Anybody going Solo for the Food & Wine Festival?

[Withinthehour]

I was thinking about taking a solo [weekend] trip during the food & wine festival and was wondering if anybody else was planning a solo trip/ had taken one during the festivals. Any suggestions of things not to miss would be appreciated too, TIA!

 

[Brocktoon]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again (and again and again ...), the F&W Fest is one of the best times to visit WDW. My last few trips were specifically timed to make sure I didn't miss it.

You mentioned a weekend trip, so I do have to mention that the World Showcase can get very crowded on weekends during the F&W Fest. If you're able to visit on a weekday, or even a Friday afternoon, you'll have much easier access to the free events and booths.

Some reccomendations:
- Once the schedule is released (usually around Aug), check out some of the free activities you may want to attend. They typically have a bunch of free daily tastings, cooking demos, wine pairings etc ... Make sure you get to the activity early (espcially on the weekend) to reserve a seat. Most of the activities take place either at the old Wonders of Life, or the old Odyssey restaurant.
- Make sure to check out the free Sam Adams tasting class. If they offer it this year, it should be over by the American pavillion.
- If the food/alcohol booths are similar to other years, take your time to stroll around and checkout the menus 1st. It can get expensive and you can fill up fast if you just hit the initial booths you encounter. Later you may be kicking yourself for items you wish you saw earlier.
- If they have them this year, items not to miss: The rasberry wine in Poland, The escargot in France, Sam Adams Annual F&W Fest Brew at the Sam Adams kiosk in the American Pavillion

 

[GrumpyOne]

Yep, planning on being solo at The World in late Sept - Early Oct and will be doing F&W. This will be my first time doing F&W so I'll be playing it by ear and using what I learn here / elsewhere.

 

[nurse.darcy]

Booths very crowded in late September, however, not impossible. But the one thing I wanted to see was horribly crowded and that was the cooking competition by the food network stars. . .I will know for this year. . .making my plan now. . .

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'm planning on going solo for the F&W festival. It's my second solo trip during the festival. I had so much fun last year! I think the serving sizes at the booths are perfect for a solo. Although I find that alot of times at resturants the serving sizes are too big and there's no one to share with, the sizes here are perfect, also, it rained one day, so I spent the entire day inside the festival center, going from one event to another. Ate a lot of free samples there and had a great day-

 

[dahirsh]

not going this year, but that's my favorite time of year. I love both the F&WF and MNSSHP.

 

[WalkingintheFog]

Free Samples? where?

Will be at YC for the first several days of F&W, hoping to make the most of it! Caught 1 day of it last September without really knowing much about it.
This year hope to be well prepped!

 

[aggielawyer]

I'll be there--first time solo and first time at F&W. I'm drooling already.

 

[PaulaSB12]

I will be there as well, I love trying all that different food, but will not have the ice wine again horrible stuff.

 

[geffric]

I am going solo first week of October.. if you are interested.. there is a DIS Ladies group going..

 

[PaulaSB12]

I am going solo first week of October.. if you are interested.. there is a DIS Ladies group going..

That sounds fun!

 

[geffric]

That sounds fun!

check it out at the DIS Meets section.. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2010576&page=9

 

[geffric]

Free Samples? where?

!

lots of free samples of wine/crackers.. go to the wine area - old Met Life pavilion and sit in on some classes. when I went a few years ago, each winery speaker gave us 4 wines to taste..
also the Sam Adams brewery had a beer tasting at the American pavilion. and there was a beer tasting at the rose and crown ( may not be there this year)

 

[dolcezena]

Since my DH adamantly refuses to go see a Mouse on vacation, going solo is probably the only way I'm going to F&W. Was going to go last year year, but serious vet bills prevented both the WDW trip AND our spring trip to Cuba *sigh*

Anyway - I have a question too...for those who have gone solo in the past, what do you think is the best bet for least expensive accomodations? I'd really prefer not to do POP, btw). I'm figuring to be there 1st wk of Oct...

 

[Simba's Mom]

Anyway - I have a question too...for those who have gone solo in the past, what do you think is the best bet for least expensive accomodations? I'd really prefer not to do POP, btw). I'm figuring to be there 1st wk of Oct...

I'm not a fan of any of the value resorts. While I'm usually very "thrifty", whenever I stayed at a value resort (and I did so twice), I said to myself "Well, this is what you get for being a cheapskate." I love staying at POR or POFQ.

 

[jenstall]

Unless my mother decides to join me at the last minute, I'm going solo to Food & Wine. I had a bunch of Wyndham points to use and Bonnet Creek was available and I have my annual pass, so I figured I should take another trip to Disney World this year And I've always wanted to go to the Food & Wine Festival. My dates are Sept. 27 to Oct. 2.

 

[feistygalkmc]

I will be going at some point during the later half of Oct. I'm thinking. Not sure exact dates yet.

 

[Shenanigoat]

I'll be attending F&W solo- Sept 24th-Oct 1st. The DH is uninterested in both Disney and Dining! More samples for me.

 

[Shannon84]

I know I have posted on different threads before, but I will be down there October 17th to 24th, cant wait, my first time down at that time!!

 

[DFD]

I was thinking about taking a solo [weekend] trip during the food & wine festival and was wondering if anybody else was planning a solo trip/ had taken one during the festivals. Any suggestions of things not to miss would be appreciated too, TIA!

maybe you may want to add the MNSSHP too if you fall on the weekend of 3rd or 10th... a few threads have started to form a plan... come check it out...

ohhhh and if you are doing SWW this weekend... maybe we'll see you there