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

[Krissalee]

On another group that I am in, someone asked about attending one of these events solo, I have never been to any of these dinners at WDW, but I have been to them at other restaurants. A solo traveler is usually seated with other parties and everyone becomes friends soon.

I hope I gave her the right advice. ???

In my opinion, you gave absolutely correct information!

I have been to dinners at California Grill and at Citricos, and in years past the Exquisite Evenings at Epcot. I believe the tables were set for approxiamtely 8-10 people. I have been seated at tables with solo dinners, and usually everyone does become friends! Especially as more wine is being poured. I think the set up is really conducive to chatting with your table mates, comparing notes on the events, sharing opinions of the food, or just getting to know where everyone is from.

 

[dansyr2514]

Food and Wine Festival Guide

 

[B'rer Karen]

Food and Wine Festival Guide

Yay! Now off to starting deciding everything I have to try....

 

[oybolshoi]

South Africa is serving bunny chow this year! Watch out Purina, you've got competition!

 

[Bellamouse]

Oh man, you have made me ONE HAPPY LADY!!!!!!!! Thanks for posting!!!!!!

80 days and counting.....

 

[LilyWDW]

Lots of tasty things to try!!

I'm going to have to find some tasty nonalcoholic drinks to get during this since I will have to miss out on most of the actual alcohol. I know the F&W booths will focus on the booze, but hopefully there will be some stuff in the regular areas that are good. I remember some tea in China I think...

I will be sneaking a few sips here and there though... can't skip it all!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Thank you to everyone that took the time to answer my question. (Some nicer than others... but that's besides the point.) I was unaware that these events were meant to be adult drunkfest... kind of pictured it as an upscale party with different tastings than what was available at the kiosks and some spectacular entertainment (love, love, love cirque de soleil.) With that being said... I'm glad that I know that this isn't the case - and although I will not have a baby sitter for opening weekend of Food and Wine Festival - you all have convinced me that I do need the second (adults only) trip that we were considering.
So, we will only eat at the kiosks during opening weekend (and we will miss the opening reception - guess that's for next year) and then we will go back the first weekend of November to do all of the parties. Just a shame that I can't go to see Buddy the second weekend of F&W fest!!!

Drunkfest???? Where did you get that from???? Just because it is not appropriate for your young children the attendees are now all drunk?

I honestly don't think i have seen "drunks" at this event. But I have seen them at the kiosks so be warned

 

[jesemeca]

Food and Wine Festival Guide

You just made my night. This will be my first time going to Food and Wine Festival. Now I can decide all the dishes I want to try. Anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[AJW]

We've got all of our booth menus and individual booth pages updated over on DFB -- feel free to click through the booth pages to check out photos of the booths themselves, the menu items that are being repeated this year, and a few of the NEW menu items!

2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth Menus and Photos

 

[dgbg100106]

South Africa is serving bunny chow this year! Watch out Purina, you've got competition!

 

[PNO4TE]

We've got all of our booth menus and individual booth pages updated over on DFB -- feel free to click through the booth pages to check out photos of the booths themselves, the menu items that are being repeated this year, and a few of the NEW menu items!

2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth Menus and Photos

Thanks for posting this to add to our set of links!!

 

[Brocktoon]

What's up with the Sweet Sunday event for 10/16? The booklet that was released earlier listed Elizabeth Falkner, but on the official WDW website it now lists TBD for 10/16.

Do you think they will list the replacement by opening of bookings? I was interested in attending if it was Chef Falkner, but I'm not going to pay $90 if the Chef isn't listed. I'd rather go with the 10/16 Discovery of Chocolate event instead

 

[TDC Nala]

AJ's map link is in the first post now.

I think these are interesting changes:

Hops & Barley: Crab cake is indeed gone. Food offerings at the booth are all lobster (and one dessert).
Brewers' Collection: Smoked wheat beer sounds interesting
Japan: Tuna Sensation is now Tuna and Salmon Sensation.
Morocco: Harissa Chicken Roll!
France: Coq au Vin has replaced the short ribs. I like it
Ireland: Selling no "entrees" except the Fisherman's Pie which is the second most popular festival item from last year
(#1 is Canada's cheese soup...go figure)
Craft beers cut waaaaay down this year

 

[stephielela]

We've got all of our booth menus and individual booth pages updated over on DFB -- feel free to click through the booth pages to check out photos of the booths themselves, the menu items that are being repeated this year, and a few of the NEW menu items!

2011 Epcot Food and Wine Festival Booth Menus and Photos

Yay!!! I can't wait!

 

[TheMaxRebo]

I was wondering if someone could give me some information on the Food and Wine pairings. This is something we wanted to do during our first trip to the food and wine festival. I noticed they have this in the different countrys, is the servings they have native to that country or do they serve the same stuff just in different locations. I wanted to make sure I choose the right one, or even try more than one if I need to. Thankx!

