Cities in Wonderland @ 2008 F&W Fest - All at once or bit by bit?

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

From MousePlanet:
This year's Food & Wine theme will be "Cities in Wonderland," featuring cuisine from many cities around the world, from Cork, Ireland to Cape Town, South Africa, as well as Lyon, France; Marrakesh, Morocco; Shanghai, China; Bologna, Italy; Tokyo, Japan and Mexico City, Mexico. More than 25 international marketplaces around World Showcase will feature tastes of international cuisine for $2 to $5 per dish. Daily complementary wine and beer tastings will return, as will culinary demonstrations.

This year's Eat to the Beat concert series features a number of acts that are new to the festival, such as Kool & The Gang, Spyro Gyra, En Vogue, and personal favorite Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Returning acts include David Sanborn, Jon Secada, and Otis Day and the Knights.

As always the free-with-park-admission events include: Wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, special book signings at the Festival Center, Eat to the Beat concerts, and culinary and cultural exhibits.

Experiences available for an extra fee include the weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting, Food and Wine Pairings at select Epcot restaurants, Regional Feasts, Epcot Wine Schools, Cheese Tastings, Sweet Sundays, and other special wine and culinary programs.

The Festival Welcome Center will return to the former Wonders of Life pavilion, with a champagne and wine bar and the festival store. It's also the site of complimentary wine seminars and book signings. As always, once the reservations for the special events open, you will be able to grab them by calling 407-WDW-FEST (407-939-3378).

Does anyone know if the cities featured in the Cities in Wonderland theme will be featured thoughout the Food & Wine Festival, like the 25 International Countries will be, or will they be highlighted in phases during only brief periods during the event? The answer to this question will determine if we are going again this year. My honey really wants to go, but only if we get Cork, Ireland and Sheena Easton.

TIA to anyone that can clarify this for me.

 

[pixie08]

Sorry I am no help but I am intersted to see if anyone knows!

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

Bumping

 

[conandrob240]

The additional countries are largely placed on the part of the lake opposite the world showcase but some are some booths are also added in between the exisiting countries in the world showcase. All 25 additional countries will be a part of the F&W festival for the entire time period of F&W (Sept 26- Nov 9)

 

[TDC Nala]

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy?

that better be one of the 4 weekends I'll be down there.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

So, am I to understand that the Cities will be treated like Oklahoma and the Pearville stuff was last year? So that I can safely assume that they will be featured thoughout the F&W Fest?

 

[ElizabethB]

Cities in Wonderland???? I don't even understand what that theme means. What's wonderland? Is that supposed to be Disneyworld?

As for whether it simply means certain cities will have special display booths, and whether those booths will be there throughout the Festival or only for certain week (e.g., last year Oklahoma's display was there throughout the Festival, but Peru's was only there for a couple of weeks) awaits more leaked info or an actual press release.

All of the cities mentioned are cities in the countries that are already part of World Showcase, so it may mean little at all -- just that the always-there booths associated with those countries will emphasize a particular city this year.

And, as with everything having to do with the Festival, nothing will even be semi-decided until about August, and things will still be shifting in September.

 

[Timon-n-Pumbaa Fan]

I think we are going no matter what now. We are looking really strongly at 9/26 to 9/30. It will be just a short trip, but we both could use another break this year.