Don't Forget: Today is BOOKING DAY for F&W Special Events!

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Just wanted to remind any of you headed to BWV, BCV or any other DVC resort for the Food & Wine Festival... tickets for the special events went on sale this morning at 7 am Orlando time. Some events are already sold out (like the Cali Grill signature dinner), so you might want to get your tickets squared away if you are interested in any of these events. Details of the events are posted here: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/pa...s/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/ .

The number to dial for purchasing your tickets is 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378). Hope to see y'all on the Boardwalk for the Festival!

Evey =)

 

[DenLo]

Thanks for the reminder. I didn't realize this was the 15th Anniversary of the Festival, and it's hard to believe but this is our first trip to the Food and Wine.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We are doing the Grand Marnier thing at the French Pavillion. We have AKL concierge that weekend, and they booked it for us. That was easy!
It's our first special thing to do at F&W. Usually we just taste the food and go to the concerts.

 

[DenLo]

We are doing the Grand Marnier thing at the French Pavillion. We have AKL concierge that weekend, and they booked it for us. That was easy!
It's our first special thing to do at F&W. Usually we just taste the food and go to the concerts.

Wow, I'm beginning to think the AKL concierge is pretty good deal. I thought the name of that event was cute and the nickname on the F&W thread even better, Shakey tasty.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, I'm beginning to think the AKL concierge is pretty good deal. I thought the name of that event was cute and the nickname on the F&W thread even better, Shakey tasty.

Yes, the e-mail came this morning:

Dumela! (Bobbi's) Safari, I was able to book your Taste, Shake, and Indulge Like the French. I have added to the itinerary and attached a copy for you to look over. Ifthere is anything further we may assist you with please let us know. Ben

We're doing the Wildlife Discovery Expedition (we've done that before) and they booked dinner for us at Le Cellier. This last is not really a "shoe in." They always warn you ahead of time that Le Cellier may not be available. They booked it right at the beginning of the time period.

Bobbi

 

[Princessofthehouse]

Has anyone attended the Party for the Senses? We were thinking of doing it, but was not sure if it was worth the price. Any info. would be appreciated.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Does any DVC other than AKL offer the concierge service? We've done it with Yacht Club before, but I haven't ever booked it with DVC. I think I'm too spoiled by walking back and forth to Epcot to try booking at AKL for F&W... but if they offered it at BWV or BCV, I'd be in heaven!

 

[dgaston]

For DVC the only concierge is AKL.

As for F & W, I couldn't book the French Regional Lunch I wanted on 10/24. Booked it for the 22, and had to pay SWA $66 for an earlier flight. I had hoped just to hang out at CBR (we're staying one night on a bounceback -- DH's quest to visit all resorts), we will after sipping Bordeaux I guess.

I'll be booking PFTS later. We have enjoyed several. And Cirque is back this year as entertainment.

 

[MASrules]

Party for the senses is a great party. We thought it was a great value the first time we went years ago for $85, but now feel $135 is a tad overpriced, but are going again this year.

Advantages: The event is 3-3.5 hours long so you get plenty of time to eat and drink as much as you want. The food is good as many chefs are present making one dish each (this naturally creates competition resulting in some really good and some really unique items). The Drinks are many and varied, and besides me most people behave. Cirque de Soliel performers are a plus. There may be a celebrity chef, we really enjoyed chatting with Cat Cora a couple of years ago.

Disadvantages: The room is big and requires a lot of walking to get from booth to booth. Some years the number of tables have been less than the number of people, relying on guests continually moving instead of staying put (which some do). The menu is always great, but you don't really know what is available to eat until you get there.

Allearsnet has some reviews with menus for this event that may be helpful, we really like it, but have gone from every year to every 2-3 years due to increase in price with really no increase in product.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Has anyone attended the Party for the Senses? We were thinking of doing it, but was not sure if it was worth the price. Any info. would be appreciated.

