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

[redzinner]

Does anyone know what the two levels of pricing signify? Also, can anyone direct me to a schedule for the seminars? I can't seem to find one for this year.

Thanks for any info!

There is no schedule for the seminars publicly posted yet. And if anyone knows what the different levels in pricing indicates, they haven't shared it with us yet!

 

[Redwitch]

There is no schedule for the seminars publicly posted yet. And if anyone knows what the different levels in pricing indicates, they haven't shared it with us yet!

Could they be giving an AP or TiW discount?

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Could they be giving an AP or TiW discount?

My *guess* is that they are allowing more folks to view the seminars, but are differentiating between those who get to taste and those who can only watch... kind of like having front row seating versus those in the nosebleed section. Obviously, this guess could be way off base, but that's one way Disney could accommodate more folks for these events.

 

[PNO4TE]

My *guess* is that they are allowing more folks to view the seminars, but are differentiating between those who get to taste and those who can only watch... kind of like having front row seating versus those in the nosebleed section. Obviously, this guess could be way off base, but that's one way Disney could accommodate more folks for these events.

I see where you are going with this, but I don't know where they would put the additional people. Although there were some seminars and demonstrations that did not sell out, most I attended were very full.

I am wondering if the dual pricing reflects advance booking prices with a discount (AP, TiW) and the other is either non-discount or possibly the price you would pay the day of the event.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Your idea about advanced versus day-of purchasing makes a lot more sense!

 

[onelilspark]

Any rumblings about when the signature dinners are planned? We're currently looking at doing a signature dinner or Party for the Senses. I have an out of town meeting on 7/20 (of course!) So I'm trying to plan ahead of time to see if I'll need someone else to call.

 

[nannette]

Hmmm the date I want for Celebrating Friends and Family in the Kitchen has a TBD .... Wonder who it will be. I sent an email to the itinerary planners at Yacht Club yesterday with all the events I would like to attend. They will make the reservations for me thank God no early morning phone calls for me!! The price difference for seminars is probably the difference between a discount for annual pass, DVC, etc... The itinerary planners took my DVC member number to get the discounts if any for my reservations.

Fingers Crossed its someone good (Paula Dean and or her sons would be nice) for the Friday I'm going to Celebrating Friends and Family in the Kitchen!!

~Nannette

 

[Dancind]

I'm thinking the California Grill signature dinner might happen while we are there. I've been looking, but can't find any reviews of this dinner. Anyone been, or know where I can find a review. We will be there on Oct. 24, but I think V&A will just be too pricey for us.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

I went to both his deminars last year and he did all his own cooking with no sous chef. He made a Sweet and Sour Bangkok Style Quail with Red Chiles. It was spicy, but really good. Nothing crazy at all! I wouldn't worry - I doubt that Disney would let him make something nutso that most people wouldn't eat.

I showed this comment to our son just now and he reminded me...

You said that you doubted Disney would let someone make something nutso, but we know differently. We went to the first Jiko signature dinner last year. For the main course, they had a fabulous Boekenhoutskloof Cabernet Sauvignon, and it was paired with... wait for it.... wait for it... TRAIL MIX!!! I kid you not. We were served a $2 tin filled with TRAIL MIX and two tiny slices of dried sausage. Of course, the description on our menus said, "Cured beef, dried fruit, spiced nuts," but no matter how you word it, everybody knows trail mix when it's served to them. Everybody just sat there and stared in disbelief!!! I am hopeful that folks that went to subsequent Jiko dinners did not have the same experience. From the aggravated comments I heard among the dinner guests, I'd venture that Disney planners got an earful about this after the dinner.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

That whole jikos dinner was just odd last year. I'm lucky we were at the table with the wine distributors or it would have been a complete bust for me. My husband well it's going to take sweet talking to get him to another signature dinner

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

That whole jikos dinner was just odd last year. I'm lucky we were at the table with the wine distributors or it would have been a complete bust for me. My husband well it's going to take sweet talking to get him to another signature dinner

Yep, it was an awful dinner and a total waste of time and money. If we hadn't had a really fun and random group of people at our table, we would have been extremely angry about it. The wine was fantastic, but the food choices were poorly thought-out. It seemed like a random combination of flavors as well... as if the wine distributor brought his favorites and the chef just threw whatever he had laying around at us, with little regard to what each other were planning. If that had been our first signature dinner experience, I would say we would NEVER attend one again. Fortunately, though, we had the pleasure of several outstanding signature dinners at previous F&W Festivals, so we'll try again this year... assuming there is one planned for while we are there... but who would know?!?!

