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

[TDC Nala]

Much earlier this year - last year was August 11. I suppose Disney could change it but that seems such a radical departure. If they change, they may be reacting to complaints that booking has been opening too late.

I'm not sure a month earlier gives a lot of extra time to book rooms and flights, so they may be pulling the old Disney thing - "we'll give 'em a month, and some of them will stop complaining" when what most folks really want may be at least three months' notice.

 

[PNO4TE]

Of course, there is also the possibility that the date is completely wrong! None of the other sites, including the DIS, have announced this, right?

 

[TDC Nala]

First time I've seen it. Might mean something, might not. Let's see if it comes up anywhere else...drat, I sure can't keep watching for it on the cruise, can I?

 

[stingling]

The last day of our vacation is 10/1, the first day F&W officially starts. So my question is, have the "grazing" booths ever opened a day or two early? Kind of like a soft opening for F&W? I'd love to spend more than one day there but our travel dates don't allow it. Thanks for your help.

 

[lurkyloo]

In 2008 they did. However, the booths didn't open til later in the day, around 1pm (we were told). We tried to go for soft-opening but got to Epcot too early and had to leave for another commitment; when we went back later that night, World Showcase was PACKED with locals and "Free Dining Plan" types like ourselves whose trips overlapped the beginning of the festival.

The next day—the first official day of the festival—was our last full day at WDW, and we were able to hit all the food booths we were interested in, but it was a total gut-buster!

I did a trip report with a description and pictures of everything we got from every booth, if it helps!

 

[PNO4TE]

Here is another "confirmation" blog. Let's see if it is an acceptable link...

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/...stival-news-taste-shake-and-indulge-and-more/

 

[kabuki]

Here is another "confirmation" blog. Let's see if it is an acceptable link...

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2010/...stival-news-taste-shake-and-indulge-and-more/

Did you see this on the same page????

Taste, Shake and Indulge Experiences like the French Grand Marnier tasting experience.

MAYDAY!

 

[redzinner]

I think it is official ... from the WDWNEWS.com site

Epicures, Set Your Alarms: Epcot Food & Wine Festival Special Event Reservations Open July 20
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Don’t want to miss the celebrated Party for the Senses grand-food-and-wine-tasting event? Can’t wait to attend the debut of the First Bites Opening Reception? Ladies and gentlemen, set your alarms for 7 a.m. July 20! That’s when the phone lines open to call Disney reservation specialists and book these and other events scheduled for the 15th annual Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, which presents Delicious Discoveries Oct. 1-Nov. 14 at Walt Disney World Resort.
Fans of the festival’s special programs and events can choose from among one dozen categories of special wine and culinary events scheduled during the festival’s six weeks. New programming this year includes the Sept. 30 First Bites Opening Reception festival preview, 3-D Disney’s Dessert Discovery and the Taste, Shake and Indulge Like the French Grand Marnier tasting experience. Returning events include favorites like Celebrating Family and Friends in the Kitchen, Epcot Wine Schools, Mexico Tequila Tastings and Food and Wine Pairings.
Throughout the festival, the park will present more than 25 international marketplaces where food, wine, beer and spirits lovers can sample cuisine, culture and entertainment from six continents. The new Belgium marketplace will serve Steamed Mussels with Roasted Garlic Cream, and the new South Korea marketplace packs plenty of taste into its BBQ Short Ribs with Steamed Rice and Cucumber Kimchi.
At least 250 Disney and celebrity chefs will conduct culinary demonstrations and host tasting events. In addition, the Festival Welcome Center will feature Authentic Taste Seminars and Authors without Borders weekend conversations that are included with Epcot admission.
Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information and to make reservations for special events and programs. Festival details will be available at www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine before reservations open July 20.

 

[PNO4TE]

Did you see this on the same page????

Taste, Shake and Indulge Experiences like the French Grand Marnier tasting experience.

MAYDAY!

Can't wait to hear more about that one!!

 

[oybolshoi]

Can't wait to hear more about that one!!

I want to know more before I get too excited. After the last couple of years of too high expectations I've lowered my standards ... and budget.

We shall wait with interest here in Stinktown. The kicker is that I can't take that day off from work because of staffing issues ... I guess I'm going to have to make up a reason to be late that morning.

 

[TDC Nala]

I want to see the price on it first.

 

[PNO4TE]

I want to know more before I get too excited. After the last couple of years of too high expectations I've lowered my standards ... and budget.

We shall wait with interest here in Stinktown. The kicker is that I can't take that day off from work because of staffing issues ... I guess I'm going to have to make up a reason to be late that morning.

I am looking very carefully at the things I book this year too, Brenda. Although I enjoyed some of the deminars last year, I think my money will be better spent in one or two more adventurous things. I can do wine tastings (for the most part) with that level of wine right on my own patio!

 

[PNO4TE]

I want to see the price on it first.

Exactly. I want to see all the prices!

