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

[Hon52]

The dates are October 24th-October 27th. There will be a hotel package for those who do not already have reservations and a package for those who may already have reservations at that time. It is limited to 100 people and will be VERY exclusive................special wine events, something similar to The Party for the Senses one night only more intimate and extra special. It will be three days and nights filled with exclusive events for only those 100 people. They only gave out a few details. The info on this will come out later than the July 12th date.

 

[Hon52]

There will be a Soft Opening, as usual, on September 30th.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

The dates are October 24th-October 27th. There will be a hotel package for those who do not already have reservations and a package for those who may already have reservations at that time. It is limited to 100 people and will be VERY exclusive................special wine events, something similar to The Party for the Senses one night only more intimate and extra special. It will be three days and nights filled with exclusive events for only those 100 people. They only gave out a few details. The info on this will come out later than the July 12th date.

Well, YAY! That exactly piggybacks off our existing dates, so maybe we can slightly change our reservations! =)

 

[Hon52]

I think it will be worth it if you can)

 

[Kid_@_50]

As newbie, first time visitors to FW2009, we were disappointed to discover that tickets were required to many events. I apologize if this was covered in the previous pages and pages of posts, but exactly how does ticketing work.

If the book date is 7/20, does this mean 12:01 am eastern time the online booking opens? Anyone have any sense on how quickly certain events sell out after ticket sales open?

Thanks

 

[redzinner]

Wed Nov 3 $135 Raglan Road Kevin Dundon Downtown Disney
Thur Nov 4 $160 Flying Fish Cafe Tim Keating Boardwalk FF
Sat Nov 6 $225 bluezoo Todd English
Wed Nov 10 $125 Bongo's Cuban Cafe Edwin Almonte Downtown Disney
Thursday Nov 11 $140 Fulton's Crab House Ron Cope

Price Changes California Grill signature dinner is $225 ; V&A's signature dinner is $450

**************************************************

Grand Marnier dates are Oct 2, Oct 9 Oct 16 Oct 23 and Oct 30

**************************************************

Celebrating Family & Friends in the Kitchen
Nov 12 Evan Goldstein, MS and Scott Hunnel

**************************************************

Aug 26 tickets for the demos and seminars will be on line for purchase
Pam Smith indicated the price points were for higher quality of wines

There's more but it's late ....and Hon52 has added some of it already

 

[redzinner]

As newbie, first time visitors to FW2009, we were disappointed to discover that tickets were required to many events. I apologize if this was covered in the previous pages and pages of posts, but exactly how does ticketing work.

If the book date is 7/20, does this mean 12:01 am eastern time the online booking opens? Anyone have any sense on how quickly certain events sell out after ticket sales open?

Thanks

7/20 at 7am eastern daylight savings time. Some events are gone within the first 10 minutes.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Wed Nov 3 $135 Raglan Road Kevin Dundon Downtown Disney
Thur Nov 4 $160 Flying Fish Cafe Tim Keating Boardwalk FF
Sat Nov 6 $225 bluezoo Todd English
Wed Nov 10 $125 Bongo's Cuban Cafe Edwin Almonte Downtown Disney
Thursday Nov 11 $140 Fulton's Crab House Ron Cope

Price Changes California Grill signature dinner is $225 ; V&A's signature dinner is $450

**************************************************

Grand Marnier dates are Oct 2, Oct 9 Oct 16 Oct 23 and Oct 30

**************************************************

Celebrating Family & Friends in the Kitchen
Nov 12 Evan Goldstein, MS and Scott Hunnel

**************************************************

Aug 26 tickets for the demos and seminars will be on line for purchase
Pam Smith indicated the price points were for higher quality of wines

There's more but it's late ....and Hon52 has added some of it already

You guys are AWESOME for sharing this with us! Many thanks.

I look forward to reading more when it's fresh day! =)

 

[DisneyBride'03]

sub

 

[Kteacher]

We did the Wine View last year as well,and I don't remember steps,just the fenced in area.
Thinking of doing the tequila tasting -any reviews from last year?

