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

[theycomefromallover]

Hey Guys, I am interested in having Artisan Cheese Selection with Sweet Gras Dairy Thomasville Tome while at the Cheese stand. Which wine would you pair with this?

 

[Cee]

Can I ask a nosy money question? How much would you say you spend on average eating around the world? Per person since I have three.

Three of us went last year and we each put $100 on one of the wristlet gift cards you can purchase there. Believe it or not, toward the end of the week, we ended up putting another $20 on! I guess you could say we ate quite a bit....

 

[danissmart]

I live around the area and the FAWF is my favorite I go every year and you guys are making me so excited already.

I think the vets of fawf are pretty dead on and would like to offer up my opinion and expertise as well.

There are some things I'm really digging about this year and some things I'm not.

The elephant in the room seems to be craft beers. ??? What happened, as the craft beer movement has expanded in the Orlando area Disney seemed to be retracting. Grrrr.

I wanted to briefly mention that soup from Puerto Rico last year which was fantastic. I don't know if they are doing it this year or not but last year they had a disney employee contest and that soup was the contest winner. Sad it's not here this year, but hope they continue that tradition and make it more known to the public about the contest winner.

I am surprised by this as well. The Craft beer market is growing, even while the larger beer market is shrinking. It does not make any sense for Disney to be moving away from it. Maybe a few well placed complaints will have them re-evaluating their stance.

 

[OKW Lover]

Can I ask a nosy money question? How much would you say you spend on average eating around the world? Per person since I have three.

Three of us went last year and we each put $100 on one of the wristlet gift cards you can purchase there. Believe it or not, toward the end of the week, we ended up putting another $20 on! I guess you could say we ate quite a bit....

When my wife and I go, we start with two $100 cards. After only 2-3 days that's gone and we need to add more. We're going to be at this year's event for 10 days and I can't even guess how much more I'll be spending.

When we do F&W we usually share each of the purchases so we can taste everything. We also enjoy trying the different wines (and beers for me), but here again we share so we can both try it. In a booth that has two things we both want to try, we'll get both plus a drink (or two) to share. The money goes fast when you're doing that.

 

[Sandy321]

I am surprised by this as well. The Craft beer market is growing, even while the larger beer market is shrinking. It does not make any sense for Disney to be moving away from it. Maybe a few well placed complaints will have them re-evaluating their stance.

ITA about the Craft beer Market - but I believe since Budweiser was bought by the owners of Stella + beers - and Sam Adams does have a contract with Disney - that is why we will not see craft beers any time soon in Disney...

I know our local Wine store does a wine tasting twice a year - last year they included the Craft Beer market - dh was in heaven! He talked to the owner of the best Belgium beer he had tasted - the man made 10 gallons of it, that was all - and of course it was gone in the course of the evening...

But because of that - dh is now brewing his own beer - talk about expenses!! But dh is happy, and I was happy with the champagnes and wines, and I always knew where to find dh!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am surprised by this as well. The Craft beer market is growing, even while the larger beer market is shrinking. It does not make any sense for Disney to be moving away from it. Maybe a few well placed complaints will have them re-evaluating their stance.

The thing you seem to be forgetting is Disney wants money or a great deal on the product This has driven several wine producers away. I expect the beer has the same issue

 

[Skoolie]

The thing you seem to be forgetting is Disney wants money or a great deal on the product This has driven several wine producers away. I expect the beer has the same issue

Ah good point. I can see that happening. Bummer though,

 

[4EvrSoarin]

DW and I are considering doing the Bongo’s Signature event this year. Has anyone done this in years past and have anything to say about it?

 

[TDC Nala]

I didn't think Bongos food was very good, so I can't say I've ever considered that event. I think there was also one last year but I don't know anybody who went.

 

[Skoolie]

I didn't think Bongos food was very good, so I can't say I've ever considered that event. I think there was also one last year but I don't know anybody who went.

I agree - while I haven't eaten at Bongo's in a while, I never considered it very good food. Unless it's a totally different menu with a different chef, I would probably never go.

 

[LWQuestie]

Anyone... ? :-D

Soo... how are the vegetarians in the group liking the offerings this year? I'm bringing a friend for the first time and am a little concerned with the kiosk offerings. They seemed to be more veg-friendly last year.

 

[Tltorrez]

I read on the official site that you get a "passport" for the kiosks and that each has a stamp to mark where you've been. Any idea what this looks like? Is it similar to the Wine Walk card?

We're bringing DS8 and he really loved the regular Epcot passport when we were there last time. I'm thinking about making an expanded version so that he can check off all the foods we eat.

 

[franandaj]

Can I ask a nosy money question? How much would you say you spend on average eating around the world? Per person since I have three.

There are two of us and we tend to eat almost everything. Depending on the booth and cost of individual items, we have spent anywhere between $12-$20 per kiosk. There are possibly 2-4 booths that don't really interest us. We also order about three food items and two drinks, and then split them all. If you average $15 per kiosk with 24 kiosks we probably spent about $180pp. That was over the course of a week. We had a TS meal every day and actually had only six days at the festival, so that works out to $30 for food & drink. We were always full and that's about what I would spend on a TS lunch, so I thought it was a decent deal.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I read on the official site that you get a "passport" for the kiosks and that each has a stamp to mark where you've been. Any idea what this looks like? Is it similar to the Wine Walk card?

We're bringing DS8 and he really loved the regular Epcot passport when we were there last time. I'm thinking about making an expanded version so that he can check off all the foods we eat.

If it's like last year it's just a little booklet,passport sized with a page for each booth. They stamp it each time you order something and the plan is you get all the stamps.

It's a fun idea and can be used for what you are thinking about. They will have them at the DVC booths if it's like last year (Don't worry about a "hard sell" they just had them sitting out, you didn't even have to talk to the guy/gal)

I spend a LOT at this festival. Of course this year it's going to be less since I am not doing the seminars, but the "tastes" add up. I think it's worth it, but assume you will spend more then you expect

 

[redzinner]

I read on the official site that you get a "passport" for the kiosks and that each has a stamp to mark where you've been. Any idea what this looks like? Is it similar to the Wine Walk card?

We're bringing DS8 and he really loved the regular Epcot passport when we were there last time. I'm thinking about making an expanded version so that he can check off all the foods we eat.

The passport booklet is about the sixe of a 3X5 index card.



The Passport pages will have the food and beverage items listed from each booth with a little bracket box for you to check if you ate or drank an item.

 

[Tltorrez]

Thanks for the replies on the passport. I wasn't expecting something that cute. Now I won't have to make something special. I can spend my time working on his birthday surprise.

 

[AKLFan3]

The passport booklet is about the sixe of a 3X5 index card.

The Passport pages will have the food and beverage items listed from each booth with a little bracket box for you to check if you ate or drank an item.

What a cute little booklet! I don't remember seeing it when I went to the F&W Festival in 2009.

 

[TDC Nala]

The booklets were everywhere. I have six of them and never even used them. If you want to make sure you get one, the Festival Center may be the best place.

They didn't have them in 2009 - they were new for 2010.

 

[AKLFan3]

The booklets were everywhere. I have six of them and never even used them. If you want to make sure you get one, the Festival Center may be the best place.

They didn't have them in 2009 - they were new for 2010.

Oh okay, I didn't attend in 2010. I'll be sure to pick one up when I go, it's a great idea!

 

[4orm]

Any word on the seminars? I'm dying to see what will be there when we are.