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

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

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.[/QUOTE

The big risk is that deserts might be made with nuts and/or in the same area as nuts.... not sure how you would know or what type of product listing they have there. I know that it's basically impossible to do "special dining" at Party For The Senses, not sure how it works for this event.

 

[Capt Stitch]

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 thanks for the info as long as I know there is a separate area mom gets very nervous and between her excitement of wanting to have desert and her fears it makes life a little stressful for me and dd. I will be able to enjoy the event without too much stress.

One more quick question regarding the viewing area is it overly crowded or can a cute 70 plus little old lady make her way to the front line to get an optimum viewing of Illuminations?

 

[msaseifert]

I forgot to call yesterday but did remember today and we are signed up for Thurs 10/6 4pm Chateua Ste. Michelle Wine Seminar $8
Fri 10/7 6pm Mixology Seminar $9.99
Mon 10/10 12pm Silver Oaks Wine Seminar $8

Can't wait til Tuesday to book Cheese Seminar, French Regional Lunch (which we LOVED last year...great value and awesome foods and wines!) and we plan to book Party for the Senses.

We have not done PFTS before and we are really on the fence about the Wine View Lounge. Any words of wisdom for a newbie? I know drinks are included as well as a cheese bar....but wont we be eating and drinking other things so what justifies wine view lounge? Any insight would be most appreciated! Thanks!!

P.S...I just have to mention that the CM I talked to today was CLUELESS and I had to explain to her why I was calling and what discount I got ..haha. She finally got it all figured out but it did take me about 20 minutes to book 3 events......Hope Tuesday is much smoother but.....

 

[Billabongi]

Suprised to see no one else upset about Disney releasing all the reservations on Friday. I'm none to happy about it and have made my feelings known about it. Sad that Disney specifcally sent an email to passholders telling them we had early access to reservations on Friday then Tuesday only for them to turn around and release everything on Friday.

Disney continues to pull this crap so I think this will be our last passholder year, amazing such a big company still manages the same issues over and over

 

[redzinner]

Suprised to see no one else upset about Disney releasing all the reservations on Friday. I'm none to happy about it and have made my feelings known about it. Sad that Disney specifcally sent an email to passholders telling them we had early access to reservations on Friday then Tuesday only for them to turn around and release everything on Friday.

What do you mean by all the reservations? All the Culinary Demonstrations and Beverage Seminars or are you saying they released the signature premium events also for booking?

 

[redzinner]

Redzinner thanks for the info as long as I know there is a separate area mom gets very nervous and between her excitement of wanting to have desert and her fears it makes life a little stressful for me and dd. I will be able to enjoy the event without too much stress.

One more quick question regarding the viewing area is it overly crowded or can a cute 70 plus little old lady make her way to the front line to get an optimum viewing of Illuminations?

It's not terribly crowded. The whole plaza area slopes gently down toward the water so even if you stand in back you can see pretty much everything. There is just no where to sit or even lean against anything. You might want to leave the dessert party a little early and start to walk over. When you enter the 3D dessert party they will put a wrist band on you and that will let the CMs at the viewing area know that you have admittance to the roped off viewing area.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Suprised to see no one else upset about Disney releasing all the reservations on Friday. I'm none to happy about it and have made my feelings known about it. Sad that Disney specifcally sent an email to passholders telling them we had early access to reservations on Friday then Tuesday only for them to turn around and release everything on Friday.

Disney continues to pull this crap so I think this will be our last passholder year, amazing such a big company still manages the same issues over and over

HUH?

No one has been able to book anything without the required numbers. Are you upset becasue TIW and DVC were included in the "early booking" (which the email never said it was an "exclusive")


This seems to be a bizarre post by someone who may not have all the facts IMHO.

 

[PNO4TE]

Suprised to see no one else upset about Disney releasing all the reservations on Friday. I'm none to happy about it and have made my feelings known about it. Sad that Disney specifcally sent an email to passholders telling them we had early access to reservations on Friday then Tuesday only for them to turn around and release everything on Friday.

Disney continues to pull this crap so I think this will be our last passholder year, amazing such a big company still manages the same issues over and over

I am a little confused by your post. Everything was not released on Friday. What makes you think it was?

 

[JohnathanS]

I am a little confused by your post. Everything was not released on Friday. What makes you think it was?

I think there was a bit of confusion about which seminars/demonstrations would be released this past Friday. All of them were released (that is, the weekend demonstrations were released) when many were under the impression that it would be only Monday-Thursday. On my first call, a CM told me I could not book Cat Cora on Saturday, and that I would have to wait until the 16th to book it. When I called back, the demo was booked. That was pretty frustrating. Even AllEars states on their main page : "NOTE: Tables in Wonderland and DVC Members and Passholders can begin booking discounted seminars and demos scheduled for Mondays through Thursdays ONLY" which isn't the case at all: you can book Friday-Sunday as well. I do think this was poorly handled, as has been the training of the CMs taking the reservations.

