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

[helenm29]

We will be there Sept 15-22

GREAT! hope to catch you there!

 

[gohomekate]

So, Who's going Mid-September? would love to meet some of you!

We will be down from NJ Sept 14 through 25th! Meeting would be fun!

 

[tink1957]

So, Who's going Mid-September? would love to meet some of you!

We will be there September 19 - 22 after our week at Universal ...hope we all can meet up and visit a few booths together.

 

[helenm29]

sounds like a lot of fun....maybe we can set up a meet!

 

[TexasCourt]

Does anyone know when we are able to book any of the Food and Wine Festival events? Thank you!

 

[MichelleKing]

Anyone know which days Hanson is playing at Eat to the Beat this year? We talked to them the other day and my brother in law asked them which days they were playing and they couldn't say the exact dates. Last year they were one of the last bands announced but rumored dates popped up around this time last year. Any info is greatly appreciated- TIA

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Does anyone know when we are able to book any of the Food and Wine Festival events? Thank you!

From my notes last year... early booking of some events like Culinary Demos, Beverage Seminars, Mix It Make It Celebrate (Disney VISA, etc.) 7/19/16; booking all events for general public 7/21/16.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Anyone know which days Hanson is playing at Eat to the Beat this year? We talked to them the other day and my brother in law asked them which days they were playing and they couldn't say the exact dates. Last year they were one of the last bands announced but rumored dates popped up around this time last year. Any info is greatly appreciated- TIA

Last year, they were scheduled around Halloween, In 2015, they were scheduled towards the end of the festival (mid-November).

 

[DopeyDave]

From my notes last year... early booking of some events like Culinary Demos, Beverage Seminars, Mix It Make It Celebrate (Disney VISA, etc.) 7/19/16; booking all events for general public 7/21/16.

Considering the festival starts almost a month earlier than previous years, what do we think the chances are of Disney releasing event information a month earlier and opening booking a month earlier that usual? I hope, I hope, I hope!!!

 

[Simba's Mom]

Considering the festival starts almost a month earlier than previous years, what do we think the chances are of Disney releasing event information a month earlier and opening booking a month earlier that usual? I hope, I hope, I hope!!!

Us too! And when the culinary demos come out, actually when we can sign up, we'll be making someone very happy. Right now we have reservations for 10 days at BCV, but depending on when the culinary demo is that we decide to sign up for, we'll probably cancel a few of those days (making someone else waiting for a 1 BR happy).

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Considering the festival starts almost a month earlier than previous years, what do we think the chances are of Disney releasing event information a month earlier and opening booking a month earlier that usual? I hope, I hope, I hope!!!

Good question, and I really think it could go either way... unless someone on here has some insider info, I feel like anything would be a total guess! I just know that I will keep my eye some on DIS, but ALSO on Disney's official twitter accounts.

The days when DIS has a jump on EVERYTHING are in the past. I'd say it's AT LEAST 50/50 for me these days whether I hear about something opening for booking first on DIS or first directly from Disney on Twitter.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Considering the festival starts almost a month earlier than previous years, what do we think the chances are of Disney releasing event information a month earlier and opening booking a month earlier that usual? I hope, I hope, I hope!!!

Us too! And when the culinary demos come out, actually when we can sign up, we'll be making someone very happy. Right now we have reservations for 10 days at BCV, but depending on when the culinary demo is that we decide to sign up for, we'll probably cancel a few of those days (making someone else waiting for a 1 BR happy).

Good question, and I really think it could go either way... unless someone on here has some insider info, I feel like anything would be a total guess! I just know that I will keep my eye some on DIS, but ALSO on Disney's official twitter accounts.

The days when DIS has a jump on EVERYTHING are in the past. I'd say it's AT LEAST 50/50 for me these days whether I hear about something opening for booking first on DIS or first directly from Disney on Twitter.

I'm certainly hopeful that the info will be released earlier than usual but have no "insider" information. Hoping some information is released at the tables in wonderland preview on July 15.

 

[elgerber]

I will be there for my first ever solo trip, after 19 trips. Sept 2-7. DH ended up planning a fairly last minute trip to Germany to see his brother, so I decided to do this! Luckily I was able to book rooms with DVC, they have almost all been gone since then.
Now hoping for some good Eat to the Beat acts, I haven't seen a good act during our trips in many many years.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

Last year I was like "Oh, maybe I'll skip F&W next year." Yeah, right...just booked 9 nights at CSR last week of Aug/first week of Sept. I kept debating whether to wait until the heat and humidity break in October but room was available at a great discount so that's when I'm going. I went mid-Sept last year so I know it will be hot as blazes. Haven't stayed at CSR in years so looking forward to that. And looking forward to F&W!

