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

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Being told AGAIN by a different CM that "French Family Meal Traditions" is NOT available to book today.

Trying to persist, but don't think this will work out...

So frustrating that they can't have everyone on the same page. It's not like they don't do this EVERY YEAR!!

Yup... after the CM researched this for me, she said the 15% held aside for Disney VISA cardholders was booked up -- call back Thursday.

I also asked whether there was a separate allotment for DVC/AP/TIW opening up at 9am on any of these events (just to see what she'd say, I guess!) and she confirmed that only deminars could be booked by these groups beginning at 9am today -- all the rest would have to wait until Thursday.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

The CM I talked to told me that DVC/AP/TIW/Visa opened at 7am all together today that there wasn't a 9am opening as well.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

The CM I talked to told me that DVC/AP/TIW/Visa opened at 7am all together today that there wasn't a 9am opening as well.

"Hi, Left Hand, meet Right Hand..." How frustrating...

I suppose I should think of annual F&W "agita" as a Disney tradition?!?!

 

[YodasMom]

After getting in right at 7 AM and speaking to THE most uninformed agent, for 45 minutes, who couldn't find anything except 2 culinary demonstrations (kept putting me on hold), I called back and was, at least, able to book French Family Traditions, The Parisian Afternoon, and The Secrets of Flavor. I also booked What's Cookin' With Andrew Zimmern online. The Signature Dining event that I wanted has no availability today.

Nothing has changed, you can get the very best agents who are quickly able to handle and respond to requests, and those who have no idea as to how to even basically navigate the system. With the speed I got in on my first call, I could have gotten the signature dining event that I wanted if the agent had known how to handle the system.

Oh, and each agent I spoke to knew nothing about the Premium Package for this year.

Wondering about booking the Italian Regional Pairing lunch........is it worth it? I've never done it.

 

[kristenrice]

I'm 55 minute in to my 100 minute wait...

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can pay with a Disney gift card. I am a DVC member and AP holder so by the time I get through, I will be eligible to book today anyways.

i just got through...CM says only the deminars are available today and all of the other events are opening on the 21st...I politely asked her if she would please double check and see if I can book the Parisian Afternoon. If so, I will have to keep my fingers crossed that I can use my gift card to pay or DD11 is going to be very disappointed...

She did check and she said the Parisian Afternoon is "not showing any offerings" for Saturday the 15th. She advised me to call back on Thursday. I saw here that someone else was able to book the Parisian Afternoon on October 7 so I am a little disappointed. I guess I will try calling the TOUR line, or the Chase line...or maybe DVC member services.

 

[tkbk]

After getting in right at 7 AM and speaking to THE most uninformed agent, for 45 minutes, who couldn't find anything except 2 culinary demonstrations (kept putting me on hold), I called back and was, at least, able to book French Family Traditions, The Parisian Afternoon, and The Secrets of Flavor. I also booked What's Cookin' With Andrew Zimmern online. The Signature Dining event that I wanted has no availability today.

Nothing has changed, you can get the very best agents who are quickly able to handle and respond to requests, and those who have no idea as to how to even basically navigate the system. With the speed I got in on my first call, I could have gotten the signature dining event that I wanted if the agent had known how to handle the system.

Oh, and each agent I spoke to knew nothing about the Premium Package for this year.

Wondering about booking the Italian Regional Pairing lunch........is it worth it? I've never done it.

Have done the Italian regional lunch twice and am doing it again! One of the best , well done , good food and lots of wine!

 

[CaptJack'sFamily]

Wondering about booking the Italian Regional Pairing lunch........is it worth it? I've never done it.

We have done it the last several years and LOVE IT! We are hoping to be able to do it twice this year - we'll see about availability on Thursday. It has been something different each day we have attended. Two years ago it was led by one of the serving staff who wanted to tell us all about his homeland which was fascinating. I'd definitely recommend it.

 

[Jrpbabe2003]

Hi, this is our first time doing the Food and Wine festival. We are torn as to do the special events, or focus on booths. We will have 2 half days and one full day in epcot. Money isnt the issue, but tummy room is Any advice?

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

Hi, this is our first time doing the Food and Wine festival. We are torn as to do the special events, or focus on booths. We will have 2 half days and one full day in epcot. Money isnt the issue, but tummy room is Any advice?

With your schedule, I would choose one pairing/lunch/dinner event that I was particularly interested in & spend the rest of my time at the booths. You can also consider a demonstration/seminar as they don't take up much time & are fun to experience.

 

[tkbk]

I'm 55 minute in to my 100 minute wait...

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can pay with a Disney gift card. I am a DVC member and AP holder so by the time I get through, I will be eligible to book today anyways.

i just got through...CM says only the deminars are available today and all of the other events are opening on the 21st...I politely asked her if she would please double check and see if I can book the Parisian Afternoon. If so, I will have to keep my fingers crossed that I can use my gift card to pay or DD11 is going to be very disappointed...

She did check and she said the Parisian Afternoon is "not showing any offerings" for Saturday the 15th. She advised me to call back on Thursday. I saw here that someone else was able to book the Parisian Afternoon on October 7 so I am a little disappointed. I guess I will try calling the TOUR line, or the Chase line...or maybe DVC member services.

