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

[gottalovepluto]

No wine sample at culinary seminars this year! That was the only reason there was remotely bang-for-your-buck on the culinary demos (On the upside beverage seminars will have larger sample pours, supposedly)
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/changes-this-year-for-epcots-food-and-wine-seminars/

ETA: I emailed guest services my displeasure, if anyone else is as disappointed as me here you go https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/help/email/

 

[Princess Steph]

No wine sample at culinary seminars this year! That was the only reason there was remotely bang-for-your-buck on the culinary demos (On the upside beverage seminars will have larger sample pours, supposedly)
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/changes-this-year-for-epcots-food-and-wine-seminars/

ETA: I emailed guest services my displeasure, if anyone else is as disappointed as me here you go https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/help/email/

What seems strange is that on the offical Disney website for the Culinary Demonstrations, it says: Alcohol will only be served to Guests 21 years of age and older. All events are subject to change or cancellation without notice. Why would it reference alcohol if they did not intend to serve. I have not seen this on offical Disney sites, yet. I agree it is upsetting since I already booked with the assumption it was operating like last year with alcohol included.

 

[VictoriaT]

It really would have been nice if we were informed of this ahead of time!

No wine sample at culinary seminars this year! That was the only reason there was remotely bang-for-your-buck on the culinary demos (On the upside beverage seminars will have larger sample pours, supposedly)
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/changes-this-year-for-epcots-food-and-wine-seminars/

ETA: I emailed guest services my displeasure, if anyone else is as disappointed as me here you go https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/help/email/

Thank you for the email information, I am going to email this as well. Part of the enjoyment of the culinary demonstration is discovering how different the wine tastes before and after trying the featured food!

 

[loves to dive]

No wine sample at culinary seminars this year! That was the only reason there was remotely bang-for-your-buck on the culinary demos (On the upside beverage seminars will have larger sample pours, supposedly)
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/changes-this-year-for-epcots-food-and-wine-seminars/

ETA: I emailed guest services my displeasure, if anyone else is as disappointed as me here you go https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/help/email/

Well that is a little bit of a bummer. Thankfully, on the day I'm doing my one culinary demo, I'm also doing two wine ones so it's kind of a relief for me. I'm not sure I'd want more of a pour at the wine tastings, the idea of a tasting is to taste not drink. If they give bigger pours, I have a feeling it's going to take longer since most people feel like they should finish the pour (I've been known to pour mine out into the bucket after a sip or two).

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

We would have booked our 2 culinary demos with or without the wine, but this is a but of a disappointment -- should have been corrected on their site before booking opened.

 

[loves to dive]

Wine pours at wine tasting last year

 

[crazy4wdw]

No wine sample at culinary seminars this year! That was the only reason there was remotely bang-for-your-buck on the culinary demos (On the upside beverage seminars will have larger sample pours, supposedly)
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/changes-this-year-for-epcots-food-and-wine-seminars/

ETA: I emailed guest services my displeasure, if anyone else is as disappointed as me here you go https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/help/email/

Also, the price increase for the seminars and demos is $3 not $2. In previous years, the charge included tax. This year, tax is not included so the cost would be $18.11 for the seminars and demos. Sneaky!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Wow, I didn't know about the lack of wine pairing at the culinary demos this year. Way to get cheaper and cheaper, as far as I'm concerned. They used to serve ice water-one big pitcher per table, to be passed around. So I guess that will probably be what we drink with our food sample. I've been toying with the idea of attending the F&G festival instead of the F&W, since they have food booths at the F&G festival. I wonder sometimes.

 

[birostick]

No wine sample at culinary seminars this year! That was the only reason there was remotely bang-for-your-buck on the culinary demos (On the upside beverage seminars will have larger sample pours, supposedly)
http://www.wdwinfo.com/news-stories/changes-this-year-for-epcots-food-and-wine-seminars/

ETA: I emailed guest services my displeasure, if anyone else is as disappointed as me here you go https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/help/email/

After reading that the SO went and sent a nice email to them about it. I for one am glad that we only signed up for 2 of the demos this year instead of the normal 5 or so.