 

[Disney & ME]

FWIW we melted in Nov a couple years back! (And by "we" I mean 2 CA girls used to 100+ temps for most of summer but we're a dry heat out here, the humidity kicked our rears. And the locals were all griping about how it was hot like summer and it shouldn't feel like that so it was admittedly a bit abnormal.) Anyways the only way we could deal with the heat, and still enjoy all the F&W booze without passing out, was to take constant breaks in air conditioned areas. The 3 amigos ride at the MX pavilion? God sent! Seriously. We voted it the best ride by the end of our 2 days in Epcot because when you want to collapse from heat that long air-conditioned boat ride away from crowds is wonderful. It could have been themed to a black hole we would have still loved it. Heat is just a part of WDW that time of year so get ready for serious heat & humidity for Sept. If you're mentally prepped and drink water constantly and take mid-day pool breaks you can both still have a wonderful time

BTW- don't forget your sunblock. WS is one sunny place! (Hilarious the idea someone would forget to bring sunblock to FL- but we both did. Our first purchase in FL was possibly the world's most expensive bottle of basic sunblock at the gift shop of Universal's Cabana Bay!)

I finally joined the Disboards after many years of following so I hope my first post goes ok.
Being from Maine I can't agree with you more about the heat and humidity! We went in September last year and I felt really sick at the Boathouse F&W event due to the heat, alcohol and motion sickness from the dock movement. At EPCOT if you have a Chase credit card it is so worth it to take advantage of the Chase Lounge in the America pavilion. They have a Coke Freestyle machine, charging stations and best of all A/C !!! There is also a DVC Lounge in the Imagination pavilion which is another good escape. I'm heading back to the F&W Festival in October so planning to use both of these again.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I finally joined the Disboards after many years of following so I hope my first post goes ok.
Being from Maine I can't agree with you more about the heat and humidity! We went in September last year and I felt really sick at the Boathouse F&W event due to the heat, alcohol and motion sickness from the dock movement. At EPCOT if you have a Chase credit card it is so worth it to take advantage of the Chase Lounge in the America pavilion. They have a Coke Freestyle machine, charging stations and best of all A/C !!! There is also a DVC Lounge in the Imagination pavilion which is another good escape. I'm heading back to the F&W Festival in October so planning to use both of these again.

(And great first post btw )

This is one of the threads that I became most engaged in when I did my first trip to WDW/FW a couple years ago. Besides being very informative it helps to have others who understand your frustration on booking day when you wait on hold for 2 hours only to be told by the CM your event "hasn't populated in the system yet". We keep each other sane

 

[Disney & ME]

(And great first post btw )

This is one of the threads that I became most engaged in when I did my first trip to WDW/FW a couple years ago. Besides being very informative it helps to have others who understand your frustration on booking day when you wait on hold for 2 hours only to be told by the CM your event "hasn't populated in the system yet". We keep each other sane

Thanks! I watched this thread last year too and got some great advice. I have been watching the Pandora thread this year too and also got some great tips for my trip last weekend.

I know all too well about sitting on hold. Even worse when you get cut off! Last year I tried to book the Trader Sam's event on the Chase early booking right at 7 but was told it wasn't available. I tried several times later that day too and got disconnected. I then called at 7 on the opening day of regular reservations and again couldn't get it. It was such a bummer since I was staying right there at the Poly! Maybe this year.

 

[crazy4wdw]

I finally joined the Disboards after many years of following so I hope my first post goes ok.

Welcome to the Dis!

 

[Gryhndmom]

I finally joined the Disboards after many years of following so I hope my first post goes ok.
Being from Maine I can't agree with you more about the heat and humidity! We went in September last year and I felt really sick at the Boathouse F&W event due to the heat, alcohol and motion sickness from the dock movement. At EPCOT if you have a Chase credit card it is so worth it to take advantage of the Chase Lounge in the America pavilion. They have a Coke Freestyle machine, charging stations and best of all A/C !!! There is also a DVC Lounge in the Imagination pavilion which is another good escape. I'm heading back to the F&W Festival in October so planning to use both of these again.

Being from TX we are so acclimated to heat and humidity that when it gets to 7O we are looking for sweatshirts ! This may sound a little strange but a couple months before our scheduled wdw visit we start more long walks being outside morning and afternoons to help us mimic our days at f&w. Hope that helps.

 

[jaminmd]

Being from TX we are so acclimated to heat and humidity that when it gets to 7O we are looking for sweatshirts ! This may sound a little strange but a couple months before our scheduled wdw visit we start more long walks being outside morning and afternoons to help us mimic our days at f&w. Hope that helps.

That's not strange at all. I don't think people realize how much walking you do and how much stamina you need, especially when it's hot and humid. We are used to humidity in Maryland, and it's no different in Florida. But in MD, I'm not used to walking in the sun and heat all day long. When I come to FL, it knocks all of the energy out of me. I'm really looking forward to cooler temps on our fall trips this year.