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

[redzinner]

I noticed there were some $ changes for other events:

Signature Dinners

Jiko was 160 is now 180
Wolfgang Puck was 160 is now 140 (yep, went down)
Wonders Retreat was 160 is now 180
Kouzzina was TBD is now 140

Tequila Tasting was 40 is now 45

 

[ZannaLand]

I was at the TiW Sneak Preview event as well, it was a wonderful night. I've been going to the Food & Wine Festival since the first year (we were married the same month the Festival started) but I will admit we've never gone to any of the special ticketed events or demonstrations. Hearing about it first hand definitely made us want to attend the events. We aren't huge wine people but after having been to a few Tables in Wonderland events now, I realize I actually like *good* wine.

Anyway, just wanted to chime in with my excitement and wave hi to my fellow attendees from last night.

 

[oybolshoi]

After last year we pretty much lost a lot of interest in Epcot's signature dinner series ... a few excpetions to that would have been Raglan Road, Flying Fish, or CA Grill if they were going to be offered during our dates, which they are not.

Honestly, I think they're over-charging for most of these dinners now. More than $400 per person for V&A? Seriously? What can they possibly do there that would warrant that price tag? Jay and I paid $385 per person for 16+ courses at Joel Robuchon in May and I'm telling you there is no way that Victoria and Albert's could match that kind of dining experience ... ever.

And $225 per person for Todd English? It wasn't worth the $185 per person we paid last year.

We will focus on the less expensive events this year and eat our way around the world showcase and be perfectly happy. For all of you booking dinners - good luck on the 20th and I truly hope the event lives up to the hype and the price tag.

 

[webray]

We are with you Brenda. These events are way to much money.
I honestly think disney is getting a bit cocky with their pricing. Like my hubby says though, the events will sell out, because everyone want to try one. The first thing I said when I saw these prices was oh hell no, lol

V&A's they would have to serve all extremely high end wines, foie, caviar, lots of truffles, lol and then some. Joel is chef of the century, and you are right, V&A's won't come close to the meal you had there.

Our V&A signature dinner a few years back was good, but the best courses came from the guest chef.

 

[Shenanigoat]

I will get a stamp on every page of that Passport, or my stomach will explode trying. That's my main F&WF plan.

...also Grand Marnier, a pairing, and a frenchy lunch.

 

[onelilspark]

I will get a stamp on every page of that Passport, or my stomach will explode trying. That's my main F&WF plan.

...also Grand Marnier, a pairing, and a frenchy lunch.

I'm so with you!! I'll have 3 other people helping me, will it still count??



Without doing any research, I figured that Party for the Senses would be more expensive than most of the Signature Dinners. Since it's not, it really makes our decision easy. We were debating Jiko at $160...no way at $180!

 

[chrissy&Tayen]

hi guys im knew and this will be my 2nd food and wine.. im super excited about going and cant wait to read more about there is too do and see.. this is the first trip we have ever made alone since our daughter was born and we plan on having a blast

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We will still try new things at the signature dinners because we want to try cuisine from new chefs. Louisiana has terrific food, but many of our best chefs trained in the same style... and while I love that style, I enjoy venturing out from it too. Even at the ridiculous prices at F&W, it's still an opportunity that we cannot get close to home. So, we just bite our lips, pay the price, and PRAY that the event turns out to be worthwhile. I can honestly say the best (and most surprising) meal we've ever had is a dead-on tie... one of the Signature Dinners we had at F&W in 2007... and a fabulous meal we got at a tiny little farmhouse in the middle of nowhere in Germany in 1981. We have a much better chance of replicating the F&W event than the farmhouse... so we just keep trying!!!

I've given the Grape Getaway a good bit of thought since reading about it. While it's something we would LOVE to do, I'm not sure it's worth uprooting all of the current travel plans we've made. It's unfortunate that Disney doesn't release these dates sooner. We already have several other non-Disney trips booked already, so hubby's vacation time is already doled out for the year. We'd have to take the dates off the front of our trip and add them to the back, and I'm just not sure I want to do that. There are some events at the beginning of our week that I would like to attend... maybe we'll find out the dates for Grape Getaway earlier next year so that we can include it in our plans.

