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

[tony67]

I'll be curious to see what the gift with purchase is. I was thinking I'd get one of the mini gift cards because something on my wrist seems more comfortable than a lanyard, but then again, I'll already have enough on my wrists probably between MagicBands, watch and Alex & Ani bracelets!

Yes - I do prefer the minigift card..but it will depend on what you get for free. Ill probably get one of each

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

The seminars done by a well known presenter and/or very popular beverage company may sell out.

Last year I did not book any in advance and was able to get them the day of just by showing up at the Festival Center when it opened.

 

[Hikergirl]

I think we will just wait the day of then. The ones offered when we are there aren't ones we "must do" so if we feel up to it we will check them out.

Another question, if choosing between the Moroccan Food and Wine Pairing or the Mediterranean, which would you choose? I don't really eat either so this would be about trying something new.

 

[Ryan2016]

Hello hikergirl

We have done both the Mediterranean and Moroccan events and they were both good but the Mediterranean event we thought was better.

The food was better and venue was a lot nicer. The view of the lake was awesome.

If you have to pick one I would do the Mediterranean.

The head chef there who is also the chef in Morocco was very willing to change the menu if you couldn't eat something. We were there last year

It never hurts to try something new!

 

[Hikergirl]

Thank you Ryan!

 

[ellie05]

I'll be curious to see what the gift with purchase is. I was thinking I'd get one of the mini gift cards because something on my wrist seems more comfortable than a lanyard, but then again, I'll already have enough on my wrists probably between MagicBands, watch and Alex & Ani bracelets!

Yes - I do prefer the minigift card..but it will depend on what you get for free. Ill probably get one of each

You can always put the money from the standard GC into the mini one or the other way around. You just have to go to disneygiftcards.com and create and account. You can also transfer money into one GC up to $1,000. Or you can pay with your MB and use the GC to pay off your bill.

 

[tony67]

Are these limited availability? Where can they be purchased?

All over Epcot - they usually have one specific to the F&W

 

[BwoZoo22]

I think so! I will apologize in advance for the way we may smell after a 10K! (I'm a pretty middle of the pack runner and realized after we booked that there might not be time for Disney transport back to the resort, two people to shower and clean up and back to Epcot....oh well!)

We are not planning on showering either. We will have alternate clothes and wash wipes in our check bags, but we didn't want to have to rush.

Another question, if choosing between the Moroccan Food and Wine Pairing or the Mediterranean, which would you choose? I don't really eat either so this would be about trying something new.

Definitely Mediterranean. We did both last year, and although the Moroccan was awesome the first year it was started, it was just ok last year. The Mediterranean was incredible though! Wonderful staff, knowledgeable presenter, tasty wines, and incredible food. I wanted to like the bowl after the soup course. Yum!

 

[Biceratops]

A lot of rumors flying around as to why the PP is not being offered this year and hopefully the Disney Food Blog can dig deeper into the reasons. Again, the PP was announced last year on July 30th so I was surprised when I heard from folks on Reddit and other sites yesterday claiming it was not being offered.

 

[TeresaWen]

Yeah - I kind of figured their would be some sort of mug related to the event...hopefully exclusive and dated to the event...if so may go for a bit more than $50..but I look forward to adding it to my collection regardless.

On a different topic, I notice that if you buy a $200 gift card at F&W you get:

• Limited-release gift with purchase
• Festival logo lanyard with carrying sleeve

A free gift is always good, especially if you were going to spend that much anyway and this is also a good way to limit/track what you spend.

Awesome! I will wait until I get down to get my gift cards!

 

[crazy4wdw]

The seminars done by a well known presenter and/or very popular beverage company may sell out.

Last year I did not book any in advance and was able to get them the day of just by showing up at the Festival Center when it opened.

Same here, I'm not planning on pre-booking any of the seminars this year. One advantage of waiting until the day of the seminar/demo is that there will be more details available regarding the the actual wines that will be presented for tasting or the menu item that is going to be prepared.

 

[jerseytinkerbell]

Hello everyone! I apologize if this has already been asked, but roughly how long are the beverage seminars? I booked a beverage seminar for 1pm and then a culinary demo for 2pm. This is my first year taking part in these events and I want to make sure I didn't make a huge tactical error with my timing. I don't care if we are seated up front, I just want to make sure they will still seat me for the 2pm event. TIA!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Hello everyone! I apologize if this has already been asked, but roughly how long are the beverage seminars? I booked a beverage seminar for 1pm and then a culinary demo for 2pm. This is my first year taking part in these events and I want to make sure I didn't make a huge tactical error with my timing. I don't care if we are seated up front, I just want to make sure they will still seat me for the 2pm event. TIA!

You will be fine. They last about 45 minutes and are right next to each other.

