**2010** Epcot Food & Wine Festival ENDED 11/14. 2011 FESTIVAL 9/30-11/13

[BriarRosie]

Can you cash it out or use it on the cruise line?

It's a gift card, first and foremost. As far as I know, the Disney Cruise Line will accept them. I don't believe you can cash them out.

 

[redzinner]

Can you cash it out or use it on the cruise line?

Yes, you can use it on the cruise line. You can check the balance on the card, where to use it and look at FAQs on The Disney Gift Card site.

Can the remaining balance on my gift card be redeemed for cash? Except as required by applicable law, your Disney Gift Card is not redeemable for cash. For instance, in California, pre-paid gift cards are redeemable for cash if they have a value of $10 or less remaining on a gift card.

 

[oybolshoi]

I'm sure you can't cash it out, however. Disney doesn't allow that with their gift cards as far as I know. Once a few years ago A CM at the Poly cashed out the balance on our Disney Reward Card when I used it to pay for some postcards .... I didn't ask her to but it was a nice windfall!

 

[mom2cookies]

any update on the dessert /illuminations party at Epcot? We would really be interested in this.

 

[TINKERIFIC]

My DH and I are headed back to the world for a short adult only get away with our main goal being the F&W Festival. We are using up our remaining DVC points and staying in a studio at BWV for 3 nights and checking in on Sunday, November 7th.

I have a few concerns about the festival:

1. Are we going to be arriving too late after the commencement of the festival and possibly miss out on some of the exhibitions?

2. I was looking at last years schedule and it appears most of the special experiences (or the events costing the extra money) occur on the weekends (Fri - Sun). We do not plan to go to Epcot until Monday or Tuesday of our stay. I am assuming we will be missing out on stuff this way or are weekdays just as great as weekends?

Am I making a bad choice by waiting until November to go and also going during the week. Someone help, please?

 

[arbolita]

My DH and I are headed back to the world for a short adult only get away with our main goal being the F&W Festival. We are using up our remaining DVC points and staying in a studio at BWV for 3 nights and checking in on Sunday, November 7th.

I have a few concerns about the festival:

1. Are we going to be arriving too late after the commencement of the festival and possibly miss out on some of the exhibitions?

2. I was looking at last years schedule and it appears most of the special experiences (or the events costing the extra money) occur on the weekends (Fri - Sun). We do not plan to go to Epcot until Monday or Tuesday of our stay. I am assuming we will be missing out on stuff this way or are weekdays just as great as weekends?

Am I making a bad choice by waiting until November to go and also going during the week. Someone help, please?

I have never gone in November, so I don't have any advice about F&W during that time, but I do have an opinion on weekends vs. weekdays. Yes, it's true that typically the weekends have more special events that are not available the rest of the week. However, the weekends are also when most of the local residents will come to Epcot to experience the Food and Wine festival, making the World Showcase much more congested and much longer lines for all of the booths.

My advice for you would be to continue planning with your current proposed booking dates, and then when the official schedule comes out in a few weeks, look at the special events that will be taking place the weekend prior to your arrival and decide if you want to bump up your trip or extend it for one day.

 

[kristinlynn]

Sorry if this has been posted, but I just noticed the following on Scott Joseph’s Orlando Restaurant Guide (haven’t seen this site before so I don’t know how reliable it is):

Is the Empress Room coming back?

Many folks will remember when the well-grounded paddlewheeler now known as Fulton’s Crab House was called the Empress Lilly, named for Walt Disney’s wife, Lillian. It held within its decks one of the few fine-dining options available in Central Florida at the time: the Empress Room. I think the Disney culinears decided the resort needed only one fine dining restaurant, and Victoria & Albert’s was it. Fulton’s, which is operated by Levy Restaurants out of Chicago, debuted around 1996.

Now comes word that the Empress Room might reappear -- at least for one evening. Fulton’s executive chef Ron Cope and crew are planning a signature dinner during the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival that some are saying will evoke the bygone days of the Empress Room. No one is saying officially that the dinner will be touted that way, but it seems to me they’d be missing out on a terrific marketing scheme.

No other details right now, other than it will be an exclusive dinner for about 50 guests on November 11th.

 

[kristinlynn]

Also, just found the following on themouseforless.com. This makes me think the schedule will be posted on July 8th or 9th or later.

TABLES in Wonderland - Sneak Preview
Tables in Wonderland members can get a special sneak preview of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival on July 8. Sample food and hear speakers talk about what new and exciting things Disney has in store for you this year. All before the information goes live on the web site, and before reservations open to begin booking the events.
Epcot - Wonders Retreat - Located on the 2nd floor of the Wonders of Life Pavilion
Date: Thursday, July 8, 2010
Time: 6:30 - 9 p.m.
Cost: $95 per person, plus tax, gratuity included
Limit: 80 guests
For menu and reservation information, click http://www.themouseforless.com/tripplanning/wdwsavings/Tables.shtml#F&W

I’m so bummed we’re going to miss this. We leave Disney on July 6.

 

[redzinner]

Thanks kristinlynn. I would consider him a reliable source.

Here's the full article which mentions the dessert party also:
Is the Empress Room Sailing Back to Downtown Disney?