 

[Shenanigoat]

I'm so with you!! I'll have 3 other people helping me, will it still count??



Without doing any research, I figured that Party for the Senses would be more expensive than most of the Signature Dinners. Since it's not, it really makes our decision easy. We were debating Jiko at $160...no way at $180!

If you eat a bite, it counts! That's part of my whole issue going solo. No spouse to share the noms with. I told him eventually I will get him there, so that I don't have to risk food coma-ing myself yearly.

 

[Kteacher]

So even though with Disney we can't assume really assume anything,can we kind of assume that on Monday there will be a full listing of events with details? We're planning on PFTS w/WVR,but I'd love to see more details.

 

[redzinner]

So even though with Disney we can't assume really assume anything,can we kind of assume that on Monday there will be a full listing of events with details? We're planning on PFTS w/WVR,but I'd love to see more details.

Monday there will be a full listing of events. Details will be basic information ... when, where how much. Historically, the details on PFTS are sketchy as far as the participating wineries and chefs/food offerings.

 

[Inkmahm]

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.

That's the one we finally decided on at $160 and now it is $180! Yikes. Even tho we have the money, I am having a hard time justifying spending so much for a Signature dinner and then the PFTS with wine view (loved it last year). I keep moving things arouind in my head saying "rather than buy this, we'll use the money for F&W" but it still comes down to even if we have the money, do I want to justify to myself spending that much for food when the kiosks around Epcot are excellent and so much cheaper? Decisons, decisions.
Maybe I'll throw in the idea that these events will also serve as our Christmas presents to each other as another layer of justification in my mind...

 

[ElizabethB]

We attended the Wonders Retreat dinner last year with Jens Dahlmann as chef. The wines -- Boisett burgundies and pinot noirs -- were outstanding -- probably the best of the Festival. The food, however, was only average. Perhaps the increase in price means higher quality wines?

We hope they post information about wineries and vintners for the signature dinners. They certainly have in the past. A great winery would mean we'll book this event. But, without knowing that information, we'll pass.

 

[redzinner]

... the kiosks around Epcot are excellent

Chef Al Youngman gave us the number of new items being introduced in the kiosks but I can't remember and I didn't write it down. The sneak-preview dinner menu was comprised of some of the new items:

roasted corn and cheese empanada with some tomato salsa at argentina

lettuce wraps with roast pork and kimchi slaw at south korea (this was excellent and not overly spicy)

We had shrimp ceviche from chile (spicy and the corn nuts added a texture layer) but that dish was served last year at the Chile kiosk

seared tuna (which had a seared coating of roasted paprika) with romesco sauce

Heirloom Tomatoes with Oregon Blue Cheese (not Rogue's), Macerated red onions and basil at USA ... Chef Al also mentioned the USA kiosk will have Bison Chili

The desserts and champagne kiosk will have a strawberry angel verrine, a pear-streusel pudding cake and dark chocolate sensation (this was like a truffle brownie)

Belgium will have, among other things, Godiva Chocolate Iced Coffee and waffles made fresh in the kiosk.

There are other new items but I can't remember all of them. Oh, he said something about Cheese Fondue at the cheese and sausage kiosk and bbq short ribs at South Korea too.

 

[mef78]

Disney Food Blog just put up a sneak peek to the South Korea and Belgium booths with some pics of food and menus for the booths (along with screen shots of the event it looks like). Sounds really interesting, though I think I'm going too enjoy the Belgium sweets and the South Korea savories more.

South Korea and Belgium Marketplaces sneak peek

Thanks for all the info about the event redzinner. Sounds like it was a lot of fun.

 

[redzinner]

Thanks for the link mef78 .... no one discussed the 15 beers booth, that we heard ...

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Thanks for the link mef78 .... no one discussed the 15 beers booth, that we heard ...

15 beers booth? Ohhhh, son will be happy about that one!

