**2011** Epcot Food & Wine Festival HAS ENDED. 2012 Festival 9/28 - 11/11

[oybolshoi]

Someone is smoking crack at Disney Dining ... We don't go to the F&W Festival to eat healthy. Now that I think about it, we don't go on any vacation to eat healthy!

Seems like such a waste of Chris Cosentino to bring him in to make healthy dining fun ... and with no booze!

And I am with Catherine ... we will never book another signature dinner at bluezoo again; one poor over-priced experience was more than enough. Some day we would love to try one at Raglan Road or Flying Fish or Citricos but they never seem to coincide with our travel dates.

 

[TDC Nala]

Bluezoo is an eat in the lounge place for me! No more signature dinners.

I'm going to be hard pressed to find something to sign up for. The Grand Marnier thing was cool but I can't see doing it again. I can spend my cash on my own at La Cava so I won't do the tequila tasting again (although it might be the only way to get into La Cava on a F&W festival weekend). I think I am done with the deminars. If I don't get into the Jiko signature, there won't be much else but the French lunches and the Italy pairings (those were good but I want to see the price first)

 

[LilyWDW]

Nothing really seems to jump out at me, especially for the cost. I mean, we already are eating at many of the places having "special" meals (Jiko, Flying Fish, Raglan Road, ect) and I don't see anything that really makes me want to change things. I am really thinking we will just do the booths and check out the welcome center and not worry about special events.

 

[Dancind]

We have a reservation for Flying Fish Chef's Counter during our trip. We might do that instead of a Signature dinner. I agree, it's getting tough to find something really tempting. We have only done the Party once and had a good time. So we might do that again, and maybe a French lunch.

Though a Signature dinner at FF during our trip could be tempting.

I enjoyed the food deminars last year, guess we went to good ones. The wine tastings, not so much. Like someone said, why pay $8 to have a small taste of $15 bottles of wine?

Maybe this festival is not designed to cater to people like us that have been going every year and kind of have high expectations. Everything seems better if it's your first time!

 

[LilyWDW]

Maybe this festival is not designed to cater to people like us that have been going every year and kind of have high expectations. Everything seems better if it's your first time!

I've never been and they STILL don't look that great to me. I guess I was expecting more or to see something that I just had to do. Instead, I see nothing that seems worth the price compared to what I already have planned for the trip. I think I would rather just save that money and get myself something really nice while there and try more treats at the booths.

 

[mama03]

I am looking forward to where all those signature dinners will be at Nov. 1,2,3. Thats my week.

 

[franandaj]

Somehow I got unsubscribed to this thread overnight and I missed all this fun chatter all day!

Great. The one Saturday I can go to something, and it's a family centered event about healthy food and non-alcoholic beverages.

I feel the same way!

Someone is smoking crack at Disney Dining ... We don't go to the F&W Festival to eat healthy. Now that I think about it, we don't go on any vacation to eat healthy!

Totally! Perhaps they're trying to clean up the image of drunk people all around WS on Saturday night, so now bring in families with children to navigate through the drunks!

We've changed up our plans now and decided that we'll try the 3D Desserts, instead of cooking in the room on Thursday and Sunday we'll hit the kiosks Thursday and plan on cooking dinner in the Villa Saturday night. However, if we change our minds we'll see if we can get into Beaches and Cream. We arrive in Orlando Tuesday that week and get to Disney property Thursday, we'll have been going almost non-stop at WWoHP, and then F&W so I think by Saturday night, we'll be good to pick out a movie and kick it in the room while the crowds wait in line!

However, rather than cook dinner on Sunday night, I'm really considering the dinner with Cat Cora at Kouzzina. Now I have to go back and find that link and read the article with all the details!

 

[kungaloosh22]

I am looking forward to where all those signature dinners will be at Nov. 1,2,3. Thats my week.

Rumor has it that Nov. 1 is at Citricos, based on a leak from a month or so ago. Take it with the appropriate grain of salt, but I wouldn't be surprised if that's true.

 

[AJW]

We have a reservation for Flying Fish Chef's Counter during our trip. We might do that instead of a Signature dinner. I agree, it's getting tough to find something really tempting. We have only done the Party once and had a good time. So we might do that again, and maybe a French lunch.

Though a Signature dinner at FF during our trip could be tempting.

