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

[TDC Nala]

I don't think there's any way to know how fast the dessert party will go because it's never been offered before. But the pairings go fairly quickly. Not sure what to tell you. Prioritize and book the one you want the most, first.

 

[redzinner]

Just wondering if the FW experts and veterans would mind giving a little direction to a newbie ...

There are two events we want to book tomorrow morning ...

Food and Wine Pairing at Tutto and the 3D Dessert Party. Which should I try to book first? Any tips on the most efficient way to secure both?

I think I will program the festival number into my speed dial this afternoon

My first one would be F&W Pairing at Tutto because of very limited availability and then the 3D party. And yes, it's a good idea about the speed dial number ... I also put it into my DH's cell!

 

[redzinner]

Festival Guide

This is from the non-official Disney site ... so please don't take it as 'gospel'.

edit: We received out Guide in the mail jut now and it is the same as the website pdf page above.

 

[conandrob240]

Anyone have any idea what this is? It is under Signarure Dinners.

Wonder’s Retreat at Epcot®: Friday, October 22; $180.00 per person; Jens Dahlmann

 

[arbolita]

Festival Guide

This is from the non-official Disney site ... so please don't take it as 'gospel'.

Thanks for that. It's interesting that the name of the document says "Final" copy, but it doesn't give the details about which seminars are happening each week during the festival. I'm wondering if the weekly schedules will just be attached as an insert each week, or if another copy of the Festival Guide will come out in August before the online sign-ups begin.

 

[redzinner]

Thanks for that. It's interesting that the name of the document says "Final" copy, but it doesn't give the details about which seminars are happening each week during the festival. I'm wondering if the weekly schedules will just be attached as an insert each week, or if another copy of the Festival Guide will come out in August before the online sign-ups begin.

Very disappointed in the guide not even listing the beverage/maker/winery at each beverage seminar or chef at each culinary demonstration. Poor show F&WF committee.
They had the weekly leaflets last year but they gave us a little idea in the 2009 Festival Guide so we could at least plan our daytime special events around desired deminars.

 

[karrit2000]

I took a quick look through this brochure & there is no reference to the Sam Adams Beer tastings that have been a staple for a number of years. Also nothing about any other Beer or Wine tasting experiences around World showcase like they've had in years past (other than the different country food booths).

 

[DisneyJen]

I don't think there's any way to know how fast the dessert party will go because it's never been offered before. But the pairings go fairly quickly. Not sure what to tell you. Prioritize and book the one you want the most, first.

My first one would be F&W Pairing at Tutto because of very limited availability and then the 3D party. And yes, it's a good idea about the speed dial number ... I also put it into my DH's cell!

Thanks to both of you for the information and suggestions

 

[TDC Nala]

Anyone have any idea what this is? It is under Signarure Dinners.

Wonder’s Retreat at Epcot®: Friday, October 22; $180.00 per person; Jens Dahlmann

This is a signature dinner that is held in the VIP area of the (former) Wonders of Life Pavilion. Jens Dahlmann is the head chef for Epcot events; he is not associated with a particular WDW restaurant.

This event was held for the first time in 2009.

Also nothing about any other Beer or Wine tasting experiences around World showcase like they've had in years past (other than the different country food booths).

There will be a booth called 15 Beers. What that means, we can only guess. But it is true that nothing released so far in 2010 refers at all to the free Sam Adams beer seminars.

 

[karrit2000]

Very disappointed in the guide not even listing the beverage/maker/winery at each beverage seminar or chef at each culinary demonstration. Poor show F&WF committee.
They had the weekly leaflets last year but they gave us a little idea in the 2009 Festival Guide so we could at least plan our daytime special events around desired deminars.

I can understand them not listing the specific Wineries & Chefs in the brochure so I don't consider the lack of that information at this time to be "poor Show". I know we all want to plan everything to death but they've dealt with many unhappy guests over the years when they've changed presenters even though they have the "Subject to Change" disclaimer all over the place. We're lucky to be able to sneak a peak at the book ahead of time. Just a few years back Disney never even supplied that much information on their own website. Hopefully they will update the "official" website at some point in the near future but I'm not holding my breath. Since we know the times for the deminars we can plan around that. Based on reviews from last year I'm not planning my schedule around them. The Culinary ones are usually no good for us because with Mom's dietary restrictions there are very few that she can enjoy. The chefs unfortunately love to use nuts, seafood and/or items containing seeds for just about everything so without seeing a menu we're not even booking any of these.

