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

[kabuki]

Here is another suggestion to call, call again. I was on the phone at 7:00 a.m. Tuesday morning to book one event only. I got through right away and then was on hold for 30 minutes, just to be told that it was already sold out. Something made me call back just now and I was able to book 3 tickets to what had previously been listed as sold out. Disney IT has sadly dropped the ball on all of this for this year.

Happy you were able to get what you wanted but..a shame you had to go through all the trouble to do it!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Apparently I know what I'm doing a bit, because everything I wanted to book was sold out by the time we called (goofed and called on Friday instead of Thursday for TiW discount..). So now I'm trying to figure out if I should just book a culinary demo for when it fits into our schedule and is available, and disregard a geniune interest in the chef/food demo itself. Thoughts?

My in-laws are coming with us and I'm kinda like tour guide barbie to them, so I would like to make sure they get a nice taste (haha, no pun intended) of events that are happening for F&W. (However, if we didn't go to any of the $$ special events, and I didn't mention them, I'm not sure they would know the difference...) We have done DLR F&W with them and they really liked it. And FWIW, out of the four of us, I'm really the only one who enjoys things like wine tastings and cocktails

Thanks for any help/advice. I wish I could just tag along to all the great plans you all seem to have!

I wouldn't book any of the demos ahead of time if you aren't particularly interested. If while there, you still want to see what it is about and have the extra time in your trip, walk over to the festival center and see if there is one going on you can purchase your tickets then for.

If its your first year, I would focus more on the kiosks then major special events. The only major events I would possibly recommend would be a Party of the Senses or 3D Dessert Party.

MMM...Just found out the Flying Fish signature dinner on the 3rd highlights Moet and Chandon. While I like champagne I certainly do not want an all white wine lineup for my dinner. Do you think that will be the case? Can someone please find out how I can get this answered? I tried looking up a direct e-mail or phone number can't find it.

As Moet & Chandon does mostly whites, I think you should go in with an open mind. If you have already booked the event, you aren't going to be able to get a refund. If you can't find the information, I would email the general Disney email and ask for it.


Elin - I'm happy you were able to get the event you wanted after all!

 

[mama03]

Dis Yoda/ TDCnala: I am already booked for this event. No, I know you can't cancel. Just disappointed that it was not mentioned before booking. Again, I know the food is the focus, but I do like my red wine! I will try and contact someone and I will let these boards know if any info was provided to me.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

So is there a listing anywhere of what we KNOW is sold out?

 

[TDC Nala]

Dis Yoda/ TDCnala: I am already booked for this event. No, I know you can't cancel. Just disappointed that it was not mentioned before booking. Again, I know the food is the focus, but I do like my red wine! I will try and contact someone and I will let these boards know if any info was provided to me.

You can always tell Flying Fish when you get there that you did not realize this meal would be specifically accompanied by champagne and you would like some red wine. They may be willing to change out one or more of the wine courses for you.

 

[TDC Nala]

So is there a listing anywhere of what we KNOW is sold out?

Flying Fish signature and Buddy Valastro's sweet sunday and demo, and the October 28 and October 30 French Regional Lunches. Some other stuff was mentioned - but then posters came back and said they were able to book them.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am still messing around. May change my weekend.... Just don't know. I have a DVC room booked for one weekend, but that just may not be the best one to go.

 

[cdtommie]

I have no plans for after my French Regional other than to buy some beer and go see what's left of the Electric Light Orchestra.

ELO without Jeff Lynne is gonna be pretty sad. The Flower Power line-up usually kills Eat-to-the Beat. Herman's Hermits were awesome back in May.

 

[betterlatethannever]

MMM...Just found out the Flying Fish signature dinner on the 3rd highlights Moet and Chandon. While I like champagne I certainly do not want an all white wine lineup for my dinner. Do you think that will be the case? Can someone please find out how I can get this answered? I tried looking up a direct e-mail or phone number can't find it.

Yes, it will be all champagne. We've been to the FF signature dinner the last two years and it was champagne (different companies). I emailed flying fish a few weeks ago and asked if it would be champagne (hoping it would not be). They confirmed it will be champagne (same company as two years ago.

Ed

 

[mama03]

Thanks for the info. I kinda wish I knew before reserving but I love FF. I did finally find a direct number and left a message with the manager. If I don't hear back in a week I plan on calling again. FYI, I plan on seeing if we can get at least one red wine served!! I mean their signature fish dish is red wine friendly! I am also not a complainer for the most part , so I have no intention of being rude or act worthy of a change. I just don't see spending that much on a dinner solely based with white wine.

BTW, how was the last two dinners? Do you have a past report I could check out?

 

[Tltorrez]

You can always tell Flying Fish when you get there that you did not realize this meal would be specifically accompanied by champagne and you would like some red wine. They may be willing to change out one or more of the wine courses for you.

The Beverage Director at Flying Fish (his name is escaping me at the moment) is fabulous, and they have a great selection; it can't hurt to ask. And i'm sure he'd have a fine time trying to select a red that would work with your dishes.

When we went to the Chef's wine dinner in Feb, we took my 8-year old. They made a series of kiddie cocktails that not only paired with the dishes but mimicked the flavors in the wines that we were drinking. It was really fabulous.

