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

[webray]

Being from the UK we don't get that many microbrews over here so its nice to get some different beers. However we're lucky and get a lot of European beers which personally I prefer.

I am hoping this year that there are some beer offerings from some of the different countries such as Austria! We have some great Austrian beers over here (dont ask me names as I go by the look of the bottle lol) and it would be nice to see some at F&W. There are great Greek beers too like Mynthos (think that's how you spell it) which I would love to see at F&W but alas it seems its just the wines they import in I guess Peroni is the only one they can easily import for the booths maybe?

We are with you...would love to see some better beer offerings at the booths. While more of the booths did have beer last year, nothing really stands out as being different.

 

[REL1203]

so is it official that no Performers at this years PFTS? I have booked my late Oct PFTS yet as i was really looking forward to this (Plus I am on vacation now at the beach and was going to worry about it when I got home)....

 

[webray]

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[webray]

Ah, the 2007 Sam Adams Festival Beer, funny story that...

So we're in line last year, and DH and I remark at how Sam Adams would brew a beer JUST for Epcot! When the CM says, "oh, they didn't brew anything special - it's just the regular Winter Lager"

So you didn't miss anything last year!

Well, not sure what it was last year, but I don't remember it being dark enough to be the Winter Lager. I do know two years ago, the "special fest beer" was made for a special celebration in Boston and then was allowed to be used also as the Food and Wine fest special brew, lol.

We were disappointed when we heard this also, as it wasn't a special beer just for Food and Wine, lol.

 

[Forever42]

Well, not sure what it was last year, but I don't remember it being dark enough to be the Winter Lager. I do know two years ago, the "special fest beer" was made for a special celebration in Boston and then was allowed to be used also as the Food and Wine fest special brew, lol.

We were disappointed when we heard this also, as it wasn't a special beer just for Food and Wine, lol.

Unfortunately I'm sure about the Winter Lager - we later saw it on the side of the kegs at one point.

I am hoping that this year it'll be different, but I'm not keeping my hopes up.

(On a side beer-note, my friends recently moved out to Portland, and they're positively gushing over the microbrews you can find everywhere out there)

 

[BriarRosie]

so is it official that no Performers at this years PFTS? I have booked my late Oct PFTS yet as i was really looking forward to this (Plus I am on vacation now at the beach and was going to worry about it when I got home)....

I think there will be some form of live entertainment. But for me, Cirque was just an extra. I was there for the food and wine.

 

[kabuki]

I think there will be some form of live entertainment. But for me, Cirque was just an extra. I was there for the food and wine.

Us too .. Clowns scare me!

 

[webray]

Unfortunately I'm sure about the Winter Lager - we later saw it on the side of the kegs at one point.

I am hoping that this year it'll be different, but I'm not keeping my hopes up.

(On a side beer-note, my friends recently moved out to Portland, and they're positively gushing over the microbrews you can find everywhere out there)

OH, we can't wait to head out that way to try all the microbrews...they must be in beer heaven.

 

[webray]

Unfortunately I'm sure about the Winter Lager - we later saw it on the side of the kegs at one point.

I am hoping that this year it'll be different, but I'm not keeping my hopes up.

(On a side beer-note, my friends recently moved out to Portland, and they're positively gushing over the microbrews you can find everywhere out there)

Crazy, why do they even bother. I guess Disney is really underestimating their beer crowd.

 

[Forever42]

I'm hoping they'll turn around soon. I get beverage industry magazines at work, and it's amazing the increase in popularity in microbrews around the country - I'd love to see this reflected at least at the Food and Wine Festival! My hope is that Abita will at least be at one of the PftS.

Edit: and this from Meeker Vineyards (FroZin)

"I know that we are planning on attending the Epcot Food and Wine Festival,
but at this point I do not know the dates.

Cheers!"

 

[CarolA]

Hey everyone - This is the email I got back from Cirque corporate...

Bonjour Michelle,

Thank you for your interest in Cirque du Soleil.

Further to your inquiry, after verification with our special event department, La Nouba artists are not taking part in Party for the Senses this year.

Hope you will come and see us in our theater or Grand Chapiteau soon!

Best regards,

Josiane

Service à la clientèle - customer service www.cirquedusoleil.com

That's all I have to go on. There has been no mention of Cirque being at PFTS anywhere on the Disney sites, and when you call, they have no information - even when you escalate the call to a dining manager or guest relations. Now, this email could be wrong, but it's all I have to go on right now. I understand those of you that could care less about losing the cirque acts - but have you stopped to consider that we are all eating a huge price increase without them? Part of the 'price of admission' was for the performances, at least, it was for me. I will still love eating and drinking my way around PFTS, don't get me wrong, but now I will feel more pressure to get my $150 worth! LOL! Oh, and I think Lori's strategy is great and we are going to try it this year. The table thing doesn't bother me - we are going to 'float' through each section and systematically try everything. I'm also not concerned with getting there for the stampede. I will hang back this time and just casually walk in...

