2012 Epcot Food and Wine Festival *HAS ENDED*

[RMAMom]

I don't know why folks seem surprised at price increases. It is Disney. Have you noticed the increases in park tickets and hotel rates? (the latter have reached the "they are crazy" stage)

Plus at my grocery a lot of what I buy costs more then a year ago.

I was thinking the same thing, my local grocery stores have really raised prices over the last few years. It was bound to happen.

 

[redzinner]

Via Napoli Food and Beer Pairings during the Festival.

Source: Beers and Ears

 

[raraavis]

I don't know why folks seem surprised at price increases. It is Disney. Have you noticed the increases in park tickets and hotel rates? (the latter have reached the "they are crazy" stage)

Plus at my grocery a lot of what I buy costs more then a year ago.

not surprised, just sad. i figure most people were hoping the prices would stay the same, not that they thought the prices would stay the same.

 

[TDC Nala]

Prices usually don't stay the same, but some of these items are showing a huge increase, much larger than usual. Many have gone up only a quarter or so.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am wondering if Florida raised the sin tax. Booze is up a lot and when you have Lex Luther as your Govenor....LOL

 

[DISNEYDUET]

OUCH! Looks like I will have to double the budget for food. Not fun with only a month out!!

 

[karrit2000]

Via Napoli Food and Beer Pairings during the Festival.

Source: Beers and Ears

Thanks for this. Looks like we will have to ask for a substitution for the first course since mom can't do seafood or the beans. We will be attending the 10/9 one. Of course she doesn't plan to drink the beer either. Maybe we can get her the Arancini they are serving the first week.

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

Is anyone in Epcot today who wants to share their experiences with a soft opening? Yummo I can't wait for the Dessert & Champagne booth, it must have my name on it

 

[sunnygal041]

Some pretty cool videos of F&W at thedailydisney.com.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Just got here. So far lines are very short. All I have tried is the steak from Canada and it was good. (better then anything I had at LeCellier). It is VERY hot so I just don't want much

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

I really don't find the price increases to be that dramatic.

It cost $853.35 to purchase 1 of every single item offered at the 2011 F&W Festival. There were 177 items offered. That is an average of $4.82/item.

It costs $984.12 to purchase 1 of every single item offered at the 2012 F&W Festival. There are 197 items offered. That is an average of $4.99/item.

That is only a 3.5% increase overall from last year. Inflation is about 2% per year, so an additional 1.5% on top isn't exactly astronomical.

 

[gometros]

I'm sure this has already been posted, but the latest issue of All Ears included the link to Disney's mobile Site for the F&W festival. It has a nicely laid out reference for the kiosks

http://m.disneyworld.disney.go.com/events/special/food-and-wine?CMP=VAN-WDWFY12Q4F&WMobile0002

 

[OhhBother]

DH and I have been enjoying soft opening all afternoon. Most booths opened between noon and 2. We tried the following:

Caribbean: jerk spiced chicken drumstick and dragon berry colada
Belgium: waffle
Australia: lamington
Scandinavia: Swedish meatballs and rice pudding
Italy: ravioli
Morocco: mimosa royale
Belgium: waffle
France: coq au vin (Cosmo machine wasn't working yet)
Canada: cheese soup and filet
Desserts and Champagne: dessert trio
Hawaii: pork slider

Everything was delicious as usual. I think the Le Cellier filet is overpriced for what you get. I'd rather spend my money on more pork sliders and waffles. As always, the coq au vin is spectacular.

We're taking a break in the room (waiting out a thunderstorm) then heading back for "dinner."

Lines today have been non-existent. We literally did not wait at any booth. I love Food and Wine time!

 

[raraavis]

I really don't find the price increases to be that dramatic.

It cost $853.35 to purchase 1 of every single item offered at the 2011 F&W Festival. There were 177 items offered. That is an average of $4.82/item.

It costs $984.12 to purchase 1 of every single item offered at the 2012 F&W Festival. There are 197 items offered. That is an average of $4.99/item.

That is only a 3.5% increase overall from last year. Inflation is about 2% per year, so an additional 1.5% on top isn't exactly astronomical.

well, that's according to the grand scheme of things. what about when you break it down? when i did my budget with prices from 2011 and then updated it with 2012 prices, i am spending almost double. so from a larger picture (the math you did), it doesn't seem all that bad. however, when you put it on a much smaller scale, it is a big difference. i went from spending about $75 out of pocket on food to spending $125 oop. on drinks, i went from $100 to $200. so i am spending a lot more than just a 3.5% price increase. to be fair, i did guess at a lot of prices because the items i have on my list are new this year.

just thought i would try to explain why some people might be reacting the way they are to price increases.

 

[onelilspark]

I swung by for about an hour and a half this afternoon (I left because I saw the rain coming!)

I tried the Tuna Poke from Hawaii, the Griddled Cheese from Greece, the Filet from Canada, and the Mussels from Belgium.

I would say the mussels were my least favorite and the tuna was my most favorite. All were good. The filet was cooked medium rare, which I loved.

