2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival *HAS ENDED*

[Horace Horsecollar]

most of us who had been attending on a regular basis felt it had less to do with FL liquor laws and crowd control than with the organizers realizing they were missing out on an opportunity to make more money.

I agree.

He thinks it would be very similar to California law which is -

Please keep i mind that the laws for alcohol wholesale distribution, retail sales, mail-order sales, promotion, sampling, "happy hours," and discounting vary widely from state to state.

For example, at Disney's California Food & Wine Festival, Disney had to charge guests a token fee (they charged $1) for the wine seminars due to California law. In Florida, the wine seminars at Epcot were free until a few years ago, when Disney saw the opportunity to charge $8 to $14 tasting fees for them.

I've received free taste samples of wine at Publix and Whole Foods grocery stores in Florida, so I don't think there's anything in Florida law to prevent free samples.

 

[BGK]

most of us who had been attending on a regular basis felt it had less to do with FL liquor laws and crowd control than with the organizers realizing they were missing out on an opportunity to make more money. And that's fine ... no one here is under the impression that Disney is in the business not to make money, but it rubbed the wrong way when they'd been free for more than a decade.

I won't cite the relevant statute, but Florida has no such rule. Retail alcohol vendors who sell sealed containers have really no restrictions on providing free samples. They must comply with laws regarding not serving minors or intoxicated people, but otherwise no issues. I've had samples locally at grocery stores, restaurants with wine sales, liquor stores, and so on. These are always provided by the retailer, not the distributor. Even in my modest town, there's generally some place with samples every day.

Without going all name-droppy and inside-dopey, I know that charging for the wine and liquor presentations was mainly about crowd control and secondarily about revenue.

 

[oybolshoi]

I won't cite the relevant statute, but Florida has no such rule. Retail alcohol vendors who sell sealed containers have really no restrictions on providing free samples. They must comply with laws regarding not serving minors or intoxicated people, but otherwise no issues. I've had samples locally at grocery stores, restaurants with wine sales, liquor stores, and so on. These are always provided by the retailer, not the distributor. Even in my modest town, there's generally some place with samples every day.

Without going all name-droppy and inside-dopey, I know that charging for the wine and liquor presentations was mainly about crowd control and secondarily about revenue.

no surprise, really; which is why free samples in the wine shop (or whatever they're calling it this year) comes as a big surprise to me. Like I said earlier, I hope it works out well.

BTW ... love the cat avatar!!

 

[SMorgan711]

The date for booking special ticketed events is August 14. The booking date for seminars and demos is August 10 for annual passholders, DVC members and Tables in Wonderland members. Discounts may be available on weekday seminars/demos. Deminar costs are $11/$14.

I haven't read all 45 pages so I apologize if this has been answered already. I have an annual pass so I will book the seminars on Friday. Is it 7AM Friday that you can start booking? And can I book online or do I have to call? Is there a special section through the Disney website or is it in the dining reservation area? This is my first F&W so I'm super excited and want to get in for some of the seminars!!

Thanks in advance!

 

[TDC Nala]

I read this on another site

"Visit the Festival Center Wine Shop for daily wine samples provided by our participating beverages companies. Open daily at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m."

I'm assuming "samples" would be free tastings?? That would be pretty cool, nice way to try a bunch of different wines

Please note this does NOT say the samples will be free. I would expect a charge, as for a few years now there hasn't been anything free at the festival.

I haven't read all 45 pages so I apologize if this has been answered already. I have an annual pass so I will book the seminars on Friday. Is it 7AM Friday that you can start booking? And can I book online or do I have to call? Is there a special section through the Disney website or is it in the dining reservation area? This is my first F&W so I'm super excited and want to get in for some of the seminars!!

These bookings will be online. This is the link (which will not go live until Friday)

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/pa...onalFoodWineFestivalReservations06-08-12@0001

 

[gwynne]

Please note this does NOT say the samples will be free. I would expect a charge, as for a few years now there hasn't been anything free at the festival.

I glanced at the Disney Food Blog today, and these wine samples are mentioned there. Right now it is showing pricing as complementary. Either that could change, or maybe the samples will turn out to be thimble-full sized.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012-...al-low-cost-seminars-and-food-demonstrations/

 

[TDC Nala]

Probably the same size we get at Trader Joes, don't expect anything major for free. Besides, if they are really free, the crowds will be horrid.

 

[AJW]

going out on a limb here ... I think the food & wine pairing is designed to be along the lines of what is done in Japan and Morocco - three small courses paired with a wine to give guests an overview of regional cuisine and wines. we actually attended an Italian F&W pairing in 2009 and though it was a great deal for the money ... ended up being four courses and when they found out it was my birthday gave us an extra dessert with some more rosa regale!

I think the lunches are being designed to be a bit more substantial since they are replacing the Bistro lunches this year. I'm making an assumption but I've gone to a lot of bistro lunches and they are typically five courses with a lot of lovely wine.

Just a guess.

That's my guess, too. More wine and more food at the Regional Lunches than at the pairings.

