***Epcot Food And Wine Festival Info 2008***

[oybolshoi]

Oybolshoi, I just read some of your reviews from 2007. DH and I just did the gustation menu at Le Bistro in May, on our 20th anniversary. I have to assume that they have agreed with you about the amount of food, because I think they have cut it by half. Our filets looked like McDonald's patties. And I would say the wine pourings were maybe 1-2 ounces. It was ridiculous to not feel full or even have a slight buzz after spending all that money and sitting there for almost three hours. Yes, we got the slow waiter too. And our anniversary dessert was "Happy Anniversary" written on a plate with chocolate syrup. Maybe you only get the little tart if it's your honyemoon. Some of the dishes being served around us looked pretty good, and were decent portion sizes too. So if anyone decides to go, avoid the degustation menu!

Sorry to hear that your anniversary dinner was less than spectacular. And I'm really sorry to hear that your experience with the tasting menu was less than stellar. What a shame.

BTW, did they at least spell anniversary correctly on your plate?

 

[oybolshoi]

Delirious is the most quoted movie in our house. Not a day of driving goes by without a "MY SHOE" reference from trash on the side of the road!

One of our all time favorite bits from that movie:

Jack Gates: I have to go to... Cleveland? Jesus, I hate Cleveland!



and then later ...

Jack Gable: What are you doing here? I sent you to Cleveland.

Jack Gates: I should kill you for that alone.

 

[Dancind]

Sorry to hear that your anniversary dinner was less than spectacular. And I'm really sorry to hear that your experience with the tasting menu was less than stellar. What a shame.

BTW, did they at least spell anniversary correctly on your plate?

Yes, I'm pretty sure they did! At least it reminded us of past Disney cruises, where they would bring out a plate with "nothing" written in chocolate when someone didn't want dessert.

 

[NejTheLion]

On the South African wine event from last year, while not impossible, I don't think it's likely that there will be anything like it again this year (based on my understanding of what it was all about).

That event was not something that was created by Disney. There was a large group of South African vinters touring the U.S. in an attempt to increase visibility, find distributors, etc. So, Disney booked the group when they were passing through the area. That's why it was only scheduled for a single night during the F&W Festival - when the group was in the Orlando area.

It's possible that something similar could be done this year, but it didn't sound like it was Disney's idea for a new event. It was just something where the timing worked out, and Disney was able to add a special one-time event. We'll have to see what the schedule brings this year, but don't count on seeing this event again for those reasons.

 

[Dong]

I might pay it a visit when I go.

 

[danitaz]

I might pay it a visit when I go.

This is one part of the Disney Year that I really enjoy. Don't get to go as often as we like. My ex lives in Orlando though, and the Wine Festival is something that many locals plan on.

D.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Okay F&W Foodies -

If you could pick one event to attend, which would you choose? I've done F&W, but just the free stuff (gotta love the cheese demos!), and I'd like to treat my mom to an event. She's a CM who's seen all the events but never had a chance to attend one as a guest. I don't think they offer any CM discounts on them

 

[CJ]

We'll be at F&W the very last weekend and won't have sufficient funds to do any of the great (but expensive) stuff

But I know the booths around WS are awesome! What I don't know is what other things are offered that are free, or relatively low cost.

Like the cheese and wine tastings, where are these held? Beer seminars, anything like that? Are these kind of things just in the Wonders of Life building or the Odyssey or in the WS?

Please help this F&W newbie!! Thanks in advance!!

 

[TDC Nala]

Free culinary demonstrations are in the Odyssey Restaurant. You must line up outside.

Free wine seminars were held in the Wonders of Life building last year.

Sam Adams sponsors a beer tasting in the America pavilion. The international beers seminar was discontinued last year.

If I could attend one event it would be the Party for the Senses. But if I wanted one where sitting down for the event was possible, and at less cost, I'd do a food and wine pairing and I would pick Coral Reef.

 

[NejTheLion]

Okay F&W Foodies -

If you could pick one event to attend, which would you choose? I've done F&W, but just the free stuff (gotta love the cheese demos!), and I'd like to treat my mom to an event. She's a CM who's seen all the events but never had a chance to attend one as a guest. I don't think they offer any CM discounts on them

I would also have to go with Party for the Senses if I could only do one event. Yes, they keep raising the price. Yes, you don't have a guaranteed seat. But there's really nothing else like it. You can go to a fancy sit-down dinner or watch a chef's demonstration or have a multi-course meal with a wine pairing plenty of other places. PFTS is special

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I would agree about PFTS. I think its the biggest bang for your buck where the festival events are concerned.

