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

[dgbg100106]

This is my first F&W, but after looking at the menus I have to agree that I'm surprised that there aren't more craft beer options. I really like Purple Haze so I'm excited they have it, but my dad and boyfriend are craft beer enthusiasts are are disappointed with the selection. They should offer more rare in ported beers at the different stands. As a PP mentioned, most of the beers can be found at a local pub or grocery store, and they're not very special.

On another note- has any ever done the mixology class or is it new? I'm debating attending or not.

The Mixology class is new this year. but we are looking forward to it as well

 

[cdtommie]

The Pipeline Porter has coffee in it. It is one of DH's favorite beers and tastes like coffee.
http://konabrewingco.com/beers/pipeline-porter/
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/579/33183

Unfortuntely part of the "Craft Brewer's Alliance" aka INBEV.

 

[AJW]

The Mixology class is new this year. but we are looking forward to it as well

I can't wait to try the Mixology class! I might have to do a couple of them. I hope they'll let us know before booking what spirits they'll be using at each class.

 

[dgbg100106]

I can't wait to try the Mixology class! I might have to do a couple of them. I hope they'll let us know before booking what spirits they'll be using at each class.

That would be nice....

 

[Redwitch]

I can't wait to try the Mixology class! I might have to do a couple of them. I hope they'll let us know before booking what spirits they'll be using at each class.

ITA! I had a tequila tasting deminar booked last year and they changed it to gin. They offered a refund, which I accepted due to an allergy to gin.

 

[ilovejsparrow]

I can't wait to try the Mixology class! I might have to do a couple of them. I hope they'll let us know before booking what spirits they'll be using at each class.

I didn't even think that they were probably going to feature a different spirit for each class. I hope I get a good one!

 

[PatriciaH]

Unfortuntely part of the "Craft Brewer's Alliance" aka INBEV.

Yep. Not one of my favorites but he likes it. It can be hard to find sometimes too.

 

[BLTLDZ]

OMG! There is so many neat things! Now, all I need is to hit the lottery

 

[rewok]

This year will be our first time at the F&W festival, and I looking forward to it. I know we'll spend lots of time at the booths, because we love to try new foods, and I'm the type who always like the tasting plates in restaurants! We'll probably try 1 or 2 low cost seminars (must do the mixology one!) as well.

Now, I'm wondering if we should spring money for the special events. Based on our tastes, I was considering the Grand Marnier, and the Chocolate Discovery. I just have no idea if it's worth it... We have no problem spending the money, but for the total price of both, we could dine at the Victoria & Albert! I know it's probably very hard to answer, but what exactly makes those events so "special", so exclusive? The food, the drinks, the chef/presenter? What draws you to spend your money there?

 

[theycomefromallover]

This year will be our first time at the F&W festival, and I looking forward to it. I know we'll spend lots of time at the booths, because we love to try new foods, and I'm the type who always like the tasting plates in restaurants! We'll probably try 1 or 2 low cost seminars (must do the mixology one!) as well.

Now, I'm wondering if we should spring money for the special events. Based on our tastes, I was considering the Grand Marnier, and the Chocolate Discovery. I just have no idea if it's worth it... We have no problem spending the money, but for the total price of both, we could dine at the Victoria & Albert! I know it's probably very hard to answer, but what exactly makes those events so "special", so exclusive? The food, the drinks, the chef/presenter? What draws you to spend your money there?

That is a great question! I have been curious about the same thing.

 

[Billabongi]

Still nothing on the seminars! Argh what is taking so long

 

[redzinner]

Still nothing on the seminars! Argh what is taking so long

The have begun to update the artwork on the Festival site, so it shouldn't be too long now for all the information to be there. Hopefully all by Monday.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's always a big deal when they finally put up the correct site for the year!

 

[redzinner]

This year will be our first time at the F&W festival, and I looking forward to it. I know we'll spend lots of time at the booths, because we love to try new foods, and I'm the type who always like the tasting plates in restaurants! We'll probably try 1 or 2 low cost seminars (must do the mixology one!) as well.

Now, I'm wondering if we should spring money for the special events. Based on our tastes, I was considering the Grand Marnier, and the Chocolate Discovery. I just have no idea if it's worth it... We have no problem spending the money, but for the total price of both, we could dine at the Victoria & Albert! I know it's probably very hard to answer, but what exactly makes those events so "special", so exclusive? The food, the drinks, the chef/presenter? What draws you to spend your money there?

You're right, it is a very subjective decision. We have been doing the festival for 11 years now and our decisions for special events are based on 1) likes 2) new event 3) cost:value ratio.