 

[eeyorelvr09]

Will be there Oct 4-10. We cannot wait. We are impatiently waiting on the menu.

 

[shovan]

subscribing

 

[ppiew]

No matter what Fulton's does they can never match the Empress Room. Loved the etched glass panels, the bar area with harpist and bottles all stored behind closed doors and the fabulous gracious food and service. I was very despondent when they closed. I have been to Fultons since and it does not hold a candle to the Empress - not the ambiance or the food. I suppose I should withhold this but it is such a disappointment to me since the EL closed. Each dining room had it's own signature and the lounge was such fun. Those who never were there have no idea what a great place it was.

 

[eeyorelvr09]

This is for TINKERIFIC about F&W during November. My dbf and I went Nov 1-8 last year and do recommend to go during the weekday. It was crowded when we went during the weekday because that is the same week as the NJ Teacher's Convention. We also went on a day during the weekend and managed well because we knew what samples we liked from the first day and bee lined it to our favorite then spent time focusing on the special events.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

 

[Steve-O]

Could someone PLEASE tell me the secret to making a reservation for the dinner wine events? We have called EVERY year for 9 years and only once were able to get an Exquisite Evenings dinner. EVERY time we either get a busy (despite clng PROMPTLY at 7 AM of the 1st day) or we have been put on hold for 48 minutes only to be told 'all full.'

My DW and I both call in right around opening (it's EDT). I don't recall getting a busy signal but always on hold for 5-10 minutes. We used to have our own lists and make sure our highest priority items got booked first but there isn't that much we reserve for anymore. Exquisite Evenings are probably gone forever and alas, nothing quite compares to them (except the Puck dinner last October). The Jean vs Charles Boisset was close but you had to chase servers for pre-dinner wine and hor d'ouvres. The wines were in the fantastic category and dinner just very good. So don't feel too bad about what you think you may have missed.

 

[minster22]

Any of you experienced Food and Wine goers know if most of the booths will be open on Sept 30th? We are going the last week of September (leaving on Oct1) and I am thinking that we will be able to go to most of the booths on our last night....Sept30th. I have been this week before and it seems as though I remember kind of a soft opening a couple of days prior to the official start....am I wishful thinking here??

 

[TINKERIFIC]

This is for TINKERIFIC about F&W during November. My dbf and I went Nov 1-8 last year and do recommend to go during the weekday. It was crowded when we went during the weekday because that is the same week as the NJ Teacher's Convention. We also went on a day during the weekend and managed well because we knew what samples we liked from the first day and bee lined it to our favorite then spent time focusing on the special events.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

We have no choice but to go on a Sun - Wed. We only have a few DVC points left and a weekend day is out of the question.

So, I guess you are saying that November 7th - 10th on weekdays is ok? I just want to make sure we are still able to make the booths and that none of them will be shutting down early since the F&W ends on the 14th.

We may miss some of the special experiences, but it seems as though the ones that really struck me as WOW, were on the expensive side. Not sure if I would like to do those. We only have one day at Epcot. So, I will just be happy to booth hoop.

 

[redzinner]

So, I guess you are saying that November 7th - 10th on weekdays is ok? I just want to make sure we are still able to make the booths and that none of them will be shutting down early since the F&W ends on the 14th.

We've never experienced any of the food booths shutting down before the end of the festival. Some of the merchandise in the Festival Center is long gone but not the food in the kiosks. You will get to experience the World Showcase kiosks.

 

[PNO4TE]

We have no choice but to go on a Sun - Wed. We only have a few DVC points left and a weekend day is out of the question.

So, I guess you are saying that November 7th - 10th on weekdays is ok? I just want to make sure we are still able to make the booths and that none of them will be shutting down early since the F&W ends on the 14th.

We may miss some of the special experiences, but it seems as though the ones that really struck me as WOW, were on the expensive side. Not sure if I would like to do those. We only have one day at Epcot. So, I will just be happy to booth hoop.

I think your plan to booth hop is a great one. In one day you will be hard pressed to get to all of them anyway! The first year we attended the F&W Festival (14 years ago!) we actually knew nothing about it and were there the very last night it was open. All the kiosks were open with food and drink aplenty.

There is a possibility that some of the special things like Food & Wine Pairings could still be available since they run during the week. But, to get the most out of your first F&W experience I would really think that just doing as many of the booths as you can would be just about perfect!

 

[dgbg100106]

I think your plan to booth hop is a great one. In one day you will be hard pressed to get to all of them anyway! The first year we attended the F&W Festival (14 years ago!) we actually knew nothing about it and were there the very last night it was open. All the kiosks were open with food and drink aplenty.

There is a possibility that some of the special things like Food & Wine Pairings could still be available since they run during the week. But, to get the most out of your first F&W experience I would really think that just doing as many of the booths as you can would be just about perfect!

Last year was my first F&W and this is exactly what we did and it was fabulous!
be forewarned, you are gonna love it!

 

[redzinner]

The foodwinefest site is adding teasers. Not much new information, more descriptors.
3D Disney's Dessert Discovery
First Bites Opening Reception

or were those already there???