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

[kabuki]

Does anybody know if Belvedere and Chopin vodka are connected in any way? I think the presenter, Trish Linden, at the Belvedere beverage seminar is the same one that did the Chopin seminar last year. I also noticed that Chopin has a Strawberry Balsamic chiller at the Poland booth, and that Belvedere is doing a Strawberry Balsamic Martini at the seminar. Chopin had this same martini last year.

We went to Vodka last year - it is the same person and the same line of of booze! They are not the same company but Millennium Import Company, imports the Belvedere and Chopin vodka brands and I believe that is who Trish Linden works for!

 

[lurkyloo]

For anyone who's looking to add D23's Sip & Stroll to their F&W experience, they've finally released the itinerary (and, as expected, their events overlap one of the ticketed F&W events I've already paid for ).

Join the D23 team as we celebrate Epcot's International Food & Wine Festival with a weekend of unique events and experiences just for D23 Members. Our weekend begins Friday evening as we gather for a wine and cheese reception in the foyer of The American Adventure pavilion. Sample a selection of artisan cheeses with dried fruits, berries, nuts, and house made breads along with Canadian cheddar cheese fondue and additional flavorful treats. Wine, beer and non-alcoholic beverages will be served to set the tone for a fabulous event.

Guests may then choose to join us inside the VIP Lounge of The Living Seas as we honor Disney Legend Dave Smith, retiring Chief Archivist for The Walt Disney Company. October 15 is Dave's final day of work, and he wanted to celebrate with his friends and colleagues from D23. So we're throwing an elaborate dinner inside one of Epcot's most beautiful private spaces, which features an enormous glass window that looks into the pavilion's 5.7 million gallon aquarium. Dinner includes a selection of crisp salads, grilled flatbreads, pecan-roasted turkey, fresh scallops and beef medallions. Sumptuous sides include sweet potato mash, wild mushrooms and truffle mac 'n' cheese. You can also wash down some delicious German sausage and baked spaetzle with Radeberger beer from Germany. For dessert, there will be a selection of sweets inspired by Disney movie classics. Dinner includes wine, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages — all perfect to toast the man who founded the Walt Disney Archives 40 years ago. Note: there is an additional cost to attend this dinner.

Saturday morning we will convene at the Mexico pavilion in World Showcase to sample some robust Mexican coffee and pastries at the newly opened La Hacienda restaurant, hosted by Ricky Deblar, president of the San Angel Inn, who will be on hand to talk about the latest addition to Epcot eateries.

Following our breakfast treat, we head to the Odyssey for exclusive presentations and surprises. Our friends from Guerlain and Givenchy will explore their rich histories with Epcot — and Givenchy will offer a sample of their brand new fragrance. Chef Scott Hunnel and Israel Perez of Disney's exquisite Victoria and Albert's restaurant will share exciting details about the new Queen Victoria Room, and they will prepare a new dish that will be featured at Remy — the new restaurant on the Disney Dream!

That afternoon, guests can join D23 head Steven Clark, Dave Smith, Archives Director Becky Cline, Disney twenty-three editor in chief Carmen Capone, D23's Disney Geek Jeffrey Epstein and others from the D23 Team as we sip and stroll our way around World Showcase. As we talk about some of our favorite Epcot spots, each guest will have a "passport" they can use to obtain exclusive Sip & Stroll surprises at various locations around the lagoon.

Also during the day, take some time to get out of the sun and relax! The VIP lounge inside The American Adventure pavilion will be open just for D23 Members as a place to enjoy some water or lemonade. If you haven't seen the elegantly designed lounge, you will definitely want to stop in for a look and a libation.

That evening we will gather at the America Gardens Theatre for reserved seating to the Eat to the Beat concert featuring '80s icon Howard Jones ("What is Love," "No One is the Blame").

We'll then walk over to the Italy Isola for private, reserved viewing of the nighttime spectacular IllumiNations and a mouthwatering dessert party that will include strawberries with Creole Shrubb burst, milk chocolate hazelnut crunch, flambéed cinnamon doughnuts with tiramisu gelato and much more! The perfect way to end a fantastic food-filled weekend!

