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

[jerseygal]

As long as you have a Chase credit or debit card, you are allowed into the lounge. Only Chase Disney Visa cardholders can obtain priority seating for the Eat to the Beat concerts.

Also read that Illuminations pass is given, but they go fast! About what time 11am, does anyone know?TIA

 

[NicoleLarson]

For anyone that did the Chew taping last year, how long did it take? Just trying to get some sort of game plan on place, that is if we get picked for tickets.

 

[damskipi13]

My husband just told me last night that we do have a Chase Visa (I'm dangerous with credit cards, so I don't use them). Can we get into the Chase Lounge or is it only for the specific Disney Chase Visa? Do we just present the physical card at the entrance?

Yes you can get in, and yes you present it at the entrance.

 

[damskipi13]

Also read that Illuminations pass is given, but they go fast! About what time 11am, does anyone know?TIA

Yes

 

[ellie05]

Went last night and a few things

Did the Vodka seminar - took 20 minutes - he said he wanted to get us back out at the event (so we could spend more)
This was basically a poorly produced infomercial for Svedka.
Yeah it's the best Vodak ever - #2 seller in the US blah blah blah...We do events for Kim Kardasian and other famous people blah blah blah.
The presenter basically tried to show some videos about the vodka- but they all froze up and were useless.
You got 3 vodkas so for 15 at Disney prices it was worthwhile - but don't expect it to actually learn anything at all.
I would have expected at least one mixed drink - it was one 80 Proof Vodka, and two flavored vodkas - Lime Cucumber (VERY good) and Jalapeno Grapefruit (not enough heat to this at all)
Surprised how many people didn't drink their three Vodkas - why would you go to this infomercial and then not drink the vodkas

All the booths except France were closed for about an hour (because of the thunder/lightning?) - when they did come back up lines were a bit long and I think they were serving the stuff that had been there for the last hour - very disappointing - the Jalapeno Margarita at Mexico was mostly water because the ice had melted - so it this happens again - wait at least 30 minutes before buying anything. BTW - France was able to stay open for some reason

The Margarita at Italy is mostly lemon mix - no trace of alcohol at all IMO - but tasty enough in the VERY hot weather if your using a tasting sampler coupon

I would have been disappointed with that seminar! All the seminars m we have gone before have been done by their master mixologist and we learned a lot. I guess $15 for 3 shots is not a bad price, but I am afraid there is no way I could put down three shots of vodka in 20 min anymore .

Typical people on vacation they get in line don't even know why and don't even do the math. Working for a resort we always said you don't need to leave your brain at home.

 

[patster734]

Are there any other Canadians following along that are a bit disappointed with the Canadian booth? Out of all the wineries they chose Fielding Estates? Burrowing Owl, Mission Hill, Henry of Pelham. Heck go with the brand name and use Wayne Gretzky Estates. And to use an Apple Ice Wine from Quebec instead of Inniskillin from either Niagara or the Okanagan (which they already carry on property). And the food. Cheese soup is an Irish thing. If you asked most Canadians to name meat associated with Canada; Moose, deer, BC salmon, PEI mussels. And lets not get started on moosehead. Dear lord, that is an awful choice.

What about La Fin Du Monde? Its available all year at the Canada beer stand. I had it on our last trip and liked it a lot. Is it popular in Canada?

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

What about La Fin Du Monde? Its available all year at the Canada beer stand. I had it on our last trip and liked it a lot. Is it popular in Canada?

I've had it in Quebec -- not sure about the rest of Canada... Along with la Maudite...

 

[DisneyLove2015]

Where in Epcot can you purchase the tasting sampler lanyard? Just the festival center?

 

[JJZMgailey]

Stopping by to share this 2016 Food and Wine Festival overview video put together by the guys from the DISUnplugged. Enjoy!

 

[jerseygal]

Stopping by to share this 2016 Food and Wine Festival overview video put together by the guys from the DISUnplugged. Enjoy!

THANKS for posting! YUMMY, CAN'T WAIT!

 

[loves to dive]

English Cheese seminar 9:15 this morning. I love cheese, it might be the most perfect food there is, there were some interesting ones presented but you can't actually get them unless you are in England or have a high end cheese monger. They were presented with 2 English craft beers, an ale and a lager. I'm not much of a beer drinker but I did sip it with the cheese. It ran long because the presenters were really into their beer and cheese, going into the history and giving their tasting notes. I normally like that in a seminar but we didn't get out until close to 11 and nothing was even mentioned about the various other things on the plate. All in all I enjoyed it and would go again.