 

[redzinner]

FYI: There were no perks at the dinner last night, other than information sharing. We were not given the opportunity to pre-book any event (I never thought we would, it's just not Disney's way). We didn't even get to see the Passport Book. They did show some of the stamps on the big screen demonstration, which really excited one of the men at our table. He has vowed to get every stamp in his Passport book.

We did get a listing of all the special events, no seminars or culinary demonstrations. I will try to get that scanned today and post it.

One of the highlights of the dinner for me was having Chef Al Youngman there to talk about the food in the booths. They have changed quite a few of the items. Mary Ann Hunnel spent some time talking about the special events and what goes in to try and schedule. The famous Chefs are essentially creative divas and really don't give Disney firm dates until the very last minute.

Michael Jenner ?, one of event's main organizers, indicated they do listen to guests. They have doubled the number of French Regional Lunches, added more Signature dinners and will be pouring more than a thimble of wine at the deminars!

 

[TDC Nala]

Pam Smith indicated the price points were for higher quality of wines

Oh cool, so you pay a higher price for a thimbleful of a more upscale wine? no thanks. Maybe they'll upgrade to a double thimbleful. Sorry but I do not have much faith in Disney anymore.

Also I think it's really interesting how they're pulling in all these restaurants for signature dinners that are not operated by Disney and don't take the dining plan. It's been a theory of mine that Disney can't spare tables in its own restaurants for festival doings, which is why there are no more pairings at Coral Reef or Le Cellier. The Disney restaurants that are doing sig dinners have private rooms so they don't have to block tables from the restaurant.

Thinking of doing the tequila tasting -any reviews from last year?

Unless you want to hear the story about how they make tequila, my advice is to take your $40, go to La Cava on your own and buy a tequila flight and some food. If Hilda's around (and she usually is) you can ask her to talk to you about the tequila, pretty much just as she talks to the group for the tasting. Then you get larger pours for your money if you prefer that.

As newbie, first time visitors to FW2009, we were disappointed to discover that tickets were required to many events. I apologize if this was covered in the previous pages and pages of posts, but exactly how does ticketing work.

I'm not sure what you mean - you were disappointed because they're charging for special events (most of those are presented on such a scale that there isn't any way they could offer them at no extra cost) or because you need to pay for the seminars at the Festival Center? (The seminar ticketing just started last year, before that all seminars and demonstrations were free with Epcot admission.) For the special events you do not get tickets. You call the dining line and sign up, and your name is on a list when you check in at the event. You could conceivably wait until you get to WDW to call and book these, but the longer you wait the more chance there is that the ones you want will be booked up by those making advance reservations. Some of them will go quickly.

For the seminars and demonstrations, should you wish to purchase tickets ahead of time, there will be a website active on August 26 by which you will be able to do that. Again, you will not receive a ticket in the mail or anything. When you get to the festival center they checked your name off a list and handed you a ticket, then you took the ticket and got in line for the seminar you signed up for before they opened the seating area. (Where you were in line determined whether or not you had the widest choice of seats in the seating area.)

If the seminar did not sell out with people booking ahead of time (which generally happens only with the celebrity chefs - and I do think they hold back a few tickets to sell at the festival center on the day of) then you will be fine with purchasing tickets at the festival center when you arrive, although if you are a DVC/TIW/AP then you may want to try getting discounted tickets in advance.

If any come out on the schedule you want to do I suggest buying the tickets in advance, because the festival center didn't have a very good setup for purchasing tickets and that resulted in long lines sometimes. (Once I had to wait 30 minutes while a couple ahead of me at the counter took their time deciding which demos to buy tickets for - and there was only one counter so everyone needing to purchase tickets was held up). I don't know if they will improve on that system this year or not.

 

[Inkmahm]

Which weekend did you go? Was it earlier in the festival? We were in the wine view lounge twice in mid-October, and there were NO STEPS anywhere to get into the wine view lounge. It was just a section of the room with a fence around it - same floor, same level, no steps. Did they maybe change something from when you attended?

