EPCOT Food and Wine Festival, Sept. 25 - Nov 16 2015

[crostorfer]

I'm on hold on the dining line. They say wait time is 5 minutes???

 

[garris3404]

Yes, it's 2TS & Yes, includes an appetizer, entree, dessert & non-alcoholic drink. I got free dining & plan on using 2 of my TS credits for this meal. I cannot wait!!

Using a second TS for an appetizer and reserved section with early entry seems a little too much for me? If you book at a buffet (Biergarten), then you're only getting the early entry and reserved section. Guess it depends if you really want to see the concert, and be in the reserved section? Anyway, enjoy your meal and concert.

 

[mickeychick]

Third call through, and like others have already said, the CM who answered told me that the Premium Package was pulled from being available to book. She asked someone when it would open up again, but came back and said they didn't have any specifics on when it would be available to book.

 

[DopeyDave]

I don't understand why they either don't do online booking or at least do staggered booking instead of opening EVERYTHING at once. This has to stress their staff out too. People tend to be rather irate after 2 plus hours on hold when they are told "sorry your event is full!"

I feel really bad for the CMs on the phone. I know it's not their fault I had to wait so long, so I don't take it out on them. I always try to cheer them up or laugh a little when I get through. This morning when I made my reservations and the CM asked which card I'd like to use, I said "Yours." I thought she was going to wet her pants! After a quick laugh, I gave her my card number and we moved on.

Last week when calling to make my deminar reservations, I said "I'm just calling to say what a wonderful job you're doing." when the CM answered the phone. After they said 'Thank you.' I said "No, I'm calling to make reservation for the Food & Wine Festival." They still appreciated the compliment to open the call.

 

[themommy]

Called at 7:00 (6:00 here) got in with both phones within a minute of each other. One was 4 minute wait, the other was 2.5 hours wait. The 4 minute wait was pretty much on so we went with that. Got all we wanted with having to do only 1 alternate date.

- Italian Reg Lunch Oct 26,
- Wine vs Beer Oct 27
- Italian Food and Wine Pairing Oct 29
- French Family Meal Traditions Oct 30
- Parisian Breakfast Oct 31,
- Med Food and Wine Pairing Nov 4
- Mexican Tequila Lunch Nov 5,- French Family Meal Traditions Nov 6,
- EPCOT Sampler Nov 9 (Big Bad Voodoo Daddy)
- Morocco Food and Wine Pairing Nov 10
- Trattoria al Forno Siganture Nov 11
- French Family Meal Traditions Nov 13
- Parisian Afternoon Nov 14

How many pounds will we put on???? It took around an 45 min to get it all booked with with only a couple of go backs. We had some with 2 people and some with 4. This is our 12th Food and Wine and we still find it exciting.

I think my heart just skipped a beat wondering just how much money you spent on all of those. I hope you have a great time!

 

[crostorfer]

Called the dining line like I said, hold time really was 5 minutes, was able to book the Parisian Breakfast 10/3 with zero problems or hassle. Total call time was less than 10 minutes from start to finish.

 

[VWL2001]

Called at 7:00. 65 minute wait. When the CM at one point, said "are you still there?" and couldn't hear me for about 20 seconds, I almost had a heart attack. But managed to get all of my events
Parisian Afternoon, Mediterranean Food and Wine Pairing, and Italian Regional Lunch. Last year (our first year) just did the booths, so I am looking forward to the events!

 

[KPSmithSr]

themommy,

I just want to thank all the working people out there for paying their social security taxes so I can afford to this adventure.

 

[mrobin023]

Thankfully we were using three phones this morning. First line got in almost immediately and was booking our last event when it was disconnected - no confirmation numbers yet!

Second line was in the queue from the start and had about a 20-minute wait - reserved the two most important events and asked to get those locked in. We discussed that we didn't get a call back from the first line that was disconnected, and we were told that the policy on the WDW-FEST line is to not call people back. The CM was reading off the second confirmation number when...you guessed it...disconnected on the second line! Fortunately, that CM mentioned that she would call us back after we told her about the first call being disconnected, and she did within about 5 minutes. So we were able to get that second confirmation number.

Third line was also in the queue from the start and had about a 35-minute wait - went through around the time the second line was disconnected. Booked the other six events and was about to book the other one that we were waiting on, but that's when the second CM called back. Whew!

I never book with just one phone...way too risky!

All of the following were available this morning:

• Culinary Adventures in Signature Dining (Flying Fish Cafe, Oct. 15)
• Party for the Senses, Wine View Lounge (Oct. 3)
• Parisian Breakfast (Sep. 26)
• Parisian Afternoon (Oct. 10)
• French Family Meal Traditions (Nov. 8)
• The Hibachi Experience (Sep. 29)
• Italian Regional Food and Wine Pairing Luncheon (Oct. 12)
• Mexican Tequila Lunch (Nov. 14)

We will be in the Wine View with you!

 

[Delphinus317]

Using a second TS for an appetizer and reserved section with early entry seems a little too much for me? If you book at a buffet (Biergarten), then you're only getting the early entry and reserved section. Guess it depends if you really want to see the concert, and be in the reserved section? Anyway, enjoy your meal and concert.

