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

[TDC Nala]

Here's the first official note that there is a little personal chatter happening on the thread as to who is going to be there at the same time as someone else, please keep to observations about the festival. Don't mind if you post your individual dates for attendance, especially since there isn't anything new to post yet, but this thread isn't intended for arranging meet-ups.

Thanks!

 

[Stefy]

I am very excited for F&W this year. We went in 2007 and were total newbies (first time to WDW) so we didn't really fully appreciate it. But this year we are dedicating a whole day to eating and drinking around the world. Still working out a few kinks, but we might also try and organise a little Dis Meet.

TDC Nala would it be ok if I posted a link to a thread I will start once I am ready to organise a meet?

Is the "foodwinefest" site the official site for F&W? Is that where you would go to book events like the Discovery Dessert?

 

[arbolita]

Assuming it's going to be nice and hot the day we arrive, I'm going to be heading to the India booth first to get a Mango Lassi - the one we tried last year was just like a mango smoother (but thicker). It was delicious.

 

[disneygirl 17]

I am not new to Disney but I am new to Food and Wine.

So I have a few questions and I hope this is the right place.

We will be there from Oct. 21 (late at night)-25 (late at night). First let me say I have no idea what to expect....and some of my questions will be dumb..trust me.

So is food and wine only on weekends? Also how many days should I plan to attend the actual Food and Wine portion? I was thinking all day Friday....avoid the weekend "locals". I still want to spend time in some of the other parks.

If I am in the wrong place - please let me know.
Thanks

 

[arbolita]

I am not new to Disney but I am new to Food and Wine.

So I have a few questions and I hope this is the right place.

We will be there from Oct. 21 (late at night)-25 (late at night). First let me say I have no idea what to expect....and some of my questions will be dumb..trust me.

So is food and wine only on weekends? Also how many days should I plan to attend the actual Food and Wine portion? I was thinking all day Friday....avoid the weekend "locals". I still want to spend time in some of the other parks.

If I am in the wrong place - please let me know.
Thanks

You are in the right place!

Food and wine festival is definitely NOT only on weekends. I believe on the first page of this thread TDC Nala has put up links to the program/events from last year, so you can get an idea of how things are scheduled throughout the week. The various food booths set up throughout the World Showcase are also open during the week, so you can just stop by any of those and purchase one of their dishes/beverages.

As far as how many days you should go - it really comes down to what you want to do while you are there. I generally pick two days to visit Epcot during my trip, but that is also because I am mostly interested in the food booths and do not attend many additional events. I know others who get the park hopper and make a trip to Epcot at least once a day for a different special event or to try something from every booth.

I would suggest you take a look at info from last years festival and look at the menus from all the different booths. Several of the menu items stay the same year after year, and you can get an idea of how many you will want to visit. Then when the schedule for this year's events comes out (I think last year we saw it sometime in July), you can see if there are any seminars or other special events you want to sign up for during your trip.

I hope this helps, and keep checking this thread, because you will get some good advice from others, and it's pretty reliable for finding out news about the F&W Festival.

 

[babyrich]

I am not new to Disney but I am new to Food and Wine.

So I have a few questions and I hope this is the right place.

We will be there from Oct. 21 (late at night)-25 (late at night). First let me say I have no idea what to expect....and some of my questions will be dumb..trust me.

So is food and wine only on weekends? Also how many days should I plan to attend the actual Food and Wine portion? I was thinking all day Friday....avoid the weekend "locals". I still want to spend time in some of the other parks.

If I am in the wrong place - please let me know.
Thanks

The festival is every day. The booths are open from Park Opening until Closing. As it gets closer there will be other activities published; but the concert, "eat to the beat" schedule is out too so you can make plans for that.

As for how many days, well, that is totally up to you. Once the full schedule comes out and you see the activities, wine tastings, demonstrations and etc., you can decide if you want to participate. We just go for the food and drink so we end up there several times over our weeks vacation. Once you start walking around and seeing the food and drink offerings, you will make a decision if you want to go back. The weekends are crowded, more so in the evening; but we never found too crazy.

 

[dgbg100106]

You are in the right place!

Food and wine festival is definitely NOT only on weekends. I believe on the first page of this thread TDC Nala has put up links to the program/events from last year, so you can get an idea of how things are scheduled throughout the week. The various food booths set up throughout the World Showcase are also open during the week, so you can just stop by any of those and purchase one of their dishes/beverages.

As far as how many days you should go - it really comes down to what you want to do while you are there. I generally pick two days to visit Epcot during my trip, but that is also because I am mostly interested in the food booths and do not attend many additional events. I know others who get the park hopper and make a trip to Epcot at least once a day for a different special event or to try something from every booth.

I would suggest you take a look at info from last years festival and look at the menus from all the different booths. Several of the menu items stay the same year after year, and you can get an idea of how many you will want to visit. Then when the schedule for this year's events comes out (I think last year we saw it sometime in July), you can see if there are any seminars or other special events you want to sign up for during your trip.

