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

[tiggrbaby]

We used to do that until a CM told us that we had to take the table they were offering us or forfeit the ADR. We begrudgingly took the table, ate a hasty meal (spending much less than we would have originally), and rushed off to find a viewing spot. We have not been back to R&C since.

Hmmm, if they do that this year, I'll forfeit the ADR, save a good spot, and send the rest of the group to get treats from the kiosks!

 

[Aunt Michelle]

We used to do that until a CM told us that we had to take the table they were offering us or forfeit the ADR. We begrudgingly took the table, ate a hasty meal (spending much less than we would have originally), and rushed off to find a viewing spot. We have not been back to R&C since.

We had an ADR at R&C last year during F&W. We checked in early and indicated we were willing to wait for a patio table and the CMs were very accomodating. We were a party of 8. We had a great meal and view of Illuminations.

 

[mama03]

Okay I have a previous post about this dinner. Hubby does not want all champagne dinner. Had I known ahead of time I would not have booked this event. On friday night they have a chef tasting dinner featuring Markham wines. Now, I know it is a no refund event. But, can someone who wanted to go take our place, granting I set it up with ff prior to event? Has anyone done this with past events?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Okay I have a previous post about this dinner. Hubby does not want all champagne dinner. Had I known ahead of time I would not have booked this event. On friday night they have a chef tasting dinner featuring Markham wines. Now, I know it is a no refund event. But, can someone who wanted to go take our place, granting I set it up with ff prior to event? Has anyone done this with past events?

Officially, the Food & Wine Festival event bookings are non-refundable and non-transferable. So, technically, you can't sell your spots at the dinner to someone else.

I would recommend calling Disney Dining and asking for a supervisor. The system allows them to issue refunds; it's only the rules that don't allow this. If you explain that you booked the Moët & Chandon dinner honestly not realizing that Moët & Chandon is a Champagne house, chances are the supervisor will "make an exception."

Disney will have absolutely no problem selling your spots at the Moët & Chandon dinner to someone else. In fact, if you post here that two spots have opened up for this sold-out event, chances are that someone will grab those spots within an hour.

 

[mama03]

Thanks for your response H., I found out which champagnes will be served and the info for the dinner on Friday night. Okay, Does anyone want my two open spots for the signature dinner at Flying fish? Once I get confirmation from someone who wants my spot I will contact Disney Dining.

*update* waiting to hear back from disney dining regarding canceling dinner. Booked friday night chef dinner at FF featuring Markham wines.

BTW: if you want to book a friday night chef table event at Flying Fish you need to contact them directly.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I would be really shocked if Disney does cancel your dinner for you. They explain in their policy that they aren't events that be cancelled.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I would be really shocked if Disney does cancel your dinner for you. They explain in their policy that they aren't events that be cancelled.

There's only one way to find out, and that's for mama03 to try.

Yes, I noted that the Food & Wine Festival event bookings are officially non-refundable and non-transferable. However, Disney is a company focused on guest service, and Disney would face no financial loss in refunding mama03's booking and selling the spots to someone else.

If someone had to cancel because of illness or a family emergency, I have no doubt that Disney would be accommodating. In mama03's case, I'm not suggesting that she lie about such an emergency. I think that admitting an honest mistake and politely asking for an exception to the rule this far in advance will be honored by a supervisor.

On the other hand, someone who books more events than they expect to attend, just to have the options, and then calls the week of the events to cancel half of them, will almost certainly just have the "non-refundable" rule read back to them.

 

[mama03]

I will not lie just to cancel. I explained to the service rep. that I did not realize that it was a champagne only based dinner, she took all of my information down, the supervisor was not available but will be contacting me in 72 hours. The rep also knew that lots of people will fill my two spots. So we shall see what happens. I was also able to transfer my mixology from friday to thursday without any trouble.

 

[horselover]

I will not lie just to cancel. I explained to the service rep. that I did not realize that it was a champagne only based dinner, she took all of my information down, the supervisor was not available but will be contacting me in 72 hours. The rep also knew that lots of people will fill my two spots. So we shall see what happens. I was also able to transfer my mixology from friday to thursday without any trouble.

I hope it all works out for you & you're able to switch to something else.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

There's only one way to find out, and that's for mama03 to try.

Yes, I noted that the Food & Wine Festival event bookings are officially non-refundable and non-transferable. However, Disney is a company focused on guest service, and Disney would face no financial loss in refunding mama03's booking and selling the spots to someone else.

If someone had to cancel because of illness or a family emergency, I have no doubt that Disney would be accommodating. In mama03's case, I'm not suggesting that she lie about such an emergency. I think that admitting an honest mistake and politely asking for an exception to the rule this far in advance will be honored by a supervisor.

