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

[BwoZoo22]

Hi Everyone - only 48 days until we're at Food and Wine!

Two Questions -

1) How long do the culinary demos and wine seminars typically take? I had estimated an hour but wanted to be sure.

2) How are the crowds later on Sunday evening? We are arriving on Sunday and thought dinner at F&W from 6 - 9 would be great, but we might re-think this if the crowds are crazy.

I love reading the posts on this thread each day from all of you - keeps me excited, and I wonder what the heck I'll do after I get back from our trip!

Depending on which seminars you're going to (cheese, wine, mixology, etc.) it can be 45 minutes to an hour and 45 minutes. I think our wine one is an hour, the cheese is almost two hours. The cost is significantly different too, so that may be an indicator.

 

[LJONES1102]

It works best for us to go during midday since our 3 year old will be with us. What time do the booths open?

 

[Missyrose]

It works best for us to go during midday since our 3 year old will be with us. What time do the booths open?

Booths open at 11, and getting there when they open is an awesome way to tour F&W! No lines!

 

[meryll83]

Just curious, what's happening on Sunday 13th Oct to predict such crazy crowds?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[sjs314]

Just curious, what's happening on Sunday 13th Oct to predict such crazy crowds?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Columbus Day long weekend, popular week for BTG's are two things that come to my mind that will effect the crowd levels

 

[luvslikepi]

Booths open at 11, and getting there when they open is an awesome way to tour F&W! No lines!

I'll be there Sept 28-29. Saturday and Sunday. My plan is to high tail it to American Adventure first thing and then rotate out from there in the hopes of missing a lot if the crowds since I think a lot of then seem to congregate in Mexico/UK first thing. I may be wrong but I'm hoping this strategy helps me eat more.

 

[katieg999]

For those who have been there before:

What are the "should not miss" dishes in the festival? I've seen a list and there are SO MANY and I am not sure which ones to choose...

 

[Craigrad21]

Just curious, what's happening on Sunday 13th Oct to predict such crazy crowds?

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

What app are you using for that crowd calculator?

 

[meryll83]

Columbus Day long weekend, popular week for BTG's are two things that come to my mind that will effect the crowd levels

What are BTGs?

Craig, I just pulled this from the touring plans website.

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[Cee]

For those who have been there before:

What are the "should not miss" dishes in the festival? I've seen a list and there are SO MANY and I am not sure which ones to choose...

My very favorites are:

Fisherman's Pie from Ireland(Chocolate Mousse Cake is no slouch either!)

Lamb Meatball(used to be slider)w/Tomato Chutney from New Zealand

Le Cellier Filet Mignon with Mushroom Truffle sauce from Canada(OMG!)

Have a great Festival!

 

[crazy4wdw]

Update on this year's festival on Disney Parks Blog:

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

 

[MomofTwinPrincesses]

My very favorites are:

Fisherman's Pie from Ireland(Chocolate Mousse Cake is no slouch either!)

Lamb Meatball(used to be slider)w/Tomato Chutney from New Zealand

Le Cellier Filet Mignon with Mushroom Truffle sauce from Canada(OMG!)

Have a great Festival!

Can you use a snack credit for that Filet? I might just have 10 fillets if you can.

 

[Missyrose]

Can you use a snack credit for that Filet? I might just have 10 fillets if you can.

Why yes, yes you can!

 

[sjs314]

What are BTGs?

Craig, I just pulled this from the touring plans website.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

Brazilian Tour Groups, many schools in Brazil have no classes the week of October 12th for "Dia da Criança" and visit WDW during this time

 

[2xcited2sleep]

It works best for us to go during midday since our 3 year old will be with us. What time do the booths open?

Booths open at 11am with World Showcase (sometimes some open 10-15 min earlier - depends). FYI the Festival Welcome Center (between Ellen's Energy Adventure and Test Track) opens at 9am with the rest of the park. It features festival merchandise, some adult beverages and some generic snacks. Probably wouldn't say it is worth a trip for the generic snacks but if you want to shop around a bit and maybe have an early glass of bubbly (it is vacation afterall) that is an (air conditioned) option!

 

[AdamsMum]

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?

 

[ryansstitch]

My very favorites are:

Fisherman's Pie from Ireland(Chocolate Mousse Cake is no slouch either!)

Lamb Meatball(used to be slider)w/Tomato Chutney from New Zealand

Le Cellier Filet Mignon with Mushroom Truffle sauce from Canada(OMG!)

Have a great Festival!

I second the filet and fishermans pie (that's where the lines can get pretty ugly!), however dH and I also loved:
Spinach and cheese paneer ( i think that's the name) at South Africa which I believe will return to the generic Africa booth. Tuna poke and whatever the pork sandwich was from Hawaii. Lamb chop from New Zealand was up there too among our favorites, definitely top 5. Almost everything we had was quite good, but those named above were items we purchased 2 or 3 times. Not sure if others noticed this but we found portion sizes shrunk later in the weekend, like Thursday afternoon our filet serving was decent, but on Saturday afternoon I was almost ready to ask for half my money back! I don't even think DH bothered trying to share it with me. Literally one bite serving...Another aside, all the Asian options were surprisingly salty to us. Being from Chicago and LA, we are accustomed to really authentic Chinese, Japanese, etc, and we were pretty disappointed even in the very simple offerings as the salt was overwhelming.

 

[ryansstitch]

I second the filet and fishermans pie (that's where the lines can get pretty ugly!), however dH and I also loved:
Spinach and cheese paneer ( i think that's the name) at South Africa which I believe will return to the generic Africa booth. Tuna poke and whatever the pork sandwich was from Hawaii. Lamb chop from New Zealand was up there too among our favorites, definitely top 5. Almost everything we had was quite good, but those named above were items we purchased 2 or 3 times. Not sure if others noticed this but we found portion sizes shrunk later in the weekend, like Thursday afternoon our filet serving was decent, but on Saturday afternoon I was almost ready to ask for half my money back! I don't even think DH bothered trying to share it with me. Literally one bite serving...Another aside, all the Asian options were surprisingly salty to us. Being from Chicago and LA, we are accustomed to really authentic Chinese, Japanese, etc, and we were pretty disappointed even in the very simple offerings as the salt was overwhelming.

Sorry, the lamb chop was Australia, not New Zealand.

 

[gismo1554]

Anyone know if there is a list of autograph sessions released nearer the time or if they are something you need to look at on the day? I haven't seen one released so far but may have missed it

PS I spotted some new menu items like a Sweet Lobster tail in Hops & Barley and a Brown Elephant cocktail in Outpost on here incase people have missed the update (I clearly had) -> https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/food-wine-marketplaces/

 

[SamSam]

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?

The prices at the Wine Shop are not 'rediculous' but you will still do way better shopping outside of Epcot.