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

I really liked the Spirited Ball. I got to dance with Wyatt Earp. Drinks were too watered down though.
 
We usually see 2 groups of people at PFTS - those who have been there before and "first timers" (or at least first timers who do not read Dis).

First timers show up - usally after a day of walking around Epcot, many toting shopping bags, dressed in t-shirts and etc.

The others appear fresh, relaxed and dressed in casual to smarter clothes. They have not spent the day on their feet or in the sun...Or at least have returned to the hotel for a rest, swim or shower.....

Guess which group enjoys it better? And at the present ticket prices, I intend to obtain all the enjoyment I can...

Our first time we showed up after walking around Epcot all day in the Rain, sampling the Food Booths....we had no idea what we were in for.....That was before we learned about the great hints on the Dis.

Hope this helps.
 
We usually see 2 groups of people at PFTS - those who have been there before and "first timers" (or at least first timers who do not read Dis).

First timers show up - usally after a day of walking around Epcot, many toting shopping bags, dressed in t-shirts and etc.

The others appear fresh, relaxed and dressed in casual to smarter clothes. They have not spent the day on their feet or in the sun...Or at least have returned to the hotel for a rest, swim or shower.....

Guess which group enjoys it better? And at the present ticket prices, I intend to obtain all the enjoyment I can...

Our first time we showed up after walking around Epcot all day in the Rain, sampling the Food Booths....we had no idea what we were in for.....That was before we learned about the great hints on the Dis.

Hope this helps.

I agree with everything you said. We take rest PFTS afternoons and we eat VERY lightly the whole day.
We have seen people leave or just be done after an hour when they don't know what to expect!
 

groverdog,

There aren't really tickets and maybe you know that already. Sorry if you do.

You will call the telephone number that is provided on August 25, or WHENEVER, and make reservations for the date you want to attend PftS. Then that evening when you check in at the podium they will put a wrist band on you and all those attending.
At least that's the way they have been doing the procedure the last couple of years.
When you do call in for reservations they will bill your credit card immediately for the total amount. So that would be ~$135 X 11 !!!

I guess you are right, there are no tickets! I always say we are getting tickets when in fact you do just sign up. Maybe I secretly wish there were tickets, I always worry our names won't show up when we check in. I love PFTS but it sure is getting expensive. And you can't cancel and get a refund like you used to be able to do. We are having a family reunion and will be staying in a GV and 1BR at BW; that is why I need so many "tickets".
And yes, I fully expect to be reimbursed for the majority of them !!
Its going to be so much fun :dance3:
 
Just wondering if any of you fine folks have actually attended any EEs or Signature Dinners and if so, could you tell the rest of us about them? Not looking for a full-blown review (unless you want to!) but just some general information and your impressions / opinions. It might be really helpful for the rest of us who are thinking of attending one if Skull and Bones ... er, I mean Disney, declassifies their program details.

Thanks in advance because I won't be back on the boards for another 12 hours or so ... stupid firewalls!

Looks like you need to read my Larded and Loaded report again. :rolleyes:
I had a review on the Oct 14 part 2 link, I believe, of the vegetarian Signature Dining event at California Grill. (And how I made a huge deal about being a Midwestern who loves her corn-fed beef. LOL)

I did the EE a few years ago at World Showplace, and the pics I just saw were a really accurate representation of mine, too. Our theme that night was Italy, and it was fantastic.

And while you didn't ask, I will volunteer my own personal dress code for these events.

What Did Lori Wear?

Party for the Senses:
Semi-dressy top and tan capris with sandals

Signature Dining or Exquisite Evening:
I have a couple of indestructible dresses that pack well.
One is a black sheath with a black crochet/lace overlay, calf length. Black heels with it. The other is a two piece top/skirt that looks like a dress when put together. The skirt falls calf length, "handkerchief style". Kitten heel sandals for that.

Unlike Brenda here, I don't really like taking photos of myself. ;)
 
Maybe I secretly wish there were tickets, I always worry our names won't show up when we check in.

I wish there were actual tickets too-kinda like MNSSHP or MVMCP. One year we showed up to PFTS and they couldn't find our name on the list. I nearly needed jumper cables to shock my heart back into action when the girl with the list said we didn't have a reservation. Thankfully, I had my confirmation number in my purse-I can't stress enough to bring it with you. It took a few minutes, but they sent someone to check our number and what happened was instead of a "D" for our last name, the person that took the reservation put a "B". Made for a good few minutes of anxiety, so that's why I'd like to see actual tickets issued.
 
Thank you for the beautiful pictures. Wow! People got really dressed up! Do they suggest a dress code?

They don't suggest a dress code, there definately is one for EE's is jacket required for men, nice dress/etc for women.
 
Just wondering if any of you fine folks have actually attended any EEs or Signature Dinners and if so, could you tell the rest of us about them? Not looking for a full-blown review (unless you want to!) but just some general information and your impressions / opinions. It might be really helpful for the rest of us who are thinking of attending one if Skull and Bones ... er, I mean Disney, declassifies their program details.

