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

[LWQuestie]

Are the Beverage Seminars in the Festival Welcome Center (Wonders of Life)?

 

[redzinner]

It can definitely be booked today because the CM I spoke to offered it to me.

Thank you! I went ahead and booked it. No discount because it is on the weekend but she still took my TIW card number?

Are the Beverage Seminars in the Festival Welcome Center (Wonders of Life)?

Yes! and the Culinary demonstrations also are held in the Festival Welcome Center.

 

[conandrob240]

Where can I see a list of the deminars/mixology classes, etc.?

 

[dznygrl]

Where can I see a list of the deminars/mixology classes, etc.?

Wine Seminars:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me.../WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/BeverageByDate.pdf

Culinary Seminars:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me.../WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/CulinaryByDate.pdf

Mixology Seminars:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/me.../WaltDisneyWorld/en_us/PDF/MixologyByDate.pdf

 

[pix13dust]

It is heavily reccomended to sign up for a Wine Seminar? We are trying to do a less " stuctured " trip this year ( sometimes i go a little crazy with the spreadsheets ) and i was hoping to make the decision to attend a wine or Spirit seminar the day of, is that possible? thanks!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It is heavily reccomended to sign up for a Wine Seminar? We are trying to do a less " stuctured " trip this year ( sometimes i go a little crazy with the spreadsheets ) and i was hoping to make the decision to attend a wine or Spirit seminar the day of, is that possible? thanks!

Honestly most of them no longer sell out on the weekdays.

Spirit seminars may be different but wine seemed to have lots of openings last year. (I mean are many of us really racing to sign up to learn about Korean Wines?)

 

[AJW]

Thank you! I went ahead and booked it. No discount because it is on the weekend but she still took my TIW card number?

I'll be there, too, Red!

I think they have to take the TiW numbers even for the weekend events since you're not supposed to be able to book yet if you're not a Tiw, DVC, or AP.

 

[TinkerBelle920]

Hi can someone help me I have been swamped at work and it looks like I missed the release of the seminars can someone send me the link to where they are listed and how I book them. I know the larger events have been out for a while but I am looking for the smaller $8 demo's where DVC members recieve a discount thanks!

 

[Tltorrez]

Honestly most of them no longer sell out on the weekdays.

Spirit seminars may be different but wine seemed to have lots of openings last year. (I mean are many of us really racing to sign up to learn about Korean Wines?)

Wikipedia says Korean wines are mostly medicinal. Eew!

There were very few wIne seminars that looked good, none during our stay.

 

[snykymom]

Now i'm totally psyched -- Gale Gand and Elizabeth Falkner.

Too bad we're missing Jonathan Benno, but i'm happy enough with those two. None of the wine seminars are too impressive. We'll see. I don't want to overbook. We want this to be a very low-key trip, not overly scheduled.

I booked Jonathan Benno - glad to hear he's someone that people are interested in!

It can definitely be booked today because the CM I spoke to offered it to me.

I had an odd experience. I just called moments ago. When I called (using the WDW-FEST number), I had to press 1 for English and the press 2 to indicate I was calling for a future trip. I was put on hold and told it was a bout a 5 minute wait. After a couple of minutes an automated message told me that there was a short survey. If I'd like to participate please press 1, other wise hang up. And then I was disconnected! I called right back in, again to WDW-FEST. This time I didn't get the option to press buttons. I received the automated voice response system. So first they asked in Spanish if I wanted to have the call be in Spanish. I of course didn't say anything. Then I was asked for the purpose of my call. I said reservations. The voice says "Great, I can help you with that." She then precedes to ask me the name of the restaurant. Um...that doesn't fit with what I'm trying to do. The next several questions were like that. I kept saying "I don't know." Finally I was asked a question and she gave an example of "Special Dining Events." When I said that, I was asked if I was making a reservation for the next 7 days and when I said No I was put in the queue. I waited about two minutes. I sure hope this doesn't happen on Tuesday, both the hang up and the voice response. But if it does, I recommend you say "Special Dining Events."

Wish I had known that before I got disconnected twice!

It was very weird. I called right before 9, and got the options to hit 1 or 2 for language, and then 1 or 2 for 7 days, and then got immediately to a CM. The CM couldn't help me yet.

