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

[figment_jii]

Does everyone in your group have to have a Chase VISA card or just one person in the group?

In the fine print, it says that "Each Cardmember may only bring 5 guests into the Chase Lounge."
https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/epcot-food-and-wine

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Win a trip to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival - From Disney Parks Blog:

ABC’s Emmy Award-winning show “The Chew” is giving a lucky winner the chance to join them when it returns to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival this fall.

The Chew’s Magical Culinary Adventure Sweepstakes will send one winner and their three guests to to stay in the middle of the magic at Walt Disney World Resort between October 5-9, 2016, and experience the 21st annual appetizing event.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...-a-trip-to-the-epcot-international-food-chew/

Has anyone heard anything regarding the regular tickets to the Chew tapings? Last year the requests opened ~July 4th.

 

[Tess]

Win a trip to the Epcot Food & Wine Festival - From Disney Parks Blog:

ABC’s Emmy Award-winning show “The Chew” is giving a lucky winner the chance to join them when it returns to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival this fall.

The Chew’s Magical Culinary Adventure Sweepstakes will send one winner and their three guests to to stay in the middle of the magic at Walt Disney World Resort between October 5-9, 2016, and experience the 21st annual appetizing event.

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...-a-trip-to-the-epcot-international-food-chew/

Pretty cool, wonder what happens if I win and have already paid for accommodations and my AP for that period? We are there from 10/5-14/16. That would be just my luck since I never win anything.

 

[mommyrosa2]

Disney Parks Blog just posted info on this year's cookbook, it will include receipies from Flower & Garden as well as the Food and Wine Festival:

https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/b...l-epcot-international-flower-garden-festival/

and yet still no peak at this year's Dooney pattern...could Disney folks be any s-l-o-w-e-r?

 

[vettegirl]

Any world on the merchandise? They are really taking their time this year.

 

[pepperandchips]

Am alone feeling a bit glad that there is no premium package this year... hear me out. I was planning on getting it. Then I booked a few events and will not be do the booths for four straight days. And I am happy to know I may find some free shade.

Also part of our fun in the past has been walking from booth to booth, chatting with folks on line, strolling with our wine, talking with the cast members behind the booths, and generally exploring. We treated Epcot like a large cocktail party. Sitting and having runners get our food changes the whole experience and I'm not sure in a good way.

Weekdays are not very crowded anyway and frankly interacting with others while we enjoy our food & wine and while waiting on line is all part of it.

And I know you can say - well just don't purchase it if you don't want it. But if it is not offered then all those premium shady spots will be available

A lot of the reason why we liked the premium package was actually for the interaction - the chats we had with other guests and with the CMs manning the premium areas really made our experience much better. There was a camaraderie in seeing other guests several times in the premium areas through the course of the week and getting to know the CMs.

Last year I definitely felt like they did a better job of respecting the guests at Epcot without the premium package and the premium areas were tucked away in spaces that weren't necessarily shady or convenient without the added shade umbrellas, tables, and chairs Disney brought out (think behind and between the food kiosks, between areas of benches, etc.).

Now I still think there's an argument to be made that Disney should bring out every single high top table they have and provide many more of the dining "garden" areas (like near Brazil booth recently) to prevent paying customers from having to dine in a romantic trash can fashion, but that's a separate discussion... And I know it's never gonna happen!

 

[crazy4wdw]

and yet still no peak at this year's Dooney pattern...could Disney folks be any s-l-o-w-e-r?

Any world on the merchandise? They are really taking their time this year.

I haven't seen or heard anything regarding merchandise. Disney has really dropped the ball on this year's festival. The Eat to the Beat concert schedule didn't come out until the day special event reservations were available and now they are way behind on releasing any info regarding merchandise.

.......and we're still waiting on information regarding the opening of Rivers of Light at AK - we've been waiting since 4/22, just 3 1/2 months!

 

[TeresaWen]

A lot of the reason why we liked the premium package was actually for the interaction - the chats we had with other guests and with the CMs manning the premium areas really made our experience much better. There was a camaraderie in seeing other guests several times in the premium areas through the course of the week and getting to know the CMs.

Last year I definitely felt like they did a better job of respecting the guests at Epcot without the premium package and the premium areas were tucked away in spaces that weren't necessarily shady or convenient without the added shade umbrellas, tables, and chairs Disney brought out (think behind and between the food kiosks, between areas of benches, etc.).

Now I still think there's an argument to be made that Disney should bring out every single high top table they have and provide many more of the dining "garden" areas (like near Brazil booth recently) to prevent paying customers from having to dine in a romantic trash can fashion, but that's a separate discussion... And I know it's never gonna happen!