 

[AJW]

I glanced at the Disney Food Blog today, and these wine samples are mentioned there. Right now it is showing pricing as complementary. Either that could change, or maybe the samples will turn out to be thimble-full sized.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012-...al-low-cost-seminars-and-food-demonstrations/

I was told they would be free samples when I did my Food and Wine interview this year. But they're likely going to be small samples purely so that people can determine which wines they want to buy. I think sampling without buying a bottle of something afterward is going to be frowned upon.

 

[gwynne]

I was told they would be free samples when I did my Food and Wine interview this year. But they're likely going to be small samples purely so that people can determine which wines they want to buy. I think sampling without buying a bottle of something afterward is going to be frowned upon.

It would be nice if they handled it this way. This is something many wine specialty shops do.

 

[TDC Nala]

I hope they know what they are doing. I agree with BGK that one of the main reasons they began charging for the deminars was crowd control. If they don't require buying a bottle then it won't matter how much they frown, there will be crowds who just want the free stuff.

 

[TDC Nala]

I was forwarded info by someone about the booking dates.

Friday August 10 at 8am, the Culinary Demonstrations, Beverage Seminars, and Mixology Seminars will be available to book through the DRC agents at 407 939 3378 (407 WDW FEST) (phone line only) for TIW members and Annual Passholders. DVC concierge hosts will book for DVC members

Tuesday August 14 at 7am all programs will be available to book through the DRC agents at 407-939-3378. In addition, only the Culinary Demonstrations, Beverage Seminars, and Mixology Seminars, and General Admission for Party for the Senses and 3D Dessert Party will be bookable online. Please visit www.disneyworld.com/foodandwine.

DVC, TIW, AP, and Golden Oak residents will get a $2.00 discount on Culinary Demonstrations, Beverage Seminars, and Mixology Seminars held Monday through Thursday. No discounts on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.

So apparently you can book deminars on August 10 by phone only if you are TIW, DVC or AP. The website doesn't go live for anything until the 14th. It also appears that if you're going to book as a DVC member you have to call Member Services, which doesn't open until 9.

This also says that PFTS will be bookable online only for general admission, it appears if you want the assigned seating options you will need to call. Looks like the same goes for 3D Dessert - call for the Sweet Seats.

Putting this in the first post.

 

[goodferry]

Thanks!!!

 

[georgemoe]

I was forwarded info by someone about the booking dates.



So apparently you can book deminars on August 10 by phone only if you are TIW, DVC or AP. The website doesn't go live for anything until the 14th. It also appears that if you're going to book as a DVC member you have to call Member Services, which doesn't open until 9.

This also says that PFTS will be bookable online only for general admission, it appears if you want the assigned seating options you will need to call. Looks like the same goes for 3D Dessert - call for the Sweet Seats.

Putting this in the first post.

Thank you. Hopefully the deminar schedule is on the site so we know what to book when we call on the 10th.

 

[woolfcross]

Thanks, TDC Nala. Very helpful!

 

[LMO429]

In your opinion is the 3d dessert discovery worth it? I did the illuminations dessert grand gathering when they offered that a couple of years back is it similiar?

 

[TDC Nala]

It's worth doing once.

I'm pretty sure it's not all that similar to the Grand Gathering. In that one, the desserts were served outside in a private roped off viewing area, so you ate in the same place you watched the fireworks. For this one, everything is served inside and you are then walked to a roped off area (standing room only, no seats).

 

[raraavis]

i also have a question about 3d desserts: did anyone else notice the conflicting information on the disney website?

at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/dessert-discoveries/, it says the sweet seats are an extra $25 and includes:
A private, reserved table
Entrance into World ShowPlace Pavilion 15 minutes before general admission.
A specialty beverage
A unique dessert offering

however, at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/premium-events/sweet/, it says the upgrade is $30 more and includes:
"Your upgrade includes a private reserved table, entrance into World ShowPlace 15 minutes before general admission, a specialty beverage, a unique dessert offering and more."

i found this discrepancy when i was trying to find out what the "and more" in the second description meant. does anyone know which one is accurate? or what the "and more" would include?

 

[AJW]

I was forwarded info by someone about the booking dates.



So apparently you can book deminars on August 10 by phone only if you are TIW, DVC or AP. The website doesn't go live for anything until the 14th. It also appears that if you're going to book as a DVC member you have to call Member Services, which doesn't open until 9.

This also says that PFTS will be bookable online only for general admission, it appears if you want the assigned seating options you will need to call. Looks like the same goes for 3D Dessert - call for the Sweet Seats.

Putting this in the first post.

Great info! Thank you!

 

[TDC Nala]

i also have a question about 3d desserts: did anyone else notice the conflicting information on the disney website?

at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/dessert-discoveries/, it says the sweet seats are an extra $25 and includes:
A private, reserved table
Entrance into World ShowPlace Pavilion 15 minutes before general admission.
A specialty beverage
A unique dessert offering

however, at http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/epcot/special-events/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/premium-events/sweet/, it says the upgrade is $30 more and includes:
"Your upgrade includes a private reserved table, entrance into World ShowPlace 15 minutes before general admission, a specialty beverage, a unique dessert offering and more."

i found this discrepancy when i was trying to find out what the "and more" in the second description meant. does anyone know which one is accurate? or what the "and more" would include?

$30 is this year's price. $25 is last year's price. I am guessing the first one you quoted is last year's info, not this year's. And no, not even the published brochure sent to TIW members clarifies the "and more."