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

[Straughn]

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!
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I agree that the quality of the demos, especially the wine seminars, have gone down significantly. Many of the wineries who present demos during the week are also at PFTS where I can sample their wares w/o the commercial presentation. I cringe when I learn the the presenter is a sales rep because it means that it will be a sales pitch. At least when we get a winemaker, you get a better presentation and discussion.

I always go with one or two friends for a week. This year we signed up for several deminars, many of which still have availabilty. I think that next year, unless it is a celebrity chef who will likely sell out, we will wait and see what is available each day. Especially since more and more of the chefs are from Disney. Their presentations are generally fine, but I really want to see chefs from around the country, even if they aren't well known. There has to be some reason why many of the name chefs now only do the expensive seminars and no longer participate in the $15 deminars.

 

[Regan117]

Silly question, but for the Parisian Afternoon...it says it's from 1:30 to 3:30pm. Do we have to stay the entire time? I know we lose out if we leave early, but we have a FP+ at 3:00pm for Frozen Ever After and don't want to have to run to get there.

 

[beesly]

Silly question, but for the Parisian Afternoon...it says it's from 1:30 to 3:30pm. Do we have to stay the entire time? I know we lose out if we leave early, but we have a FP+ at 3:00pm for Frozen Ever After and don't want to have to run to get there.

I'm sure they wouldn't hold you there, but you might miss the dessert. Does your FP window begin at 3:00? If so, you have until 4:15 to get there - no need to leave the dining event early, and no need to run.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

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.

I think this has more to do with where you choose to eat at WDW. I hate Tony's -- I think the food is awful, personally. Like any destination, we avoid the places where we think the food is mediocre and/or overpriced (Tony's, Rainforest, Yak &Yeti, etc.). But Jiko, Tiffins, California Grill, V&A and others were all terrific.

Considering this is a theme park, I think the selection is phenomenal. And several of the restaurants could compete in major cities (like Jiko, Calif Grill, V&A). We have not seen a decrease in quality in the past 11yrs, despite what some say on here. Subjective.

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

We cannot wait!!!! 10 days of F&W before the DCL

 

[tony67]

I think this has more to do with where you choose to eat at WDW. I hate Tony's -- I think the food is awful, personally. Like any destination, we avoid the places where we think the food is mediocre and/or overpriced (Tony's, Rainforest, Yak &Yeti, etc.). But Jiko, Tiffins, California Grill, V&A and others were all terrific.

Considering this is a theme park, I think the selection is phenomenal. And several of the restaurants could compete in major cities (like Jiko, Calif Grill, V&A). We have not seen a decrease in quality in the past 11yrs, despite what some say on here. Subjective.

Every comment on this website is subjective.
I agree that I have not seen a decrease in the last 11 years. They have improved mainly because people did complain about the quality.
It may have gotten better in the last 11 years as it was really bad at one point in the mid 2000s, and I did say late 90s - 2000 - before the DDP - and at that point Tony's was still decent. So was Le Celier, now they serve an average steak and people rave about it.
As for selection that is getting better - especially with DS, but having multiple restaurants that all serve the same salmon or the same lamb shank isn't selection to me - it's saving a buck and still charging far too much OOP relative to quality. They seem to be getting better at this as well - but in the mid 200s the basically had one piece of fish at every restaurant and it was salmon and it gets old quick.
Compared to what it was it is not phenomenal IMO - again that is subjective - but that is how I see it as someone who has gone to every food and wine festival at Epcot except last year.

As for Jiko and Calif Grill I don't agree - but again I guess that is also subjective.
Jiko was not good the two times I ate there - and the service was below average.
Calif Grill can be very good, but it is not consistent...to survive in the real world you need to be consistent and you can't count on the DDP to keep your restaurant full...you have to deliver on service and quality pretty much every time.
You are not going to have the 40-50% that think it's great because its Disney..you need to actually give people a reason to go out to your restaurant.

V&A probably could survive - but I don't think it would be a slam dunk.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

V&A probably could survive - but I don't think it would be a slam dunk.

