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

[BriarRosie]

As for sweetbreads, we found we were running into them at nearly every dinner we attended last year. Dh does not like them, but I do, so I eat his and mine.

Sweetbreads seem to be very popular with Disney chefs -- especially since the chefs are barred from serving other niceties like foie gras.

I snipped the parts I wanted for my response. Funny you mention the sweetbreads. It was Attack of the Sweetbreads for me last year, but V&A didn't count because I went their unaffiliated with the festival. I find it ironic that Disney won't allow chefs to use foie gras but have no problem with them serving sweetbreads. Hypocrites! Ahem.

Cirque alone would make me want to book the PFTS this year! I think that's an incredible marketing tool for Disney.

Does anyone know what the shows really look like? What kinds of acrobatics are done and where?

DEFINITELY. I am pretty sure that hearing that Cirque was coming back was the tipping point for DB.

I hate to burst anyone's bubble, but I thought the Cirque Lite at best was good, but not on par with watching La Nouba. I thought it was more like when the Krystos acrobats used to perform in Future World. Usually there's a solo act aerialist working every so often at a designated area mid-room. I don't think people should make this a selling point for booking PFTS. It's a nice feature, but it's not a major part of the evening.

 

[Wigit12]

We will be in Epcot all Day sampling the various booths, before attending the Party for the Senses. Is there appropriate dress attire for the big event? I figured we would be in shorts and polo’s or t-shirts while venturing around Epcot during the day- but now find myself wondering if we will be out of place at the Party? We are staying at Saratoga, so a bit of a hike back and forth to change, but want to make sure we plan correctly.

We saw a few people in shorts and Ts. Most were more "resort casual". Some were dressed very nicely. We went back to the resort (SSR once; OKW once) to relax a little and freshen up. Felt more comfortable changing into different clothes. DH wore dressier shorts and a nice polo and was very comfortable.

 

[alongtimeblooming]

@BriarRosie

Oh, we know it won't be as elaborate as La Nouba. We were already leaning towards booking it anyway, this just gave us one more reason to go. Let's be honest; we're all going for the food, not for the entertainment! Haha.

 

[kabuki]

@BriarRosie

Oh, we know it won't be as elaborate as La Nouba. We were already leaning towards booking it anyway, this just gave us one more reason to go. Let's be honest; we're all going for the food, not for the entertainment! Haha.

They did say at the preview party that that the acts for La Nouba would be all new and better to PFTS ... I don't know what means since I spend my time asking the clowns to stay away from my cheese... The food has always been amazing and we just talked to a couple chefs this week and they as always told us it's their favorite event to work!

 

[PatriciaH]

We will be in Epcot all Day sampling the various booths, before attending the Party for the Senses. Is there appropriate dress attire for the big event? I figured we would be in shorts and polo’s or t-shirts while venturing around Epcot during the day- but now find myself wondering if we will be out of place at the Party? We are staying at Saratoga, so a bit of a hike back and forth to change, but want to make sure we plan correctly.

It seems more people get less dressy every year but the past 7 years we have seen mostly business casual, sundresses, skirts and fancy tank tops, some cocktail attire, Tommy Bahama type shirts. The shorts/t-s/baseball hats stand out and not in a nice way

 

[4orm]

Hey Disney!
We're all still waiting!


(yes, I have nothing better to do)

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Food & Wine Virgin here... I have some questions and I was hoping you all would be able to help.

I have never been and we are planning on going to Epcot on Sept 30th. for a regular Epcot day, I have reservation for lunch at LeCellier. Now I hear there is a preview night? Can anyone tell me about this.

Since we have never done the festival before, we plan on going to other parks on the weekend and back to Epcot during the week. What is the must do's..

Here's a little background. It is Me, DH, DD17 and DS15. DH and I don't drink often, but love a grey goose slushie and a grand Marnier one also. We are not very adventurous, but we really would like to try some items and maybe a presentation (is that what they are called). I don't want to over spend, but something in the 50-75 per person would be acceptable for one thing, or a few at the 35-40 range. We will totally ditch the kids if it is something really great (don't worry, they will be more excited than we will).

So anyone up to educating me. And one more note: we are on free dining, should we save our snack credits? We will have 28 total. Thanks again in advance.

 

[onelilspark]

Food & Wine Virgin here... I have some questions and I was hoping you all would be able to help.

I have never been and we are planning on going to Epcot on Sept 30th. for a regular Epcot day, I have reservation for lunch at LeCellier. Now I hear there is a preview night? Can anyone tell me about this.

Since we have never done the festival before, we plan on going to other parks on the weekend and back to Epcot during the week. What is the must do's..

Here's a little background. It is Me, DH, DD17 and DS15. DH and I don't drink often, but love a grey goose slushie and a grand Marnier one also. We are not very adventurous, but we really would like to try some items and maybe a presentation (is that what they are called). I don't want to over spend, but something in the 50-75 per person would be acceptable for one thing, or a few at the 35-40 range. We will totally ditch the kids if it is something really great (don't worry, they will be more excited than we will).

