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

[disneyfav4ever]

I would love to go to the Todd English dinner, I'm a big fan of his. I have his cookbooks at home, and I love Blue Zoo. It's a shame I won't be in Disney then.

 

[PatriciaH]

We did the Blue Zoo/Todd English dinner last year. It was very good. Gallo wines were there-some were pretty good. It was $145 last year though!

 

[karrit2000]

With all the presumed cutbacks based on the unofficial info we are seeing I wouldn't be surprised if the number of free wine seminars is also severly cut back this year. I hope I'm wrong but we'll have to wait until we get a look at the schedule for this year to know for sure.
I'm also curious if they have eliminated the wine walkabouts/tastings that have been offered around WS where you pay $$ for a certain # of wine samples. The only thing along those lines that has been mentioned so far is the Greek Island Wine Bar that will be only be available for 10 days in October.
We were looking forward to doing another Wine School but the only thing available for our dates is the South African one and we don't care for South African wines. And the apparently shortened format isn't to our liking either for the price.
If I had a spare $2,000 to spend I'd be doing the Wine event in NYC in Mid-October because it sounds like they will be getting a much better 3 day event for the money compared to what Disney is rumored to be offering over the entire 6 week run of the Festival.

 

[shovan]

Well the news just doesn't seem to be getting any better for us. Two signature dinners within a week of each other?? only in November?

This is really getting depressing.

 

[KennySC]

Well the news just doesn't seem to be getting any better for us. Two signature dinners within a week of each other?? only in November?

This is really getting depressing.

This is the problem with stuff being leaked. We have no idea what will be the final list of events. Why not wait until Friday before getting depressed. So far the good news is no price increase for the PFTS.

I've been impressed by some of the new events so far released/leaked so hopefully we'll see more of our old favorites. If not I'll spend more time doing beer/wine around the world...

The only thing I know for sure is from Oct 4-12, I'll be at Disney and not work!!

 

[oybolshoi]

Well the news just doesn't seem to be getting any better for us. Two signature dinners within a week of each other?? only in November?

This is really getting depressing.

Maybe the problem is the "theme" for this year's festival ... Cities in Wonderland.

Either no one from Wonderland wanted to participate or we haven't figured out where Wonderland is in order to attend the "missing" events.

 

[TDC Nala]

It's sort of like Brigadoon...it'll only appear for a week in November.

 

[TexasCourt]

Can anyone tell me if they are still releasing the events on Aug.22 and then we book the morning of Aug. 25? If so, when is the earliest we can call? TIA!

 

[BriarRosie]

Brenda, you're fast. That just got put up.

OMG I hate being right sometimes. But I can go to the Todd English dinner....that ROCKS

V&A on November 2, Bluezoo on November 7. Here's why...Bluezoo isn't a Disney restaurant. And that's the week Todd will be there, so they have to have it then.

V&A isn't on the dining plan...coincidence? I DON'T THINK SO!

Gonna have to knock the City Taste off the list though.

Damn. I hate it when you're right, too.
Looks like I'll be calling V&A to cancel my Friday night reservation. I'm glad we'll have our own do-it-yourself-Signature-event dinner on Sunday. That means I could still do the Aussie City Tastes thing. Hmm.

It's easy to be fast when you're sitting around doing laundry watching the olympics with a laptop plugged in.

Glad you can make it to the Todd English dinner - I bet that will be good.

Bet she won't have as good a time at Todd English's bluezoo™ as we'll have. That's going to be my first Food and Wine do-it-yourself dining event.
But then again, she'll probably have a fantastic meal. Everyone wins, right?

It's sort of like Brigadoon...it'll only appear for a week in November.

Gah!! You did it to me AGAIN! STOP THAT!

 

[disneyfav4ever]

Maybe the problem is the "theme" for this year's festival ... Cities in Wonderland.

Either no one from Wonderland wanted to participate or we haven't figured out where Wonderland is in order to attend the "missing" events.

Wonderland is where Alice lives, oh wait, she only dreams it.

 

[TDC Nala]

Don't cancel anything yet, wait till after the booking date. We don't know that this list is final yet. It may be, but we dont' know for sure.

 

[NejTheLion]

It's sort of like Brigadoon...it'll only appear for a week in November.