 

[TDC Nala]

No Festival Center seminars this year at all (unless I really want to see the chef - I won't be signing up for any wine ones). I think a friend is planning to go to First Bites but I can't make it for that (doesn't really interest me and the name is too funny). I want as many sig dinners as I can fit in (not Todd English, will just go over there and order tasting menu) but I already have stuff scheduled for some nights.

 

[oybolshoi]

I am looking very carefully at the things I book this year too, Brenda. Although I enjoyed some of the deminars last year, I think my money will be better spent in one or two more adventurous things. I can do wine tastings (for the most part) with that level of wine right on my own patio!

Exactly! We don't plan on any deminars this year ... while some were very enjoyabe last year many of them weren't really worth the time. So unless there is something that really catches our interest we're skipping those.

Holding out hope for a F&W pairing in Mexico or perhaps another French regional lunch ... those have been very good experiences for us.

I want to see the price on it first.

Us, too. We are going to look very carefully at the prices, especially for any dinners / lunches. I am afraid the Puck has set a standard that F&W will be unable to meet.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I want to know more before I get too excited. After the last couple of years of too high expectations I've lowered my standards ... and budget.

We shall wait with interest here in Stinktown. The kicker is that I can't take that day off from work because of staffing issues ... I guess I'm going to have to make up a reason to be late that morning.

We are definitely going to be looking at the events more closely this year. While I loved the PftS the two years that we did it, I think they need to dramatically alter the event before they see me return. I feel that V&A is a far better value.

I'm intrigued by the 3-D Disney Dessert Discoveries. We have always wanted to do an Illuminations Dessert Party and $45/person doesn't seem outrageous to me - so chances are we will be booking that.

The Taste, Shake, Indulge sounds interesting....but I want to hear more before I consider committing.

I can't take the day off either Looks like I'll be asking DDad to call as he works from home!

No Festival Center seminars this year at all (unless I really want to see the chef - I won't be signing up for any wine ones). I think a friend is planning to go to First Bites but I can't make it for that (doesn't really interest me and the name is too funny). I want as many sig dinners as I can fit in (not Todd English, will just go over there and order tasting menu) but I already have stuff scheduled for some nights.

I agree with the Festival Seminars. They were disappointing last year, especially the "Caymus" that ended up being BelleGloss

I would consider a Signature Dinner, but DMom has requested V&A for her Bday, so that likely won't pan out. But we might try out the Cheese tasting event, we are becoming HUGE fans of cheese!

 

[TDC Nala]

I went to the Caymus thing! And all they did was show a movie. I was late so I sat in the back and drank the wine at the unoccupied seats.

From what I understand the cheese tasting event is too much money and too little cheese, but that was possibly not a universal opinion because they are popular. Last year I started bringing my own cheese, I'll probably do that again.

Will be doing at Party for the Senses in November, no wine room if they offer it.

I'll do the dessert thing. My main problem with deciding to sign up for the MK one (which I never did) is it was in MK so you couldn't get wine.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I went to the Caymus thing! And all they did was show a movie. I was late so I sat in the back and drank the wine at the unoccupied seats.

From what I understand the cheese tasting event is too much money and too little cheese, but that was possibly not a universal opinion because they are popular. Last year I started bringing my own cheese, I'll probably do that again.

Will be doing at Party for the Senses in November, no wine room if they offer it.

I'll do the dessert thing. My main problem with deciding to sign up for the MK one (which I never did) is it was in MK so you couldn't get wine.

The Caymus thing was SUCH a joke

I was expecting to get Conundrum or a get Cab-Sauv. Ugh. And then when the rep stated they would be serving their more "conventional" labels at PftS we were pissed LOL.

I wondered about the cheese events. 1 or 2 ounce portions isn't much for what...$75pp. Maybe we will stick to ordering the cheese boards at the signature restaurants, they seem to be of pretty high quality.

My reluctance to try the MK one was similar to yours...it is a very high price to not have any alcohol (yes I know its the MK, but they DO serve alcohol at private parties etc.) and the location is....well....blah!

I was a bit surprised to see the guest count at 500 for the dessert event on the planning site. Can any of the Epcot terraces accommodate 500? Maybe the one at the front near Showcase Plaza or the entire Italy terrace?

 

[TDC Nala]

We don't know yet but it is possible that the dessert event will actually be held inside the World Showplace and the guests taken outside to watch Illuminations. There's no wording in anything I've seen to suggest the entire event will be held outdoors.

 

[oybolshoi]

I suspect the dessert event will be held indoors, especially with that kind of head count. We're not interested in it ... too much dessert and booze in FL heat followed by standing outside in tight quarters with 498 of our closest friends just doesn't do much for us. And we only did the MK party last year to try something new but we didn't eat much.

The cheese seminars are way overpriced in my opinion for what you get - three or four little servings of pretty easy-to-find cheeses and a smidge of wine with some crackers.. RIP OFF! You're better off trying the various cheese plates at the siggie restaurants or doing your own at home. Just think about how much cheese you could purchase at home for $75 ... I could have an incredible cheese party with the money it would cost for Jay and me to attend one of those seminars.

At the end of the say, it still depends on individual preference, so if you really want to do or try something then you should, regardless of what a crank like me says!