2016 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: September 14 - November 14, 2016

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The $15 for the demos seems VERY reasonable to me!! I think it may help to keep them available for more people (i.e. people not booking a dozen of them "just in case" they want to do them, but instead maybe just a few).

Having done a few cooking demos, if you had asked me to put a price on them, I could have easily said $20 or $30 per.

 

[RachelTori]

The $15 for the demos seems VERY reasonable to me!! I think it may help to keep them available for more people (i.e. people not booking a dozen of them "just in case" they want to do them, but instead maybe just a few).

Having done a few cooking demos, if you had asked me to put a price on them, I could have easily said $20 or $30 per.

Shhhh! Don't let Disney know that!!!!

 

[loves to dive]

The $15 for the demos seems VERY reasonable to me!! I think it may help to keep them available for more people (i.e. people not booking a dozen of them "just in case" they want to do them, but instead maybe just a few).

Having done a few cooking demos, if you had asked me to put a price on them, I could have easily said $20 or $30 per.

Yep, I'd probably pay $20 for the cooking demos, I just wish they would announce the actual dish in advance. Last year I was pre-booking a few and one just said seafood. I'm not a seafood lover but I figured I could just drink the wine if it was horrible. Turned out it was Lobster Mac & Cheese and the dish was so big I actually couldn't finish it. Another one was listed as pork, not a huge fan so I didn't sign up. Turns out it was empanadas, I was early for my wine tasting and tired so I went to the Festival Center just to rest and walked by and the smell had my mouth watering.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Yep, I'd probably pay $20 for the cooking demos, I just wish they would announce the actual dish in advance. Last year I was pre-booking a few and one just said seafood. I'm not a seafood lover but I figured I could just drink the wine if it was horrible. Turned out it was Lobster Mac & Cheese and the dish was so big I actually couldn't finish it. Another one was listed as pork, not a huge fan so I didn't sign up. Turns out it was empanadas, I was early for my wine tasting and tired so I went to the Festival Center just to rest and walked by and the smell had my mouth watering.

One trick is to go the festival center early the day of the seminar and take a look at the board. They generally show what they are doing in more detail and often there are still seats available.

 

[loves to dive]

One trick is to go the festival center early the day of the seminar and take a look at the board. They generally show what they are doing in more detail and often there are still seats available.

I do this every trip but I also book ahead since there are occasionally some of the food demos that do fill up. I don't think I've seen any of the wine tastings fill up but a couple of the food demos have.

 

[Tess]

You do go back a few years! I remember how incredibly rude the campers/slammers were. The fee did put an end to that!

I also remember the Sam Adams beer seminars by The American Adventure. You'd see the same people lining up again and again! I guess it became known as the place to get some free beer. Too bad. It was a nice, informative seminar. The Sam Adams reps were fun!

I remember those and the fact we could never seem to get into one--free beer is always good and we do like Sam.

 

[gemologygal]

I have a really dumb question about the cooking demos ... do you get to eat what is being taught/prepared?

 

[RachelTori]

I have a really dumb question about the cooking demos ... do you get to eat what is being taught/prepared?

Not a dumb question at all! Yes, you get a sample of the dish the chef is preparing (served during the demo) -- plus a tiny sample of wine!

 

[tony67]

The $15 for the demos seems VERY reasonable to me!! I think it may help to keep them available for more people (i.e. people not booking a dozen of them "just in case" they want to do them, but instead maybe just a few).

Having done a few cooking demos, if you had asked me to put a price on them, I could have easily said $20 or $30 per.

Yeah..except we are already paying about $80-$90 to get in for the day - many of the demos are really just product commercials - and many of the demos (more than when these were free it seems) are now just Disney restaurant Chefs assigned to do a demo.

I was perfectly fine with the $5 to help reduce "issues" and allowing us to book in advance ..but at $15 I don't find them worthwhile at all and see it as another Disney money grab.

 

[DisDeac]

No problem paying the $15, when seminars at Character Spot area never knew whether needed to get in line 20, 30, 40 minutes early in hopes of getting a seat. As far as "slammers" previous poster mentioned reminds me of Sam Adams free beer seminar/tasting at American Adventure years ago. Very inebriated bro and his posse sat themselves front middle of seating and spent the seminar yelling at each other and dropping f-bombs the entire time. As soon as last beer available for drinking was presented they slammed those down and were out of there.

