular one as well. Its crazy!
 
Reluctantly, I booked the F&W Premium Package just now. With so many questions unanswered, I didn't want to. OTOH I didn't want to miss out on a reservation.

I got a lot of questions answered. The CM would "IM" my specific questions to a Secret Person, who answered quickly. Though the experience is for Mon-Tue-Wed-Thur, I had to specify one date. I picked Tuesday. Then I asked If I could pick up my package items on Monday. Secret Person said No. So I picked Monday for my reservation date. But I'm worried that my Monday date is when my Deminar will be. I want it on Tuesday. I asked about the Deminar booking, and was told to book it when I got there. However, Di$$$neyPoor (above) was told you could book in advance (when Disney's computer is working again) and Deminar will be on your resv date. So I'm going in circles here. I'll wait a few days and call back. I'm interested if the Premium Package covers the Illuminations Dessert Party. My CM didn't even mention it.

This seems to be the same, disorganized roll-out as last year. However, the benefits of the Premium Package, even with reduced goodies, still outweigh all the general silliness.
 
wellesleyprincess said:
I'm surprised at how fast some of the seminars have gone. We typically haven't pre-booked and have always gotten the ones we wanted day of or day before. This year we were going to pre-book the Pastry Culinary seminar for 10/29. I tried yesterday with early Chase access and was told it was showing full but more availability would likely be released today when it was open to the general public. No luck! I'm just surprised as it's not someone famous or anything.
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I can't believe it's full. I suspect it's not available because of the Premium Package. Some people are being told that one of the entitlements is a beverage and/or culinary deminar and that they had to be at 2:00 or 5:00 respectively. I've been trying to book 5:00 culinary demos on two different Mondays and they're not available. I had no trouble booking demos at 1:00 and 3:00. I'm assuming they're holding them back for the package.
 
We just booked the Premium Package for 2 people. My fiancee did it from home while I'm working, but trying to text her all I've picked up on here. She were told no Illuminations Party. In MDE we now have 2 different entries for Monday Nov 2nd (the week we booked for) @ 830pm for Food and Wine Premium Package. Both entries are for 2 people. They have different confirmation numbers. The mystery continues...
 


I am late to the party, catching up after work. I was very fortunate this morning, I called right at 7:00 AM, was quoted a wait time of 31 minutes at 7:05 AM, and a CM picked up at 7:25 AM! Woohoo! And I got both events I wanted - Parisian breakfast for me and my parents on 9/26, and Flying Fish signature dinner for me on 10/1! I'm glad the CM asked if we will be celebrating anything because in my excitement, I forgot to say we will be celebrating my 40th birthday! :-)

I can't wait to experience it all!
 
How many burgers must one eat to get their money's worth at the Burger Block Party? I'd be miserably stuffed after two (3 if we're talking sliders).
 
DollyM said:
I can't believe it's full. I suspect it's not available because of the Premium Package. Some people are being told that one of the entitlements is a beverage and/or culinary deminar and that they had to be at 2:00 or 5:00 respectively. I've been trying to book 5:00 culinary demos on two different Mondays and they're not available. I had no trouble booking demos at 1:00 and 3:00. I'm assuming they're holding them back for the package.
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I'm starting to think there holding them for premium package and then may release them day of if they aren't booked by premium folks.
 


I was on the phone first thing this morning and got everything we wanted. Here is my experience with the Premium Package. CM read this off of her computer to me, it includes gift bag with bottle of wine, wine glass, corkscrew, special magicband, lanyard to access private seating in the world showcase and food entitlements, one culinary or beverage seminar and an Illuminations Dessert party. The access to the special seating area were valid for Mon-Thur that week. We would make our seminar choice at the festival center when we picked up our package. I even had to give her a date that week that I wanted to attend the Dessert party. When she ran my credit card for my shopping cart I got reservation numbers for everything I ordered including the Premium package. But she then realized I didn't get charged for the premium package. She then contacted a supervisor about this and was told the Premium package had just been pulled out of inventory because they were having "problems" with it. It is showing up in MDE as The Festival Center at 2pm on that Monday. I plan on calling them back tomorrow to verify everything since no charge has ever shown up on my card, but I do have a reservation number.
 
Our first time at F&W this year and I'm trying to learn as much as I can, so we won't be totally lost when we arrive. A lot of posters who have booked (or rather are trying - and failing - to book) the Premium package are mentioning a VIP seating area.

Are these the only areas near the food booths where you can sit at a table? Is there anything like that for the general public?