I think the "Poor Show" applies to the fact that they have yet to update the "official" festival website. Unfortunately after all these years they still haven't gotten that right. It's very frustrating when they want you to look for all the information online and they then don't furnish any useful information. But we still end up knowing more than the CM's fielding our phone calls anyway. It's obviously much cheaper for them to leak info to individuals who have their own websites. It''s free advertising for them and if the info turns out to be wrong, incomplete, etc., then Disney isn't responsible since it didn't appear on their official website.

 

[redzinner]

The guide, which is sorely lacking in beverage and culinary information this year, does state on the back cover next year's dates ... just in case anyone wants to put it on their calendar and you couldn't figure it out: September 30 - November 13, 2011.

 

[DisneyJen]

The guide, which is sorely lacking in beverage and culinary information this year, does state on the back cover next year's dates ... just in case anyone wants to put it on their calendar and you couldn't figure it out: September 30 - November 13, 2011.

Much appreciated redzinner Just put it on my calendar

 

[onelilspark]

Maybe I'm a little biased, but I'm really disappointed that the NY State Wine Experience isn't coming back. Living in the Finger Lakes region, I know what awesome wines we have in this area. Due to export taxes in NY State, most people outside of NY don't realize all that's here.

...granted I can actually go to the wineries that usually visit, but I wish Disney would continue to promote this area.

 

[lurkyloo]

One thing that I really am struggling to find out details for is the 3D party. What kind of desserts are they talking about? Where is it held? Where is the Illuminations viewing area?

The dessert part will be held at World Showplace Pavilion, between Canada and the UK. For the IllumiNations viewing area, my money's on World Showcase Plaza, between the two gift shops at the entrance to World Showcase.

This is where they put the Candlelight Processional package holders at Christmas for IllumiNations. The 3D Dessert Party has a capacity of 500, and even combined, the three French Island terraces don't hold that many.

I wish they'd do it at Italy Isola, though—the view from there is fantastic!

 

[redzinner]

I took a quick look through this brochure & there is no reference to the Sam Adams Beer tastings that have been a staple for a number of years. Also nothing about any other Beer or Wine tasting experiences around World showcase like they've had in years past (other than the different country food booths).

The only thing I can see on the map is the '15 Beers For 15 Years' Experience. It is located immediately to the right as you cross over the bridge from Future World. The beers are not listed in the guide. There is no labeled icon for The History of Beer in America back by the American Pavilion.

 

[The Expert]

Not sure if it was posted yet, but found some basic Grape Getaway info here: http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/epcot-food-and-wine-festival-grape-getaway/

 

[B'rer Karen]

Went home for lunch and suprise surprise my festival guide had arrived. I don't really hold it against TIW that I'm just getting it. They can't produce it until Disney gives them the info. I do think it is nicer than the ones I've received in the past in that it is pretty much what we'll get in Epcot and even includes the map with listings of what is at each booth. I don't know what it was like last year since I didn't have TIW at the time of mailing, but in other years IIRC it was just a tall and wide (like 11 x 14) handout that had information about the special events. So I think this is an improvement. Now if Disney could just improve the lead time.

 

[redzinner]

The map and guide have now been added to the official disney foodandwine site

 

[karrit2000]

Thank you, I've been waiting to get a look at the official map. Also a few pages were missing from the unofficial final guide.

 

[ghidorah97]

In some respects, I'm very lucky that the only thing I'm planning on doing this year is the Booths. I've got all the information that I need to plan our tastings -- menus and the map (okay, prices would be cool too, but I expect to get those once the Festival starts). The beer selection seems decent this year, not spectacular, but a couple that I've not tried before (the Radeberger Pilsner and Hovels).

The Grape Escape is something that would normally be right in my wheelhouse, so I'd definitely be mighty ticked off if I was considering giving that a shot. The lack of any substantive information about that event is kinda crazy.

A belated thanks to redzinner for that link to your '09 V&A Sig dinner review. It looked chock-full of mushroom-y goodness! And, OH the truffles!!!