Countdown to October Trip and Food and Wine Festival!!

[Ms. WDW]

As of today, 70 days for me as well. Only a little over 2 months! This will fly by and I don't have nearly enough spending money. What to DO???

I still can't believe you and I miss eachother by 1 day!!

I've been putting a little spending money away each week; just like a little kid!

 

[Disjunky]

84 days too many. can not wait. waitlisted at BLT and WLV because i booked well within the 7 month window but have resis at SSR. Should have bookeda t my 180 days no matter what. oh well, live and learn i suppose.

 

[palhockeymomof2]

A little over 3 months for us....leaving on 10/24

 

[disneygal55]

Three months and three days until we celebrate my DH's birthday at MNSSHP! And we just love the F&W!

 

[Pirate Granny]

87 going to MNSSHP + BCV...

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I can sympathize. We took a year off when they started charging for the Deminars. Couldn't wait to get back the following year. Now we are spending our time enjoying more booth grazing and attending more of the special events instead of hanging out at the Festival Center for the no longer free deminars.

I think charging was the BEST thing they did. Now if they just FIRED the rude folks that RUN the seminars. (No, I won't call them deminars, it's not a word!)

I didn't go last year after dealing with them the year prior. Literally at one seminar I had NO table in front of me due to the size of the other guests and "YOU MAY NOT MOVE TO ANY OF THOSE EMPTY TABLES" Luckily the wine rep rescued me and moved me and when they tried to tell her off she told them "It's MY product back off!" (And they had half the tables in the place empty!) I went to Guest Services and got a refund for that one and the one's remaining (I also find it INCREDIBLY rude that while the seminar is going on they "clean" the extra places they sat which means their "buts" are between the presenter and anyone in an 'accessible' seat! )

But I may try one or two this year if it's interesting, just to see. The space did look MUCH nicer last year

But the charging removed the "run around" who would SLAM down thier wine, jump up half way through the presenation and "run around" to get back in line for the next one. (And that was an improvement over the year they let the locals just STAY. So they came, sat down for the 11 AM seminar and never moved. So if the seminar seated say 50, then you really only had about 25 spots LOL! That was back in the day before they moved the Wonders of Life however)

Charging means I can get there and just wander in (and no, in spite of them yelling at us to get in line, I don't. Once they start seating I wander up with my ticket and walk right in. I see no reason to stand in a line when I am guranteed a seat I don't have to be on the front row)

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Does anyone know if the food booths will accept a Disney Rewards card towards payment? Or do I have to buy gift cards ( which I can with the rewards dollars)) and use them?

 

[Thumper4me]

BWV Dreaming,

I have used my Disney Reward Card in the past with no problem. You can also put the money from your Disney Reweards Card down on your room and then just use your KTW card at the food booths.

OrangeCountyCommuter,

I couldn't agree more. I think the best thing that the F&W Festival officials ever did was charge for the seminars. I got so tired of the "run around" as you call it. The weekends were the worst for this past behavior.

Kelly

 

[LisaS]

I like the fact that they are now charging for the seminars. I can actually do some research and find the seminars I want to attend and purchase tickets ahead of time instead of having to hang out in the Festival Center only to get closed out of the seminar I wanted to attend.

Maybe I am one of the few but I don't mind the nominal fee. In the past it was almost impossible on the weekends to attend a seminar.

I agree. Our first time at F&W it was crazy trying to get into a seminar. This was at the other pavilion and the lines were out the door. People were standing in the hot sun with no guarantee they would even get in. I will gladly pay the fee in exchange for a short wait and a guaranteed seat. (And reading about the "run around" makes me really glad they changed things!)

I agree it's great to be able to review the list weeks in advance, choose which seminars we want to attend, pay for them in advance and then just show up in time to pick up our tickets and wander over to the seminar. That allows us to plan out the rest of our time, and there is more of it as well since we don't have to spend so much time in line. Well worth the cost in my opinion.

 

[karrit2000]

I think charging was the BEST thing they did. Now if they just FIRED the rude folks that RUN the seminars. (No, I won't call them deminars, it's not a word!)