 

[oybolshoi]

Okay F&W Foodies -

If you could pick one event to attend, which would you choose? I've done F&W, but just the free stuff (gotta love the cheese demos!), and I'd like to treat my mom to an event. She's a CM who's seen all the events but never had a chance to attend one as a guest. I don't think they offer any CM discounts on them

If you're just choosing one event then I have to agree with the others ... Party for the Senses (held every Saturday evening during the festival) is the way to go. We really enjoyed all the variety (both food and alcohol) when we attended and felt that it was money well spent.

We'll be at F&W the very last weekend and won't have sufficient funds to do any of the great (but expensive) stuff

But I know the booths around WS are awesome! What I don't know is what other things are offered that are free, or relatively low cost.

Like the cheese and wine tastings, where are these held? Beer seminars, anything like that? Are these kind of things just in the Wonders of Life building or the Odyssey or in the WS?

Please help this F&W newbie!! Thanks in advance!!

Be sure to grab a festival program as soon as you get to Epcot - it will list out by time and by date the free culinary and wine seminars. Last year the culinary seminars were held at the Odyssey and the wine seminars were held in the Wonders of Life building which also served as the festival welcome center. Those freebies are first come first serve, so you'll want to line up at least 30 minutes in advance of the program start time in order to get yourself a seat (I think you may need even more time on weekends).

The beer seminar is held daily and is hosted by Sam Adams over in America town; it's worth attending once, imho ... once.

And I'm not sure that any of the special programming can be called "low-cost" any longer. Even the F&W pairings are running about $50 pp after tax. It's still a relatively good deal, but getting more expensive with each passing year.

 

[PatriciaH]

I agree about Sweet Sundays I would pass on that in the future. I heard PFTS will be $150pp this year but we will still do one. I would do another whiskey paring-that was a lot of fun! The South African event was just OK. I would love to do another Signature Dinner. Our Jiko (2006) one and our Todd English one at Blue Zoo last year were great! The free events are awesome too. Can't wait for F&W 2008

Sam Adams Beer tasting:

Free wine tastings:

 

[TDC Nala]

My mother loves the wine school. We have done Italy and France wine schools.

This year we can't do one unless they have one on Sunday.

This is what a wine school looks like:

Morning lesson

Whites

Lunch entree (veal)

Dessert

Afternoon lesson

YES, those are all different wines. first thing you learn is...leave some in the glass, you don't really want to drink all that, unless they tell you that a certain wine costs $200 a bottle or something (like the two reds in front)

 

[kabuki]

We are BIG PFTS fans

Alan Wong From last year!

We also love the free wine classes!

 

[sheryl0521]

We just decided that we are going to F&W this year and leaving the kids home for a real adults only weekend. Can't wait to catch up on all the news!

 

[shovan]

This will be our 3rd F&W Fest. We love the pairings, best deal around! We are going to skip PFTS this year & try for a Signature Dinner & maybe a EE. Can't wait! I really hope the time we've picked for this trip,(halloween week ) isn't busier than our last one. I was on hold for over a half hour last year, Le Bistro pairing was booked before I even got a CM on the line!

 

[oybolshoi]

Hey Sheryl!

Last night I told Jay how much Patricia mentioned PFTS might be going for and he said,"We could buy two bottles of Utopias for that!"

And then he said, "We could have dinner at V&A, use the DDE card discount, and spend less."

And then he said, "Who am I kidding? We'll still probably go to PFTS."

 

[shovan]

Hey Sheryl!

Last night I told Jay how much Patricia mentioned PFTS might be going for and he said,"We could buy two bottles of Utopias for that!"

And then he said, "We could have dinner at V&A, use the DDE card discount, and spend less."

And then he said, "Who am I kidding? We'll still probably go to PFTS."

Bob is trying real hard to keep me under control, right now he has only booked from a Sunday thru Friday, CHECKING OUT ON SATURDAY!!! Why the man doesn't trust me to not book PFTS is beyond me!!!


BTW, When visiting Whole Food's last Friday, they had samples of Humboldt Fog out. Guess who bought a large hunk of that delicious cheesiness? Yeah I looked like the cheeseaholic that I am! Humboldt along with St. Andre, Danish Blue, Irish Cheddar, plus shredded parmesan, crumbled roquefort and fresh mozzarella! It was a toss-up though, over whether I was a cheeseaholic or just a flat out drunk, cause I had even more liqour in the basket!

 

[PatriciaH]

I just found all our old programs/menus and I remembered we did the Spirited Ball at American Adventure (2005) and the Day of The Dead Regional Feast (2006) too. I loved the Spirited Ball even though it got poor reviews. The Day of the Dead dinner was nice but I do not really like the Odyssey as a venue. They try to dress it up but it is "like putting lipstick on a pig." All of the F&W parings we have done have been good. I would pass on Bistro again because it was very light on the food.