Hysterical

 

[Kidoctr]

Well, I took a lot of peoples' advice and called for ADRs today. Based on the current offerings posted so far, here's what we're going to plan on for right now:

Thursday, October 23

1400-1530 Kitchen Conversations, Jeff Henderson, Benzinger Family Winery $75 pp
1800 - ADR at V&As

Friday, October 24

1030-1230 Cook, Book, Bottle, Gourmet Sardinia $150 pp
1830-1900 City Tastes, Tastes of Spain $95 pp

Saturday, October 25

0940 ADR at Spoodles
1430-1545 Cheese tasting, England $70 pp
1730 ADR at Flying Fish Cafe
(2130 ToT 13K)

Sunday, October 26

1030-1230 Sweet Sunday, Geraldine Randlesome $75 pp
1300-1500 Masters Class wine tasting $95 pp
1740 ADR at California Grill

We're going to miss PFTS this year because of the ToT 13k that evening. I'm going to REALLY miss the Exquisite Evenings as well - that was our hands down favorite last year. The upside - we're going to try a few new restaurants we've never been to before - Spoodles, Flying Fish Cafe, and CA grill.

 

[gibsi53]

Are the free in park events worth it or should we try to book something special while we're there... It's our 1st FWF.

We'll be there Nov1- Nov4 and love having a good time...

 

[gismo1554]

With all the presumed cutbacks based on the unofficial info we are seeing I wouldn't be surprised if the number of free wine seminars is also severly cut back this year. I hope I'm wrong but we'll have to wait until we get a look at the schedule for this year to know for sure.
I'm also curious if they have eliminated the wine walkabouts/tastings that have been offered around WS where you pay $$ for a certain # of wine samples. The only thing along those lines that has been mentioned so far is the Greek Island Wine Bar that will be only be available for 10 days in October.

I don't think they will get rid of the wine tastings but yes they may have reduced them although it doesn't cost Disney anything to put these on. They also get a lot more revenue from people then purchasing the wine so they may continue with these.

As for the wine walkabouts I am hoping that they still have these. We are missing the Greek one by a day and I hope they still have the Australian one!

 

[gismo1554]

Are the free in park events worth it or should we try to book something special while we're there... It's our 1st FWF.

We'll be there Nov1- Nov4 and love having a good time...

Personally Im a great fan of the free events.

 

[NejTheLion]

Are the free in park events worth it or should we try to book something special while we're there... It's our 1st FWF.

We'll be there Nov1- Nov4 and love having a good time...

You can absolutely have a wonderful time just sampling the food booths and attending the free wine seminars and culinary demos. It really depends on what you want to get out of the festival. Most people would recommend going to Party for the Senses on Saturday night if you can only attend one special event.

 

[webray]

Are the free in park events worth it or should we try to book something special while we're there... It's our 1st FWF.

We'll be there Nov1- Nov4 and love having a good time...

If it is your first food and wine I would stick with the free events and tastings. There are so many, they can keep you busy from morning to night.

Enjoy!

 

[luvpooh]

Well, I took a lot of peoples' advice and called for ADRs today. Based on the current offerings posted so far, here's what we're going to plan on for right now:

Thursday, October 23

1400-1530 Kitchen Conversations, Jeff Henderson, Benzinger Family Winery $75 pp
1800 - ADR at V&As

Friday, October 24

1030-1230 Cook, Book, Bottle, Gourmet Sardinia $150 pp
1830-1900 City Tastes, Tastes of Spain $95 pp

Saturday, October 25

0940 ADR at Spoodles
1430-1545 Cheese tasting, England $70 pp
1730 ADR at Flying Fish Cafe
(2130 ToT 13K)

Sunday, October 26

1030-1230 Sweet Sunday, Geraldine Randlesome $75 pp
1300-1500 Masters Class wine tasting $95 pp
1740 ADR at California Grill

We're going to miss PFTS this year because of the ToT 13k that evening. I'm going to REALLY miss the Exquisite Evenings as well - that was our hands down favorite last year. The upside - we're going to try a few new restaurants we've never been to before - Spoodles, Flying Fish Cafe, and CA grill.

slightly OT, but what is the TOT 13K?

 

[gismo1554]

slightly OT, but what is the TOT 13K?

TOT 13K is a marathon raise that ends in Hollywood Studios and the theme of it is the Tower of Terror. Never been to one but they have different ones based on different parks. This year there is also an Expedition Everest 12k I believe