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

[jesemeca]

I have two questions I'm hoping someone can help me with.

At the booths, is it possible to order a dish without one of the pieces? For instance, if I don't want the sauce, can I order without it?

I keep reading about people lining up for autographs. How do I know who will be signing autographs and when do they do them?

This will be my first time at Food & Wine, so I am confused on some things. Thanks.

 

[dgbg100106]

I have two questions I'm hoping someone can help me with.

At the booths, is it possible to order a dish without one of the pieces? For instance, if I don't want the sauce, can I order without it?

I keep reading about people lining up for autographs. How do I know who will be signing autographs and when do they do them?

This will be my first time at Food & Wine, so I am confused on some things. Thanks.

Ordering without part of the dish just depends on how it is prepared. I am sure they can keep a sauce off it is applied after the dish is ordered. But a lot of dishes are prepared in whole and you cant take anything out/off the dish.

Are you asking about cookbook and bottle signing? These will be in the festival center after their presentations. These will be outlined in the festival guide.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Ordering without part of the dish just depends on how it is prepared. I am sure they can keep a sauce off it is applied after the dish is ordered. But a lot of dishes are prepared in whole and you cant take anything out/off the dish.

Are you asking about cookbook and bottle signing? These will be in the festival center after their presentations. These will be outlined in the festival guide.

and as an additional note, if it is a book signing for a very popular author/chef, go first thing in the morning to the festival center to get a wrist band. We went a few years ago and fortunately got a wrist band, but lot of people just showed up at the time of the signing (without a bracelet) and in some cases weren't able to get a book signed/autograph

 

[SarahInMN]

Does anyone know when the full guide is going to be released? I know last year it was released 24 hours before booking opened. The foodwinefest site still has the 2010 guide up. I really, really like having a pdf to go through and read.

Thank you to those previous posters that posted about Robert Irvine. I did not think that we could book weekend events today but after seeing the posts at noon I made the call. There was no wait for my call to be answered and I was able to book the Deen brothers and Robert Irvine! So again a big thank you because I was not going to call until Tuesday @ 7:00. Disers are the best!

We'll see you at those events! We booked them yesterday too!

 

[jesemeca]

and as an additional note, if it is a book signing for a very popular author/chef, go first thing in the morning to the festival center to get a wrist band. We went a few years ago and fortunately got a wrist band, but lot of people just showed up at the time of the signing (without a bracelet) and in some cases weren't able to get a book signed/autograph

So if I go to the Festival Center in the morning what do I ask for? Do I just tell them I want to come back for a certain book signing? Sorry this is all new to me.

 

[Capt Stitch]

Question about The "3D" Disney's Dessert Discovery would like to take mom to the event but she can't have chocolate or nuts my concern is most of the desert will have those ingredients can you easily tell what the deserts are made with?

Where is the seating for the illuminations do you get a decent view of everything?

I am not one of those that demands everything because I have paid "good money" for it just trying to weigh my options.

 

[SarahInMN]

So if I go to the Festival Center in the morning what do I ask for? Do I just tell them I want to come back for a certain book signing? Sorry this is all new to me.

My suggestion is to be at epcot for rope drop, go straight to the festival center, and get the bracelets. There were cast members just inside the welcome center with bracelets; I don't remember anyone asking which book signing we wanted - they just put the bracelets on us. Also, everyone in your party needs to go get bracelets or else you all can't get in line together for the book signing (or you end up at the back with the non-bracelet people). Both times I saw them enforcing this last year.

Get the book you want signed from Amazon or somewhere else before going to WDW. I realize that sounds cheap but the books are less expensive on Amazon than buying them onsite (and hey that few couple of bucks will fund another glass of food booth wine).

Be ready with your camera too at the signing. They have a cast member who will take a picture using your camera with you and the authors (no photo pass option). We have a really good one of us with Cat Cora from last year.

If you are going out after the book signing and don't want to wear the bracelet, pack a pair of scissors - I don't remember cast members cutting them off for people last year but you could probably go to a gift shop and borrow their scissors if you don't bring your own. Also, if you are going to stay in the parks, bring a nice tote or something to put the book in and protect it, so you aren't just carrying it around.

