2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival 9/19-11/10

[Mac4life30]

Anyone here recommend the Party for the Senses? Im looking for a honest non candy coated review. I did the 3d dessert party and it was ok. I would do it again since I enjoyed myself however that is only $50. The Festival is almost 3 times that and all you get is an extra hour and some more food ( non dessert types). If I plan to spend almost a week at disney already and go to the F/W wine multiple times is the Party worth it?

 

[Jay Kat]

Anyone here recommend the Party for the Senses? Im looking for a honest non candy coated review. I did the 3d dessert party and it was ok. I would do it again since I enjoyed myself however that is only $50. The Festival is almost 3 times that and all you get is an extra hour and some more food ( non dessert types). If I plan to spend almost a week at disney already and go to the F/W wine multiple times is the Party worth it?

I would like to learn more about it too. I have been to the Festival twice, but never any extras. Is this a good one? What is it about? tell us more!

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Anyone here recommend the Party for the Senses? Im looking for a honest non candy coated review. I did the 3d dessert party and it was ok. I would do it again since I enjoyed myself however that is only $50. The Festival is almost 3 times that and all you get is an extra hour and some more food ( non dessert types). If I plan to spend almost a week at disney already and go to the F/W wine multiple times is the Party worth it?

I've done it about 5 times. It's a good starter event to those at F&W paid events. I have reviews in my Fall 2013 review in my signature and the 2009 one I believe. (Could be wrong on the year)

It's different than the Booths as there are celebrity chefs and Disney chefs making bite size dishes and you can always go back for 2nds and 3rds if you want. There is also a lot of wine to try and they usually have some Sam Adams beer and some of the hard stuff too.

It is crowded with no guarantees of a seat as it is a cocktail type party. You can usually figure out the wineries and chefs as they are the ones with demos going on the week prior to the party.

I won't go back but I'm glad i got experience it a few times. I enjoy the sit down events where people serve me more.

 

[luckyfinfarmer]

We did party for the senses for the first time last year. It was totally worth it for us. We love trying new food and drinks and really loved everything about it. We've done F&W festival for years and liked the party more than all the booths. I think it depends on your personality though. If you're not into trying unusual or different foods, I wouldn't do it. Oh and we had a reserved seat not general admission.

 

[RitaFaye94]

I keep seeing all these extra events - chef demos, Party of the Senses. Where can I get a full run down of all these events so I can plan our first festival???

 

[Mac4life30]

I keep seeing all these extra events - chef demos, Party of the Senses. Where can I get a full run down of all these events so I can plan our first festival???

. The info should be out in a few weeks. Usually by end of July.

 

[NewRVLady]

One year Australia had a special area-you bought a Ticket and got a "stamp:" at 4 (?)areas of the country-each area had 2(?) wines to taste-really liked that!

We usually miss the seminars-gotta pay more attention to schedules this year!

 

[karrit2000]

Anyone here recommend the Party for the Senses? Im looking for a honest non candy coated review. I did the 3d dessert party and it was ok. I would do it again since I enjoyed myself however that is only $50. The Festival is almost 3 times that and all you get is an extra hour and some more food ( non dessert types). If I plan to spend almost a week at disney already and go to the F/W wine multiple times is the Party worth it?

We did PFTS quite a few years ago before they had the reserved seating. For us it was an OK experience but we decided we'd rather spend the money on some of the many sit down events. I guess everyone should try it at least once if you think you might enjoy it. We also did the 3D Dessert experience and have no desire to attend that again either. The time we did 3D it had been a very hot day & it was way too much sweets to try to enjoy. I wasn't overly impressed with the Spirits Confidential event they had last year as it was mostly whiskey/scotch, only one tequila, one vodka, not enough Liquor variety although the food offered was decent. I enjoy the smaller sit down events such as the French Regional Lunches, The French Brunch, Taste Shake & Indulge, Mexico Tequila Lunch, Italy Food & Beer Pairing, Italy Regional Lunch & Italy Food & Wine Pairing. We also did the Sweet Sunday event but stopped attending that one when they decided to keep having it in the noisy Festival Center. You can do at least 2 if not 3 other events for the money you spend on one PTFS.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

Subscribing! I'm really looking forward to this year's festival. We skipped 2013, but prior to that we had been every year since 2006! I'm in F&W withdrawals

 

[pmdeve]

I can't wait until they release the information about this year's F&W so we can start planning!