Call the your number 407-939-8687 ---- I learned my lesson this morning , that is definitely the best number to call plus you won't wait near as long !

 

[MissMet]

Called right at 7am. Was told a 30 min wait...waited 50 min. Got PFTS RS with a 6:45pm start time for October 29th. So excited & relieved. It's the only special ticket event we were interested in this year. Good luck everyone still waiting to book!

 

[cdtommie]

We have stayed away from the Italy Regional lunch the past couple of years due to chinzy wine pours but the reports from last year were more positive so it is back on our list. Loved the Beer vs Wine event last year. They serve only craft beers and not those nasty macros.

 

[msk]

I called twice this morning, we would like to book the Parisian breakfast. Both times the CMs were polite and helpful. The last CM just told me that 15% was filled for today but I could try again tomorrow when there would be more openings. So maybe I'll try again tonight?

 

[tkbk]

We have stayed away from the Italy Regional lunch the past couple of years due to chinzy wine pours but the reports from last year were more positive so it is back on our list. Loved the Beer vs Wine event last year. They serve only craft beers and not those nasty macros.

That's too bad that you had that experience with it, we didn't go last year but the other two times we went the pours were crazy, yes they poured a pairing size taste but if you liked it they continued pouring you more. They kept walking around wih the bottles until the next course was poured. We left very very happy both times if you know what I mean.

 

[CaptJack'sFamily]

Hi, this is our first time doing the Food and Wine festival. We are torn as to do the special events, or focus on booths. We will have 2 half days and one full day in epcot. Money isnt the issue, but tummy room is Any advice?

Don't overdo it in terms of the events that you sign up for. When we were newbies, we would sign up for 2-3 events each day (deminars, lunches, dinners, etc.). Pretty soon we realized that we were not enjoying the events because we were stuffed! Now we only book 1 event each day.

We are probably in the minority, but we do not spend much time at the booths. We enjoy seeing what they are offering, but prefer to focus on the other events that are offered during Food & Wine. This also means we don't have to stand in the kiosk lines which can get really long on the weekends.

 

[bcarey2k]

Don't overdo it in terms of the events that you sign up for. When we were newbies, we would sign up for 2-3 events each day (deminars, lunches, dinners, etc.). Pretty soon we realized that we were not enjoying the events because we were stuffed! Now we only book 1 event each day.

We are probably in the minority, but we do not spend much time at the booths. We enjoy seeing what they are offering, but prefer to focus on the other events that are offered during Food & Wine. This also means we don't have to stand in the kiosk lines which can get really long on the weekends.

We try to avoid weekends as well .... if we do a Saturday or Sunday, we hit it early and are gone by 2pm on ... the lines get rather crazy ... weekdays on the other hand are great! We even had good luck on Fridays!

Brian

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I called twice this morning, we would like to book the Parisian breakfast. Both times the CMs were polite and helpful. The last CM just told me that 15% was filled for today but I could try again tomorrow when there would be more openings. So maybe I'll try again tonight?

As I always say wrt Disney, WHO KNOWS?!?! BUT... my experience has been that when the allotment is full, it's full for all of early booking -- not that more slots open up the next day.

Anyone else?

And I guess there's never any harm in trying, right!?

 

[cdtommie]

That's too bad that you had that experience with it, we didn't go last year but the other two times we went the pours were crazy, yes they poured a pairing size taste but if you liked it they continued pouring you more. They kept walking around wih the bottles until the next course was poured. We left very very happy both times if you know what I mean.

We had to plead for a tiny refill (well, a very vocal lady at our table did our bidding). The wine rep asked for your name and phone number if you were interested in purchasing any of the wines but never followed up (I think we filled out that form three years in a row expressing interest but were never contacted). The French F&W events have been very generous, as have the Japan events.

 

[kristenrice]

Call the your number 407-939-8687 ---- I learned my lesson this morning , that is definitely the best number to call plus you won't wait near as long !

I am on hold with this number right now. I was able to get my culinary demo booked with the DVC discount and I was able to use my Disney so I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the Parisian Afternoon. If I have to wait until Thursday, what are my chances? Is this a definite sell-out event? I'm so nervous because DD11 really wants to do this.

Got through....the CM is checking the event...she was able to pull it up, but cannot book it...she's looking into it...it may just be full for pre-booking already...

...and it is full. I guess I will be calling back at 7am on Thursday.

 

[YodasMom]

i just got through...CM says only the deminars are available today and all of the other events are opening on the 21st...I politely asked her if she would please double check and see if I can book the Parisian Afternoon. If so, I will have to keep my fingers crossed that I can use my gift card to pay or DD11 is going to be very disappointed...

She did check and she said the Parisian Afternoon is "not showing any offerings" for Saturday the 15th. She advised me to call back on Thursday. I saw here that someone else was able to book the Parisian Afternoon on October 7 so I am a little disappointed. I guess I will try calling the TOUR line, or the Chase line...or maybe DVC member services.

I had the exact experience with my first call. I called back and was able to book the Parisian Afternoon for Oct 22 (and a couple others) using the tour line. And, that was an hour after my initial call!!! Good luck and try calling back this morning!