*2013* epcot food & wine festival 9/27-11/11

[purple figment]

In the DFB mini guide there is a map of all the locations of the booths. If anyone has seen this, do you know where the International Gateway comes in? Last year I was able to figure it out (or someone posted it....I don't remember which). Last year it help me decide where to start and end.

Thanks.

I didn't see the Disney Food Blog's map, but as far as I know nothing has been published for this year's kiosk locations. However, the International Gateway is between the UK and France pavilions. After entering the park at the IG if you continue on the path you will reach the UK pavillion and the first food booth last year was Ireland (it was past the Rose & Crown). Since Scotland is being added this year, I would guess this kiosk will be in the same general area.

Or...after entering at the IG if you turned right and walked over the bridge (just opposite the Agent P Adventure sign up station) you would be in France. The France food booth was close to the bridge.

 

[Nakkira]

Sounds like you have a good game plan already. Share everything, take your time, and review the tasting options ahead to get an idea of what you want to avoid (and it helps build the anticipation as well). Don't forget to pick up a 'Passport' to log your likes and dislikes too!

Are the passports free or do you have to buy them and how much do they cost?
I know the Kid passports for Epcot were somewhere between $5-10

Not to sound like a cheapskate but if they are too much I will just be making my own version.

The "wristbands" are basically Disney Gift cards. You just tell the cashier how much you want to put on the gift card and he/she loads it on the "wrist band" card. No extra charge for the cards.

There's no "one size eats all" wristband (I wish there was LOL!)

The best place to get good info is the Disney Food Blog's festival page If this link works it should take you directly to the booth page which will give you all the info but pricing (which we probably won't know until 9/28 or so...)

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2013-...val-marketplace-booths-menus-and-food-photos/

Can't wait for the price info!
I also cannot wait for the first reports to start coming back from early festival goers!


40 Days...still too long!

 

[Disbug]

Are the passports free or do you have to buy them and how much do they cost?
I know the Kid passports for Epcot were somewhere between $5-10

Not to sound like a cheapskate but if they are too much I will just be making my own version.

Yes, they are free! They make a really nice souvenir to remember your trip! You can pick them up at the booths, the Festival gift shops (around the World Showcase), and the Festival Center.

 

[mdsd8700]

I didn't see the Disney Food Blog's map, but as far as I know nothing has been published for this year's kiosk locations. However, the International Gateway is between the UK and France pavilions. After entering the park at the IG if you continue on the path you will reach the UK pavillion and the first food booth last year was Ireland (it was past the Rose & Crown). Since Scotland is being added this year, I would guess this kiosk will be in the same general area.

Or...after entering at the IG if you turned right and walked over the bridge (just opposite the Agent P Adventure sign up station) you would be in France. The France food booth was close to the bridge.

Thanks for the information I appreciate it! I know where the IG is however from the map in the DFB guide the countries are not clear so it was hard to determine where the IG is located. However now that I look at it again, I would assume it was the "open space" is between the booths.

I also have not seen anything published with the location of the booths. I was looking through the mini guide the other day and came across the map. Hopefully it is accurate. It has Scotland located near the Craft Beers close to the Future World entrance.

Thanks again!

 

[mdsd8700]

Yes, they are free! They make a really nice souvenir to remember your trip! You can pick them up at the booths, the Festival gift shops (around the World Showcase), and the Festival Center.

Agree these are a great souvenir and the fact that they are free makes them even better. I just found ours from last year, it was fun to look through.

 

[FRANKTSJR]

In the DFB mini guide there is a map of all the locations of the booths. If anyone has seen this, do you know where the International Gateway comes in? Last year I was able to figure it out (or someone posted it....I don't remember which). Last year it help me decide where to start and end.

Thanks.

At the bridge between England and France.

 

[TDC Nala]

Traditionally, on Preview Day, the day before the festival opens, the Festival Center is not open, correct?

It will be open, but only to cast members, not to the public. You can get the passport at the booths or the gift stands in WS though.

Unfortunately I am not staying at the right resort to get a magic band...those will make the wristband gift cards obsolete.

A lot of the booths are now up. I saw several on Monday and more went up yesterday. Of course there is no official signage, no menus and no prices yet.

