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

[TDC Nala]

I'm going to return agreement with OCC and say that if you want any form of reserved seating for PFTS or 3D Dessert, book it immediately. I think everything reserved for PFTS has been selling out the first day or at least in the first two days, and they don't do waitlists. I'm not so sure about the two new events (Scotland Food & Drink and Spirits Confidential) but I'd go along with the same plan.

If you are good with general admission, you can wait for PFTS and 3D Dessert, the two new events are still an unknown quantity.

 

[WDWGeek1971]

All food & wine events are "officially" nonrefundable. You may be able to call and get an exception, although that is never guaranteed.

If you're selecting trip insurance, read the fine print and see if it will cover missing events like these for which nonrefundable tickets have been purchased.

They are also officially non-transferrable. So for someone else to use your pre-paid reservation, they would have to pretend to be you and just hope that no one asks for ID. So, even transferring the reservation to a friend might not be possible. We had all sorts of misses and near misses last year. Sandy hit and took out Newark Airport. It did re-open the day we were scheduled to leave, so I went ahead and flew down. My husband, though, stayed behind to tend the generator and the animals until a friend who was house/farm minding for us could actually get a flight home to NJ. He had been delayed for several days because of the EWR airport closure. This resulted in my husband completely missing the Mexican Tequila lunch (no refund), and when his flight was rebooked, it resulted in us both being about an hour late to the 3D Dessert Discovery Party. Luckily, we both made the rest of our prepaid events without issue.

The good part was spending 5 of 11 days of a power outage at the Boardwalk Villas. ;-)

 

[WDWGeek1971]

I was curious too. Found ths link http://lcdwriter.hubpages.com/hub/What-is-a-Burns-Supper about the F&W Brns supper.

Thank you, DEFNJEB for posting that link! We attend a local Burns supper on (or near) his birthday every year. This certainly describes well what we have experienced. I do hope they serve a proper haggis at this event. I do enjoy a good haggis! We were planning on flying in that evening, so now, as a person of Scots descent, I am thinking about moving the trip forward a day, just to catch this event.

 

[TeresaWen]

I swore up and down for the past 8 months that I was not going back to WDW in 2013.

I just booked a trip...can't miss food and wine!

I will be reviewing this entire discussion soon. Can't wait. So excited.

 

[Kelli Pooh]

Been thinking about PFTS for some time now. DH finally told me yesterday to just go for it and get tickets. I am so excited! Now I need some help figuring out what to wear. Help please.

 

[Disbug]

Kelli Pooh, you can choose to dress up nice or stay fairly casual. Some people will even show up in what they wear to the parks during the day (shorts and tank tops). I really like to dress up a bit, but I always bring comfortable shoes. It is such a fun event... hope you enjoy yourselves!

 

[TDC Nala]

There will be an enormous range of clothing at this event, everything from park clothes to sparkly dresses. I agree, the thing you should concentrate on most is footwear - for comfort, especially if you plan on general admission.

 

[Mac4life30]

For the 3D desserts and for the $12/$15 seminars can you buy tickets online or most you do it on the phone?

 

[TDC Nala]

For the $12/$15 seminars you can buy tickets online starting 8/13. If you want to take advantage of early booking for TIW/DVC/AP from 8/9 to 8/12 you must do that by phone.

3D Desserts you can book online starting 8/13 - for general admission only. If you want Sweet Seats you need to call.

 

[Mac4life30]

I am an annual passholder so then I can purchase the seminars as of Friday however regardless everyone books 3D desserts at the same time on the
13th?

 

[pmdeve]

So excited to book seminars and cooking demonstrations on Friday. When will they publish the details so I can make our choices?

 

[Mac4life30]

So excited to book seminars and cooking demonstrations on Friday. When will they publish the details so I can make our choices?

This was going to be my next question LOL

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

So excited to book seminars and cooking demonstrations on Friday. When will they publish the details so I can make our choices?

Everyone wants to know... someone posted they called yesterday and were told "soon" I am assuming that means before Friday, but....

 

[conandrob240]

I am still confused-can someone repeat exactly what can be purchased on Friday with early booking? Regular PFTS? Signature dinners? Tequila lunch? Seminars?

 

[WDWGeek1971]

I am still confused-can someone repeat exactly what can be purchased on Friday with early booking? Regular PFTS? Signature dinners? Tequila lunch? Seminars?

Table in Wonderland Members: YES, all others wait until the 13th.
Regular PFTS: NO
Signature dinners: NO
Tequila lunch: NO
Seminars: YES Beverage and Mixology only (as in "NO" for cheese or chocolate)

The following is cut and pasted directly from the TiW email announcement:

How to Purchase:

Presale: Tables in Wonderland Members are invited to make reservations for Culinary Demonstrations, Beverage Seminars, and Mixology Seminars ONLY beginning on Friday, August 9th, 2013 at 9:00am. This pre-sale offer will only be available over the phone, so please call 407-WDW-FEST (407-939-3378) for reservations.

All Epcot® International Food & Wine Festival Events will go on sale on Tuesday, August 13th at 7:00am. For reservations, please call 407-WDW-FEST (407-939-3378). Additionally, the below events will be available online, via www.epcotfoodfestival.com:

- Culinary Demonstrations

- Beverage Seminars

- Mixology Seminars

- Scotland: Land of Food & Drink (General Admission Only)

- 3D Disneys Dessert Discovery (General Admission Only)

- Party for the Senses (General Admission Only)

- Spirits Confidential (General Admission Only)

As a Thank You for your continued membership, Tables in Wonderland Members are eligible for a $2.00 discount off of Culinary Demonstrations, Beverage Seminars, and Mixology Seminars, Mondays Thursdays throughout the Festival. To receive your discount, please be sure to book over the phone as this offer is not available when booking online.​

As an additional note, from the official F&W brochure:

Tables in Wonderland Members, Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members and Golden Oak Residents receive $2.00 off Culinary Demonstrations, Beverage Seminars, and Mixology Seminars Monday Thursday. Call 407-WDW-FEST (407-939-3378) for reservations
All appearances, presentations and events are subject to change without notice.