I didn't take photos, but here is a menu from our last EE experience:

10/26/2007 - Whimsical Masters

Reception

Rabbit Rillette with Potato, Sherry Viniagrette and Purslane
Yellowfin Tuna, Avacado, Radish and Ginger
Tangerine-scented Beet Salad with Goat Chese on a Pine Nut Crouton
Seared Sonoma Valley Duck Breats with Antique Apples
Gary Farrell Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma 2006


Menu

Truffled Dundeness Crab with Celery Hearts, Endive and Frisee*
Gary Farrell Cresta Ridge Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2005

Braised Breast of Veal, Carmelized Salsify Puree, Wild Mushrooms and Veal Reduction**
Gary Farrell Starr Ridge Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2004

Grilled Venison Chop with Smokey Eggplant, Pomegranate, Mint and Fennel Slaw, with Grilled Flatbread*
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2003
Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2002


Vella Dry Montery Jack, California***
Twomey Merlot, Napa 2004

Gingerbread Pudding in a Pumpkin with Cardamom Creme Anglaise*
Cockburn's Qinta Dos Canias, Porto 1998

I really enjoyed this dinner. It was at the Odyssey. I believe we were at tables of 8. The reception was a standing cocktail type event that lasted 30 minutes or so. I really liked the tuna and the duck. It was my first time trying rabbit, and it was well prepared. I didn't take notes, and don't really remember the beet appetizer. Disney chefs Gregg Hannon*** of the YC and BC, as well as Dennis Thompson** of CG created the reception items.

The featured chefs were Duskie Estes and John Stewart* of Zazu Restaurant and Farm, Santa Roas, CA. Duskie spent a lot of time talking about the dishes and their insprations, while John was rather quiet. It was funny that Duskie admitted that she was a vegetarian for years, but all that changed when she married John who is a salumist!

A lot of attention was spent on the wines. The favorite of ours was the Twomey Merlot. There was also a distinct difference between the 2 Cabs served with the venison - one was better on its own, and the other better with food. And they both tasted so different with food than without. This is why I should take notes - I don't remember which was which.

The venison was my favorite dish - and this is from a girl whose father is a hunter, and spent the better part of 30+ years trying to avoid her dad's venison.


I also have the menu from the previous years Celebrating the Pride of the Pacific Northwest, but it is getting to late for me....time for bed.:blush:
 
Thanks for all the great info and pictues from the EE and Signature Dinners that you all posted - it was exactly the kind of information that I was looking for and it's made the pre-decision making process a lot easier.

And Lori ... if I didn't post pictures of Jay and me (he increases my cute factor by a power of 10) you would never have been able to snark at us at the Beach Club! :rotfl2:
 
Does anyone know if they have released the special events yet (Wine pairings, etc.) and if not when they will? TIA!
 
So, new news. I e-mailed Rosa at DDE and asked when events will be out. She said the booking date got changed to 8/25/08 7am and events will be posted the previous Friday (22.) Way late I feel! Hard to plan just a month ahead. I will keep checking dining and post events if I see them!

This is what we're being told now!
 
2 DAYS BEFORE?!?!?!:headache: :eek: :eek: :eek: :mad:

Yeah, no one is exactly happy about this. :mad:

On a purely selfish note I'm angry because we're leaving to go out of town on August 22nd and won't have any computer access until we get home on the 25th, so as far as we're concerned we've already been shut out of most of things we thought we might want to book (based on last year's schedule). That's why I just gave up and booked regular ADRs for our trip instead.

Regardless of our personal plans, however, it's a very inconsiderate move on Disney's part to give people 48 hours to digest all the information and then try to make reservations. And it's doubly inconsiderate to wait until one month before the festival opens and expect that people can adjust their existing travel and dining plans if they need to.

I don't get it. :confused3
 
Yeah, no one is exactly happy about this. :mad:

On a purely selfish note I'm angry because we're leaving to go out of town on August 22nd and won't have any computer access until we get home on the 25th, so as far as we're concerned we've already been shut out of most of things we thought we might want to book (based on last year's schedule). That's why I just gave up and booked regular ADRs for our trip instead.

Regardless of our personal plans, however, it's a very inconsiderate move on Disney's part to give people 48 hours to digest all the information and then try to make reservations. And it's doubly inconsiderate to wait until one month before the festival opens and expect that people can adjust their existing travel and dining plans if they need to.

I don't get it. :confused3

I don't get it either. The week of the 25th is extremely busy for me. That said, I'm going to be watching the foodie sites closely. Some have mentioned Aug 11th as the date "tickets" for the Bocuse d'Or will be available.
I'm wondering what kind of tickets they'll be selling, or whether they'll just say, buy a Disney ticket. I would think folks that are making a special trip for this competition would like to know about additional special F&W events in advance. Wouldn't Disney want to encourage these folks to stay a little longer for an event or two by promoting some specific F&W program bookings?
Due to the airline situation, waiting until a scant month before the event to plan and book would be very expensive. Who will hear first what the additional events for F&W that first week will be--will it be the Disney Epcot site, or is there a chance the Bocuse folks will get a heads up?
I'm watching all the sites, and put myself on the official site's mailing list. Others may want to do the same. http://www.bocusedorusa.org/contact.html
(click the link that starts register@....)
 
I am also disappointed at the delay in getting this information. I will be on the Disney Magic on the PC repositioning cruise as will 3000 other loyal Disney fans who might be interested in booking some of these events. I will not be wasting my cell phone minutes with an international call to Disney while crossing the PC on 8/25. We usually do PFTS so I should be able to book that when I get back for either 10/18 or 10/25. I'm sure I will miss out on other events that we might be interested in scheduling since I won't be able to do it until 9/2.

Nancy
 
I guess we approach this differently. We have our reservations, have our flight - then whatever is happening during the time period we're there - we'll look at and decide if we're interested. We include a Saturday so we can do the Party for the Senses, but anything else will just be icing on the cake. We enjoy the kiosks a lot and enjoy "eating around the world."
 












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