Good to know! I was honestly looking forward to it this year. Year 1 we were not staying on property so could not purchase it. Last year we were not in WDW for food and wine. When the package was not announced this year I took what I mentality set aside and booked the tequila lunch, Italian regional lunch, Parisian breakfast, and a wine tasting at jiko. Now even if it was released, I would not purchase it since we will not be doing the booths for four straight days! Still very excited. And I do like the calories burnt going from place to place

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

I haven't missed any details about the sampler package, have I?

 

[gypsy_at_heart]

Has anyone heard anything regarding the regular tickets to the Chew tapings? Last year the requests opened ~July 4th.

I've been checking every day and so far nothing. I even tweeted their official twitter account asking about tickets to the Epcot shows a couple of times but no luck - they seem to be keeping silent on when they will be open for requests :/

 

[GDUL]

I think as long as one person in your group has a Chase Visa, they will let you in the lounge. Now if you're trying to get six or eight people in with just one card, that might be a problem.

From last year...

"While we were there, the cast members were only letting up four people per card. This could be an issue for larger parties, so either bring two cards, or be aware your whole party may not be allowed upstairs."

http://www.**************.net/2015/10/photos-chase-visa-lounge-at-epcots-food-and-wine-festival/

In the fine print, it says that "Each Cardmember may only bring 5 guests into the Chase Lounge."
https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/epcot-food-and-wine

Thank you for the info!

Gary

 

[Richard M Nixon]

I haven't missed any details about the sampler package, have I?

Such as? It's back, costs $60, 8 entitlements, and no concert seating. You still get a pin.

 

[Pixie Dust ✨]

Such as? It's back, costs $60, 8 entitlements, and no concert seating. You still get a pin.

Mainly booking details, but I had also missed the price. Thanks!

 

[jessicag13]

I haven't missed any details about the sampler package, have I?

Such as? It's back, costs $60, 8 entitlements, and no concert seating. You still get a pin.

we're also waiting on details about all the exemptions (i'm assuming beer flights & champagne, but they could always throw in some extra curve ball), but i think last year, we didn't have those until the festival started and someone posted a picture of the back of their credential.

 

[Deb123]

Looking forward to our 22 night trip this yr for F&W! Just making sure, knew to ask here. No FP's this yr for the Eat to the Beat concerts? I know last yr was the first yr they did that, but so far have seen nothing on it this yr.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Looking forward to our 22 night trip this yr for F&W! Just making sure, knew to ask here. No FP's this yr for the Eat to the Beat concerts? I know last yr was the first yr they did that, but so far have seen nothing on it this yr.

I haven't heard anything about FP+ for Eat to the Beat. My FP+ window opens on 8/23 so I can post then if Eat to the Beat concerts are available. Don't know if I'd use a FP+ for the concerts as its tier one (at least it was last year).

Wow, 22 days! That's impressive. I hope to one day to do at least 10 days at the festival.

 

[Deb123]

I haven't heard anything about FP+ for Eat to the Beat. My FP+ window opens on 8/23 so I can post then if Eat to the Beat concerts are available. Don't know if I'd use a FP+ for the concerts as its tier one (at least it was last year).

Wow, 22 days! That's impressive. I hope to one day to do at least 10 days at the festival.

We check into BWV on Sept 24th, so our FP window has already opened up. Not seeing anything concerning the concerts. We used FP for several concerts last yr. Worked well for those concerts that we really wanted a good seat at. Tier 1 is fine with us, the concerts are a big part of our F&W trip. I am thinking they must've did away with it this yr.

 

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I apologize, this has probably already been asked but I'm asking it again.

Our APs expire September 13. Is there usually some sort of Food and Wine soft opening before the festival officially starts?

 

[samsteele]

Is there usually some sort of Food and Wine soft opening before the festival officially starts?

When I was searching for info about possible soft opening for Flower & Garden (there isn't for F&G and I was there the day before opening this yr and no kiosks open), I found a number of online comments stating that Food & Wine has in past yrs had had a soft opening the day before when some food kiosks were open. I don't have any websites or links to pass on. So fingers crossed for you.

 

[Linleedo]

When I was searching for info about possible soft opening for Flower & Garden (there isn't for F&G and I was there the day before opening this yr and no kiosks open), I found a number of online comments stating that Food & Wine has in past yrs had had a soft opening the day before when some food kiosks were open. I don't have any websites or links to pass on. So fingers crossed for you.

I've been there a couple years. The soft opening is usually done the day before it officially opens.Sometimes, not all of the booths were open. Sometimes, they were out of certain food items. It was still a fun time.