 

[wlwilliams9]

We're planning on being at EPCOT on Sept 29th, can we expect to take advantage of the F&W Fest kiosk food as a soft openning that day or should I stick with my ADRs?

 

[jesemeca]

Thanks for the information. When will we know who is going to be there each day?

 

[redzinner]

Thanks for the information. When will we know who is going to be there each day?

Weekly Guides will be available everywhere in Epcot that list who, what and where for all events.

 

[jesemeca]

Weekly Guides will be available everywhere in Epcot that list who, what and where for all events.

So there is no way to know ahead of time?

 

[redzinner]

Question about The "3D" Disney's Dessert Discovery would like to take mom to the event but she can't have chocolate or nuts my concern is most of the desert will have those ingredients can you easily tell what the deserts are made with?

Where is the seating for the illuminations do you get a decent view of everything?

I am not one of those that demands everything because I have paid "good money" for it just trying to weigh my options.

You're right there are quite a few chocolate desserts at the 3D. The offerings will change from week to week. I know the one we attended late in October had a pretty good variety of non-chocolate/no nut desserts, such as, pumpkin cheese cake, varied fruits, sugar cookies, flambees, fresh donuts (so yummy). They also had tables of savory items such as prosciutto and Figs, melons, cheeses, etc.

There is no seating for Illuminations. The standing area is right at the entrance to World Showcase, between the two merchandise stores. Great view and last year we received 3D glasses for viewing.

 

[redzinner]

For book signing specifically? No, I don't think so but I could be wrong!

You can get an idea who will be there a specific week and day by looking at the Culinary Demonstration schedule.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We're planning on being at EPCOT on Sept 29th, can we expect to take advantage of the F&W Fest kiosk food as a soft openning that day or should I stick with my ADRs?

The last few years almost all the kiosks were open that evening

 

[jesemeca]

For book signing specifically? No, I don't think so but I could be wrong!

You can get an idea, if who will be there a specific week and day, by looking at the Culinary Demonstration schedule.

So if the chef is doing a Culinary Demonstration, they will most likely do the book signing also?

 

[redzinner]

So if the chef is doing a Culinary Demonstration, they will most likely do the book signing also?

Yes, but not always. All chefs do not have book signings. So the weekly guides are very helpful.

 

[AKLFan3]

I have a question about the Authentic Taste Seminars: it says on Disney's website that they are included in the price of festival admission, but do we still have to RSVP? Also, does anyone know the themes of the Taste Seminars?

 

[redzinner]

I have a question about the Authentic Taste Seminars: it says on Disney's website that they are included in the price of festival admission, but do we still have to RSVP? Also, does anyone know the themes of the Taste Seminars?

These are free, stand in line for a seat seminars. The line usually forms about 30 minutes prior to the seminar. There is no way and no need to RSVP since you cannot sign up for them. First come, first serve basis.

The guide describes these seminars as: "Each of these 30-minute seminars celebrates the origins, properties and history of pure ingredients in a lively and informative presentation by subject authorities."

Some things that were talked about last year but may be different this year, were spices, coffee, cheeses, chocolate, sweetners ...

 

[AKLFan3]

These are free, stand in line for a seat seminars. The line usually forms about 30 minutes prior to the seminar. There is no way and no need to RSVP since you cannot sign up for them. First come, first serve basis.

The guide describes these seminars as: "Each of these 30-minute seminars celebrates the origins, properties and history of pure ingredients in a lively and informative presentation by subject authorities."

Some things that were talked about last year but may be different this year, were spices, coffee, cheeses, chocolate, sweetners ...

Thanks Redzinner! It sounds somewhat interesting. Not sure if I want to stand in line for 30 minutes to get in though.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Thanks Redzinner! It sounds somewhat interesting. Not sure if I want to stand in line for 30 minutes to get in though.

Although 30 minutes is a good rule of thumb, it really depends on the subject of the presentation.

If it's chocolate, the line can already be full by 30 minutes before start time. It's something more mundane, there will already be a line 30 minutes before start time, but it's often possible to get in line as little as 5 minutes before start time and still get a seat.

Waiting 30 minutes is not so bad. It's easy to meet nice people in line. And, if all else fails, the wine bar is nearby, so you can sip a small glass of wine while waiting in line.