I hope this helps, and keep checking this thread, because you will get some good advice from others, and it's pretty reliable for finding out news about the F&W Festival.

The festival is every day. The booths are open from Park Opening until Closing. As it gets closer there will be other activities published; but the concert, "eat to the beat" schedule is out too so you can make plans for that.

As for how many days, well, that is totally up to you. Once the full schedule comes out and you see the activities, wine tastings, demonstrations and etc., you can decide if you want to participate. We just go for the food and drink so we end up there several times over our weeks vacation. Once you start walking around and seeing the food and drink offerings, you will make a decision if you want to go back. The weekends are crowded, more so in the evening; but we never found too crazy.

Agree with both of these, I can tell you that last year we spent 3 days there... First day half the showcase, second day second half of showcase. Then third day we attended special events and went back to get the things we really liked.

I am sure you are going to enjoy the F&WF!

 

[disneygirl 17]

Thank you all so much for you information. I will look at past schedules to try and figure out what I am doing when.

I am so excited!

 

[dgbg100106]

Thank you all so much for you information. I will look at past schedules to try and figure out what I am doing when.

I am so excited!

Me too....

 

[TDC Nala]

I am very excited for F&W this year. We went in 2007 and were total newbies (first time to WDW) so we didn't really fully appreciate it. But this year we are dedicating a whole day to eating and drinking around the world. Still working out a few kinks, but we might also try and organise a little Dis Meet.

TDC Nala would it be ok if I posted a link to a thread I will start once I am ready to organise a meet?

Is the "foodwinefest" site the official site for F&W? Is that where you would go to book events like the Discovery Dessert?

Don't see why you can't put a link up to a meet thread, as long as this thread stays for info only and is not used for organizing meets. In fact, I am going to start deleting some of the personal chat posts (please send a PM if you want to tell someone hello). One of the biggest complaints we get every year is that people who are new to the thread have to wade through all the personal posts to find info.

WDW has never featured online booking for Festival events, it's all done by phone. Once they announce the booking date, pick out the events you want to do and plan to be by that phone when the call center opens. (Many of them sell out rapidly; some you may be able to wait a bit for. I would expect the dessert party to sell out quickly because it is new and it's dessert and fireworks - you can see how that went over in MK, and this one includes booze)

I'm aware that Disneyland's festival books online for events, but not WDW. Unless they decide to start this year.

The only online booking WDW has ever done was for the Festival Center seminars last year (and they added a limited discount for DVC/AP/TIW folks if you booked ahead of time)

 

[arbolita]

Don't see why you can't put a link up to a meet thread, as long as this thread stays for info only and is not used for organizing meets. In fact, I am going to start deleting some of the personal chat posts (please send a PM if you want to tell someone hello). One of the biggest complaints we get every year is that people who are new to the thread have to wade through all the personal posts to find info.

WDW has never featured online booking for Festival events, it's all done by phone. Once they announce the booking date, plan to be by that phone when the call center opens.

I'm aware that Disneyland's festival books online for events, but not WDW. Unless they decide to start this year.

The only online booking WDW has ever done was for the Festival Center seminars last year (and they added a limited discount for DVC/AP/TIW folks if you booked ahead of time)

That's not entirely true. Last year I was able to book an Abita Beer Tasting seminar online for my husband, and I remember on the website there were several other things you had the option to book.

 

[TDC Nala]

That's not entirely true. Last year I was able to book an Abita Beer Tasting seminar online for my husband, and I remember on the website there were several other things you had the option to book.

That's what the last paragraph referred to (Festival Center seminars). I don't consider the seminars the same as the events. They were listed separately in the releases made by Disney.

Only the Festival Center seminars could be booked online, the special events such as signature dinners, pairings, wine schools, Party for the Senses, etc. could not.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Special events available to book July 20th at 7am, 1 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378).

Edited to add: Won't let me add the link to the article, sorry!

 

[PNO4TE]

Special events available to book July 20th at 7am, 1 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378).

Edited to add: Won't let me add the link to the article, sorry!

Where is the article?

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Where is the article?

sent you a PM.

If you do a google search for "epcot food and wine festival" filtered by "news" it will be the first link

 

[PNO4TE]

sent you a PM.

If you do a google search for "epcot food and wine festival" filtered by "news" it will be the first link

interesting... that is a completely new site to me! Thanks.

ETA: I removed the info you had.

 

[TDC Nala]

Sorry, but that website is word - filtered...I have to remove attempts to get around the filter although I don't know why it's filtered.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Sorry, but that website is word - filtered...I have to remove attempts to get around the filter although I don't know why it's filtered.

Nala that is why I removed the attempts to get around the filter myself.

 

[TDC Nala]

Nala that is why I removed the attempts to get around the filter myself.

Thank you, I have also removed one from the post after yours.

 

[redzinner]

IF that source is correct, the date to reserve special events is earlier this year. That's when we've usually been getting the schedule from Disney and then reservations start mid August. Maybe D is listening to us so we can plan and therefore book rooms sooner.