We did Party for the Senses in 2007 when Cirque was there, and it was a lukewarm experience for us. There were more people than tables, and it seemed that many of the folks were just plain obnoxious. My mom was literally mowed down in her wheelchair by folks who cared more about getting a better view of Cirque than they cared for the folks around them. As a result, we huddled in a corner for much of the event. The food and wine were great, but the crowd was awful. We skipped PFTS in 2008 because we didn't want to fight the vultures again. Disney introduced the Wine View Lounge for 2009, so we again went to PFTS. Had a fantastic time last year. The reserved seating made a big difference, but we also noticed it wasn't nearly as crowded as it had been in 2007. I know my mom was not the only one mowed down in 2007 (we witnessed others), so perhaps Disney learned and scaled back some on the number of folks admitted. We're going again this year, with the Wine View option.

 

[5forDiz]

Does any DVC other than AKL offer the concierge service? We've done it with Yacht Club before, but I haven't ever booked it with DVC. I think I'm too spoiled by walking back and forth to Epcot to try booking at AKL for F&W... but if they offered it at BWV or BCV, I'd be in heaven!

No unfortunately just AKV-Jambo and it is only five 2 bedroom lockoffs that at most can be broken down into total of 10 concierge villas (5 studios & 5 1 bedrooms) so not easy to book without 11 month priority window, but ya never know unless you try

 

[starbox]

DH booked PFTS with Wine Lounge at 7am for October 2nd - which is the first anniversary of my 39th birthday!!!

 

[bobbiwoz]

DH booked PFTS with Wine Lounge at 7am for October 2nd - which is the first anniversary of my 39th birthday!!!

That's nice!

 

[DenLo]

Does any DVC other than AKL offer the concierge service? We've done it with Yacht Club before, but I haven't ever booked it with DVC. I think I'm too spoiled by walking back and forth to Epcot to try booking at AKL for F&W... but if they offered it at BWV or BCV, I'd be in heaven!

No unfortunately just AKV-Jambo and it is only five 2 bedroom lockoffs that at most can be broken down into total of 10 concierge villas (5 studios & 5 1 bedrooms) so not easy to book without 11 month priority window, but ya never know unless you try

This question is a bit , but are there any cash concierge rooms at Jambo House? And do they use the same lounge? I noticed some cash suites were on the map, maybe they have access to the concierge lounge as well. It just seems that 5 2BR villas are too few for a lounge of their own, so it would be reasonable if Jambo had some cash only concierge rooms.

 

[dgaston]

Yes, the cash concierge rooms are on the 4th floor. And rarely, I think for medical needs and a HA requirement, folks on the DVC 5th floor have been given concierge access.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Although we enjoy PFTS, we opted to skip it this year.

We did book:
The cheese seminar
The 3D dessert
And of course.... The tequila tasting.

MG

 

[Inkmahm]

Has anyone attended the Party for the Senses? We were thinking of doing it, but was not sure if it was worth the price. Any info. would be appreciated.

This is the ONLY hard ticket PFTS event DH and I have booked With the wine view room. We did this the last two years (last year being the first for wine view) and really like it.

There is a wide variety of food and wines to choose from. You will leave the event stuffed to the gills.

 

[DopeyDave]

All or part of our party will be doing:
Grand Marnier Tasting
Tequila Tasting
Dessert Discovery
Party for the Senses!

Couldn't believe I called, made reservations and was off the phone by 7:38am!! Last time I never even got through until around 9am.

 

[LouisianaDisneyFan]

Here's what we're attending

Oct 17
French Regional Lunch featuring wines of Alsace (2 people)

Oct 18
Food & Wine Pairing - Tokyo Dining (2 people)

Oct 19
Signature Dining at Wolfgang Puck's Grand Cafe with Sinclair Thorne (2 people)

Oct 21
3D - Disney's Dessert Discovery (3 people)

Oct 22
Signature Dining at the Wonders Retreat with Jens Dahlmann (3 people)

Oct 23
Taste, Shake & Indulge Like the French (3 people)
Party for the Senses - Wine View Lounge (3 people)

Oct 24
French Regional Lunch featuring wines of Bordeaux (3 people)

Anybody else going to be there when we are?

Evey =)

 

[Simba's Mom]

I'll be interested to know when the seminars/demos will be announced and booking will begin for them. Also, interested in whether there'll be a DVC discount again this year, and if so, how much. All they say so far is that the 45 minute events will be $9 and $13. I'm confused about the pricing.