 

[TanJDis2014]

Maybe a dumb question, but are there going to be maps available for where all the booths are, and what the main offerings are?

 

[TanJDis2014]

Maybe a dumb question, but are there going to be maps available for where all the booths are, and what the main offerings are?

Never mind, duh, found the map from 2013 online, so yes there will be one

 

[Linda67]

Quick question about PFTS
Are the booths replicated at PFTS?
I quite like the idea of this event being the 'one shop stop' for all the booths!
OR is this event comprised of totally different dishes TIA

 

[ppiew]

I too hope but doubt that the demo's with food service NOT be held in the Festival Center. Noisy and people milling around everwhere. Lots of people watching the whole thing with no tickets etc. kind of a pain.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Quick question about PFTS
Are the booths replicated at PFTS?
I quite like the idea of this event being the 'one shop stop' for all the booths!
OR is this event comprised of totally different dishes TIA

Completely different dishes. They also change each week of the festival.

 

[Candl]

We planned our September trip thinking maybe we would catch the first day on our last day. But, WDW surprised us with an early start, so it gets there when we get there!!

Cassie-we usually do the Food booths at night=like EVERY night of our trip


It is a tad hard for kids, because you mostly stand with your plate and eat-there are a few tables and ledges here and there to lean on
We eat sit down for lunch also

This will be our sixth (fifth with kids) trip during the festival.

Every year so far, I have dropped my wife and kids off at Liberty Inn. Then, I head towards Italy & Germany and grab a couple of plates worth of things we want to try. Head back to the Inn, snack with my family, and repeat heading towards Japan & Morocco.

When my kids were not into it (every time until 2013), I would hit the Inn for some chicken nuggets for them to enjoy instead. Same thing works by Yorkshire Fish, but there are not as many tables to work with.

Also, you can find a few more spots to sit along the bridge to the world showcase. Use Refreshment Port or Promenade to satisfy any pickie eaters. This spot has the advantage of being fairly close to Canada's pavilion (Steak was amazing last year).

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Anyone here recommend the Party for the Senses? Im looking for a honest non candy coated review. I did the 3d dessert party and it was ok. I would do it again since I enjoyed myself however that is only $50. The Festival is almost 3 times that and all you get is an extra hour and some more food ( non dessert types). If I plan to spend almost a week at disney already and go to the F/W wine multiple times is the Party worth it?

I like the party, but won't go unless I can afford reserved seating. I don't enjoy the "running of the bulls" and "reserved tables" mentality of the open "cocktail party". (There was a poster on this thread last year rather irate because people dared to sit at empty seats at the table she "reserved" with her shopping bag. And I found that normal

Food is more adventurous then the booths. And it is more "foodie". So if the booths are daring for you this might be too much


IMHO it is not an appropriate venue for kids, but it is Disney and there are always parents there fussing with miserable looking kids. (Disney charges full price which I always think would discourage them)

 

[Drinehart811]

So I know in general weekends are much worse than weekdays so for my 8 day trip 9/28-10/5 I am planning on visiting EPCOT for F&W 2 weekdays (wed and fri). However, I am sure we will want to go Sat or Sun before we leave as well to get to some of those booths we hadn't gotten to the first 2 days. My question is since the tower of terror marathon is Saturday, would we be better of at EPCOT sat night while that's going on, or on Sunday when it's usually not as bad? Any input appreciated

Sooooo excited for my first F&W!

 

[Linda67]

Completely different dishes. They also change each week of the festival.

Thanks

 

[JoshuaShaw]

So I know in general weekends are much worse than weekdays so for my 8 day trip 9/28-10/5 I am planning on visiting EPCOT for F&W 2 weekdays (wed and fri). However, I am sure we will want to go Sat or Sun before we leave as well to get to some of those booths we hadn't gotten to the first 2 days. My question is since the tower of terror marathon is Saturday, would we be better of at EPCOT sat night while that's going on, or on Sunday when it's usually not as bad? Any input appreciated

Sooooo excited for my first F&W!

I can't think of too many situations where Saturday would be preferable to Sunday. I've always found Sundays to be busy, but manageable.