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

[PNO4TE]

$90 for the wine view room!!

To me that is highway robbery and we won't pay it. If there is a luncheon or signature dinner while Kathrin and/or Kristin are there I would opt for that in lieu of the PFTS. But we always have a lot of fun at that in case it is our only option.

 

[PNO4TE]

Maybe they will have Pam perform with Cirque at the PFTS, wrap herself in wine wrappers and swing from the ceiing.

I might be persuaded to pay $90 for that...

But only if it was ONLY viewable from the wine room.

 

[PNO4TE]

Zin there weren't a lot of Bangkok fans - that was the only kiosk that didn't have a line clear to the next kiosk on Oct. 17.

Mouse Catch (cheese booth) is apparently expanding to include meat but Meat Catch may not have sounded very Disney-like.

Meat Catch sounds like the Soylent Green Booth!

Could have had Todd English as the purveyor...

 

[kabuki]

Could have had Todd English as the purveyor...

Then it would be the Leather Catch?!

 

[TigerKat]

Wow, we were considering PFTS with the wine view room but there is no way I'm paying that much.

 

[oybolshoi]

Wow, we were considering PFTS with the wine view room but there is no way I'm paying that much.

We're out too, Kat ... $450 for the two of us, before taxes, is just too much to pay for a cocktail party. I know it would be fun with so many people we know going, but we're being very picky this year since we blew our wad in Vegas. Would prefer a signature dinner (a good one this time!) or lunch .. or maybe a good food and wine pairing someplace new.

Also, the prices charged for last year's deminars wasn't really worth it so there is no way we're paying more this year. We will spend that money at the booths!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

450 eek!


Maybe if my husband gets a bonus will we consider it.

 

[AladdinsPrincess]

The problem that I have with paying for wine seminars is that they're mostly the same wineries/distributors year after year so I've probably already tried their wine for free. Unless it's one that I remember as being stellar - in which case we'd save our money and put it towards the bottle - I'm not paying to try it again. AND, many of these wines are the same ones offered out at the kiosks anyway. None of it makes sense to me. I miss the old days!

 

[huey578]

The problem that I have with paying for wine seminars is that they're mostly the same wineries/distributors year after year so I've probably already tried their wine for free. Unless it's one that I remember as being stellar - in which case we'd save our money and put it towards the bottle - I'm not paying to try it again. AND, many of these wines are the same ones offered out at the kiosks anyway. None of it makes sense to me. I miss the old days!

I miss the old days too

 

[lurkyloo]

...Dare I ask someone to recount tales of the old days? Or at least to summarize? I'd love to know what we're missing!

 

[TDC Nala]

Stuff used to be free - the same stuff they now want $9 - $13 for.

 

[DabsandTroy]

Just found out today that the boss is sending me to Orlando for a convention. I asked to stay over for my birthday (and of course F&W). She said, No Problem! So, I scored 6 more days with my friends, Mickey and Minnie!!

 

[BriarRosie]

You all had me giggling at lunchtime when I read all the "Meat Catch" comments.

But sheesh, there's no way I'm going to shell out the money for any of the wine seminars at that price, especially with what we were given last year. And I'm not inclined to do the food demos unless it's a chef I want to see.

I am going to do PFTS this year, but not the Wine Room. Sheesh.
Please let there be signature dinners worth booking this year. No Leather Muppet, aka Todd English, please.

 

[Shenanigoat]

Those prices. yeesh. My biggest regret last year was that I didn't get to do as many booths as I wanted. It's difficult when you are a solo traveler to eat all that food. So my plan of attack this year includes me clearing most of my middays for snacking around the World, instead of ADRs for lunches. And as for the deminars (hilarious, who thought of that word?) I think I can do without another trek all the way across the park to wait in line then get a thimble full of wine.

 

[kristinlynn]

I might be in the minority here, but I really enjoyed the wine seminars last year and didn’t mind the cost (however, I will say that we get the AP discount which makes it a little more reasonable). I was going more for the education than the wine samples, however that didn’t stop me from enjoying the samples. While I’m a little peeved that Disney raised the prices of the seminars, I liked it last year when they implemented the fee, which solved the waiting in line and fighting for tickets issues.