On the other hand, someone who books more events than they expect to attend, just to have the options, and then calls the week of the events to cancel half of them, will almost certainly just have the "non-refundable" rule read back to them.

Disney has generally taken away a lot of the "understanding" ability from the CMs. Disney has heard all the "illness/emergency stories" and saldly some of them were flat out lies to get "special" treatment. You used to be able to call if there was an emergency and get a refund on hard ticketed events etc.. don't count on it any more.

 

[MUDisneyCouple]

No free Sam Adams tasting any longer. There will be Sam Adams for sale at the Hops & Barley Kiosk back by the America Pavilion. #16 0n the guide map

Bummer...that's what I thought. Drag...at least I wasn't totally imagining that it did exist Thanks.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

We used to do that until a CM told us that we had to take the table they were offering us or forfeit the ADR. We begrudgingly took the table, ate a hasty meal (spending much less than we would have originally), and rushed off to find a viewing spot. We have not been back to R&C since.

unless things have changed, last time we ate there a few years ago even if you had a table with no you were permitted to go outside to their viewing area/pavillion to watch Illuminations. Now, you are outside vs. inside at a table with a view - but it was still very nice. Close spot and "private" area

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Hi All,

I was wondering how early one should arrive to get a decent (not necessarily front row) seat for the culinary demonstrations?

Thanks!

I think it depends on how popular the speaker is.

Last time we went, for some of the really popular/tv personalities (Robert Irvine, etc.) there would be large lines 45 mins early ... but for the lesser known people 15-20 mins would probably be ok

 

[RAPstar]

How crowded will Sunday Oct 2nd be approximately? Trying to decide if I will go then, or on the 3rd.

 

[vicki_c]

So I'm probably 60 pages behind in reading the thread since a few weeks ago ...

can anyone tell me if any nice graphic design-inclined person has created any of those little cards you can print for each booth to check off what you have tried?

Or is that passe now that they have the passports? We did use the passport last year on our 1 day visit to F&W, but I remember a few years ago, someone here had created nice little do it yourself cards.

Maybe the passport is just a better idea anyway, now that I'm writing this all out!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

How crowded will Sunday Oct 2nd be approximately? Trying to decide if I will go then, or on the 3rd.

IMHO the first weekend tends to be fairly crowded.... If you can wait and go Monday it's going to be less crowded!

 

[karrit2000]

So I'm probably 60 pages behind in reading the thread since a few weeks ago ...

can anyone tell me if any nice graphic design-inclined person has created any of those little cards you can print for each booth to check off what you have tried?

Or is that passe now that they have the passports? We did use the passport last year on our 1 day visit to F&W, but I remember a few years ago, someone here had created nice little do it yourself cards.

Maybe the passport is just a better idea anyway, now that I'm writing this all out!

I don't know if anyone has set anything up yet this year. I know that someone did it last year but I had trouble getting the file to print out in the 3 x 5 index card format so I ended up modifying an older set from a few years ago. I like to have the booth prices for the items on there and we haven't seen any prices yet that I'm aware of but I did start modifying the cards I have from last year with the changes we already know about so I'm still working on my file. I like to have the cards in case I visit the booths more than once because I put comments on the back side after I've tasted.

 

[RAPstar]

IMHO the first weekend tends to be fairly crowded.... If you can wait and go Monday it's going to be less crowded!

Thanks, I'll go on the 3rd then!

 

[franandaj]

I think it depends on how popular the speaker is.

Last time we went, for some of the really popular/tv personalities (Robert Irvine, etc.) there would be large lines 45 mins early ... but for the lesser known people 15-20 mins would probably be ok

That's nuts! In California you had to be there by 9:30AM for a 2PM demo if you wanted to see Robert Irvine!

 

[B'rer Karen]

So I'm probably 60 pages behind in reading the thread since a few weeks ago ...

can anyone tell me if any nice graphic design-inclined person has created any of those little cards you can print for each booth to check off what you have tried?

Or is that passe now that they have the passports? We did use the passport last year on our 1 day visit to F&W, but I remember a few years ago, someone here had created nice little do it yourself cards.

Maybe the passport is just a better idea anyway, now that I'm writing this all out!

Last year a nice user (JillU-DVC) shared her cards with me. I am using them as a template and updating for this year. I print them on card stock, punch a hole in the corner, and put them on a caribiner which I clip on my camera bag or purse. I like to rate what I try and make notes. This keeps it real handy for me and doesn't take up any space in my bag. Since it is clipped to me, I also won't lose it! I did this last year and in 2009 when I took my mom. She's going with me this year and one of the first things she asked me was "Are you going to make those cards for me again?" So apparently she really liked the idea (I made her her own set). Another thing I do is, before the trip, I pull out my notes from last year and any returning items I will note what I thought of it last year. If I hated it last year I don't want to waste money on it this year.