EPCOT Food and Wine Fest

[sglover]

Although we've been to WDW dozens of time, this October will be our first time for Food and Wine Fest and I have a few questions. I know reservations open on the 31st but do they publish the schedule ahead of time? Are there any favorite tastings or events of you all out there? I'm so excited that we're finally going to be there for the Festival so I don't want to miss out on anything! Thanks!

 

[webray]

Disney has said they will post the schedule on their website the week before reservations open up. Look for that to be a couple days late..lol.

A big favorite of almost every one is Party for the senses, held on Saturday nights at the World Showplace Pavillion in the World Showcase, you attend the eat to the beat concert first, dress is resort casual. It is like a big cocktail party of tasting and drinking, approx $100 per person.

There are a ton of free tastings/seminars all throughout the days in EPCOT.
Plenty of tastings all different prices all days of the week, and then the sampling around the world showcase at approx $1 to $4 each from all the booths set up.

There is so much to do and taste you can't do it all but it is fun to try.

 

[sglover]

Thanks Webray. I was so looking forward to the Party for the Senses until I realized we're not going to be there over a Saturday night! Ugh! We're going from Sunday to Saturday-well, something to look forward to for next time.

 

[lovemickeyshouse]

i am not a wine or beer drinker just like wine coolers should i skip this on my october trip?

 

[Figment2]

I'm not much of a drinker especially wine and I still enjoy the POS. If you enjoy "different" foods (one of my favorites from years past - Thai Duck with asian slaw & mashed potato - and I am not fond of duck).

Cyn

 

[Kaycee]

Welcome to the DIS Boards, sglover!

This October will be our first time for the Food and Wine Festival too. We're really looking forward to it.

 

[SpectroMagic*o*]

We made the mistake of making ADR's the night we went to F&WF cuz we ended up eating and drinking so much at the festival that by time we went to our dinner, we couldnt even look at food . I was plenty full from all the stands they had. I suggest the Florida Shrimp Co stand, the Shrimp on the Barbie at the Australia stand, everything at the Italy stand (I'm italian, what can I say ), and this year I'm trying the famous cheddar cheese soup from the Canada stand and the cheddar crab cakes at the American stand. Also, if you want a break from all the wine, there's a Great Beers Of The World stand set up in England, and a Sam Adams Tasting set up in America . It's so much fun, have a great time !

 

[sglover]

A friend mentioned that you have to sign up for certain wine and beer tastings on the day of them-is this all of them or just certain ones?
I know she mentioned the beer tasting in England specifically.

 

[SMP]

Can you tell me what is the dress code for the party for the senses?

 

[blueangel]

Wine tastings - there are several scheduled that you can sign up for and do have a cost, but there are also free tastings (wine and other liquors) throughout the day hosted by different companies in the main buildings across from Innoventions (west? - Land side). Keep your eyes open, too, though. Last year we stumbled into a free wine tasting at the Australia booth. They were setting up a line, limited to around 30 people who got the same tasting people were paying for at the booths for free! Nothing like little wine and magic...

Oh, and we went without an ADR one night and regretted it. It rained cats and dogs - and nobody enjoys slogging through giant puddles to try to eat soggy food in the rain. This year we're making late ADR's and trying food out in the afternoons.

 

[Figment2]

PoS dress code is resort casual - no t shirts, tennis shoes, etc. THere is actually a list that Disney Dining reads off when you make reservations.

The beer demonstration take reservations so it's best to sign up first thing in the AM. The (free) wine tastings line up about 45 min. ahead of time. They only allow a certain number of people in each tasting.

Cyn

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The (free) wine tastings line up about 45 min. ahead of time. They only allow a certain number of people in each tasting.

Although the line starts forming 45 minutes before the start of each wine tasting, it's seldom necessary to be there that early.

For something like a Champaign tasting or a Pinot Noir tasting on a weekend, it's a good idea to get into line 30-45 minutes before the start time — or you might not get in at all. However, for many wine tastings during the week, there are actually empty chairs in the back of the room, so you're fine as long as you get there before the tasting starts.

 

[magicmouse2]

How long do the free demonstrations last ? we have kids with us though 10and 8 are well behaved. Thanks



Are there any kids or family type of events ? I couldnt pay $100 for the kids for POS they wouldnt eat anything!

 

[webray]

Can you tell me what is the dress code for the party for the senses?

Resort casual is the dress code. You will see people in nice short outfits, sundresses, nice pants outfits. Hubby usually just wears black pants with a Tommy Bahama style shirt (no tucking in...lol)

 

[webray]

How long do the free demonstrations last ? we have kids with us though 10and 8 are well behaved. Thanks



Are there any kids or family type of events ? I couldnt pay $100 for the kids for POS they wouldnt eat anything!

The free demonstrations last probably a good 45 minutes at least.

There are quite a few things offered for parents and children to attend together.

 

[ImprovGal]

How long do the free demonstrations last ? we have kids with us though 10and 8 are well behaved. Thanks



Are there any kids or family type of events ? I couldnt pay $100 for the kids for POS they wouldnt eat anything!

The free demos are more geared towards adults, however they do allow children to go into the cooking demos. At the wine discussions, however, children are not allowed in the area where the wine is. Instead, they are directed into a row in the back where no wine is poured. I wouldn't bring children into the wine seminars, no matter how well behaved the kids are. The seminars tend to be really informative, but would probably be boring for the kids. Heck, I've been to a couple where I was bored by the presentation itself, although I enjoyed the wine.

Last year's brochure had a page labeled "Fun for Families". There's a kids' area set up by Imagination. In the past it had stations for the National Honey Board and the Peanut Advisory board. I noticed that wdwinfo just added this little blurb for 2006: "New for 2006 - A weekly "Teen Cuisine" seminar will be offered for guests ages 11 - 16. Regional flavors will be the focus of this fun class". Sounds to me like a ticketed event for tweens/teens!

 

[sglover]

Our daughter will be about 8 months old at the time we're there. Are there any events (except for the sit down dinners) where it wouldn't be appropriate to bring her?