 

[Tltorrez]

Should I be concerned that I still can't see my reservations on line? My credit card transactions went through on Tuesday, so i'm not too worried but it's still irritating. And I hate calling.

 

[NejTheLion]

How crowded will it be? ....My wife and I were hoping to escape some of the crowd. Is it considerably more than a cique du soleil Tapis Rouge?

Not crowded at all. There have always been plenty of tables in the lounge for you to wait at until you can enter. We call it the civilized way to do PFTS. And you don't wait very long. Maybe enough time for one cocktail. Once you can enter, you're escorted to your individual table for the evening and free to go start tasting.

 

[NejTheLion]

Okay...possibly more redundant questions, but I promise next year I'll be all over this thread with my advice for newbies!

Apparently I know what I'm doing a bit, because everything I wanted to book was sold out by the time we called (goofed and called on Friday instead of Thursday for TiW discount..). So now I'm trying to figure out if I should just book a culinary demo for when it fits into our schedule and is available, and disregard a geniune interest in the chef/food demo itself. Thoughts?


My in-laws are coming with us and I'm kinda like tour guide barbie to them, so I would like to make sure they get a nice taste (haha, no pun intended) of events that are happening for F&W. (However, if we didn't go to any of the $$ special events, and I didn't mention them, I'm not sure they would know the difference...) We have done DLR F&W with them and they really liked it. And FWIW, out of the four of us, I'm really the only one who enjoys things like wine tastings and cocktails

Thanks for any help/advice. I wish I could just tag along to all the great plans you all seem to have!

For a first time, I think the food booths around the World Showcase are what makes this festival unique from other F&W festivals around the world. Not only do you have the atmosphere of all the different pavilions at Epcot, you also have the opportunity to meet many cast members from those countries. Now, not every food booth will have a representative from the country, but it's your best chance to have that kind of interaction. Plus you get to pick and choose what you'd like to try. Just bear in mind that it can get wicked crowded at night and on the weekends when more locals come.

Beyond that, I think PFTS is a nice evening event that's usually quite memorable. The atmosphere there is exciting, and you do have an opportunity to engage the chefs in conversation. One year we offered up our table to a mother and young child who were attending. Turns out it was the family of one of the chefs. We still talk about the duck he was serving and later saw him with his brother on Iron Chef (it was the Rathbun brothers of Atlanta and Dallas). Whether or not you'd want to do the Wine View Lounge is up to you. If you can afford it, it's less stressful, but it's not a requirement to having an enjoyable experience.

As far as the seminars, they do vary in quality very much. To be honest, I wouldn't plan my schedule around them. If you want to try some, I'd recommend just checking that morning to see what was available. If you don't make it a big deal, then it's not a big deal when it isn't the best.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

I never got my booklet either. I always get their emails so I'm pretty sure I'm on a "list" somewhere!!

I emailed the TIW office asking about ours. We also get the emails consistently. The rep told me that since our membership expired in June, we would not get snail mail until we renewed. However, she also advised that we not renew until on our next trip, since the membership starts on purchase date rather than the date of first use. She went on to say that even though we won't get physical mailings, we will continue to receive emails about special events.

 

[betterlatethannever]

...BTW, how was the last two dinners? Do you have a past report I could check out?

No, I didn't do trip reports. I leave that to those with better writing skills.

The food at both dinners was very good. the champagne paired pretty well. If I remember correctly, we had six different champagnes.

the company at this year's event makes a champagne made to be served "on the rocks". Most everybody had a puzzled look on their face when it was served in 2009. You can sip this champagne cold, in the back yard in the middle of summer, without losing its character as it gets watered down(at least that's what the rep said).

Ed

 

[Brocktoon]

Should I be concerned that I still can't see my reservations on line? My credit card transactions went through on Tuesday, so i'm not too worried but it's still irritating. And I hate calling.

I wouldn't be too concerned, but you may want to still call to make sure they have your reservations. We still have one of our events not showing on line. When I called they said that the reservation was OK, but that they have been getting a bunch of calls with people in the same situation.

 

[cloudnut220]

Thanks for the info. I kinda wish I knew before reserving but I love FF. I did finally find a direct number and left a message with the manager. If I don't hear back in a week I plan on calling again. FYI, I plan on seeing if we can get at least one red wine served!! I mean their signature fish dish is red wine friendly! I am also not a complainer for the most part , so I have no intention of being rude or act worthy of a change. I just don't see spending that much on a dinner solely based with white wine.

BTW, how was the last two dinners? Do you have a past report I could check out?

You might be surprised by some of the whites they serve you. A blanc de noir champagne for example has a very bold taste, almost more like a light red. I've found some wines I never thought I would like by trying things at tasting situations

 

[ElizabethB]

The first V&A Signature Dinner some years ago featured Charles and Piper Heidsieck champagnes. For the main courses, however, they broke out the Opus 1. It was an amazing evening.

I, too, would find it difficult to enjoy a meal that featured only champagnes for all courses. We had no interest in the FF dinner when we noted it would feature Moet and Chandon. Nothing against their champagnes, of course, which are lovely. It's just that champagne simply does not pair well with most entrees.

 

[snykymom]

Who did you e-mail? I get neither snail mail nor e-mail and my TiW is still valid!