So anyone up to educating me. And one more note: we are on free dining, should we save our snack credits? We will have 28 total. Thanks again in advance.

Save your snack credits. You can use them at the booths (or at least have been able to in the past.) What we did last year is use snack credits for anything over $5, anything under we paid OOP. Saved a boatload of money!!! If you run out and want to control spending, I suggest putting X amount of money on a gift card and using that around at the kiosks. If you have any left over, you can apply it to your bill at check out

I would suggest you look at one of the wine pairings at Italy, Japan, or Morocco. Or if you just want to see what everything is about, check out a seminar or two. If it's a wine seminar, let your kids go ride Test Track. But if it's culinary, you can just steal their wine

There's usually a soft opening the day before the festival actually starts. You'll hit that on the 30th...from what I understand, it's not that crowded that day.

Check out people's signatures for F&W reviews from the past few years. I have one from last year in mine Personally, I love the festival! This will be my 4th year in a row...pretty much since I was old enough to drink! What I love about it is that its allowed me to try new food that I'd never try otherwise. I learned that I love lamb due to the festival! Much easier to spend $5 to try something and discover I do or don't like it than spend $25+ at a restaurant!

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Anyone else getting really frustrated at the fact that Disney can't get their act together in terms of updating the websites to list the official event schedule?

 

[onelilspark]

Anyone else getting really frustrated at the fact that Disney can't get their act together in terms of updating the websites to list the official event schedule?

Yes. It was the end of May, then the end of June, then July 12... I'd do better if they just didn't say a date at all

 

[sasmmb]

OK, could use some advice here. DH and I going Nov 6-11. Not real foodies (I have the palate of a 9 yo. It's a tastebud sensitivity thing). Have done PFTS in the past but it is completely wasted on me, especially since so much is seafood which I don't eat. Have enjoyed the Food and Wine pairings (did France, Morocco, Italy, Canada). DH would like to try Japan, but again it's that seafood thing for me and I don't like sake. Also thinking about the French regional lunch. Is there anyway to get the menu for any of these in advance so I know if it's worth it? I know it's asking a lot considering the website isn't even up yet for the high level stuff. But worth asking here.
TIA!

 

[Inkmahm]

Yes. It was the end of May, then the end of June, then July 12... I'd do better if they just didn't say a date at all

GRRRR... when will they give us the official schedule? July 19 right before we can make the reservations?

 

[onelilspark]

GRRRR... when will they give us the official schedule? July 19 right before we can make the reservations?

No, apparently whoever typed out the slide for the preview event (which you can find on the Disney Food Blog) just mixed up the numbers. They'll be releasing everything "officially" on July 21.

 

[4orm]

No, apparently whoever typed out the slide for the preview event (which you can find on the Disney Food Blog) just mixed up the numbers. They'll be releasing everything "officially" on July 21.

You're being facetious, right??

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

No, apparently whoever typed out the slide for the preview event (which you can find on the Disney Food Blog) just mixed up the numbers. They'll be releasing everything "officially" on July 21.

HAHAHA! Actually, that would be quite an advantage to those of us who have gone through the back door of the site to peek at what is available... as long as they still open up the phone lines for ordering on the 20th!!!

 

[oybolshoi]

No, apparently whoever typed out the slide for the preview event (which you can find on the Disney Food Blog) just mixed up the numbers. They'll be releasing everything "officially" on July 21.

 

[NejTheLion]

Is the wine school something that has been offered in the past? If so any comments on it. We've done a number of classes at our local wine store and really enjoy them. It says this is held 1-3 with a light reception 3-4. We're also interested in PFTS. Since both are on Saturday and we will only be there one Saturday, if we do both it would need to be the same day. Would this be too much for one day? Appreciate any comments.

We did the afternoon wine school (a few years back it was more like 6 hours with a full lunch) with South African wine in 2008 and then PFTS after it. We didn't think it was a problem, but it depends on how much you actually drink. I didn't drink everything we were given at the wine school - definitely focused more on tasting to make sure I could get through the evening. The reception is pretty light, mainly to make sure you have some food in your stomach with all the wine.

If you want to do both, go for it. Just be smart about what you consume and stay hydrated

 

[pixie08]

HAHAHA! Actually, that would be quite an advantage to those of us who have gone through the back door of the site to peek at what is available... as long as they still open up the phone lines for ordering on the 20th!!!

Yes that's true...but knowing Disney who's to say that's even right

But no really the back door site may not be right...the weekend we are going to be there (Oct 14-18) it states that the chef from Tru Chicago will be doing the sweet sunday (which we were really interested in), well on the preview guide it states something different and now I am not so interested. So while I was being funny, it was partially true!

 

[Shenanigoat]

No, apparently whoever typed out the slide for the preview event (which you can find on the Disney Food Blog) just mixed up the numbers. They'll be releasing everything "officially" on July 21.

It's funny 'cause it's probably true.

 

[onelilspark]

You're being facetious, right??

Sorry, yes, I am.