 

[PeasandCarrots]

For those of you waiting on Premium packages.. it's not looking good
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2016/...nts-at-the-2016-epcot-food-and-wine-festival/

Read the comments at the bottom. There are a lot of reports of "no package" someone was even contacted by Disney to offer another option.

Such a bummer but I can't say I'm surprised. I did give WDW feedback that I would like to see them bring it back.

 

[loves to dive]

I'm disappointed that the PP will probably not be offered but I'll probably just end up at some of the demos (the $15 ones).
Should I book those early or is there usually walk up reservations left for those?

I do book some in advance but have also just walked up, as others have mentioned when you walk up you have the advantage of knowing exactly what is being offered. On the web site for the food demo it might say pork but a menu will be posted at the venue with what exactly that means. For the beverage it might say Florida wine but there will be a board at the venue saying what vineyard. I made the mistake last year of pre-booking a Florida wine thinking that might be interesting and it turned out to be something like pear or apple or some other fruit. I don't like sweet wines so that was a bummer. I booked two on separate days that said California wines, my thinking was there are a lot of vineyards and distributors in California but nope, it was the same one. Thankfully I like the wine and like the presentor so it wasn't horrible.

I think we will just wait the day of then. The ones offered when we are there aren't ones we "must do" so if we feel up to it we will check them out.

Another question, if choosing between the Moroccan Food and Wine Pairing or the Mediterranean, which would you choose? I don't really eat either so this would be about trying something new.

I did the Moroccan year before last and did the Mediterranean last year, like the Mediterranean better. I enjoyed the Moroccan, it was a special menu and the chef came out between each course and explained what we were getting but the food was a little heavy for the heat. The Mediterranean one had a little lighter food and the wine was excellent. Can't beat Spice Roads either for a view.

As far as the gift cards it will be interesting to see what the gift is. I normally by the wrist ones and do put more than $200 on them since I use them everywhere, not only at F&W, and love the fact that I don't have fumble around in a pocket or bag to get the card out. But if a lanyard is offered with it, I can just put it in that, stick it around my neck and under my shirt out of the way and have one less thing dangling from my wrist.

 

[lovingeire]

Are these limited availability? Where can they be purchased?

From MDE:

Festival Gift Card

• Limited-release gift with purchase
• Festival logo lanyard with carrying sleeve
• $200.00 activation required
• Swipe or scan to pay for purchases
• Full-size gift card

Available Locations

• Festival Center
• Bridge Kiosk East & West
• Festival Emporium (Canada pavilion)
• Festival Boutique (Japan and Morocco pavilions)

You can always put the money from the standard GC into the mini one or the other way around. You just have to go to disneygiftcards.com and create and account. You can also transfer money into one GC up to $1,000. Or you can pay with your MB and use the GC to pay off your bill.

Can you buy a gift card with a gift card? I know you can transfer between them, which was my thought if I got a mini to transfer my other gift cards that I normally buy over time prior to a trip, to the mini, but the Festival GC requires a $200 activation. I like to budget myself out for Food & Wine. I'll also have my gift card I get as part of my race registration.

We are not planning on showering either. We will have alternate clothes and wash wipes in our check bags, but we didn't want to have to rush.

I don't normally check a bag, but I guess I will for this so I can at least do a baby wipe bath and apply some fresh deodorant! I don't know that I want to run with baby wipes and everything, although I do carry less for a 10K vs. a half. We'll have plenty of time though so might as well check a bag and clean up a bit.

 

[brnrss34]

You cannot buy a gift card with a gift card. I bought the $200 one last year and had to pay with my credit card

 

[FoxC63]

Do these F&W gift cards ever expire?

 

[edk35]

subscribing..... We have never been to Food and Wine. We are going for the first time in Oct.

 

[ellie05]

From MDE:

Festival Gift Card

• Limited-release gift with purchase
• Festival logo lanyard with carrying sleeve
• $200.00 activation required
• Swipe or scan to pay for purchases
• Full-size gift card

Available Locations

• Festival Center
• Bridge Kiosk East & West
• Festival Emporium (Canada pavilion)
• Festival Boutique (Japan and Morocco pavilions)

Can you buy a gift card with a gift card? I know you can transfer between them, which was my thought if I got a mini to transfer my other gift cards that I normally buy over time prior to a trip, to the mini, but the Festival GC requires a $200 activation. I like to budget myself out for Food & Wine. I'll also have my gift card I get as part of my race registration.



I don't normally check a bag, but I guess I will for this so I can at least do a baby wipe bath and apply some fresh deodorant! I don't know that I want to run with baby wipes and everything, although I do carry less for a 10K vs. a half. We'll have plenty of time though so might as well check a bag and clean up a bit.

No you can't buy a GC with a GC but you can load $1 dollar to activate a small one or big one and then transfer the money to make it more confortable.