 

[redzinner]

I do think this was poorly handled, as has been the training of the CMs taking the reservations.

Agree! I'm wondering if only a percentage of the possible total were dumped into the system on Thursday and that percentage is what is showing up as fully booked. Time will tell. Luckily, for me at least, the entire seminar/demonstration schedule is ho-hum this year.

 

[PNO4TE]

I think there was a bit of confusion about which seminars/demonstrations would be released this past Friday. All of them were released (that is, the weekend demonstrations were released) when many were under the impression that it would be only Monday-Thursday. On my first call, a CM told me I could not book Cat Cora on Saturday, and that I would have to wait until the 16th to book it. When I called back, the demo was booked. That was pretty frustrating. Even AllEars states on their main page : "NOTE: Tables in Wonderland and DVC Members and Passholders can begin booking discounted seminars and demos scheduled for Mondays through Thursdays ONLY" which isn't the case at all: you can book Friday-Sunday as well. I do think this was poorly handled, as has been the training of the CMs taking the reservations.

That makes a little more sense. The OP sounded as if all the Special Events were also released. I agree that wording may have been the issue.

 

[woolfcross]

Anyone have any word on the URL for online booking on Tuesday? I thought I read that this information would be posted soon--hopefully no later than tomorrow (Monday).

 

[Billabongi]

That makes a little more sense. The OP sounded as if all the Special Events were also released. I agree that wording may have been the issue.

I meant to include the deminars don't know if the signature events were released. Just to point out that I do have the facts unlike the person above stating I don't here's exactly what is on the Passholders site which is exclusive.

"Book as early as August 12, 2011 at 9 a.m. for events held Monday through Thursday. Book as early as August 16, 2011 at 7 a.m. for events held Friday through Sunday."

Instead Disney released all the deminars on Friday so yeah I'm upset and do have the facts.

In releation to the signature events I'd call and check if I was you, if Disney messed up the deminars already they may have messed up the signature events as well.

 

[redzinner]

Anyone have any word on the URL for online booking on Tuesday? I thought I read that this information would be posted soon--hopefully no later than tomorrow (Monday).

If you are referring to the booking of the signature events, I personally have not seen any written word from Disney that this will be done on-line. It has all been verbal hear-say.

The only on-line booking Disney has written about will be for the seminars/demonstrations and that URL address has not been posted as of yet.

 

[mama03]

Believe me I checked on friday to make sure the cm's were not booking anything other than deminars. One thing to consider is i don't think the weekend or weekday seminars are sold out, just the allotted discount tickets. So try back on Tuesday to get the seminars that are supposedly sold out that you want.

 

[redzinner]

Does the Festival Center open for the soft opening on September 29th?

 

[ImprovGal]

Does the Festival Center open for the soft opening on September 29th?

The Festival Center has not soft-opened, only the kiosks. Since they are doing First Bites there again this year, I wouldn't expect it to soft-open since that event uses the whole space (not just palmhenge).

 

[redzinner]

The Festival Center has not soft-opened, only the kiosks. Since they are doing First Bites there again this year, I wouldn't expect it to soft-open since that event uses the whole space (not just palmhenge).

Thanks!

 

[TDC Nala]

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.

I don't think I can recommend this type of events for guests with allergies. You can ask about the ingredients, and they can tell you, but if there is nothing your mother can eat they will probably not be able to prepare special desserts for her without the risk of cross-contamination. And unless you get to the Illuminations viewing early I would not count on your mother being allowed up front by anyone who is already there. if she is in a wheelchair, there may be a special viewing area for that, but not in standing room. Yes, it would be nice if they let her go up front, but you just can't count on depending on the kindness of strangers.

I am going to guess (and it's just a guess at this point) that there will NOT be online booking for the special events, unless they are intending to activate the "get tickets" option on the festival page for more than just the deminars.

I'm also not going to leave in the arguments in this thread about what wording Disney put in their announcements. I've deleted a couple of posts. I agree, they actually did seem to say you could only book the weekdays. Might be constructive to send a letter or e-mail to Disney about their poor planning rather than argue about it. Posting your disappointment in Disney's fooling around with the booking is fine, but please don't start arguing about it.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

So the general consensus is that we have to all call in the morning? Disney's IT once again seems to be doing their normal "stellar" job LOL!

Does anyone know if the Wine View lounge option sells out quickly. I know that I don't have to be first on the phone for PFTS but I am still toying with the lounge. (Yes, I know it's a lot of money, but look at al the money I didn't spend on "deminars" because of the combination of my personal boycott and the amazingly bad offerings while I am there... Korean Wines!!! LOL!)