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

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We realized at Flower & Garden that the drinks from the booths are MUCH smaller than drinks from "normal" places around World Showcase. I think I paid $14 for a Dixie cup size portion of moonshine lemonade. A tiny Dixie cup. Like barely bigger than a shot glass. In 2014 when I had the Godiva thing it was poured over ice, so there was actually one swallow of liquid and LOTS AND LOTS of ice. I have learned to watch the people walking away from the booths to see how big the drinks are, and factor that into my decisions.

 

[Sona99]

We realized at Flower & Garden that the drinks from the booths are MUCH smaller than drinks from "normal" places around World Showcase. I think I paid $14 for a Dixie cup size portion of moonshine lemonade. A tiny Dixie cup. Like barely bigger than a shot glass. In 2014 when I had the Godiva thing it was poured over ice, so there was actually one swallow of liquid and LOTS AND LOTS of ice. I have learned to watch the people walking away from the booths to see how big the drinks are, and factor that into my decisions.

Yep. I figured that out too this trip. I had several wines I wanted to try but I stopped after the third one. First off, it was just so bloody hot out that the wine, although chilled, wasn't quenching my thirst. Then the cost seemed high for what we were getting. And the fluted style plastic glasses were awkward to manage, very top heavy. I just went back to bottled water.

 

[MandyLovesMulan]

So, i see that cash and credit are accepted forms of payment... what about magic bands? Do we have to bring cash & credit cards (expecting not to be able to use hotel magic bands linked to CCs?).

 

[MandyLovesMulan]

Also, any update on the 8-pack coupon thingy? (Any items blacklisted/not allowed?) Thinking this might be good for alcohol as DDP doesn't cover alcohol on 2017.

 

[pepperandchips]

How was this? - this is right up my alley on on my ToDo list.

It was like an adult Yoo-hoo. Very sweet but I had no problem finishing it

 

[pepperandchips]

Also, any update on the 8-pack coupon thingy? (Any items blacklisted/not allowed?) Thinking this might be good for alcohol as DDP doesn't cover alcohol on 2017.

Check out this article for a picture of the actual credential with the exclusions in the fine print. http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/08/food-wine-festival-2017-tasting-sampler-tabs-return-lesser-valur/

The exclusions are beer larger than 6 oz, all tasting flights, Dom Perignon, and the artist palette of wine and cheese.

Good uses include the other sparkling wines at Almond Orchard ($16 rose was quite good) and the $15 Pinot Noir at earth Eats (though frankly I didn't think that wine was worth the $8.65 sampler tab either). I did not try at the Joffreys kiosks but they SHOULD work since it says you can redeem tabs at locations identified in the passport and the Joffreys kiosks are there.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

So, i see that cash and credit are accepted forms of payment... what about magic bands? Do we have to bring cash & credit cards (expecting not to be able to use hotel magic bands linked to CCs?).

Yes, can use a magic band that has been linked to a credit card. I'd suggest still having cash or card as backup in case of system issues

 

[DVC4US]

So, i see that cash and credit are accepted forms of payment... what about magic bands? Do we have to bring cash & credit cards (expecting not to be able to use hotel magic bands linked to CCs?).

As Christine posted above you can use MBs at the kiosks but remember you have to put in your pin every time. We have found it easier to load a F&W gift card and just use that. All they do is scan the card and hand you a receipt. This way we can also have a general idea of how much we are spending at F&W.

 

[Mika02]

Best bite I had: Grilled beef skewer from Patagonia.

Worst bite: Duck confit from Wine and Dine.


Next year we'll need two days. We just didn't get to everything on our taste list in one day.

Thanks for your opinion I was somewhere else and they said the Duck Confit was great. I had removed it from my list based on the picture and it didn't look like Confit to me.

 

[Sona99]

Thanks for your opinion I was somewhere else and they said the Duck Confit was great. I had removed it from my list based on the picture and it didn't look like Confit to me.

Let me go into detail. The duck itself was properly cooked, but the sauce was so salty that it was inedible. It spoiled the duck. Hubby and I both agreed that something went wrong.

Perhaps we were just unlucky and our batch was overly salted. I can say that the flavors beyond the salt were good and if it had been properly seasoned it would have been fine.

So, YMMV.

Still, the skewers from Patagonia would still have been better.

 

[Mika02]

Let me go into detail. The duck itself was properly cooked, but the sauce was so salty that it was inedible. It spoiled the duck. Hubby and I both agreed that something went wrong.