 

[DisneyJen]

That's the one we finally decided on at $160 and now it is $180! Yikes. Even tho we have the money, I am having a hard time justifying spending so much for a Signature dinner and then the PFTS with wine view (loved it last year). I keep moving things arouind in my head saying "rather than buy this, we'll use the money for F&W" but it still comes down to even if we have the money, do I want to justify to myself spending that much for food when the kiosks around Epcot are excellent and so much cheaper? Decisons, decisions.
Maybe I'll throw in the idea that these events will also serve as our Christmas presents to each other as another layer of justification in my mind...

We just added another night (oh how I my DVC) and booked our air.

So here is my next question for all of you FW Festival veterans ...

The only Signature Dining Event we could possibly make is at Jiko the night of our arrival. I have read the reviews from last year and the one and only time we at at Jiko we were underwhelmed. Do you think we should roll the dice or save our dollars for the PFTS (with the Wine View Lounge)?

We have NEVER done a Signature Dining Event and I really would like to try one ... but I am not feeling the love for Jiko.

Suggestions?

 

[Dancind]

We attended the Wonders Retreat dinner last year with Jens Dahlmann as chef. The wines -- Boisett burgundies and pinot noirs -- were outstanding -- probably the best of the Festival. The food, however, was only average. Perhaps the increase in price means higher quality wines?

We hope they post information about wineries and vintners for the signature dinners. They certainly have in the past. A great winery would mean we'll book this event. But, without knowing that information, we'll pass.

A dinner with wonderful Pinots is tempting, but I would think they would do something different this year. And if the food was average! Wouldn't part of the problem be that they don't actually have a kitchen in the Wonders pavilion? If they have to bring the food in from somewhere else, that's never a good thing.

I think we have decided on PFTS sans wine room, a French Regional lunch, and Tokyo Dining pairing. We've never done PFTS so won't really know the difference. We've done the TD pairing and loved it. Tempted by Tutto pairing, but I think it's too much pasta for me. I do love Rosa Regale, but cheaper to get a bottle at DTD.

I hope we get information on the Grape Getaway before the 20th, surely we will? I know it will be pricey but those are our dates, and we have to look at it!

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

We just added another night (oh how I my DVC) and booked our air.

So here is my next question for all of you FW Festival veterans ...

The only Signature Dining Event we could possibly make is at Jiko the night of our arrival. I have read the reviews from last year and the one and only time we at at Jiko we were underwhelmed. Do you think we should roll the dice or save our dollars for the PFTS (with the Wine View Lounge)?

We have NEVER done a Signature Dining Event and I really would like to try one ... but I am not feeling the love for Jiko.

Suggestions?

If you are staying at Boardwalk, I wonder if the add-on night you got was part of the cancellation we made yesterday. We canceled one of our preferred garden view studios for October 20-24 because one couple in our party is no longer able to attend F&W. It'd be great if another DIS'er got it! I tried to just post the reservation here on R/T for someone to get before we canceled, but I was told that I would have to wait until 30 days in before I could post. =(

As for Jiko... I am certain that the F&W office got an earful of complaints about that dinner last year. It's hard to imagine they would let it be a disaster two years in a row. But, you never know...

I hope we get information on the Grape Getaway before the 20th, surely we will? I know it will be pricey but those are our dates, and we have to look at it!

Yesterday, I called the TiW office to see about dates for booking Grape Getaway. I was told that full information for Grape Getaway would be mailed to all TiW members on Monday and would also be posted on the main information site for F&W. That sounds like TiW members really won't be getting the first opportunity to book, but just the first print material about it. The TiW rep said they didn't have the details, but were merely the venue for the announcement by those that organize F&W. I then called the F&W office to see if I could finagle any more info out of them (yes, I know, I was being rather tenacious!). I guess I just wanted to satisfy for myself that we wouldn't all be waiting like good little Disneyites for more info while others were scarfing up those 100 spots! Nope, no go on more info. So, it looks like the Grape Getaway will also be part of the quick dial finger frenzy on the 20th!!!