Do we like what's being offered at the event? Beer, wine, spirits, truffles, etc? The presenters are usually experts in the field and upbeat about the presentation.

Is it something that hasn't been offered previously? We attended the Grand Marnier event last year since it was new. We absolutely loved it, had a blast, tasted 150 year old Grand Marnier, that we would never normally buy, had a visual demonstration of 'flaming' crepes. It was fun entertainment plus we learned about Grand Marnier.

There isn't too much that can be said about the cost value ratio. It's all pretty $$. Food costs have escalated world wide and Disney isn't going to absorb that so we just roll with the cost. Although having done several Party for the Senses we have decided not to attend any this year because of the price. We know the format and we know the wines aren't our top quality, so we'll skip it. Yet we are wanting to book the Italian Truffle Lunch and that's expensive but we love them and we don't get fresh truffles often.

V&A can possibly be booked anytime you are in WDW, not so with the F&WF special events.

 

[fraggle1_rs]

hi

have been looking at the food & wine festival infomation, and this caught my eye - "3D" Disney Dessert Discovery

just wondered has anyone done this before? what sort of price range is it?

thanks for any advice

 

[franandaj]

This year will be our first time at the F&W festival, and I looking forward to it. I know we'll spend lots of time at the booths, because we love to try new foods, and I'm the type who always like the tasting plates in restaurants! We'll probably try 1 or 2 low cost seminars (must do the mixology one!) as well.

Now, I'm wondering if we should spring money for the special events. Based on our tastes, I was considering the Grand Marnier, and the Chocolate Discovery. I just have no idea if it's worth it... We have no problem spending the money, but for the total price of both, we could dine at the Victoria & Albert! I know it's probably very hard to answer, but what exactly makes those events so "special", so exclusive? The food, the drinks, the chef/presenter? What draws you to spend your money there?

You're right, it is a very subjective decision. V&A can possibly be booked anytime you are in WDW, not so with the F&WF special events.

This would be my number one answer. However, a lot of it depends your tastes. The F&W Experiences are unique and though I haven't really done them at the FL festival yet, we had some very similar events at the CA Festival. Sometimes it is the celebrity, sometimes it is the quality of the food, sometimes it is the uniqueness of the experiences. I've chosen four events that I hope to get into this year and those are the factors that caused me to make my choices.

 

[TDC Nala]

hi

have been looking at the food & wine festival infomation, and this caught my eye - "3D" Disney Dessert Discovery

just wondered has anyone done this before? what sort of price range is it?

thanks for any advice

The cost for the 3D Dessert Discovery in 2011 is $55 per person, plus tax. For the "Sweet Seats" (VIP entrance, unique offerings and private reserved seating), add $80 (I'm actually not all that clear on whether it's $80 extra on top of the $50 or it's just $80 for the whole thing.) The Sweet Seats are new for 2011.

 

[MickeyNicki]

The Festival Guide has listed in England a Tea Caddy...does this mean there will be a nice ice tea caddy for the F&W like there as 4 years ago? Or do you think they will just have a cart with boxes of tea like they have inside the Twinnings store?

.

 

[rewok]

You're right, it is a very subjective decision. We have been doing the festival for 11 years now and our decisions for special events are based on 1) likes 2) new event 3) cost:value ratio.

V&A can possibly be booked anytime you are in WDW, not so with the F&WF special events.

This would be my number one answer. However, a lot of it depends your tastes. The F&W Experiences are unique and though I haven't really done them at the FL festival yet, we had some very similar events at the CA Festival. Sometimes it is the celebrity, sometimes it is the quality of the food, sometimes it is the uniqueness of the experiences. I've chosen four events that I hope to get into this year and those are the factors that caused me to make my choices.

Yeah, I pretty much knew that it was very subjective, but was fishing for everyone's feeling. Thanks for the replies!

Since we are both foodies, we have no problem paying for great food and love going out to high end restaurants. We've never been to Victoria & Albert's actually, the high end restaurants in Montreal are actually much cheaper for us!

I think we should try one special event, to see if it suits our expectations, and just hope for the best! Now which one will it be...

 

[karrit2000]

The Festival Guide has listed in England a Tea Caddy...does this mean there will be a nice ice tea caddy for the F&W like there as 4 years ago? Or do you think they will just have a cart with boxes of tea like they have inside the Twinnings store?

.

Are you talkingabout the link to the Official Festival Guide. If you are the information that is currently published is actually last years information. I was taking a look earlier and the dates & events listed were definitely last year since there are no French Regional lunches being offered on the final weekend this year and the festival ends on the 13th not the 14th