So I called again at 9:01, and got the options with "Which restaurant?" Totally different prompts. Hit 0 multiple times and got put in the queue. On hold for 20 minutes, and then asked if I wanted the survey!

Called again, and got the options for language and if I'm in Orlando. Put in the queue. 25 minutes this time, and got a CM. Once I started talking, got cut off again!

One more time, got put right into the queue. Another 20 minutes (now I love Disney as much as the next guy, but an hour of that music while on hold . . . ). Finally got through to a CM who could help!

Because it's our first (and likely last for a long time) F&W, I booked several on spec. If I wasted the money, well, that won't be the only money I'll waste on the trip!

Got Joey Gullia, Jonathan Beno, Lee Lucier from Irvine's restaurant, Sigemasa Obitsu, and Casey Thompson. Looking forward to it!

And I did get the TiW discount on the Saturday, Sunday and Friday deminars - she gave me the price for each before she charged my card.

Now if I can only get the special events I want on Monday!

 

[cdotla]

Cake Boss (Buddy Valastro) is apparently offered at both 3 and 3:45 (even though the 345 is not on the schedule)

Apparently down to the last 2 seats out of a possible 76.

Not sure if they are holding any back for the 16th, but CM & her support supervisor suspects wld be very limited if any.

 

[lttlmc3]

Just jumping in to say hello! I just found out that I get to go this year!!:cool1

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Cake Boss (Buddy Valastro) is apparently offered at both 3 and 3:45 (even though the 345 is not on the schedule)

If that's in the Disney Dining computer, it seems to be a mistake.

The culinary demonstrations last 45-50 minutes. Then the "room" has to be emptied of guests, the tables cleared, and tables reset. Only then can the next audience be brought in.

 

[pix13dust]

QUOTE=OrangeCountyCommuter;42221707]Honestly most of them no longer sell out on the weekdays.

Spirit seminars may be different but wine seemed to have lots of openings last year. (I mean are many of us really racing to sign up to learn about Korean Wines?)[/QUOTE]

thanks for the answer! that's what i was hoping for!

 

[conandrob240]

Can someone please clarify exactly what can be booked today? I have called twice and gotten two clueless CMs.

 

[dgbg100106]

Can someone please clarify exactly what can be booked today? I have called twice and gotten two clueless CMs.

As long as you have a DVC, TiW or AP number you can book, Beverage Seminars, Culinary Demos, and Mixology seminars for any day of the week.

 

[conandrob240]

That's what I thought. One told me bookings open Aug 16 only. The next one told me I could only book cooking demos not wine demos. Ugh!

Which # should I call?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Can someone please clarify exactly what can be booked today? I have called twice and gotten two clueless CMs.

Three categories of events can be booked today at 1-407-WDW-FEST, but ONLY by AP holders, DVC members, or those with TiW cards:

Culinary Demonstrations
Wine/Beverage Seminars
Mixology Seminars

These are the 45-50 minute events held in the Festival Center (former Wonders of Life).

Also, for events Monday through Thursday, a limited number of spots for each event are available with an AP, DVC, or TiW discount. However, it's also possible for AP holders, DVC members, or those with TiW cards to book full-price spots for Friday to Sunday or for events whose discounted spots have all been sold.

People who are not AP holders, DVC members, or TiW members will have to wait until Tuesday, August 16, at 7:00 a.m. EDT, and do not qualify for discounts.

Booking for the bigger events (such as Pairings and Signature Dinners) begins on Tuesday, August 16, at 7:00 a.m. EDT for everybody (no AP/DVC/TiW advantage).

 

[dgbg100106]

That's what I thought. One told me bookings open Aug 16 only. The next one told me I could only book cooking demos not wine demos. Ugh!

Which # should I call?

call 407-wdw-fest

 

[conandrob240]

Okay got through and found one who knew what she was doing. Robert Irvine sold out though

Anmother question and sorry for being spacey today. I just followed about 20 links and saw something about wine dinners at Flying Fish. I made a note on my paper about Oct 20- Argentinian wine dinner. Now, I can't find where I saw it! Am I going nuts or was that posted somewhere? if so, can you provide link or details on price, etc.?