I didn't go last year after dealing with them the year prior. Literally at one seminar I had NO table in front of me due to the size of the other guests and "YOU MAY NOT MOVE TO ANY OF THOSE EMPTY TABLES" Luckily the wine rep rescued me and moved me and when they tried to tell her off she told them "It's MY product back off!" (And they had half the tables in the place empty!) I went to Guest Services and got a refund for that one and the one's remaining (I also find it INCREDIBLY rude that while the seminar is going on they "clean" the extra places they sat which means their "buts" are between the presenter and anyone in an 'accessible' seat! )

But I may try one or two this year if it's interesting, just to see. The space did look MUCH nicer last year

But the charging removed the "run around" who would SLAM down thier wine, jump up half way through the presenation and "run around" to get back in line for the next one. (And that was an improvement over the year they let the locals just STAY. So they came, sat down for the 11 AM seminar and never moved. So if the seminar seated say 50, then you really only had about 25 spots LOL! That was back in the day before they moved the Wonders of Life however)

Charging means I can get there and just wander in (and no, in spite of them yelling at us to get in line, I don't. Once they start seating I wander up with my ticket and walk right in. I see no reason to stand in a line when I am guranteed a seat I don't have to be on the front row)

Well when we did go back we did book some of the Seminars & Food Demos but last year we skipped them. It worked out just as well since Mom ended up spending part of the trip in the Hospital. I have a hard time paying for them when I have no idea what they will be serving. They did do a bit better last year with getting the info out there so people would know what they were paying for.

I thought the set up for the seminars last year did look a little less cramped than in previous years. I agree with everything you posted about the rudeness & the way they cram people in when there are empty tables. Don't get me started on the trashing of the extra wine they've already poured rather than letting someone enjoy an extra sample. I can't tell you how many times I had glasses with barely a drop in them while others got more than their fair share due to the uneven pours of the "staff". I don't mind paying if it's something I'm interested in but I didn't think there were as many good choices last year and a lot of repetition of wines that just didn't appeal to me during the time I was there.

 

[wdwdano@yahoo.com]

I just checked and the countdown says 84 days. Less than three months sounds better. Anyone going to party for the senses? Is it worth it? Is there a lot of good options?

 

[MinnieLee]

I totally understand. DH and I plan on spending NY's coldest month at WDW when he retires!

DH wants to know how many "kibillion" points we would need to spend the winter at WDW. Don't know how many a "kibillion" is, but sounds good to me.

TOO MANY DAYS until we get there. Countdown is at 93 days, 17 hours, 42 minutes, 52 seconds, 51 seconds, 50 seconds....... at BCV for 11 days! But who is counting. F&W! Can't wait!

 

[Ms. WDW]

DH wants to know how many "kibillion" points we would need to spend the winter at WDW. Don't know how many a "kibillion" is, but sounds good to me.

TOO MANY DAYS until we get there. Countdown is at 93 days, 17 hours, 42 minutes, 52 seconds, 51 seconds, 50 seconds....... at BCV for 11 days! But who is counting. F&W! Can't wait!

Hahaha...well we don't have enough to spend the "entire" winter but we sure do have enough for at least 3 and possibly 4 weeks if we switch up between a studio and 1 BR. If you want the exact rundown send me a PM!

 

[mom of princessx2]

I just checked and it is 76 more days!!! We have been so busy this summer that I haven't given it much thought. Now I am excited!!

First F&W and first MNSSHP!! I have a feeling we are going to love October at WDW

 

[LisaS]

First F&W and first MNSSHP!! I have a feeling we are going to love October at WDW

I think you will! We really enjoy F&W and MNSSHP is a lot of fun. DH was reluctant to go through the Trick-or-Treat lines the first time (thinking it was just for kids) but I convinced him to do it. He never got to go trick-or-treating as a kid so I told him it was his chance to experience it Disney style. Now he really looks forward to it! It's so cute watching him sort through his candy when we get back to the room after the party.

Do not miss the MNSSHP parade! It's fantastic.

 

[keishashadow]

I think you will! We really enjoy F&W and MNSSHP is a lot of fun. DH was reluctant to go through the Trick-or-Treat lines the first time (thinking it was just for kids) but I convinced him to do it. He never got to go trick-or-treating as a kid so I told him it was his chance to experience it Disney style. Now he really looks forward to it! It's so cute watching him sort through his candy when we get back to the room after the party.

Do not miss the MNSSHP parade! It's fantastic.

and feel free to come in costume!

we really enjoy this time period at WDW & Universal but every year F&W seems more when we visit (Saturday). Naturally, I know better than to visit on the weekends and each year I say I'm going to skip Saturday, but no. Guess where i wind up every single trip due to trying to work everything? Serves me right lol.

 

[zorro77]

We are finally under 100 days and at 91 days till we will be home at OKW. It will be a full two weeks with Food Wine event, Halloween Party and lots of nights finishing up at Fuego's for a good drink and cigar.

 

[Cajun28]

First F&W and first MNSSHP!! I have a feeling we are going to love October at WDW

Same for us, 93 more days!

 

[Gmilligan]

93 more days until F&W and then off to Cruising.

 

[rentayenta]

In exactly 80 days I'll be BACK in my "happy place" for the Food and Wine Festival!!

So who else is counting the days???

Me, me, me! 81 days!!!