Something to help keep perspective: my DH and I went to Napa in the spring and when visiting the wineries, it was normally $15 for a tasting flight with 3 glasses of 2-3 ounce pours of the wineries low to mid-level wines. For nicer wines and/or more pours, the prices were $20 - $25 and sometimes into the $30’s. After sampling the wines, there was often pressure to buy the wine and/or join the wine club. However, normally if you did buy the wine or join the club, the winery would refund the tasting fees.

 

[TigerKat]

We're out too, Kat ... $450 for the two of us, before taxes, is just too much to pay for a cocktail party. I know it would be fun with so many people we know going, but we're being very picky this year since we blew our wad in Vegas. Would prefer a signature dinner (a good one this time!) or lunch .. or maybe a good food and wine pairing someplace new.

Also, the prices charged for last year's deminars wasn't really worth it so there is no way we're paying more this year. We will spend that money at the booths!

That's our plan too!

 

[kabuki]

I might be in the minority here, but I really enjoyed the wine seminars last year and didn’t mind the cost (however, I will say that we get the AP discount which makes it a little more reasonable). I was going more for the education than the wine samples, however that didn’t stop me from enjoying the samples. While I’m a little peeved that Disney raised the prices of the seminars, I liked it last year when they implemented the fee, which solved the waiting in line and fighting for tickets issues.

Something to help keep perspective: my DH and I went to Napa in the spring and when visiting the wineries, it was normally $15 for a tasting flight with 3 glasses of 2-3 ounce pours of the wineries low to mid-level wines. For nicer wines and/or more pours, the prices were $20 - $25 and sometimes into the $30’s. After sampling the wines, there was often pressure to buy the wine and/or join the wine club. However, normally if you did buy the wine or join the club, the winery would refund the tasting fees.

kristinlynn we agree with you. We are lucky enough to live near California wine country and and try to visit often. Even in lesser known or less visited places then Napa the tasting fees are $10 each for the same amounts you speak of above. We have also always loved the seminars and used to think we hit the jackpot because they were free and understood and didn't mind paying when they started charging last year. Legally in the state of Florida (and California) they cannot give away free alcohol and somehow were able to get around this before.
We enjoy the education aspect of it, especially when the winemaker or family is there. I will have to again see who is participating in the seminars before I say no way. We have always walked away with knowledge of a new wine that is pretty easy for us to get.
We were mostly disappointed in the food seminars last year and with exception to someone we really would have to see, will be skipping those. This is when I had a problem with the amount of wine poured. The dime sized spit of wine in a glass so small you can't taste or smell it. I would rather them not offer any then to have the whole situation mocked by every non Disney chef that attended! Todd English saying "Oh! don't drink it all at once" was sad!
Right now we are waiting the schedule with an open mind as excited as ever!
Bring on the Festival!
As for PFTS - it hasn't gone up from last year and the Wine View is $15 More - we will be going unless something else great is on the same day!

 

[kabuki]

.

 

[kristinlynn]

We were mostly disappointed in the food seminars last year and with exception to someone we really would have to see, will be skipping those. This is when I had a problem with the amount of wine poured. The dime sized spit of wine in a glass so small you can't taste or smell it. I would rather them not offer any then to have the whole situation mocked by every non Disney chef that attended!

Completely agree with you here! These really were thimble size glasses!

I noticed that foodwinefest.com says the culinary demonstrations are $9 and $13. My receipts from last year indicate that we paid $5 for the Andrew Zimmerman demonstration, same as the beverage seminar. If the Culinary demonstrations are $1 more than the wine seminars this year, I wonder if Disney got the message and is charging the extra $1 so they can provide another ½ ounce of wine

 

[kabuki]

Completely agree with you here! These really were thimble size glasses!

I noticed that foodwinefest.com says the culinary demonstrations are $9 and $13. My receipts from last year indicate that we paid $5 for the Andrew Zimmerman demonstration, same as the beverage seminar. If the Culinary demonstrations are $1 more than the wine seminars this year, I wonder if Disney got the message and is charging the extra $1 so they can provide another ½ ounce of wine

We were thinking the same thing.. I guess we will have to see!