I enjoyed the food deminars last year, guess we went to good ones. The wine tastings, not so much. Like someone said, why pay $8 to have a small taste of $15 bottles of wine?

Maybe this festival is not designed to cater to people like us that have been going every year and kind of have high expectations. Everything seems better if it's your first time!

I have yet to do the Flying Fish Chef's Counter and I'm dying to try it. That said, I think I would also like to do a signature event there. Hmm... two dinners at Flying Fish maybe?

 

[ImprovGal]

I found the interview with Marianne Hunnel to be quite interesting. As soon as I saw the note about discounted pricing for deminars being available for Mon-Thurs, I understood it to mean no discounts on the weekends. I'm not surprised. I wonder if the freebie "Authentic Tastes" will continue. If anything was said about those, I missed it.

I also noticed the note about booking -- "Culinary demos and beverage seminars as well as special events will be available through online booking again this year, and will open August 16th. Sweet Seats and Wine View Lounge tickets must be purchased by phone."

So, events AND deminars will go on sale 8/16. And (unless you want a Sweet Seat for the 3D or Wine View Lounge for PFTS) everything will be able to be booked online. Please don't let the servers crash!

My trip schedule is a bit wonky for the festival. I'll be there for 4, possibly 5, weekends of the festival. I was originally thinking I'd focus on multiple PFTS and theeventsformerlyknownasLunchandLearns. Unfortunately, 2 of the weekends are PFTS-less, though I may go to the Family event on 10/29, depending on the price point. That leaves the Kitchen Memories. I think the only Signature dinner dates that fits in with my schedule is 11/3, perhaps a couple of others depending on if I can take time out of work for earlier flights.

 

[Dancind]

There are weekends without PFTS this year? Where is that said? I thought they had them every Saturday throughout the festival.

 

[redzinner]

There are weekends without PFTS this year? Where is that said? I thought they had them every Saturday throughout the festival.

Pam Brandon, Disney Food Writer, posted the information on the Disney Parks Blog. No PFTS on Oct 1 or Oct 29.

Party for the Senses (Oct. 8, 15, 22, Nov. 5 and 12 at new times: 7:30-10 p.m.)

Pam's Article

 

[TigerKat]

However, rather than cook dinner on Sunday night, I'm really considering the dinner with Cat Cora at Kouzzina. Now I have to go back and find that link and read the article with all the details!

We are thinking of doing that too!

 

[kabuki]

I have yet to do the Flying Fish Chef's Counter and I'm dying to try it. That said, I think I would also like to do a signature event there. Hmm... two dinners at Flying Fish maybe?

Aj you will love the Flying Fish Chef's counter - we now have done it twice and are doing it for our Anniversary in July! We are doing the Raglan Road dinner and hope for the Raglan Road to be during our time frame!

 

[AJW]

Aj you will love the Flying Fish Chef's counter - we now have done it twice and are doing it for our Anniversary in July! We are doing the Raglan Road dinner and hope for the Raglan Road to be during our time frame!

I know! I can't wait to do it eventually. That's one of my favorite spots for dinner, so the chef's counter has to be great!

 

[Momtomouselover]

Oh, how I want to go! I have said before on the DIS that my DH is not a fan of DW. Well, I tried to tempt him by saying for my Bday in Oct. I think it would be fun to do an adult trip (i.e. leave the kid at home although we will miss him!) to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. I tried to sweeten the deal by saying we could do something like a tour or a Segway tour and maybe a nice Signature dinner out one night or La Nouba. We could even take in the Halloween parade one night too. What did he do.....no response. I told him first via email and then brought it up in conversation. He said he hasn't had time to think about it. I know him and basically this is a "I'm not interested". I just *really* thought that fun with me alone (we don't do this too often), eating/drinking and a special event of some sort would be really attractive even if he is not a big Disney fan. I'm sad . Part of me wants to say "Ok, I'll go alone" but what fun would that be and over my Birthday no less.

Ok, rant over. I just had to tell someone who would maybe care. If I don't make it though, you guys enjoy the festival. Maybe one day I will but until then I'll enjoy the spring/summer trips with my son.