Really?? I've been lucky enough to dine at The Inn at Little Washington several times, Jean Georges in Paris, and some other exquisite prix fixe, multi-course, wine pairing restaurants. I would definitely put V&A squarely and comfortably in that category.

Makes me wonder if perhaps you've gotten a tad too cynical about dining in WDW... ...

 

[tony67]

Really?? I've been lucky enough to dine at The Inn at Little Washington several times, Jean Georges in Paris, and some other exquisite prix fixe, multi-course, wine pairing restaurants. I would definitely put V&A squarely and comfortably in that category.

Makes me wonder if perhaps you've gotten a tad too cynical about dining in WDW... ...

I don't think there is any question that I am cynical about Disney dinning - they have a lot to do to get me back - and partly because there are so many Disney cheerleaders on here who think anything Disney is amazing.

Anyway - I didn't say they were not in that category - Jean Georges can pretty much open a restaurant anywhere and it will do well and be consistently good.

I said V&A would not be a slam dunk - you still have to get the people there - and you have to compete with the likes of Jean Georges as well as many amazing "unknown" chefs and of course the long list of "celebrity" chefs who put their name on just about anything.

There is a fair amount of competition even in that high end and the fact that at some level they are a "Disney" restaurant might actually hurt them with the crowd they are trying to attract. There are people in a big city that won't go regardless of how good it is because it is a Disney restaurant.

In Disney this is the only true and consistent high end option and they get people there - can they do that in a big city with competition - maybe - but I still think it is a toss up.

Opening V&A somewhere and providing the same quality they do now is the easy part - getting people there, turning a profit, getting the right staff and chef - that the hard part that makes me say probably.

 

[crazy4wdw]

On a positive note, only 19 more days until the Festival begins!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Really?? I've been lucky enough to dine at The Inn at Little Washington several times, Jean Georges in Paris, and some other exquisite prix fixe, multi-course, wine pairing restaurants. I would definitely put V&A squarely and comfortably in that category.

Makes me wonder if perhaps you've gotten a tad too cynical about dining in WDW... ...

V & A is the one place at Disney that I think is probably outstanding and worth it. It compares well to the type of restaurants you are describing
I no longer find California Grill and others outstanding, it's just better then the other options Disney has for example, but compared to the "real world" Well.... it's probably not going to hold it's own.

 

[mommyrosa2]

On a positive note, only 19 more days until the Festival begins!

And still no word on festival merchandise?? I tried to snoop around when I was there last week and nothing!!

 

[BarbieGal457]

And still now word on festival merchandise?? I tried to snoop around when I was there last week and nothing!!

I'm really anxious for this! We leave in 52 days and I am a planner souvenir-wise, and I would love to have a better idea. I find that if I go in with a souvenir "plan" it helps me from making impulse purchases that might not be the best choice, or I have nowhere for them when I get home. This is our first ever F&W so I hope I don't go wild! I really want the little tray I've seen that looks almost like a palette to hold food and drinks on as I'm pretty clumsy. I was covered in Dole Whip by 10am New Year's Eve 2014. I hope everyone near me enjoyed my new pineapple scent! Pro tip: don't accidentally squeeze the cup.

 

[BarbieGal457]

Also, what would you guys and ladies suggest: the wristband gift card, or just using my Magic Band with charging privileges? As I've said this is our first one and I'd like to be prepared. I've heard pros of the gift card are that you can track your balance more easily but I'm wondering if that + MB can be inconvenient/bulky on the wrist (I have SUPER tiny ones and really only am comfortable wearing things on my left arm). I want to go into this with a total plan of attack.

 

[Sorrel]

Do the booths stay open during EMH evenings please? Thank you.

 

[brnrss34]

Do the booths stay open during EMH evenings please? Thank you.

No they don't.

 

[mommyrosa2]

Also, what would you guys and ladies suggest: the wristband gift card, or just using my Magic Band with charging privileges? As I've said this is our first one and I'd like to be prepared. I've heard pros of the gift card are that you can track your balance more easily but I'm wondering if that + MB can be inconvenient/bulky on the wrist (I have SUPER tiny ones and really only am comfortable wearing things on my left arm). I want to go into this with a total plan of attack.