 

[conandrob240]

So, when & how do you book the signature dinners? August 13th by phone only- is that right?

 

[WDWGeek1971]

In my experience, F&W festival is an ever more engaging event. Here is a view into the slippery slope, as experienced by me.

1. You start by happening upon a delightful food and/or wine kiosk when you didn't even know there was an EPCOT F&W festival. Spouse, who is not much of a WDW fan, is intrigued.
2. You find out that it is an annual event so plan a trip for next year, and spend your time grazing from kiosk to kiosk around World Showcase. You get talking to people and you find out there are "special" dining events. Hubbie really liked the experience. Hmmmm.
3. Now you know there are special events, so the next year you try to sign up for one. All you can get is the Wine Pairing in Morocco, because everything else is sold out. But you go, and you have a really great time!
4. You plan a trip during F&W. When events are announced, you pick an event (or two) that will be happening during your visit and you are on the phone at 7am the first day they are taking reservations. You swear that if you ever decide to leave your current job as a results producing software executive who can build and scale high volume transaction events--you will offer your services to Disney and fix their online "challenges."
5. The trip is fantastic, and the events compelling! You enjoyed the special events so much, that you are going to plan your next trip around the events, rather than planning your events around your trip.
6. You FINALLY get the signature event schedule, book your events and then go to book your trip and NOTHING on Crescent Lake is available when you want to go, so you stay off property and valet park at the Boardwalk every day.
7. You book a room for every week of F&W at some hotel on Crescent Lake so that you can comfortably stagger back to your room after and evening of over-indulgence--no matter when Disney decides to schedule it. You pick your events and cancel most of your reservations. How crazy could it be to fly to Florida twice during one Food and Wine Festival? At this point, Hubbie needs an annual pass, too.
8. You've experienced an amazing event and you want to make it an annual event. You're determined to watch for the scheduling of that event and then book your trip. This is your plan, and you're sticking to it. You grow weary of waiting and wondering how it will all work out. You have a plan B if you can't get a good rate or rent points for DVC at the Boardwalk or Beach Club on "short notice."
9. Hubbie is now teasing you in public about this Disney F&W obsession thing. So, you suggest that we vacation in Italy this year instead of going to Food and Wine Festival. He asks, "Can we do both?" [Smiling inside.]
10. As a compromise you take a couple of trips to Cape Cod (also a foodie destination) instead of attending Star Wars Weekend or Flower and Garden Festival and are now waiting to book your F&W vacation. You're completely set on attending an event that will only happen once during the entire festival. You post questions about this event on every official Disney blog or social media outlet. Finally, the event is announced. Within an hour you have your plane tickets and a reservation at the Swan. PHEW!
11. I have no idea what is going to happen next, but I'll come back and update this post in November. I do know that Hubbie caught wind of the F&W-like booths at Flower and Garden. I think we will be adding that back in to the WDW vacation mix. After all, we've got those annual passes and that TiW card . . .

 

[WDWGeek1971]

So, when & how do you book the signature dinners? August 13th by phone only- is that right?

Exactly right. And if previous years are any indication, it will require some patience.

 

[WDWGeek1971]

These are all included with your Epcot Admission. It can be a bit of a zoo at the Festival Welcome Center (formerly Wonders of Life pavilion). Get there early or very late for best results.

The Chocolate Experience: From Bean to the Bar
Hosted by Ghirardelli® Chocolate Company
Included with your Epcot® admission.
Immerse yourself in the sights, smells and flavors of Chocolate, the World’s most famous flavor! Marvel at chocolate sculptures created by our own Walt Disney World® Resort Pastry Chefs and explore the journey chocolate must take to get from the bean to the bar. Don’t miss your chance to sample chocolates, purchase gourmet drinking chocolate, select a wine and chocolate pairing and shop for a bag of your favorite Ghirardelli Gourmet Chocolates.
Where: Festival Welcome Center When: Daily, 9:00 am-Park Close

Authentic Taste Seminars
Included with your Epcot® admission.
Each of these 30-minute seminars celebrates the origins, properties, and history of pure ingredients in a lively and informative presentation by subject authorities.
Where: Festival Welcome Center, Spotlight Stage
When: Fridays – Sundays at 12:15 pm, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm and 6:00 p.m

Book Signings and Meet & Greets
Included with your Epcot® admission.
Don’t miss the opportunity to chat with a celebrated author or personality! Be sure to have your purchased book/merchandise item autographed. Please check the daily schedules for featured authors and personalities or visit the Festival Center Information Desk.

Bottle Signings
Included with Epcot® admission.
Meet the winemaker and have your purchased bottle of wine autographed for a great souvenir! Check the daily schedules for topics and presenters or visit the Festival Center Information Desk.

All appearances, presentations and events are subject to change without notice.

 

[basketlacey]

Does anyone know how many tickets can be purchased with a TiW card? We are travelling as a group of 6 and one couple (or maybe one person) has a TiW card. Would she be able to purchase 6 tickets on Friday?