 

[GaryDis]

Yeah..except we are already paying about $80-$90 to get in for the day

This should be obvious, but presumably the people who go when Food & Wine isn't operating are paying the same $80-$90 for all the other entertainment at Epcot - which is still available to you at no extra charge.

Given that something like Behind the Seeds is $20, $15 seems perfectly reasonable, especially if it includes samples of food and beverage.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Yeah..except we are already paying about $80-$90 to get in for the day - many of the demos are really just product commercials - and many of the demos (more than when these were free it seems) are now just Disney restaurant Chefs assigned to do a demo.

I was perfectly fine with the $5 to help reduce "issues" and allowing us to book in advance ..but at $15 I don't find them worthwhile at all and see it as another Disney money grab.

It also seems to me that the quality of the demos has gone downhill over the last two to three years. Most of the vineyards/wineries that do the wine tasting events are fairly unknown to me, at least the ones that have been scheduled over the last few years. I don't know if the celebrity chefs have to pay Disney a fee for doing one of the seminars but the vineyards do pay a hefty fee to Disney in order to do a presentation at the festival - so Disney is getting our $15 plus the fees from the presenters. Just my opinion!

This should be obvious, but presumably the people who go when Food & Wine isn't operating are paying the same $80-$90 for all the other entertainment at Epcot - which is still available to you at no extra charge.

Given that something like Behind the Seeds is $20, $15 seems perfectly reasonable, especially if it includes samples of food and beverage.

At one point in time, the Behind the Seeds tour was free, no fee was charged.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Yeah..except we are already paying about $80-$90 to get in for the day - many of the demos are really just product commercials - and many of the demos (more than when these were free it seems) are now just Disney restaurant Chefs assigned to do a demo.

I was perfectly fine with the $5 to help reduce "issues" and allowing us to book in advance ..but at $15 I don't find them worthwhile at all and see it as another Disney money grab.

I don't think it's fair to factor in admissions -- the seminars are an extra, over and above attraction/entertainment access, and thus totally legitimate to charge for. I hate to throw in economics, but the market is clearly willing to bear the $15 cost... probably more... but I won't tell Disney that last part...

 

[TeresaWen]

I remember when there was a booth in world showcase - Australia I think - that had a free Syrah tasting class outdoors several times a day. Always a long line but great fun. I miss that and would be willing to pay for it.

On the subject of slammers - we saw some young guys each take all four of their Syrah samples (all different) and pour them into one cup, get up and leave! Very annoying to those waiting who did not get in who actually wanted to taste and learn!

 

[tony67]

This should be obvious, but presumably the people who go when Food & Wine isn't operating are paying the same $80-$90 for all the other entertainment at Epcot - which is still available to you at no extra charge.

Given that something like Behind the Seeds is $20, $15 seems perfectly reasonable, especially if it includes samples of food and beverage.

Many people are going to Epcot during this slow season particularly for F&W and have gone for many years - and would not be there for any other reason and have been going for 20+ years so I do think it is fair to factor it in.
I brought a Employee to this one year who was not a Disney fan - and he main comment was - "I just spent $80 to buy overpriced beer"? This was before the change to only selling little Dixie cups of beer, I can only imagine how annoyed he would be with this now.

In the past these seminars were free - but had issues as everyone mentioned - so Disney added the nominal fee to try to reduce the problems (as we have all said). I don't think any of us have an issue with that - and that was really how they sold it. Once they had their foot in the door that was it..
That "nominal fee" is now a fee that is fair for some seminars, but when you get into the product commercials I think the $15 is over the top.
The company (or distributor) most likely pays Disney to be there and provides the people to run the infomercial on the product.
In addition they most likely provide the alcohol as well.
They are also somewhat limited on what they can actually provide - one Vodka rep I spoke with two years ago was complaining that they could not offer the three drinks they wanted to make because they were two strong, so three was one good drink and two not so good drinks.
Keep in mind these are just sample size - not full drinks. She was very annoyed that she could not really showcase her product and she has not been back.
In addition the company gets to sell their product in the Disney marketplace..and the markup (ie profit for Disney) is much higher than if you but the product in a normal store.
Again - I think Disney is just maximizing the profit - and that is fine - the marketplace will decide - but then have professionals who are not drunk and interrupting presenting. I did one a few years back and the host as well as the presenter had quite obviously had one two many.

