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

[GuardMusic]

Has anyone attended the 3D Dessert Party with children? I know $45 is a lot to pay for a kid who will probably eat one doughnut, but I'll be there on the 21st and would love to go! Is it appropriate even though there's alcohol? We've done the Wishes party twice and the VIP viewing area for Illuminations almost justifies the cost...

3D Dessert is very different from the Wishes party. Most of the desserts are made live/on-site. They are not the basic donuts, brownies, etc. They are much more upscale, sophisticated offerings. In fact, one of the desserts was flambeed right in front of us. There was also live classical jazz music. Between the actual food, preparation, music, and environment, I personally do not think this is appropriate for kids. In fact, I wish they would advertise it as adult-only.

 

[BuenaVistaBound]

They are not the basic donuts, brownies, etc. They are much more upscale, sophisticated offerings... In fact, I wish they would advertise it as adult-only.

I know, I was just being flippant

Thanks for the advice, it's your characterization of the atmosphere that I was looking for.

 

[TDC Nala]

I do not think any of the Food and Wine Special Events are suitable for children except maybe teens who are culinarily inclined. A lot of parents bring children to the food deminars...but I hardly ever see them brought to the special events, except for the Party for the Senses where I used to see whole families camping out on the floor (not so much anymore now that the price has gone up and Disney isn't giving the PFTS away as part of the Million Dreams thing anymore, because I think they charge the kids full price).

Disney is apparently trying to make the festival more appealing to families with children by offering the one family event on October 29, but we don't have any specific information about the offerings or cost yet.

The 3D dessert party was one of the most misunderstood events at booking time last year. Many who signed up or thought about signing up thought it would be like the Wishes dessert party or the Epcot private Illuminations dessert parties - you partake of the desserts outdoors, in the same area where you watch Illuminations, and you get assigned seating or at least a folding chair to sit in. 3D is more like a Party for the Senses with desserts only (no assigned seating). Because it's a lot smaller than PFTS you can get a chair if you want one, but not assigned. It is held inside the World Showplace and guests are then "escorted" (you get a CM with a lightsaber flashlight to show you where it is) to a roped-off area to watch Illuminations, where you stand to watch the show - no seating.

 

[oybolshoi]

Disney is apparently trying to make the festival more appealing to families with children by offering the one family event on October 29...

This makes my blood run cold.

 

[franandaj]

This makes my blood run cold.

Me too! Especially since it's the ONLY Saturday I'll be there.

 

[stephielela]

I would love to do the dessert party, but there is no way I would bring my 3 year old. He's pretty well behaved, but it just doesn't seem like a place for children.

 

[oybolshoi]

Me too! Especially since it's the ONLY Saturday I'll be there.

I actually was referring to the family-friendly F&W Festival as a whole ... not just the single signature dinner with Zimmern and Cosentino. Sorry about any confusion there.

And I'm not picking on "families" per se, I just think that the world showcase and seminars are friendly enough. Signature dining events carry a high enough price tag and have enough booze flowing that young children should not be part of the equation. I agree with Catherine, unless someone has a teen who's particulary culinary minded, these events should be adult-only.

 

[franandaj]

I actually was referring to the family-friendly F&W Festival as a whole ... not just the single signature dinner with Zimmern and Cosentino. Sorry about any confusion there.

And I'm not picking on "families" per se, I just think that the world showcase and seminars are friendly enough. Signature dining events carry a high enough price tag and have enough booze flowing that young children should not be part of the equation. I agree with Catherine, unless someone has a teen who's particulary culinary minded, these events should be adult-only.

No I agree, I'm not anti-kid only when they encroach upon things which should be reserved for us adults, and the fact that they chose to do it on MY weekend further incences me. Isn't there enough for kids to at WDW? Why do they have to take the best adult event and replace it so that it's more "family friendly". Go to the MK if you want family friendly, it's a dry park why hold an event at Epcot that doesn't promote good food and wine, but watering down so that kids might fit it in with with their chicken nuggets or something?

I'll step off my pedastal before people think I'm getting ugly. In CA we had (I won't say "have" until Disney actually returns the F&W Festival because at this point we have no guarantee that they will) a cooking school. There was a kid in my class who was so into it, he knew the chef because his parents took him to his restaurant so often and they sat at the Chef's table. The kid had his own set of knives from the parents. That's the kind of kid who should go to a signature event. Not the kind that parents are looking for something to enjoy themselves, but they don't know what to do with their kids while they do it.