 

[patster734]

Also, the price increase for the seminars and demos is $3 not $2. In previous years, the charge included tax. This year, tax is not included so the cost would be $18.11 for the seminars and demos. Sneaky!

This worries me. Hopefully they don't do the same thing with the food booths concerning tax.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Also, the price increase for the seminars and demos is $3 not $2. In previous years, the charge included tax. This year, tax is not included so the cost would be $18.11 for the seminars and demos. Sneaky!

Wow. Very sneaky. Disappointing on the wine at the demos. I can't imagine with the volume of "festival wine" they buy and the portions they serve it was breaking the bank. $18 for a portion probably the size of or slightly bigger than something from a booth is a lot -- and you don't even really know what you're going to get other than the protein. Yes, there's the demo aspect but increasingly that is not a celeb chef. Anyway, the wine was never a reason to book but just a nice touch - probably added far more in perceived value to the guest than it actually cost Disney.

Cant wait to see what the "larger sample pours" look like in the beverage seminars. Hard to get smaller than a sip.

 

[huey578]

Any word on when FW merchandise will be available for purchase online??

 

[sunshinecruise]

Has anyone noticed if they will have the Festival Label Chardonnay and Cabernet this year?

 

[FortWildernessLoopy]

Is there any way to find out if the cranberry bog will be there this year? It's one of my favorite things at F&W and I have missed it.

 

[randumb0]

Is there any way to find out if the cranberry bog will be there this year? It's one of my favorite things at F&W and I have missed it.

It hasn't been there for a few years now

 

[karrit2000]

Has anyone noticed if they will have the Festival Label Chardonnay and Cabernet this year?

It isn't listed at any of the booths. So no unless they serve it at the Festival Center, they didn't publish what alcohol they will be serving at Intermissions Cafe.

 

[brewhome]

Yep, this year's changes seal the deal... No culinary demo for me. I'm not interested in paying $18 for one food sample when I can get three things at some booths for that price.

Let's hope they don't cut the beer and cider flights down anymore. When we went in 2015, we got four samples in a flight, and I saw in 2016 that they changed it to three for about the same price. Four was perfect for the four of us... We'd each try all four and then each of us would take one to finish.

 

[patster734]

It isn't listed at any of the booths. So no unless they serve it at the Festival Center, they didn't publish what alcohol they will be serving at Intermissions Cafe.

Hoping that they'll have the Homemade Apple Pie Hard Cider again this year.

 

[JerseyJanice]

@brewhome Based on the menus, it looks like there will be 3 samples per flight.

I was disappointed in the variety of beers last year versus the previous Festival we attended in 2011. The beer variety does not look better this year.

And can I "wine" about something that they did last year and apparently will repeat this year? Why are there 3 Rieslings in Germany and only one beer? Who wants to sample 3 Rieslings? They couldn't put a liebfraumilch in there? A Pinot noir?

A single beer? Is Disney kidding? In 2011, they had a beer garden with AstroTurf, picnic tables and an oompah-pah band. I forget how many different beers they had, but it was way more than one.

Lastly, I am bummed Innis & Gunn stout isn't back in the Scotland kiosk. I guess we'll have to hit the Rose & Crown. I wonder if they serve a Black & Tan.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

@brewhome Based on the menus, it looks like there will be 3 samples per flight.

I was disappointed in the variety of beers last year versus the previous Festival we attended in 2011. The beer variety does not look better this year.

And can I "wine" about something that they did last year and apparently will repeat this year? Why are there 3 Rieslings in Germany and only one beer? Who wants to sample 3 Rieslings? They couldn't put a liebfraumilch in there? A Pinot noir?

A single beer? Is Disney kidding? In 2011, they had a beer garden with AstroTurf, picnic tables and an oompah-pah band. I forget how many different beers they had, but it was way more than one.

Lastly, I am bummed Innis & Gunn stout isn't back in the Scotland kiosk. I guess we'll have to hit the Rose & Crown. I wonder if they serve a Black & Tan.

Germany Booth has been light on beers for a while. Brewer's Collection is right next to Germany's booth and that holds all the beers for that area. It still had the AstroTurf and Picnic Tables the past few years.