 

[Parla]

Oh, how I want to go! I have said before on the DIS that my DH is not a fan of DW. Well, I tried to tempt him by saying for my Bday in Oct. I think it would be fun to do an adult trip (i.e. leave the kid at home although we will miss him!) to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. I tried to sweeten the deal by saying we could do something like a tour or a Segway tour and maybe a nice Signature dinner out one night or La Nouba. We could even take in the Halloween parade one night too. What did he do.....no response. I told him first via email and then brought it up in conversation. He said he hasn't had time to think about it. I know him and basically this is a "I'm not interested". I just *really* thought that fun with me alone (we don't do this too often), eating/drinking and a special event of some sort would be really attractive even if he is not a big Disney fan. I'm sad . Part of me wants to say "Ok, I'll go alone" but what fun would that be and over my Birthday no less.

Ok, rant over. I just had to tell someone who would maybe care. If I don't make it though, you guys enjoy the festival. Maybe one day I will but until then I'll enjoy the spring/summer trips with my son.

Instead of trying to tempt him can you just say, "This is what we're doing for my birthday!" He might resist but I'm sure you can make him feel better about it once you're there without any children.

 

[Momtomouselover]

Instead of trying to tempt him can you just say, "This is what we're doing for my birthday!" He might resist but I'm sure you can make him feel better about it once you're there without any children.

I guess I could try and insist but I hardly ever do since I worry it wouldn't be any fun if he is not having fun too and who wants to force someone to go somewhere with you. It would be different if we lived nearby but given we have to get a sitter for a long weekend, book flights and a hotel it would be really, really nice if he really wanted to go. I suppose I just hoped that he would want to or at least pretend he did and then go for me. Hmm, I should know though that is not how is mind works. It has only been 20 yrs. Silly me!

I wish I had a friend that wanted and could go. Then I would just say "Honey, for my Birthday I'm going to..." and believe it or not he would be ok with that. It wouldn't be the same but at least I would be with someone who wanted to have fun.

Sorry - I just realized I shouldn't be posting or lamenting on this thread. Last post like this. My apologies F&W folk!

 

[shovan]

Someone is smoking crack at Disney Dining ... We don't go to the F&W Festival to eat healthy. Now that I think about it, we don't go on any vacation to eat healthy!

Seems like such a waste of Chris Cosentino to bring him in to make healthy dining fun ... and with no booze!

And I am with Catherine ... we will never book another signature dinner at bluezoo again; one poor over-priced experience was more than enough. Some day we would love to try one at Raglan Road or Flying Fish or Citricos but they never seem to coincide with our travel dates.

I agree! Who goes to any food & wine anything, hoping to eat healthy & not have alcohol?!

Definitely would skip Bluezoo Signature, once was enough.

We have a reservation for Flying Fish Chef's Counter during our trip. We might do that instead of a Signature dinner. I agree, it's getting tough to find something really tempting. We have only done the Party once and had a good time. So we might do that again, and maybe a French lunch.

Though a Signature dinner at FF during our trip could be tempting.

I enjoyed the food deminars last year, guess we went to good ones. The wine tastings, not so much. Like someone said, why pay $8 to have a small taste of $15 bottles of wine?

Maybe this festival is not designed to cater to people like us that have been going every year and kind of have high expectations. Everything seems better if it's your first time!

You will enjoy the FF counter! That was a winner!

Bluezoo is an eat in the lounge place for me! No more signature dinners.

I'm going to be hard pressed to find something to sign up for. The Grand Marnier thing was cool but I can't see doing it again. I can spend my cash on my own at La Cava so I won't do the tequila tasting again (although it might be the only way to get into La Cava on a F&W festival weekend). I think I am done with the deminars. If I don't get into the Jiko signature, there won't be much else but the French lunches and the Italy pairings (those were good but I want to see the price first)

We did have a great evening there last year, walking in to the the lounge late evening. Would do that again!

However, rather than cook dinner on Sunday night, I'm really considering the dinner with Cat Cora at Kouzzina. Now I have to go back and find that link and read the article with all the details!

I need to read that article! Is that link on this thread?

Aj you will love the Flying Fish Chef's counter - we now have done it twice and are doing it for our Anniversary in July! We are doing the Raglan Road dinner and hope for the Raglan Road to be during our time frame!

You'll have to give us a report on Raglan Road!

 

[franandaj]

I need to read that article! Is that link on this thread?

Check a couple pages back, it was posted yesterday the 22nd of June, it was an interview with Marianne Hunnel. I think I found out about the Date of the Cat Cora dinner from the disneyfoodblog page under 2011 Food & Wine Festival Special Events page.