2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival *HAS ENDED*

[babyblue61]

It's been 7 years since we last went to the Food and Wine Festival. Can't wait for October!

[rentayenta]

Anyone know what the Cake Boss' plans are for F&W? This will be our first F&W. My DS 11 is a huge fan. Will the deminar be age appropriate? If he is there on a Sweet Sunday (don't really know what that is ) what would that look like?


I'm very new to all of this but wouldn't mind spending the $$$ for DH and DS to attend a celebrity chef event.

[BriarRosie]

Originally Posted by rentayenta

Anyone know what the Cake Boss' plans are for F&W? This will be our first F&W. My DS 11 is a huge fan. Will the deminar be age appropriate? If he is there on a Sweet Sunday (don't really know what that is ) what would that look like?


I'm very new to all of this but wouldn't mind spending the $$$ for DH and DS to attend a celebrity chef event.

There's still the luck of the draw that your visit coincides with the dates he'll be there. If he does happen to be there for the weekend you are going, you might want to see the deminar. It won't be as expensive as the Sweet Sunday. I haven't done one of those Sweet Sundays since they started having them at the Festival Center. I don't intend to go to any.

[rentayenta]

Originally Posted by BriarRosie

There's still the luck of the draw that your visit coincides with the dates he'll be there. If he does happen to be there for the weekend you are going, you might want to see the deminar. It won't be as expensive as the Sweet Sunday. I haven't done one of those Sweet Sundays since they started having them at the Festival Center. I don't intend to go to any.

True but hopefully with 2 Sundays, we'll have a fair shot. I haven't been to F&W so I'm truly unsure about what any of it entails. This trip has so much planning involved between F&W, MNSSHP, and not having been to WDW in over 3 years...... I'm so lost.

[PrincessShea]

Originally Posted by karrit2000

I felt the same as you after trying the Dessert Party. We did it two years ago. It was really hot when we were there and I found I couldn't really enjoy too much of it. Too much sweetness in a small amount of time. I did take advantage of some of the cheese selection but I probably should have had it before I started on the desserts. The choices were yummy but I don't think this is an event we would attend again.

This is good to hear. I have been hemming and hawing about whether to do these special parties and I just don't think we can eat $125+ worth of food in 3 hours. I think I'd also prefer to be walking around Epcot than standing in a room for 3 hours...some of the pictures and reports from previous years make it tempting though!

[skorpie]

My 60th birthday gift will be to attend the F&W festival and MNSSHP. My birthday is Oct.8 so DH and I will be attending over that weekend. Cannot wait!

[fdecker]

Is there a map that shows where to get what food?

[redzinner]

Originally Posted by fdecker

Is there a map that shows where to get what food?

There will be but it has not been released yet.

2011 Guide Map

[LazyDaisy]

DH and I went last year and we're going back again this year. While I will be happy with the addition of alcohol-free drink offerings, I'd still like them to be adult friendly. That's one thing that bugs me about Disney in general - they rarely have any nonalcoholic mixed drinks other than the Buzz Lightyear and Tink or whatever. There ARE some adults who can't or don't drink!

And I hope they don't make it too kid-oriented. I have a 4 and a 5 year old who adore EPCOT, but we get child care for that one night and just have grown-up time. It works out for everyone! If there weren't childcare options at Disney, I'd get it, but there is both in-room sitting and the kids' clubs, both of which are just fine options. And you can still stroll around during the day and get treats for everyone if you want - our DD especially likes trying new foods and the serving sizes are great for someone her size. But in the evenings I think it should remain more adult-focused.

Anywho.

We've only been to one festival before, but do the same countries generally show up with the same offerings year after year? I loved the Greek cheese-honey-nut thing, and I would really love, love, love to have one (or more) cups of the Canadian soup... I would be heartbroken if those weren't there!

[redzinner]

Originally Posted by LazyDaisy

We've only been to one festival before, but do the same countries generally show up with the same offerings year after year? I loved the Greek cheese-honey-nut thing, and I would really love, love, love to have one (or more) cups of the Canadian soup... I would be heartbroken if those weren't there!

Yes, I'd say 85-90% of the time the same or similar selections are available at the individual kiosks. There would be a protest march on the World Showcase if the Cheddar Cheese soup wasn't available at the Canada booth!

[karrit2000]

Originally Posted by LazyDaisy

We've only been to one festival before, but do the same countries generally show up with the same offerings year after year? I loved the Greek cheese-honey-nut thing, and I would really love, love, love to have one (or more) cups of the Canadian soup... I would be heartbroken if those weren't there!

Many of the countries represented by the booths will be the same this year as last. They usually totally change out 2-4 countries each year. Much of the food from booth to booth for the returning countries remains the same from year to year. They might change one or two items or none at each returning both from year to year. This is the first year since I've been attending for the past 10 or so that Canada will replace the Salmon with the Mushroom Filet. The Cheddar Cheese Soup so far seems to be the item that stays. France always has the Escargot but changes up the other items from time to time. Italy usually changes theirs around a little. Germany always has some type of sausage/wurst on the pretzel roll but they seem to change the actual type every few years. I missed out on the Cheese/Honey/Nut thing in Greece last year because they ran out before the festival ended and I kept putting off trying it, it was a new menu item last year. Mexico's booth had a major overhaul of their menu last year from what they had in previous years. I enjoyed the new items they offered. They seem to change up the Desserts at the booth that has the Dessert Trio each year.

[disneyfav4ever]

The dessert trio was definatly different last year then what was offered in 2010. They can never seem to have a really great selection though. I always get the trio to try, and there's usually only one I really like and the other two are eh.

[Sweet Melissa]

Originally Posted by disneyfav4ever

The dessert trio was definatly different last year then what was offered in 2010. They can never seem to have a really great selection though. I always get the trio to try, and there's usually only one I really like and the other two are eh.

That's the way it is for me too. I'm finally learning that I should just get one dessert and a glass of champagne at that booth. Last year I liked the lemon chiffon dessert, thought the tres leches thing was okay, and skipped the chocolate one completely.

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Originally Posted by rentayenta

Anyone know what the Cake Boss' plans are for F&W? This will be our first F&W. My DS 11 is a huge fan. Will the deminar be age appropriate? If he is there on a Sweet Sunday (don't really know what that is ) what would that look like?


I'm very new to all of this but wouldn't mind spending the $$$ for DH and DS to attend a celebrity chef event.

Does he have a webpage with his schedule? I know that sometimes the "celebrties" spill the beans before Disney does. (Don't rallly even know who Cake Boss is, but I thought it was worth a try)

[TDC Nala]

The Canada Cheddar Cheese soup is the single most popular item sold at the World Showcase kiosks, year after year. It will almost certainly be returning.

Will the deminar be age appropriate?

I'm not sure what this means. Your child is welcome to attend with paid admission; the child will not get the wine sample and there won't be any reduction in price because the child can't have the wine. They don't gear the seminars for children, but if the kid has an interest in the subject matter they will be fine. At eleven they are old enough to sit and pay attention, too.

A big hint will be if he does a book signing and you want his autograph, get there EARLY and get a wristband for the signing. It will be conducted separately from the deminar.