Included with the cost of your ticket:

• Private wine and cheese reception Friday evening inside the foyer of The American Adventure pavilion
• Dave Smith's Retirement Celebration Dinner Friday evening inside the VIP lounge of The Living Seas pavilion. Note: there is an extra cost to attend this dinner.
• Breakfast pastries and presentation Saturday morning at La Hacienda at the Mexico pavilion
• Exclusive presentations Saturday morning from Scott Hunnel, Israel Perez, Guerlain, and Givenchy
• A "sip and stroll" Saturday afternoon with members of the D23 Team including Steven Clark, Dave Smith, Becky Cline, Carmen Capone and Jeffrey Epstein
• Access Saturday to the VIP lounge inside the The American Adventure pavilion
• Private VIP seating at Howard Jones's Eat to the Beat concert
• Private dessert party and viewing of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
• Sip & Stroll surprises (one per guest)

 

[Quacktatty]

We went to Vodka last year - it is the same person and the same line of of booze! They are not the same company but Millennium Import Company, imports the Belvedere and Chopin vodka brands and I believe that is who Trish Linden works for!

I did the Vodka last year too, I enjoyed it so I'm glad it will practically be a repeat. That Strawberry Balsamic martini was sooooo good!

 

[kabuki]

I did the Vodka last year too, I enjoyed it so I'm glad it will practically be a repeat. That Strawberry Balsamic martini was sooooo good!

We agree - had a good time.. and it was good but I have to admit to adding my shot to it to make it less sweet! or more boozy!

Have fun!

 

[horselover]

It was just an ugly rumor!!!
DVC members are getting discounts.
But I only saw 1 culinary demo that looked interesting when we are going to be there...so even though we were dissappointed with the portions last year we are going to try one more time... so I booked Jamie Dean on the 16th...and maybe the vodka later...

What is the discount? I logged in through the DVC member site & through another link & used my TIW # & received the same price for the culinary seminar I'm interested in. The price was $10 pp. Is that the discounted amount? I'm not on a computer where I can print the receipt so I haven't completed the registration yet. I'm hoping to do the Warren Brown pastry seminar on 10/11. I loved his show when it was on Food Network. Wish I was going to be there when Robert Irvine was there.

 

[oybolshoi]

what the hell is a creole shrub burst? sound like something that happens down on the farm when your July 4th mortar shells misfire, land in granny's rose bush, and start a fire.

 

[horselover]

what the hell is a creole shrub burst? sound like something that happens down on the farm when your July 4th mortar shells misfire, land in granny's rose bush, and start a fire.

I don't know either but that was hilarious!

 

[Angel16]

I have made it all the way through the registration and picked out what we wanted to attend. I entered the information for our AP, (we do not have the pass in hand, only the voucher,) but I entered info that a tech. at www.disneyworld.com put in for my registration for the passholders site. So I am able to get in on that site. However, after printed my completed registration which came up next with the price at bottom of list all perfect with discount, I hit the next button and it threw me out of the process saying I didn't have anything selected ????? Has anyone had a problem using AP voucher info? HELP

what the hell is a creole shrub burst? sound like something that happens down on the farm when your July 4th mortar shells misfire, land in granny's rose bush, and start a fire.

You are such a hoot!!! Both my DH and myself laughed so hard. Thank you oybolshoi



Angel16

 

[Angel16]

I went back through and entered all the information, didn't stop to figure out the AP voucher numbers this time and moved quickly. It was successful, got the AP discount on them all. WooHoo Hopefully I will receive an e-mail confirming it all. We will be attending:

Fess Parker Winery

Widmer Brothers Brewing, Northwest, Oregon

Silverado Vinyards, Napa

Jim Beam

Villa Maria, New Zealand

Kona Brewing Co



Nice little variety there My DH had input on this all He is really looking forward to them all. We are going to keep this as a surprise for our kids, I know they will enjoy!



Angel16

 

[Disbug]

I am so glad everyone is finding availability in booking the "discounted" deminars! I raced home yesterday to pull up the schedule... fingers poised to punch in my CC info, but ended up not booking a single one! The times/dates I was interested in conflicted with either the Food and Wine Classic, or other events already booked. Oddly enough, I don't feel deprived!? Maybe I've reached the "is it worth $10 to see the Publix Cooking school chef chop up some sushi" point? This year I'm thinkin' I'll be likin' the walk-up ticket option!

 

[TDC Nala]

$10 is the discounted price at the "celebrity" culinary seminars for TIW/AP/DVC. The undiscounted price will be $13. Those tickets will be available tomorrow.

It's occurred to me that last year I paid $5 discounted for these - I've just paid twice as much for the same thing. That's part of the reason I have only booked one, and only on a day when I had nothing but spare time (if my mother wants to go to some, I'll book some more for November). It will be interesting to see if they do anything about making the wine portion larger if they're going to charge twice as much as last year.

The other problem I have with these seminars is that most of the festival action is in the World Showcase, which is quite a long way from the Pavilion Formerly Known as Wonders of Life.