I personally prefer to just charge to my MB. While I like the idea of the wristband gift card, I didn't want to have to carry one more thing nor did I want to worry about keeping track of the balance on my GC. Although who am I kidding, the way we ate and drank around the world, I doubt I'd have a balance to worry about .

 

[loves to dive]

Also, what would you guys and ladies suggest: the wristband gift card, or just using my Magic Band with charging privileges? As I've said this is our first one and I'd like to be prepared. I've heard pros of the gift card are that you can track your balance more easily but I'm wondering if that + MB can be inconvenient/bulky on the wrist (I have SUPER tiny ones and really only am comfortable wearing things on my left arm). I want to go into this with a total plan of attack.

I always buy the wrist gift card. I don't like to charge to my MB and even if you do there have been times when the machines have not been working. I wear my gift card on the opposite wrist than my MB, I also have small wrists, silly small 5 1/2 inches. If it really bothered you, you could probably rig something up to put it on a chain around your neck. I find it really convenient to just hold up my wrist, no digging in a pocket, wallet or purse. Alas, I reload it often but I do set myself a limit as to how much I can put on it. You can use it at any store or restaurant in any of the parks as well. I also wear a watch (I know a dinosaur) and wear my gift card on the same wrist as the watch.

 

[BarbieGal457]

I always buy the wrist gift card. I don't like to charge to my MB and even if you do there have been times when the machines have not been working. I wear my gift card on the opposite wrist than my MB, I also have small wrists, silly small 5 1/2 inches. If it really bothered you, you could probably rig something up to put it on a chain around your neck. I find it really convenient to just hold up my wrist, no digging in a pocket, wallet or purse. Alas, I reload it often but I do set myself a limit as to how much I can put on it. You can use it at any store or restaurant in any of the parks as well. I also wear a watch (I know a dinosaur) and wear my gift card on the same wrist as the watch.

I didn't even consider that the MB machine might not be working! Duh!! I will probably just go for the wristband then, it does seem pretty convenient. I also like the fact that my boyfriend and I could use just that instead of our MBs as we room charge to separate cards, so it would also cut down time in line for us by making one purchase and not two. I wonder, can you use this again on subsequent trips? From what I've read I understand that it works just like a regular gift card meaning I can use it elsewhere other than the booths. If so that's even more convenient for us!

I personally prefer to just charge to my MB. While I like the idea of the wristband gift card, I didn't want to have to carry one more thing nor did I want to worry about keeping track of the balance on my GC. Although who am I kidding, the way we ate and drank around the world, I doubt I'd have a balance to worry about .

Losing it is probably my biggest worry, though I really don't tend to lose many things. I think I'm leaning toward the GC though just because as I said above we can both use it for a single transaction instead of making two purchases due to two different MBs.

ETA: Is that your pup in your photo? They are just adorable!!

 

[Alicefan]

Looking forward to see what the dishes are! I'm hoping they have another nice looking mac and cheese for my son to try!

Unfortunately it looks like the same things they have every year. I'm shocked that it doesn't change drastically every year. I can see bringing back 5 or 6 big sellers, but it looks like at least 80% the same.

 

[loves to dive]

I didn't even consider that the MB machine might not be working! Duh!! I will probably just go for the wristband then, it does seem pretty convenient. I also like the fact that my boyfriend and I could use just that instead of our MBs as we room charge to separate cards, so it would also cut down time in line for us by making one purchase and not two. I wonder, can you use this again on subsequent trips? From what I've read I understand that it works just like a regular gift card meaning I can use it elsewhere other than the booths. If so that's even more convenient for us!

Yes, you can reuse it, you just keep reloading to it.

I personally prefer to just charge to my MB. While I like the idea of the wristband gift card, I didn't want to have to carry one more thing nor did I want to worry about keeping track of the balance on my GC. Although who am I kidding, the way we ate and drank around the world, I doubt I'd have a balance to worry about .

You don't have to keep track of the balance. Your remaining balance is always listed on your receipt after you use it. You don't carry it, it is on a bungy around your wrist. I've actually forgotten I've even had mine on.