What about the tables where you stand? I've seen a few youtube video reviews of F&W from last year where people are standing at "high" tables and eating. Can anyone use those? Of course, I also saw some people using the top of a trash can as a table - not sure my husband would enjoy that very much.
 
I think the high tables were a part of it too, I went to find a place to sit last year and high tables were in one of the seating areas where general peopel coudlnt go sit.
 
Honestly during the week I never have a problem finding a place to eat. There are lots of high top tables, you can go to the QS dining areas or some booths do have some seating. Sometimes on a weekday evening it gets a little crowded but unless you have to have a private table it's easy to share and find a spot. The challenge is on the weekends and late in the evening. Neither of these are helped that much by the Premium. It ends an hour before the park closes and does not exist on weekends.


Unless things change a lot it's not like there were tons of shady sit down tables in the premium area. They had high tops and sit down tables but if there are 15 people in one of the areas I expect some of them have to stand.
 
westfield13 said:
Our first time at F&W this year and I'm trying to learn as much as I can, so we won't be totally lost when we arrive. A lot of posters who have booked (or rather are trying - and failing - to book) the Premium package are mentioning a VIP seating area.

Are these the only areas near the food booths where you can sit at a table? Is there anything like that for the general public?

What about the tables where you stand? I've seen a few youtube video reviews of F&W from last year where people are standing at "high" tables and eating. Can anyone use those? Of course, I also saw some people using the top of a trash can as a table - not sure my husband would enjoy that very much.
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I stood at tables last year and didn't get kicked off them. Never saw a sign near those tables saying they were premium. Honestly, I don't remember seeing the premium seating areas either. As far as the premium package, I am not buying it for my crew - not practical with 5 people. I didn't eat on top of a trash can either- if I did that, I'd be carrying my own private tablecloth!

Advice from me after 3 trips to F&W, go look on the Disney food blog and plan what you want to eat and drink. That way, you get those things FIRST and don't fill up on other stuff. That's the key IMO to enjoying your first F&W festival! It's my favorite time for WDW no doubt!
 
westfield13 said:
Our first time at F&W this year and I'm trying to learn as much as I can, so we won't be totally lost when we arrive. A lot of posters who have booked (or rather are trying - and failing - to book) the Premium package are mentioning a VIP seating area.

Are these the only areas near the food booths where you can sit at a table? Is there anything like that for the general public?

What about the tables where you stand? I've seen a few youtube video reviews of F&W from last year where people are standing at "high" tables and eating. Can anyone use those? Of course, I also saw some people using the top of a trash can as a table - not sure my husband would enjoy that very much.
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The VIP seating areas had 3 - 6 tables, a mix of High top & regular height or a few picnic tables. In the beginning there was no seating at most areas but they eventually put some chairs with the low tables as well as a few umbrellas. There are 11 of these areas around World Showcase that are roped off for the Premium Package holders Monday - Thursday. Friday - Sunday these same areas are not roped off and anyone can use them. There are other areas that anyone can use. Some have some seating & others are just High Tops or picnic tables. Off the top of my head for the areas anyone can use there is one between Morocco & France with about 8 tables w/ chairs where the Belgium Booth used to be but they switched they country they put there last year. There are a few tables with chairs near the Africa area. There are usually some tables with benches by Germany where they have one of the Beer Booths, High Tops near the Canada & Greece Booths to name a few. There are usually at least a 4 - 6 High Tops close to just about every booth. Some booths are close to some of the outdoor QS areas where you can grab a table with seating.
 
randumb0 said:
How many burgers must one eat to get their money's worth at the Burger Block Party? I'd be miserably stuffed after two (3 if we're talking sliders).
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For us it is not so much about how many burgers we can eat but to party with the cast from the Chew. But that's just us.
 
Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences! We don't plan on going to EPCOT on Friday or Saturday - hoping to avoid the larger crowds. It's good to know that we should be able to find a table that isn't too far from the food booths. Seats would be great - but a high top table is fine - and we certainly don't mind sharing with others. I think bonding over food is a terrific way to meet people.
 
I did get to book the Premium Package for 4 ppl starting on Monday Sept 28 at 2pm HST/8pm EST and was told it did include the Illuminations Sparkling Dessert Party ONLY ON WEDNESDAY. I don't understand why. I really would like to do the dessert party on Tuesday since it is offered that week. and I couldn't book my culinary seminar either. I was told I had to call back for that but no timeframe when to do so. i'm really bummed this whole booking thing was such as mess! I plan to ask more questions when I call back to book my culinary seminar. idk if the dessert parties & seminars M-Th are already filled up due to the Premium Package. but my MDE shows that I have the Premium Package on Monday at 830pm. that seems a little odd to me...
 
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