The lines were non-existent, so I'm glad I stopped by before heading home!

 

[raraavis]

DH and I have been enjoying soft opening all afternoon. Most booths opened between noon and 2. We tried the following:

Caribbean: jerk spiced chicken drumstick and dragon berry colada
Belgium: waffle
Australia: lamington
Scandinavia: Swedish meatballs and rice pudding
Italy: ravioli
Morocco: mimosa royale
Belgium: waffle
France: coq au vin (Cosmo machine wasn't working yet)
Canada: cheese soup and filet
Desserts and Champagne: dessert trio
Hawaii: pork slider

Everything was delicious as usual. I think the Le Cellier filet is overpriced for what you get. I'd rather spend my money on more pork sliders and waffles. As always, the coq au vin is spectacular.

We're taking a break in the room (waiting out a thunderstorm) then heading back for "dinner."

Lines today have been non-existent. We literally did not wait at any booth. I love Food and Wine time!

wow, thanks for the update! how are you feeling full wise? do you feel overly stuffed with food or pretty managable? i ask because we have a big list of stuff we want to try when we go, and i want to know if we'll be overdoing it. we are sharing everything (my fiance and i).

 

[Tamar]

We will be there tomorrow. Will try to post some updates, but we just might get caught up in eating and drinking and not get to it right away.....

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I really don't find the price increases to be that dramatic.

It cost $853.35 to purchase 1 of every single item offered at the 2011 F&W Festival. There were 177 items offered. That is an average of $4.82/item.

It costs $984.12 to purchase 1 of every single item offered at the 2012 F&W Festival. There are 197 items offered. That is an average of $4.99/item.

That is only a 3.5% increase overall from last year. Inflation is about 2% per year, so an additional 1.5% on top isn't exactly astronomical.

Yeah. I did not get the hysteria or need to "double" the budget.

Since I can't find anything that doubled in price the math to get double the budget escapes me

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

well, that's according to the grand scheme of things. what about when you break it down? when i did my budget with prices from 2011 and then updated it with 2012 prices, i am spending almost double. so from a larger picture (the math you did), it doesn't seem all that bad. however, when you put it on a much smaller scale, it is a big difference. i went from spending about $75 out of pocket on food to spending $125 oop. on drinks, i went from $100 to $200. so i am spending a lot more than just a 3.5% price increase. to be fair, i did guess at a lot of prices because the items i have on my list are new this year.

just thought i would try to explain why some people might be reacting the way they are to price increases.

No offence intended, but that seems an issue with budgeting rather than pricing.

Here's an example:

My family of three adults has attended F&W for the past 5 years. Our first night we always eat at France, Ireland, Canada and Greece.

2011

CANADA
Cheese Soup 3 x $3.75 = $11.25
Salmon 1 x $4.50 = $4.50
Moosehead Beer 1 x $6.25 = $6.25
Niege Sparkling 1 x $5.25 = $5.25

GREECE
Griddled Cheese 1 x $3.25 = $3.25
Greek Salad 1 x $3.00 = $3.00
Chicken Souvlaki 1 x $4.25 = $4.25
Skouras St George 1 x $3.25 = $3.25

IRELAND
Cheese Plate 2 x $3.50 = $7.00
Lava Cakes 3 x $3.00 = $9.00
Dasani 2 x $2.50 = $5.00

FRANCE
Coq au Vin 2 x $4.95 = $9.90
Escargot 2 x $4.95 = $9.90
Merlot 2 x $5.50 = $11
Kir 1 x $6.50 = $6.50
Creme Brulee 1 x $3.95 = $3.95

TOTAL $103.25

2012

CANADA
Cheese Soup 3 x $4.00 = $12.00
Salmon (replaced with Filet) 1 x $6.50 = $6.50
Moosehead Beer 1 x $6.75 = $6.75
Niege Sparkling 1 x $6.00 = $6.00

GREECE
Griddled Cheese 1 x $3.25 = $3.25
Greek Salad 1 x $3.00 = $3.00
Chicken Souvlaki 1 x $4.25 = $4.25
Skouras St George 1 x $3.25 = $3.25

IRELAND
Cheese Plate 2 x $3.50 = $7.00
Lava Cakes 3 x $3.25 = $9.75
Dasani 2 x $2.50 = $5.00

FRANCE
Coq au Vin 2 x $5.50 = $11.00
Escargot 2 x $5.25 = $10.50
Merlot 2 x $6.50 = $13
Kir 1 x $7.75 = $7.75
Creme Brulee 1 x $4.00 = $4.00

TOTAL $113

Difference: $9.75 and you must account for the swap from Salmon to Filet in Canada, which increases the total cost of Canada by $2, which means the real price difference from 2011 to 2012 is $7.75....hardly double....rather a 7.5% increase.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Disney Parks Blog has some photos up of this year's festival merchandise. I've got to have one of those t-shirts!

http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...-2012-epcot-international-food-wine-festival/