Also, anyone have any recommendations on which one they prefered over the others?

The only one we have done is the one in Morocco and we really enjoyed it. Really good food and some good wines that we would not normally try (I don't believe the wines were all specific to Morocco, but were for that general region - i.e., no French or Italian, etc.)

We thought that was one of the better values as well - though this was a number of years ago that we went so it might not be as good recently

 

[snykymom]

I would never book a nonrefundable event on arrival day if I'm flying. Most flights operate as scheduled, but delays and cancellations can and do happen.

Party for the Senses is $145 plus sales tax. (At least the gratuity is included.) There is no TiW discount; at least there hasn't been in the past.

So the real question is if it's worth almost $160 per person. For me, the answer is no. For that kind of money, I expect to be served an excellent multi-course meal with well-paired wines. I don't want to stand in line after line to get tastes of food and samples of wine. If it cost half as much, I might consider it.

Of course, other people disagree with me. They consider it a wonderful way to spend an evening and the highlight of going to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival.

I usually suggest never booking a non-refundable event for an arrival day unless you are arriving a good 5 or 6 hours before the event takes place. Wait until you get there and purchase a ticket from your resort concierge if you want to attend on an arrival night. If you miss it, you will not be getting your money back. And there's no TIW discount on the Party for the Senses. And yes, I am going to a Party for the Senses, I like it better than sitting and being waited on.

We did this last year and it was almost a fiasco. We were supposed to arrive the day before, had to change our plans after PFTS was paid for. Our flight was late, our towncar was a no show, it took a while to get my annual pass renewed at the gate. We got there right as the doors opened. Took a while and several glasses of wine to calm down.

In summary, I don't recommend it!

Thanks for the advice! I will wait and decide that night - maybe after I've read the reviews for some of the earlier PFTS. The one thing that may make it worth going to for us is the Cirque entertainment along with the food & drink. (DD will be 22 at the time, so no children issue!)

 

[TheMaxRebo]

AJ's map link is in the first post now.

I think these are interesting changes:

Hops & Barley: Crab cake is indeed gone. Food offerings at the booth are all lobster (and one dessert).
Brewers' Collection: Smoked wheat beer sounds interesting
Japan: Tuna Sensation is now Tuna and Salmon Sensation.
Morocco: Harissa Chicken Roll!
France: Coq au Vin has replaced the short ribs. I like it
Ireland: Selling no "entrees" except the Fisherman's Pie which is the second most popular festival item from last year
(#1 is Canada's cheese soup...go figure)
Craft beers cut waaaaay down this year

also, something like Blue Moon (which is brewed by Coors) isn't much of a "Craft beer"

 

[AJW]

AJ's map link is in the first post now.

I think these are interesting changes:

Hops & Barley: Crab cake is indeed gone. Food offerings at the booth are all lobster (and one dessert).
Brewers' Collection: Smoked wheat beer sounds interesting
Japan: Tuna Sensation is now Tuna and Salmon Sensation.
Morocco: Harissa Chicken Roll!
France: Coq au Vin has replaced the short ribs. I like it
Ireland: Selling no "entrees" except the Fisherman's Pie which is the second most popular festival item from last year
(#1 is Canada's cheese soup...go figure)
Craft beers cut waaaaay down this year

Thank you, Nala! I can't wait to try the Harissa Chicken Roll; sounds right up my alley.

I love the addition of the coq ua vin with MACARONI AND CHEESE!! in France; I think that'll be fun.

I'm upset that they switched out the corn and cheese empanada with the beef empanada in Argentina. I really liked the addition of some great vegetarian items on last years menu.

Veggie almost gone at Mexico, too. Last year there were tons of good menu items to try; this year, just two tacos (rib eye and shrimp) and flan.

Brazil's entirely new menu (minus the returning Caipirinha) will be fun to sample.

Like the Goulash addition in Germany, though the spaetzel was good.

Can't wait to try the griddled cheese in Greece, but people will mourn the spanikopita. And yogurt replaces baklava?! What?!

 

[DisneyCrafter]

I'm so sad about the Roasted Corn and Cheese Empanada being replaced with the Beef one! I also really enjoyed both tacos offered at Mexico last year but the Rib Eye one does sound delicious. I am very happy that the Belgium booth is returning, the waffle was delicious and the Godiva Iced Coffee was heavenly! I can't wait to make my list!!! I've been waiting for this list since we starting planning our trip back in February!

 

[LilyWDW]

Can't wait to try the griddled cheese in Greece, but people will mourn the spanikopita. And yogurt replaces baklava?! What?!

I saw that, went up to my fridge, and said to myself "Self, I could make the dessert option for the Greek booth right here!"

Another one that made me is the kerrygold cheese sampler at the Ireland booth. That is another thing I can make from my fridge with no problem.

Oh well, that just means more room for the other stuff!!