Perhaps we were just unlucky and our batch was overly salted. I can say that the flavors beyond the salt were good and if it had been properly seasoned it would have been fine.

So, YMMV.

Still, the skewers from Patagonia would still have been better.

ok Thanks I am reading that a lot the inconsistency of cooking and some the sauces ruining the food. Can you request certain things not being put on certain dishes like the Lamb without the mint?

 

[crazy4wdw]

Review of the Cheese Studio Marketplace: http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/09/revie...world-epcot-international-food-wine-festival/

Review of the Chocolate Studio Marketplace: http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/09/revie...-epcot-international-food-wine-festival-2017/

Review of the Almond Orchard Marketplace: http://wdwnt.com/blog/2017/09/review-almond-orchard-epcot-international-food-wine-festival-2017/

Baha Men performance at Eat to the Beat: http://blogmickey.com/2017/09/photo...concert-series-during-food-and-wine-festival/

 

[crazy4wdw]

Some Epcot Food & Wine Festival merchandise available at the Disney Store online:

https://www.disneystore.com/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/mn/1006907/

 

[Imamom2]

Really looking forward to this! We are staying at Boardwalk so actually planning some time at Epcot each day of our 5-day trip. I definitely could not taste all the things on my wish list in 2 days (and really would not want to). It took me 2 days to Drink Around the World and that was sharing drinks I am really looking forward to the seafood dishes, the peanut butter and chocolate dessert, and the cheddar cheese soup in Canada.

 

[elgerber]

Really looking forward to this! We are staying at Boardwalk so actually planning some time at Epcot each day of our 5-day trip. I definitely could not taste all the things on my wish list in 2 days (and really would not want to). It took me 2 days to Drink Around the World and that was sharing drinks I am really looking forward to the seafood dishes, the peanut butter and chocolate dessert, and the cheddar cheese soup in Canada.

The peanut butter mousse is the best dessert I have had on this entire trip. I am done eating, I have no more room. My favorite thing I think I have ever eaten at Food and Wine is the Teriyaki Spam Hash! I could have eaten at least 3 of those myself.

 

[JerseyJanice]

The peanut butter mousse is the best dessert I have had on this entire trip. I am done eating, I have no more room. My favorite thing I think I have ever eaten at Food and Wine is the Teriyaki Spam Hash! I could have eaten at least 3 of those myself.

I am def trying the Spam dish.

It is sure to remind me of my favorite high school lunch. (Old person reminiscing ahead...)

My high school cafeteria served a great spiced ham and cheese sandwich. Came on a fresh Kaiser roll and was topped with a thick slice of iceberg lettuce. This was the 1970s. Lunch was 60 cents and came with chocolate milk. And a bag of chips!

 

[MrsScooby]

ok Thanks I am reading that a lot the inconsistency of cooking and some the sauces ruining the food. Can you request certain things not being put on certain dishes like the Lamb without the mint?

Last year my husband order the lamb chops without the mint pesto and just the crunchie stuff on top. He had to wait for a fresh batch of lamb to be cooked each time but it was worth it last year, not sure about this year though.

 

[Jays2013]

Really looking forward to this! We are staying at Boardwalk so actually planning some time at Epcot each day of our 5-day trip. I definitely could not taste all the things on my wish list in 2 days (and really would not want to). It took me 2 days to Drink Around the World and that was sharing drinks I am really looking forward to the seafood dishes, the peanut butter and chocolate dessert, and the cheddar cheese soup in Canada.

You and I have similar tastes! I'm looking forward to all that.

The cheese dip (can't remember the wording) in Ireland looks awesome too.

 

[Sona99]

ok Thanks I am reading that a lot the inconsistency of cooking and some the sauces ruining the food. Can you request certain things not being put on certain dishes like the Lamb without the mint?

While the actual cooking is done elsewhere, assembling the dish happens at the booths, so yes, you can make reasonable requests like this. However, they do have prepared samples assembled (faster that way) so you would have to wait for a special order.

 

[leholcomb]

While the actual cooking is done elsewhere, assembling the dish happens at the booths, so yes, you can make reasonable requests like this. However, they do have prepared samples assembled (faster that way) so you would have to wait for a special order.

FYI, not all cooking takes place elsewhere. I have worked in a number of booths with stoves and ovens. That heat is no joke in the Florida temperatures...