Yeah, it's Big Bad Voodoo Daddy & considering I'm using free TS credits, it's worth it, IMO. Thanks!!!

 

[loves to dive]

I got through with only about a 5 min. wait as well this morning around 9:30. Booked my Med. Food & Wine pairing. I think I'm done but who knows. So far:

Tuesday Sept. 29
Wine deminar 4 pm (I have afternoon tea at 12:35 that day as well and always get wine at that so I should be good and happy)

Wens Sept. 30
Med Food & Wine pairing at Spice Rd. 1-3 (I was thinking of maybe dropping into a wine seminar earlier that day but who knows)

Thurs Oct 1
Culinary deminar 1
Wine deminar 4

Fri Oct 2
Culinary deminar 3
Wine deminar 4
I may pick up something earlier in the day but probably not

I arrive on Mon. Sept. 28 and drive down so I should get there around 2 or 3. I might drop over and pick up a mixology deminar around 6 but am thinking I need at least one day to not be sloshed during my trip. I'm bummed I'm leaving on Saturday the 3rd so won't be able to do the cheese seminar this year since I don't think I should be drinking wine then driving 7 hours back to Georgia. I really wanted to get the Fri. morning brunch but the darn thing was sold out when I went to book, oh well, I've spent enough money, not even counting what I'll spend at the booths and in merchandise.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

I'm surprised at how fast some of the seminars have gone. We typically haven't pre-booked and have always gotten the ones we wanted day of or day before. This year we were going to pre-book the Pastry Culinary seminar for 10/29. I tried yesterday with early Chase access and was told it was showing full but more availability would likely be released today when it was open to the general public. No luck! I'm just surprised as it's not someone famous or anything.

 

[jerseygal]

Just called Disney Dining, 5 minute wait! Just booked Festival Discovery Sampler, 8 entitlements ANY food or beverage, 6:45 Priority Seating at Eat to the Beat Concert, and I hope that CM gave me correct information that you are given a VIP card which entitles you to go to "front of the line" on any booth!
$62.85 inclusive of tax. Also, a special Pin too! Initially, hesitant that we wouldn't use 16 entitlements for the day, but "what the heck"! CANNOT WAIT for FIRST F&W!

 

[River Country]

Has anyone else asked when booking the Sampler Package if there are any exclusions and what they are? At 8 this morning the CM told me alcohol was included but did not know any exclusions. As been posted on here by me and others that the assumption on our part would be the Dom P and the beer flights might be excluded but has anyone asked and gotten better answer?

 

[River Country]

Just called Disney Dining, 5 minute wait! Just booked Festival Discovery Sampler, 8 entitlements ANY food or beverage, 6:45 Priority Seating at Eat to the Beat Concert, and I hope that CM gave me correct information that you are given a VIP card which entitles you to go to "front of the line" on any booth!
$62.85 inclusive of tax. Also, a special Pin too! Initially, hesitant that we wouldn't use 16 entitlements for the day, but "what the heck"! CANNOT WAIT for FIRST F&W!

That would be like a FP for food

 

[emilymad]

Just called Disney Dining, 5 minute wait! Just booked Festival Discovery Sampler, 8 entitlements ANY food or beverage, 6:45 Priority Seating at Eat to the Beat Concert, and I hope that CM gave me correct information that you are given a VIP card which entitles you to go to "front of the line" on any booth!
$62.85 inclusive of tax. Also, a special Pin too! Initially, hesitant that we wouldn't use 16 entitlements for the day, but "what the heck"! CANNOT WAIT for FIRST F&W!

That would be great if it included "front of the line" access. We are going the first weekend so that would be nice to have. Has Disney actually put this information out there somewhere?

 

[txlibrarian]

That would be like a FP for food

Man I hadn't heard about a VIP card to go to front of the line. There are going to be some mad people standing in line.

 

[wellesleyprincess]

Has anyone else asked when booking the Sampler Package if there are any exclusions and what they are? At 8 this morning the CM told me alcohol was included but did not know any exclusions. As been posted on here by me and others that the assumption on our part would be the Dom P and the beer flights might be excluded but has anyone asked and gotten better answer?

I'm curious about this too, because I would be interested provided it could be used for anything. Also does anyone know if the credits roll over or not? For example if I use 6 one day, can I use the remaining 2 the next?

 

[MatzoBelle]

CM I spoke with said no FOTL access w/Sampler package.

 

[ksromack]

Well, after the fiasco with not being able to use my disney gift card i ended up calling back. The first time I called at 7 on the dot and only waited 8 minutes......i called back at 7:17 and was quoted an 84 minute wait......and I'll be darned, 84 minutes and 44 seconds later a very helpful CM named Mimi got me my Italian Regional Wine Pairing for Sept 30 without a hitch (using my gift card). I even was put through to a supervisor the first go around and was told I absolutely could not use a gift card. I just don't understand....i wasn't really complaining to the second CM, i just told her I knew it wasn't right that I couldn't use my gc with the first CM and she was so apologetic. I just said, Hakuna Matata......lol! That got a giggle out of her!