China - I had the chicken potstickers, took a picture but evidently it didn't take. This was the longest line I've encountered so far but it only took 8 minutes so not bad. I enjoyed them, there were two in the serving. Nice and light for a hot day.

South Korea - Soju Fruit Slushy. This was nice and refreshing on such a hot day. I got sort of a grapefruit flavor.


Africa - Buttered Chicken. I had this last year and enjoyed it and enjoyed it again this year. The ratio of chicken to Naan Bread was a little off but the chicken was good and the bread moist for once.


Germay - Apple Strudel. By this time I was full and hot and tired so this as nice and light. Some of the strudel was a little over done and I couldn't cut it even with a knife but that didn't stop me, I just picked it up with my fingers.


I may be done, there are still 4 booths I haven't gotten to but my stomach has had just about enough. I have a wine tasting at 5:30 and after I leave there I might change my mind and hit a couple of them but I have to leave room somewhere for an ice cream cone from France so I'm not sure.

All in all it's been a good time, lots of good food and spent lots of money. I bought the little wrist band gift card the first day and transferred balances from other Disney gift cards I had on to it. I used it in shops as well as at the booths but the shops had some problems with it, easy as can be at the booths. All the shops had to enter the number into the computer the scan wouldn't work so that was a bit of trouble for the CMs. None complained but I know it was a pain. The weather has been decent but hot as heck. I normally come in Sept. but I guess I'm just getting older so next year I might try to come toward the tail end of the Festival.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Thanks for sharing your days at the Festival, LovesToDive. Your photos are great, and I enjoy reading your impressions.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Thank you too, WM Jackie, for posting that video. It was fun to watch.

 

[Hikergirl]

Where in Epcot can you purchase the tasting sampler lanyard? Just the festival center?

I got mine at one of the fesrival shop booths on the way to the fesrival ctr. They dont have the pin but had me fill out something to have it shipped home.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Here are more merchandise photos posted at WDW News Today:

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/09/photos-guide-epcot-food-wine-festival-2016-merchandise/

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Here are more merchandise photos posted at WDW News Today:

http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/09/photos-guide-epcot-food-wine-festival-2016-merchandise/

Yay!!! Up close pics of the merchandise!! Thanks for posting!

 

[Chris Rex]

Forgive me if this has been asked (did a quick search), but has anyone been able to use their 'Quick Service' credits for 3 snacks at the food and wine booths so far (the way the can be used at other Disney QS locations)?

There were positive and negative attempts last year, and just wondering what the consensus is so far

 

[DisneyLove2015]

T

I got mine at one of the fesrival shop booths on the way to the fesrival ctr. They dont have the pin but had me fill out something to have it shipped home.

thanks! My in laws will be there in a few days and asked where to get it. We're going a few days after them so I wanted to make sure I gave them good info!

 

[gypsy_at_heart]

Are there any other Canadians following along that are a bit disappointed with the Canadian booth? Out of all the wineries they chose Fielding Estates? Burrowing Owl, Mission Hill, Henry of Pelham. Heck go with the brand name and use Wayne Gretzky Estates. And to use an Apple Ice Wine from Quebec instead of Inniskillin from either Niagara or the Okanagan (which they already carry on property). And the food. Cheese soup is an Irish thing. If you asked most Canadians to name meat associated with Canada; Moose, deer, BC salmon, PEI mussels. And lets not get started on moosehead. Dear lord, that is an awful choice.

I was rather surprised by the Quebec ice wine since as far as I know they harvest prior to -8C and then net hang, which isn't exactly true ice wine even though they still label it ice wine. I'm sure it's still nice, but to represent Canada I don't know why they wouldn't go with and Ontario or BC ice wine since they make up the majority of ice wine producers in Canada. Really all they wine choices they picked are kind of 'meh' to me... we have much better choices out there, but maybe it was a supply issue? or whoever gave them the best deal?

I'm also confused about the cheese soup! I'm glad I'm not the only one! I have heard they serve it at Le Cellier but I can tell you I never had cheese soup growing up, not once.

I think some beautiful BC smoked sockeye salmon should make it onto that list along with a butter tart and some nanaimo bars... ooo bannock with maple sugar! Now I'm just making myself hungry.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I think some beautiful BC smoked sockeye salmon should make it onto that list along with a butter tart and some nanaimo bars... ooo bannock with maple sugar! Now I'm just making myself hungry.

Now see, I'm from Quebec and I've never had a butter tart or Nanaimo bars in my life -- I had to Google "bannock" - never heard of it.

More proof that you can't represent a whole country in a booth with a handful of food items... obviously.