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

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I'm sorry if this has been asked. I've tried to scan through the thread.

I really want to surprise my husband with tickets to the Party of the Senses on October 11th. His birthday is the 10th and we leave for our Disney Dream cruise on the 12th so it's perfect timing. Is the party really crowd? Anyone experience with getting the Level 1 Vine Lounge or Level 2 reserved seating? I want to do it but I'm afraid it will be super crowded and you can't get to the food stations.

If you want reserved seating be ON the phone tomorrow at 7! See post two in this thread for the "how to deal with the phone system tutorial" (REQUIRED READING )

I have never had a problem getting food. The stations do get crowded but the only real problem is the desert stations near the end of the night. (I solved this by eating desert early LOL!) The space itself is big, and in theory with general admission there should be enough space for everyone, but... the "table hogs" generally win out on general admission which is why I like the reserved seating!

 

[gwynne]

I'm sorry if this has been asked. I've tried to scan through the thread.

I really want to surprise my husband with tickets to the Party of the Senses on October 11th. His birthday is the 10th and we leave for our Disney Dream cruise on the 12th so it's perfect timing. Is the party really crowd? Anyone experience with getting the Level 1 Vine Lounge or Level 2 reserved seating? I want to do it but I'm afraid it will be super crowded and you can't get to the food stations.

I think The Party for the Senses would be a wonderful surprise. It is a really fun event. We've been going to them for a few years. There are lots of guests, but it really isn't a problem. If you happen see a station that has a longer line, just come back a bit later.
We much prefer reserved seating. I recommend it.
Happy planning!

 

[DisneyJen]

I received the mail with link to the E-brochure for the "special events" ... FW Premium Package and FW Late Night. I called the FW Fest number and was told that I could book both.

I then called our friends who are traveling with us ... After confirming that they wanted to attend as well I called FW Fest again After 30 minutes of the CM looking up the details I was told I would have to wait until tomorrow to book

So in addition to all of the reservations I have to book tomorrow I new need to add these to the list

DH asked me what the benefit is to being a DVC Member, an AP Holder and a TIW Member ... I said I don't know but maybe we need the Disney Chase card as well

I have all my info set and ready to go for the 7 a.m. EST rush

 

[marsh0013]

I received the mail with link to the E-brochure for the "special events" ... FW Premium Package and FW Late Night. I called the FW Fest number and was told that I could book both.

I then called our friends who are traveling with us ... After confirming that they wanted to attend as well I called FW Fest again After 30 minutes of the CM looking up the details I was told I would have to wait until tomorrow to book

So in addition to all of the reservations I have to book tomorrow I new need to add these to the list

DH asked me what the benefit is to being a DVC Member, an AP Holder and a TIW Member ... I said I don't know but maybe we need the Disney Chase card as well

I have all my info set and ready to go for the 7 a.m. EST rush

Did the CM give you any more details? Like what the items available at the late night are, or if it includes alcohol? I'm not getting up early to book. Just curious. Good luck in the morning everyone!

 

[Inkmahm]

I am on the phone now trying to get my general admission tickets fixed to be reserved seating. The first CM told me there aren't any reserved seats left and the first CM probably just hit the wrong selection as they are right next to each other online. She could have thought she was doing reserved seating for me but hit general by mistake. I also can't stand for that long, I use an ECV for Epcot due to knee surgeries. I'm hoping the supervisor will be able to fix it. If they listen to the recording they can clearly hear that I asked for reserved seating, not GA.

EDIT: The first CM could only tell me to keep calling to see if there would be an opening in reserved seating. That isn't possible because the reservations can't be canceled once made so calling several times a day won't magically bring up a new opening for reserved seating. I asked for her supervisor. She gave me Disney Guest Services and the CM told me he would continue to research my question and would call me back in the next day or two. I said there must be a way to fix this since I clearly asked for reserved seating and I can't stand for 2 1/2 hours. I think he told me he would research it just to get me off the phone, to tell you the truth. I have little faith that he will call back and have this fixed for me.

And I have to eat my words...

Received a call this morning from the same guy I spoke to on the 29th who said he was going to research this and get back to me. He was able to get two reserved seats for us and I just had to give him my credit card info for the difference in price. Excellent job,Disney! I am impressed that he did what he said he would do. And now we have all of our events so I don't have to call in a few hours to try to book anything. The Disney Visa card is worth having if only for the ability to book special events early!

 

[Inkmahm]

There is some info on this in Post 2.

DO NOT give them resort info. If they ask for it tell them you are staying offsite, or you don't have a reservation yet. Really. If you give them your resort info then a lot of time will be wasted trying to find your resort reservation.

Have your credit card or whatever you will be using to pay for the events. Have the official name of the event, the date and the time. The time may be especially important as relatively often, the phone agent can't figure out exactly how the event is listed on the system and they have to scroll through ALL dining options looking for it. My CM couldn't find the Dining Through The Decades: A Tribute to Walt Disney. It's listed under "A Tribute to Walt Disney" so they would have to know to look under "A."

Have a pen and paper to write down your confirmation numbers. If your event doesn't automatically link to MDX you will need the confirmation number to link it yourself.

All excellent advice. Especially the part about the time for the event being especially important. I think my CM started to look based on date and time and then the name of the event after the time information. It worked well for finding the events.

I also said "no" when asked if I had an onsite reservation. I only had to confirm my name and phone number and that brought up my home address info to confirm. Didn't take too long at all. After I made the reservations, I went to MDE and added the confirm numbers so that my events are tied to my reservation. Worked great!

 

[DisneyLover0610]

For whatever reason I'm confused about this premium package...
I have a split reservation, think I can use that package throughout both? I'd want to go to the late night party on a Thursday, and we transfer resorts on a Friday...staying through Tuesday. I wish there were more details before I take a longggg break at work to wait on the phone!!

 

[smcabee]

Yeah Im a bit confused on the premium package thing as well. Sounds very cool but like all things new in Disney I tend to wait to see how it all works out. So I will be on the sidelines until the reviews come in. Obviously wont get to it this year but hopefully they will do it next year.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Yay, just got Robert Irvine's culinary demo for Saturday, September 27th, 1pm. Tried twice before to book it, when the DVC members could book early, as well as when the Chase Disney Visa cardholders could book, by phone, with no success. Hopped online at 6am today, and got it!

 

[gwynne]

Thanks! Great that online booking is up!

 

[Chisoxcollector]

Yay, just got Robert Irvine's culinary demo for Saturday, September 27th, 1pm. Tried twice before to book it, when the DVC members could book early, as well as when the Chase Disney Visa cardholders could book, by phone, with no success. Hopped online at 6am today, and got it!

Thank you so much for posting this! I just booked the Robert Irvine, Andrew Zimmern, and Cat Cora demos!

Now I can focus on booking Sunday Morning with Alex Guarnischelli when I call at 7.

 

[LMO429]

The cast member told me the eat to the beat dining packages would be available online today. I just went on an nothing was there for it. grrrrrr now I am going to have to call??

 

[standardgirl]

waiting to call and getting nervous...

 

[TDC Nala]

hope everyone has the phones out and is preparing. I'm trying for 3 events and they are not high priorities. The high priority ones were done on Tuesday.

 

[RobynPrincess]

I'm ready and waiting! fingers crossed

 

[gwynne]

on hold!

 

[RobynPrincess]

oooh and i'm through... to the hold queue

 

[TDC Nala]

waiting. No hold music. Given no estimated wait time.

 

[gwynne]

recording just said current hold time is more than 30 min, I am hearing music

 

[TDC Nala]

they have now given an estimated wait time of less than 3 minutes. Let's see how that works.