2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: August 31, 2017 - November 13, 2017

[Disney & ME]

One of us is calling Disney dining and the other DVC. I think DVC will be a nightmare with all the info they want you to key in up front.

True. And I assume there are less CMs there.

 

[VrBchJ]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought booking opened at 7. It seemed too good to be true when I got right through to a CM. And it was!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought booking opened at 7. It seemed too good to be true when I got right through to a CM. And it was!

I knew it was THEORETICALLY 9am but based on past experience did not trust that AT ALL.

 

[TeresaWen]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought booking opened at 7. It seemed too good to be true when I got right through to a CM. And it was!

Ha ha. Same here. I'm traveling and very sleepy. Miss calculated the time difference. Poor cast member sounded like I woke her

 

[crazy4wdw]

After 10 visits, you get a free dinosaur from Universe of Energy.

Instead of a dinosaur, your will probably receive a character from Guardians of the Galaxy as Universe of Energy is closing down next month!

 

[AllThingsMickey4]

Will online booking for the Parisian breakfast be through the link provided on the first page? (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/food-wine-parisian-breakfast/)
There isn't a Search Times button on the page like there is for the culinary demos and beverage seminars... just want to make sure I'm looking in the right place.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Good Luck to everyone booking this morning!

 

[crazy4wdw]

Will online booking for the Parisian breakfast be through the link provided on the first page? (https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/epcot/food-wine-parisian-breakfast/)
There isn't a Search Times button on the page like there is for the culinary demos and beverage seminars... just want to make sure I'm looking in the right place.

That should be it but as there is not a button to search for dates and times, this may be an event that you need to call in for. I would check the link later today or tonight.

 

[csmommy]

Which # do you think I should call? I will be on the train to work. Should I call WDW Dine or DVC?

 

[YodasMom]

I called in at 7 AM, too.......BUT, the CM didn't know much (as usual) and didn't know booking didn't start then. She had trouble finding what I was looking for which I stated exactly as WDW has it titled. Finally found it and then said her computer stated booking doesn't start until 7 AM. I was speaking to her for 12 minutes before she found that info! Ugh! And, I'm on Central time.

 

[PatriciaH]

I was shocked I got right in. Told 9am too

 

[randumb0]

After 10 visits, you get a free dinosaur from Universe of Energy.

So in other words no gift

 

[Empress Room]

She's the host of the cooking demos. The only nice thing about the reduction in the number of demos is she probably won't be drunk! (Seriously she drinks wine non-stop and if there are several demos a day she's wasted by the last one!) She also thinks that you came to hear her and that EVERY chef is her best friend.

Some of the chefs are good and just keep her under control, but it takes a strong personality!

And now she has her own "spice mix" (AKA as a "I found something to make money off of at the festival" from what I have heard it's not really even very good) that gets it's own sessions so you just get her bragging about herself... NO WAY! LOL!

She is so obnoxious that I no longer sign up for demos. I am done with her act!


http://www.pamsmith.com/index.php

I must say, your criticism of the host of the cooking demonstrations is a bit mean-spirited, don't you think? If you don't care for her or her personality, that's fine, but essentially calling her a "drunk" sort of pushes the limits, don't you think? We've been going to the F&W Festival for many years and have found her to be nothing more than gracious and knowledgeable during the food demonstrations and chef shows. Does she have a bit of an ego? Sure, but many people associated with the food industry do (e.g. Paula Dean, The Cake Boss, etc.) and each of them can border on being obnoxious. We've never seen her at anything less than professional in her presentations and certainly not inebriated or in an unfit condition. To each his/her own, but my wife and I actually find her to be gracious and witty. She must be doing something right as she has been a staple at the F&W Festival as long as we can remember.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I must say, your criticism of the host of the cooking demonstrations is a bit mean-spirited, don't you think? If you don't care for her or her personality, that's fine, but essentially calling her a "drunk" sort of pushes the limits, don't you think? We've been going to the F&W Festival for many years and have found her to be nothing more than gracious and knowledgeable during the food demonstrations and chef shows. Does she have a bit of an ego? Sure, but many people associated with the food industry do (e.g. Paula Dean, The Cake Boss, etc.) and each of them can border on being obnoxious. We've never seen her at anything less than professional in her presentations and certainly not inebriated or in an unfit condition. To each his/her own, but my wife and I actually find her to be gracious and witty. She must be doing something right as she has been a staple at the F&W Festival as long as we can remember.

No. I have seen her stumble and slur her words. She would have failed a sobriety test. (She admitted she was tipsy)

 

[loves to dive]

It's fine. You won't get front row at the beverage seminar but the stage is high enough it's not a problem. The locations are right beside each other.

I do it often. Sometimes the first one gets out earlier and I've even had to wait for the second one to open so no problems.

 

[jessicag13]

Okay, so the 9am start time is throwing me off a little. Since the lines are already open, should the game plan change for calling in? Are you hitting the dial button at 9 sharp, or calling in 5-10 minutes early, assuming there'll be a little hold, to get to a person by 9?

 

[willidc]

I must say, your criticism of the host of the cooking demonstrations is a bit mean-spirited, don't you think? If you don't care for her or her personality, that's fine, but essentially calling her a "drunk" sort of pushes the limits, don't you think? We've been going to the F&W Festival for many years and have found her to be nothing more than gracious and knowledgeable during the food demonstrations and chef shows. Does she have a bit of an ego? Sure, but many people associated with the food industry do (e.g. Paula Dean, The Cake Boss, etc.) and each of them can border on being obnoxious. We've never seen her at anything less than professional in her presentations and certainly not inebriated or in an unfit condition. To each his/her own, but my wife and I actually find her to be gracious and witty. She must be doing something right as she has been a staple at the F&W Festival as long as we can remember.

+2...our experience as well for our previous 19 years! ...and mean-spirited is an understatement. I tried a similar post as yours last year and was accused of being the hostess, LOL!

Plus, that poster is ALWAYS right--while being wrong at the same time---I'm sure you know the type. Case in point see posts 1306 and 1309. Unfortunately, it is something that we have to put up with when on boards like this. And it is a handful of posters like this, unfortunately, not just one.

Enjoy your time at F&W. We always do.

 

[B'rer Karen]

Okay, so the 9am start time is throwing me off a little. Since the lines are already open, should the game plan change for calling in? Are you hitting the dial button at 9 sharp, or calling in 5-10 minutes early, assuming there'll be a little hold, to get to a person by 9?

It is throwing me off too. Going to call in here in a minute. If they pick right up I'll hang up, but if there is a wait time, I'll be in the queue.

ETA: No wait at 8:45 am

 

[cdtommie]

Pam always does a fine job at F&W. Her job is to keep the deminars moving and she is very good at what she does.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Pam always does a fine job at F&W. Her job is to keep the deminars moving and she is very good at what she does.

Like many, many things, this is subjective. I find her extraordinarily grating at best. There isn't a right and wrong answer here.