Umm... two years ago they dumped the live music and just kept Cirque. So this is not unprecedented. They have added back live music this year... Personally I liked the music better so....

 

[BriarRosie]

Us too .. Clowns scare me!

Here's a tip, Chelsi: Stay away from the Keister Coaster pool slide at the Boardwalk resort. Just sayin'.

Heh. But as far as Cirque goes, the last couple of times, I only remember seeing the contortionists and aerialists (when I gave them a cursory glance while stuffing my face). Back when the musicians were there, I remember they played my favorite song from La Nouba, "Liama".

 

[cdtommie]

I love that food and wine fest does include beers. Now, just to get them to include some good ones.

Rocket Red is my favorite at Big River.

I don't recall anything out of the ordinary at blue zoo as far as microbrews, hopefully they will have something new and exciting this fall. Usually just what we can already find at the local grocery store.

The Unibroue beers at the Brown Derby and Le Cellier are my favorite on site - my friend said they were back to selling Unibroue at the Canada popcorn cart in June - this would be encouraging.

Ditto on that Rocket Red - the best at Big River...I would put the Pale Ale second.

 

[cdtommie]

Well, not sure what it was last year, but I don't remember it being dark enough to be the Winter Lager. I do know two years ago, the "special fest beer" was made for a special celebration in Boston and then was allowed to be used also as the Food and Wine fest special brew, lol.

We were disappointed when we heard this also, as it wasn't a special beer just for Food and Wine, lol.

The special beer last year was Long Shot weizenbock.

I'm guessing this year it will either be a blackberry wit or a coffee stout - these are the two that Sam currently has folks taste testing and voting on at various beer festivals (or the next Long Shot which is supposed to be DIPA).

 

[jiminyfan]

The Smithereens are awesome!!! Too bad we don't arrive until 10/17 (it's a music wasteland when we're going to be there).

I too arrive that night and have to agree on the music. Let's hope for some changes.

BTW: J-E-T-S Jets, Jet, Jets!!!

 

[webray]

I too arrive that night and have to agree on the music. Let's hope for some changes.

BTW: J-E-T-S Jets, Jet, Jets!!!

Favre, Favre, Favre! You are so lucky!

 

[Seewhatimesdone]

This is the first time i'm going to be at WDW for the food and wine festival and I don't even know where to start! There's so much food I don't know what to sample. I'm not going to book anything special because i'm not 21 yet so I want to wait. What are some of your favorite sections?

 

[webray]

This is the first time i'm going to be at WDW for the food and wine festival and I don't even know where to start! There's so much food I don't know what to sample. I'm not going to book anything special because i'm not 21 yet so I want to wait. What are some of your favorite sections?

As long as you love food, just try something at every booth and enjoy!

 

[oybolshoi]

Got a call from Disney today to inform us that due to "unforseen challenges" the Champagne Brunch that we booked for 10/14 has been canceled.

That must be some kind of record ... four days after booking opened.

I called just to try to get some information and couldn't get anyone to tell me what the "challenges" were. I also expressed my lack of enthusiasm over the culling of the program for this year's festival and was told that this was in response to customer surveys taken at various festival events last year, including the regional feasts, signature dinners, and exquisite evenings.

She said attendees were all asking for "something different" and when I said something different doesn't equate to eliminating all of those events that were obviously popular since they were selling out every year, she proceeded to tell me that people wanted more celebrity chef appearances.



She tried to get me excited by telling me about the City Walk events (not being offered during our stay, thanks anyway) and then she tried to get me even more excited about Jamie Deen. I don't like Paula Deen why would I want to pay money to see one of her offspring? And I'm pretty sure he's making an appearance at a time other than our trip, anyway.

I know that we're all different and we all look for different things from the Festival, but for Jay and I meeting a "celebrity chef" is not what we travel to Florida and WDW in October to do. We are looking for unique and educational dining experiences that we could never have here in St. Louis. We used to get that from Epcot, but based on the conversation I had this afternoon it sounds like what we are seeing this year is the new and exciting wave of the future.

We'll still have a great time this October, but we continue to be disappointed by the line up for this year's festival. I definitely plan on writing a letter once we get home from our trip - I will send it to many people who will not care but it will make me feel better for about five minutes.

BTW - I've never taken any kind of survey for F&W organizers and no one has ever been remotely interested in any suggestions or comments that we've offered in past years. Anyone else here taken a survey?

 

[TDC Nala]

Someone probably tried to drink the perfume.

She said attendees were all asking for "something different" and when I said something different doesn't equate to eliminating all of those events that were obviously popular since they were selling out every year, she proceeded to tell me that people wanted more celebrity chef appearances.

You mean like Todd English? So all the events could take place the week he was there?

When I see Todd I am asking when he'll be back next year, that'll be the week I'll book.

I have this theory that part of the reason the festival was so cut back is that it must be costing them a mint to get Bocuse d'Or down there.

Disneyland had a survey for their food & wine...but I don't remember EVER being asked for one at WDW during any of the 10 events I attended last year, or in prior years.