So maybe the food ones are "fair" at $15 - Disney does not get much profit out of those - but I really don't feel the infomercials are.

I don't think it's fair to factor in admissions -- the seminars are an extra, over and above attraction/entertainment access, and thus totally legitimate to charge for. I hate to throw in economics, but the market is clearly willing to bear the $15 cost... probably more... but I won't tell Disney that last part...

F&W brings in a lot of people that would not be here otherwise during a very "slow" time of year. They are not here for the other Epcot stuff. Disney is making good money off of F&W selling overpriced items (and really the same item in many cases year after year) in the booths and in the bottle shop.
People are willing to pay 15 bucks to get in - I am not - so I only do very few of these and I spend far less time at Disney each year - so they are loosing out overall. Instead of 10 days - Ill stay 5 and head over to universal. Last year I skipped it completely and only went to Universal. I know I am not the only one.
Disney continues to provide less and less and charge more as far as I am concerned - and I think that is reflected in the lower attendance and the availability of events that would be sold out by now at F&W in the past.
Disney also looses the goodwill that I used to provide - telling other people how great it was. I have gotten many people to go to Disney in the past based solely on the F&W festival. These were people that would not be going to Disney otherwise. Now I don't recommend it to anyone anymore who is not a Disney fan or not planning to go anyway.
That may only be a handful of people, but multiply that by a group of long time attendees and that does add up IMO

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

F&W brings in a lot of people that would not be here otherwise during a very "slow" time of year. They are not here for the other Epcot stuff. Disney is making good money off of F&W selling overpriced items (and really the same item in many cases year after year) in the booths and in the bottle shop.
People are willing to pay 15 bucks to get in - I am not - so I only do very few of these and I spend far less time at Disney each year - so they are loosing out overall. Instead of 10 days - Ill stay 5 and head over to universal. Last year I skipped it completely and only went to Universal. I know I am not the only one.
Disney continues to provide less and less and charge more as far as I am concerned - and I think that is reflected in the lower attendance and the availability of events that would be sold out by now at F&W in the past.
Disney also looses the goodwill that I used to provide - telling other people how great it was. I have gotten many people to go to Disney in the past based solely on the F&W festival. These were people that would not be going to Disney otherwise. Now I don't recommend it to anyone anymore who is not a Disney fan or not planning to go anyway.
That may only be a handful of people, but multiply that by a group of long time attendees and that does add up IMO

I think many who participate in F&W are partially drawn by that to travel that time of year, but are there for ALL offerings as well. That describes my family and the others I know who visit during F&W.

Last I paid attention, attendance was down some but profits up. Totally acceptable position for Disney as a company. Not everyone will like it -- as is true of EVERYTHING in life.

I just don't agree with all the "getting less for more $$" talk. That is not true from our perspective. Again... More SUBJECTIVE stuff...

 

[tony67]

I think many who participate in F&W are partially drawn by that to travel that time of year, but are there for ALL offerings as well. That describes my family and the others I know who visit during F&W.

Last I paid attention, attendance was down some but profits up. Totally acceptable position for Disney as a company. Not everyone will like it -- as is true of EVERYTHING in life.

I just don't agree with all the "getting less for more $$" talk. That is not true from our perspective. Again... More SUBJECTIVE stuff...

No doubt all this is subjective - and that is the point of a discussion board.
I know many people who only go (well used to go) for the F&W festival and no other reason.
No doubt the group that goes for F&W AND everything else is larger.

As for attendance I have discussed the same point on other threads ..and I see it as a good thing overall...but I think it is down more than they expected and they are just doing a good spin on it. There were events over the last few months they could not predict that have probably affected attendance and an extra 1 or 2 percent than they expected is a big deal.

I do think (as they have stated) they are maximizing revenue (and profit) per customer - to me that equals less for more in many cases..to you it does not.