 

[DisneyFreq]

I had a hard time picking a deminar that didn't conflict with the food and wine classic too. My original plan was to book the steakhouse guy but I found out he's cooking crab. Go figure. Wound up booking the hollywood brown derby chef. Duck should be interesting...maybe it will make me brave enough to try to cook it at home. Thought about booking a deminar for both thurs and friday but we've never been to one and I'm not sure how dh will feel about spending 45 minutes away from the beer booths!

I really wish there was something other that wine/champagne seminars being offered those days. Disbug..what beverage seminar did you pick for the F&W classic? I called to book without having one picked out (didn't realize you had to pick in advance) and took Sake on the spur of the moment.

Haven't seen a whole lot of chatter about the classic..my thinking is that it should be awesome! Esp since its the first one. They'll probably pull out all the stops to drum up interest for next year.

Super excited!

 

[oybolshoi]

This is one reason that we didn't book any. While we did enjoy most of the deminars we attended last year the beverage portions were ridiculously small. And think about how much got wasted because the staff poured out for 100 guests whether the event was fully booked or not.

It broke our hearts to see all that Remy Martin Cognac get dumped into a bucket last October ... we offered to help 'em get rid of some but the staff was grumpy.

If they know from advance booking how many people are attending a demo / seminar then they should pour for that number and then re-pour for the guests who are there. Then nothing goes to waste.

It's occurred to me that last year I paid $5 discounted for these - I've just paid twice as much for the same thing. That's part of the reason I have only booked one, and only on a day when I had nothing but spare time(if my mother wants to go to some, I'll book some more for November). It will be interesting to see if they do anything about making the wine portion larger if they're going to charge twice as much as last year.

 

[horselover]

$10 is the discounted price at the "celebrity" culinary seminars for TIW/AP/DVC. The undiscounted price will be $13. Those tickets will be available tomorrow.

It's occurred to me that last year I paid $5 discounted for these - I've just paid twice as much for the same thing. That's part of the reason I have only booked one, and only on a day when I had nothing but spare time (if my mother wants to go to some, I'll book some more for November). It will be interesting to see if they do anything about making the wine portion larger if they're going to charge twice as much as last year.

The other problem I have with these seminars is that most of the festival action is in the World Showcase, which is quite a long way from the Pavilion Formerly Known as Wonders of Life.

Thank you that clears it up for me. I hope it will be worth the $10 pp price, but since I can't do any of the beverage seminars (just me & DS12 on this trip) I'd like to do something. Hope I can still book it this morning.

 

[figment82]

My parents originally said they didn't want to do the seminars with DH and I because they wanted to focus on the booths (we're only going to be there through October 2 so they only have two days at the festival, and they've never been before)...but when I told them I had booked for DH and I and it was $6 for the wine demo and $7 for the culinary one, they told me to sign them up!
It's all in your perspective, I guess. To them, they'll end up paying $4 for a tiny sliver of wine at the festival booths, so they may as well pay $6 for 3 tiny slivers instead and get an education while they're at it....

 

[Forever Fairy]

This will be my first year attending the deminars. I keep reading something about a "ticket". When I scheduled online I did receive a confirmation number and receipt via e-mail.

Is this all I need to bring or is there somewhere I need to pick up a physical ticket for the event?

Thanks.

 

[arbolita]

This will be my first year attending the deminars. I keep reading something about a "ticket". When I scheduled online I did receive a confirmation number and receipt via e-mail.

Is this all I need to bring or is there somewhere I need to pick up a physical ticket for the event?

Thanks.

Last year we didn't even need the confirmation number - just gave them our name and showed our ID, and they checked us off on a list.

 

[TDC Nala]

When you check in at the Festival Center for the demonstration you will be given a paper ticket. You must have the paper ticket to be admitted to the event. This is how it was done last year. We don't know if it will be the same procedure or they'll change it.

Because of the inconsistency in reporting regarding what you were required to show to pick up tickets last year, to check in the best suggestion is that the person who booked the demo bring along ID, the membership card you used to book the discounted demo, and the printout of the confirmation of booking.

 

[Donald'sGirl]

For those who have booked Keegan or are thinking of booking. I thought he was great last year (very entertaining) and LOVED his dessert. It was Apple Tarte Tatin. Here's a picture.

Thank you for posting this, we are booked to see him on the 1st and are really excited!!

 

[Donald'sGirl]

This is our first F&W I just have two questions on the deminar's if someone can offer any advice.

We are going to see Keegan on Oct 1st at 1pm and I am just wondering what is the seating like? Is it assigned or first come first serve? If it is the FCFS how early should we line up to see him? We would like to get a close as possible.

Also, (i guess I have one more ) does anyone know if he signs autographs?

TIA!