Don't even get me started about the Expo and kids! That's another thread!

 

[Tamar]

Subbing. Lots of great info so far! I'm not sure we'll like all the changes this year (no discount tickets for deminars on weekende???) but I'm hoping there will be some new ideas that are keepers.

This year, we'll be staying 2 weekends and have to decide whether to do PFTS once or twice. PROBABLY just the first weekend, as we nabbed the Chef's Table on our second Sunday.

 

[EPCOT is a verb]

This will be our first Food & Wine and I am so excited! We are planning on doing Party of the Senses and I have several questions.

How crowded does it get?
Are there tables and chairs, other than in the special/extra cost section?
What time to people arrive?

Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.

 

[redzinner]

We are planning on doing Party of the Senses and I have several questions.

How crowded does it get?

It can be crowded but the lines for food move very quickly. Last year I didn't get the feeling of 'packed' crowds like there were about 2 years ago.

Are there tables and chairs, other than in the special/extra cost section?

Yes, there are tables and chairs. There are some high tables with no chairs for those that like to keep moving from area to area while sampling the food and beverages.

What time to people arrive?

If you want a prime location table you should be outside the World Showplace gates by 5:30. You need to check-in first to receive your wrist band. The check-in stand will be outside near England right across the big gate doors of the World Showplace. I personally think that it is not necessary to wait in line for 45 minutes but there is always a crowd there by 6 pm. Edited to note the times are later this year for Party for the Senses, so I don't know when the crowds will start queuing.

 

[DisneyJen]

We are returning again this year for the festival and bringing foodie/Disney friends of ours.

Wondering when they are going to publish the Signature Dinners as we are most interested in them as well as the lunches with the food/wine pairings!

 

[TDC Nala]

Wondering when they are going to publish the Signature Dinners as we are most interested in them as well as the lunches with the food/wine pairings!

sometime before August 16, and that is all we are able to say right now. Some of the signature dinners are known. Check the links in the first post.

 

[DisneyJen]

sometime before August 16, and that is all we are able to say right now. Some of the signature dinners are known. Check the links in the first post.

Thanks TDC Nala ... Will check the links in the first post!

Appreciate your hard work on this every year!

 

[EPCOT is a verb]

Thank you, Redzinner! Looking forward to attending this event with our friends. Any other tips?

 

[redzinner]

Thank you, Redzinner! Looking forward to attending this event with our friends. Any other tips?

Go hungry and thirsty! Wear comfortable clothing (stretch waists and comfortable shoes ). Try not to plan any other paid events for that day. Most of all try it all and enjoy yourselves!

 

[Redwitch]

So, I know the dates of my visit. But I have nothing else booked, no lodging, car or dining ~ just a flight. We are doing the "other side of Orlando" (going to the dark side if you will.) We also planned to hit the booths at Epcot and may be a few special events. I want to plan around my F&W events. So, I got to thinking...wasn't this earlier last year? So I looked.

Last year the dates for the 2010 Festival were October 1 – November 14. The big call in day was July 20. As much as I can determine, most of the information (except deminars) was available July 14 or 15.

The 2011 Festival is Friday, September 30 – Sunday, November 13 and booking is scheduled for August 16. So we have two weeks to make our plans and book? Does this seem ridiculous to anyone else? Do you think we need to wait until August 1 for any official information?

 

[AJW]

The 2011 Festival is Friday, September 30 – Sunday, November 13 and booking is scheduled for August 16. So we have two weeks to make our plans and book? Does this seem ridiculous to anyone else? Do you think we need to wait until August 1 for any official information?

Last year, most of the information about festival events and menus was available by mid-July. I'm guessing that this year it might take a bit longer, since there's only one booking date listed for all events.

The Tables in Wonderland food and wine festival preview is scheduled for July 16th, so they'll have to have some solid info by then in order to make presentations about the event I would guess. That's not guaranteeing that they'll share that info with the general public, though.

 

[AJW]

Is it just me, or is http://www.foodwinefest.com/ now showing all of the info from LAST year again?

 

[ImprovGal]

The Tables in Wonderland food and wine festival preview is scheduled for July 16th, so they'll have to have some solid info by then in order to make presentations about the event I would guess. That's not guaranteeing that they'll share that info with the general public, though.

I'm going to the TIW event next weekend and on returning to my hotel room, I promise to post any new information here. I share.