I'm not happy just being in Disney (many people tell me I should be and to just shut up).
Being at Disney does not make chain quality mass produced food taste better just because it is in Disney...for many people it does.
If the frozen chicken cutlet at Tony's for $26 does not scream less for more I don't know what does.
Maybe the smaller and pre-mixed margarita's in La Cava - $12-14 for a margarita + tip - it should not be out of a jug - it should be made fresh.
Only offering tiny overpriced beer at F&W is less for more IMO. Some people will argue that reduced the drunks at F&W, but I doubt it.

 

[Hikergirl]

When do they usually do a sneak peak of the merchandise? I am anxiously waiting to see the Dooney bag for this year and was hoping to see it before we got there.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Many people are going to Epcot during this slow season particularly for F&W and have gone for many years - and would not be there for any other reason and have been going for 20+ years so I do think it is fair to factor it in.
I brought a Employee to this one year who was not a Disney fan - and he main comment was - "I just spent $80 to buy overpriced beer"? This was before the change to only selling little Dixie cups of beer, I can only imagine how annoyed he would be with this now.

In the past these seminars were free - but had issues as everyone mentioned - so Disney added the nominal fee to try to reduce the problems (as we have all said). I don't think any of us have an issue with that - and that was really how they sold it. Once they had their foot in the door that was it..
That "nominal fee" is now a fee that is fair for some seminars, but when you get into the product commercials I think the $15 is over the top.
The company (or distributor) most likely pays Disney to be there and provides the people to run the infomercial on the product.
In addition they most likely provide the alcohol as well.
They are also somewhat limited on what they can actually provide - one Vodka rep I spoke with two years ago was complaining that they could not offer the three drinks they wanted to make because they were two strong, so three was one good drink and two not so good drinks.
Keep in mind these are just sample size - not full drinks. She was very annoyed that she could not really showcase her product and she has not been back.
In addition the company gets to sell their product in the Disney marketplace..and the markup (ie profit for Disney) is much higher than if you but the product in a normal store.
Again - I think Disney is just maximizing the profit - and that is fine - the marketplace will decide - but then have professionals who are not drunk and interrupting presenting. I did one a few years back and the host as well as the presenter had quite obviously had one two many.

So maybe the food ones are "fair" at $15 - Disney does not get much profit out of those - but I really don't feel the infomercials are.



F&W brings in a lot of people that would not be here otherwise during a very "slow" time of year. They are not here for the other Epcot stuff. Disney is making good money off of F&W selling overpriced items (and really the same item in many cases year after year) in the booths and in the bottle shop.
People are willing to pay 15 bucks to get in - I am not - so I only do very few of these and I spend far less time at Disney each year - so they are loosing out overall. Instead of 10 days - Ill stay 5 and head over to universal. Last year I skipped it completely and only went to Universal. I know I am not the only one.
Disney continues to provide less and less and charge more as far as I am concerned - and I think that is reflected in the lower attendance and the availability of events that would be sold out by now at F&W in the past.
Disney also looses the goodwill that I used to provide - telling other people how great it was. I have gotten many people to go to Disney in the past based solely on the F&W festival. These were people that would not be going to Disney otherwise. Now I don't recommend it to anyone anymore who is not a Disney fan or not planning to go anyway.
That may only be a handful of people, but multiply that by a group of long time attendees and that does add up IMO

They do charge the presenters for the wine/drinks and that has dramatically reduced the number of high quality presenters IMHO. However, the one place I will disagree is the mark up. The wine in the marketplace store is basically the same price as the wine at my local store. I am always shocked!

I have never had a presenter drunk. The food seminar hostess is another story LOL!

 

[crazy4wdw]

When do they usually do a sneak peak of the merchandise? I am anxiously waiting to see the Dooney bag for this year and was hoping to see it before we got there.

I wish I knew the answer. Many people on the thread (including me) are anxiously awaiting any information regarding merchandise. In 2015, Disney Parks Blog released preview information for the merchandise on 7/27/15. Disney has been very slow to release information regarding the 2016 festival. I'm beginning to think that we may have to wait until the festival starts on 9/14 to get any information or images of the merchandise.