Geez, I WANT TO SEE A SCHEDULE!

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Oops: Double post

 

[onelilspark]

Jiko was on my list for signature dinners...as in, if it falls during our week, we'd do it. The reviews on last year's are making me nervous!!

So a poll for everyone...Would you rather do the Jiko signature dinner or Party for the Senses?

 

[redzinner]

So a poll for everyone...Would you rather do the Jiko signature dinner or Party for the Senses?

Party for the Senses

 

[oybolshoi]

If I had to choose between a Jiko signature dinner or PFTS I'd go with PFTS ... too many negative comments / reviews about last year's dinner (right up there with the Bluezoo dinner - I'd never do that one again either).

The best reports I heard from last year's signature dinners came from Raglan Road, Wolfgang Puck, and Flying Fish.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

After paying $450 for the three of us to go to the Jiko SD last year, and then being served heat-damaged Chardonnay during one course (YUCK!), inedible fish during another course (it was too hot for even me to eat, and I'm from LOUISIANA!!!), and trail mix for a third, I'm quite certain hubby would have me fitted for a straight jacket if I booked it again!

 

[oybolshoi]

We'd like to try another signature dinner this year, depending on what's offered during our dates but I'm not gonna sweat it this year. Our experience at every festival so far has been uneven at best with signature events - some are off the charts, others are OK, and some are downright bad - and that's unacceptable for the prices they're charging. Our best luck has been with the food & wine pairings at various Epcot restaurants - we've never had bad food at any of the ones we've tried over the years.

After paying $450 for the three of us to go to the Jiko SD last year, and then being served heat-damaged Chardonnay during one course (YUCK!), inedible fish during another course (it was too hot for even me to eat, and I'm from LOUISIANA!!!), and trail mix for a third, I'm quite certain hubby would have me fitted for a straight jacket if I booked it again!

 

[BriarRosie]

Any rumblings about when the signature dinners are planned? We're currently looking at doing a signature dinner or Party for the Senses. I have an out of town meeting on 7/20 (of course!) So I'm trying to plan ahead of time to see if I'll need someone else to call.

Keep in mind that the person calling also will be paying up front via credit card. If you have someone willing to do that, you're ok.

Jiko was on my list for signature dinners...as in, if it falls during our week, we'd do it. The reviews on last year's are making me nervous!!

So a poll for everyone...Would you rather do the Jiko signature dinner or Party for the Senses?

After paying $450 for the three of us to go to the Jiko SD last year, and then being served heat-damaged Chardonnay during one course (YUCK!), inedible fish during another course (it was too hot for even me to eat, and I'm from LOUISIANA!!!), and trail mix for a third, I'm quite certain hubby would have me fitted for a straight jacket if I booked it again!

I've got friends who have been to the monthly Jiko dinners, and they said that the festival one with the trail mix had them so disgusted, because they know how Jiko wine dinners should be. I think the problem stemmed from their original visiting guest chef needing to bail on them due to a family emergency. That forced Jiko to scramble to present a meal they hadn't prepared for, and it showed.

I was lucky enough to attend the Jiko dinner the year prior, and it was fabulous. It was also held in the wine room, not outdoors. If I had your experience, I'd be asking for my money back. I'm doing Party for the Senses this year, after taking time off last year. If Jiko has another signature dinner, I'll probably skip it.

 

[NejTheLion]

Party for the Senses

I agree with everyone else about signature dinners varying in quality and consistency. The only one that has been exceptional is Victoria & Albert's, and I would expect nothing less with that kind of a price tag. If I could only do one event at the festival, it would be the V&A dinner. Granted that ends up being a once a year kind of thing because it is rather extravagant, but I think it's worth it.

It's a shame the Exquisite Evenings went away. We only had the chance to do one, but exquisite was a good word for it.

Between the other signature dinners, I would rather do PFTS. Sure there will be some things that aren't as good as others, there's always at least a couple of dishes that are heavenly. And it's just fun We've started hunting for similar events locally. In fact, I'll be going to one, "Best of Washington," on my birthday that's coming up.

 

[Captjacksfamily]

Jiko was on my list for signature dinners...as in, if it falls during our week, we'd do it. The reviews on last year's are making me nervous!!

So a poll for everyone...Would you rather do the Jiko signature dinner or Party for the Senses?

I would have to go for PFTS especially since we attended a TIW wine dinner at Jikos in May and it really wasn't very good.