Be very careful with those sites that predict crowd levels. Many of them are based on average wait times for attractions. The crowds you will find on F&W weekends in the World Showcase are not there to wait in line for attractions. You may go in for the Festival thinking you will see low crowds and it will actually be slammed, especially if you are there on a Friday evening or Saturday afternoon/evening.

 

[TDC Nala]

For you who have been to the F&W before, are there any affordably priced wines at the Festival Wine Shop? Or should I shop for my own wine outside of EPCOT for consumption in the room?

Some of them are not badly priced for being sold on Disney property. Of course if you have the time or opportunity to purchase wine off-property, or to bring it with you from home, that will be ideal for pricing.

Remember that if you buy a bottle of wine at Epcot, you cannot have it sent back to your resort. They will not allow alcohol purchases to leave the park unless you are carrying them.

You may be able to send a bottle to whichever entrance you are using and you pick it up before you leave.

Once you have exited Epcot, you won't be allowed to enter another park carrying a bottle of wine.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

How will magic bands make wrist band gift cards obsolete? I won't do a room charge so it would seem I will still need a gift card or cash

 

[TDC Nala]

Well, if you're determined not to use a magic band or you don't do room charge then they won't be obsolete for you, but once I get a band there will be no more gift card. Considering how much faster it was to tap and pay with a room key during Flower and Garden (yes, faster than using the gift card - I did both). However, you can't wear the room key on your wrist.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Well, if you're determined not to use a magic band or you don't do room charge then they won't be obsolete for you, but once I get a band there will be no more gift card. Considering how much faster it was to tap and pay with a room key during Flower and Garden (yes, faster than using the gift card - I did both). However, you can't wear the room key on your wrist.

Oh I thought they might link the gift card to your magic band. I won't do room charging. While it might speed it up during pay it's going to slow way down during reconciliation of the charges to the bill (and I don't trust Disney's IT at all! )

 

[CDolacki2003]

This year my DH and I along with another couple are going to do F&W for the first time. We are so excited. I am anxiously waiting for the festival to open so we can see some pictures and reviews.

 

[DisneyLover0610]

Oh I thought they might link the gift card to your magic band. I won't do room charging. While it might speed it up during pay it's going to slow way down during reconciliation of the charges to the bill (and I don't trust Disney's IT at all! )

I believe you can pay your room charges off with a giftcard. Just go to the desk a s pay that way instead of the card on file!

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't think that works unless you actually have a card on file. If you don't wish to put a credit card on file at all, I think you can't charge back to the room.

 

[DisneyLover0610]

I don't think that works unless you actually have a card on file. If you don't wish to put a credit card on file at all, I think you can't charge back to the room.

Oops! That's what I meant, thanks for the correction. While off topic - do you know if putting a debit card down instead of a credit card puts a hold on the account? I remember hotels used to do this (larger hold for debit)
Thanks!
Now how many days til F&W?? 43 days for me!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I believe you can pay your room charges off with a giftcard. Just go to the desk a s pay that way instead of the card on file!

The problem is not really room charging. I don't mind doing that normally but since I am convicted Disney's IT is incompetent I reconcile my charges to the receipts. I don't want to have to do that for all the little food purchases

 

[BriarRosie]

The problem is not really room charging. I don't mind doing that normally but since I am convicted Disney's IT is incompetent I reconcile my charges to the receipts. I don't want to have to do that for all the little food purchases

I rarely find any problems with the room folio. The only time I found something odd, it was a parking fee. I didn't have a car, so I told the cast member that someone at valet at another resort charged my room in error. It was quickly fixed.

 

[BeerMe]

I'm paying using Lithuanian currency.

Sent from my mobile device.

 

[BwoZoo22]

The problem is not really room charging. I don't mind doing that normally but since I am convicted Disney's IT is incompetent I reconcile my charges to the receipts. I don't want to have to do that for all the little food purchases

I've never had an issue either, after 13 years of charging all our souvenir shopping to the room. I like charging to the room because it groups all my Disney purchases in one place. In the past we have always used the gift card for F&W tastings because I can put our allotted food budget on the cards. If we get MB, I will do the room charge thing. In this day and age (unfortunately or not) I can get up to the minute CC statements!

 

[mdsd8700]

At the bridge between England and France.

Thanks, although I do know where the IG is, the DFB map only states the booths names, none of the actual countries are shown so it was difficult to tell where England and France fit in exactly. There is big space left open on the map, so I am going to guess it is in that area. I should have looked closer before.