Third weekend in October.

 

[BriarRosie]

Michael Jenner ?, one of event's main organizers, indicated they do listen to guests. They have doubled the number of French Regional Lunches, added more Signature dinners and will be pouring more than a thimble of wine at the deminars!

You mean a double thimbleful? Yay. I am not convinced!

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

I think it will be worth it if you can )

Well, I got on the waitlist for a room for those dates. I guess we will see... I just canceled our second room for the weekend preceding that, so openings DO come up occasionally. I'll just hope for some pixie dust to fall on our request prior to event tickets going on sale. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[mef78]

I think it's really interesting how they're pulling in all these restaurants for signature dinners that are not operated by Disney and don't take the dining plan. It's been a theory of mine that Disney can't spare tables in its own restaurants for festival doings, which is why there are no more pairings at Coral Reef or Le Cellier. The Disney restaurants that are doing sig dinners have private rooms so they don't have to block tables from the restaurant.

Wow -- I hadn't even thought about that! Makes so much sense. Although, I am glad that people will be more exposed to some of the great restaurants in DTD and the Swan/Dolphin. Paradiso 37 is a great restaurant, but nobody knows it's there.

 

[PNO4TE]

Well, I got on the waitlist for a room for those dates. I guess we will see... I just canceled our second room for the weekend preceding that, so openings DO come up occasionally. I'll just hope for some pixie dust to fall on our request prior to event tickets going on sale. Thanks for the heads up!

I just saw this on the Disney Food Blog. Take it for what it's worth...

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Grape Getaway

The 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is introducing something new — and excessively special — this year!

The Grape Getaway includes a specialty vacation for foodies and wine lovers running from October 24th-October 27th, 2010. Here are the details:

* Grape Getaway vacation packages will be available for those who don’t already have reservations, and non-room packages will also be available for those who have already booked reservations.
* It is based on an Adventures by Disney program, so you’re sure to have a lot of fun, interesting, and interactive experiences.
* The Grape Getaway is limited to 100 people.
* The Getaway will include specialty wine events, an exclusive party for attendees (which will look a lot like Party for the Senses, only more intimate), and three days of exclusive Food & Wine Festival events for the 100 attendees.
* The event will be publicized to Tables in Wonderland members (you’ll be getting an email soon), but is available to anyone.
* Booking date and pricing not yet available.

 

[redzinner]

I just saw this on the Disney Food Blog. Take it for what it's worth...

Epcot Food and Wine Festival Grape Getaway

The 2010 Epcot Food and Wine Festival is introducing something new — and excessively special — this year!

The Grape Getaway includes a specialty vacation for foodies and wine lovers running from October 24th-October 27th, 2010. Here are the details:

* Grape Getaway vacation packages will be available for those who don’t already have reservations, and non-room packages will also be available for those who have already booked reservations.
* It is based on an Adventures by Disney program, so you’re sure to have a lot of fun, interesting, and interactive experiences.
* The Grape Getaway is limited to 100 people.
* The Getaway will include specialty wine events, an exclusive party for attendees (which will look a lot like Party for the Senses, only more intimate), and three days of exclusive Food & Wine Festival events for the 100 attendees.
* The event will be publicized to Tables in Wonderland members (you’ll be getting an email soon), but is available to anyone.
* Booking date and pricing not yet available.

Elin, That is the way it was described at the dinner last night and also the same wording that was up on the presentation screen. No price was mentioned but that should be in the email.

 

[PNO4TE]

Elin, That is the way it was described at the dinner last night and also the same wording that was up on the presentation screen. No price was mentioned but that should be in the email.

There is actually a screen shot of the screen you all were looking at last night, but opted to not post it since there is a copyright on it. Sounds interesting.

 

[Dancind]

Has Jens Dahlmann done a Signature dinner before? Maybe when he was Exec Chef at FF or CG? Wondering if that one will be worth the money.