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

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I just called back to book Eat to the Beat dinner & lunch and asked about my premium package and she said it includes:

4 F&W booth entitlements
Either one Beverage seminar or one demo (I specifically asked about the dessert party and she said no it's definitely not included)
Goodie bag with wine, a glass and the magic band
access to the premium areas with wait service from noon - 8pm mon - thurs

I found it really odd that she told me that the demo or beverage seminar had to be booked on the day that the credentials are picked up...I would think that everything would be pretty well booked by then.

I was told the same as Tink10. Premium Package includes four entitlements, goodie bag, choice of beverage or culinary demo, and reserved areas with wait service. $211.95 per person.

Generally there are always seminars available, but they may not be the ones you want. (Name brands go quick, Disney presenters go last as do cheaper wines) But I really don't see the value this year. Same price, a LOT fewer features. I think everyone I did last year I booked day of (NOTE: Culinary demonstrations actually were often not available, but I generally don't like them anyway so LOL! The one time I went the chef did a duck thing that was great but took 4 days to prepare.. Not really useful info for me!)

Can you span a weekend (for example, pick up your package on Wed and do Wed, Thru and then the next Mon, Tues?

Did you have to have a Disney hotel reservation?

 

[mejo]

The Premium package to me looks like about $100 worth, not $200. It should include the entire tasting Sampler package to even be close.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Just got off the phone after only a 5 minute wait.

I booked the premium package for Oct. 15th. I asked what it included and this is what she said and it sounded like she read it off directly from her screen:

It is good Monday - Thursday 12 noon - 8pm
comes with 4 entitlements
The bag is picked up at Festival center and comes with a bag, festival glass, wine, magic band
The package comes with a choice of 1 culinary or wine seminars - they are booked at the festival center when you pick up your package and the times must be either 2pm or 5pm - I already have the wine seminar booked I want to attend so maybe I'll try for a culinary one.
And your credentials will list the areas where you can go to have the special spots with the tables and cast members who will pick up your food for you
Bring your ID - you will need it to pick up your credentials and the Cast Members in the Package areas will ask for it if you are ordering alcohol.

And that is it - no mention of a special Illuminations viewing area or dessert party.

I was pretty tempted to book the sampler too just for the Eat to the Beat concert seating and the pin and since I'll be eating around the world - I know I'd use up the extra entitlements for food and drink.
Not sure what I'll do yet. I'll think about it this afternoon while I'm packing for my weekend at the beach.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

On the line with a cast member now. I have the premium package booked, but curious about how to add the deminar. Did they book that for you separately? My CM doesn't know.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Just got off the phone after only a 5 minute wait.

I booked the premium package for Oct. 15th. I asked what it included and this is what she said and it sounded like she read it off directly from her screen:

It is good Monday - Thursday 12 noon - 8pm
comes with 4 entitlements
The bag is picked up at Festival center and comes with a bag, festival glass, wine, magic band
The package comes with a choice of 1 culinary or wine seminars - they are booked at the festival center when you pick up your package and the times must be either 2pm or 5pm - I already have the wine seminar booked I want to attend so maybe I'll try for a culinary one.
And your credentials will list the areas where you can go to have the special spots with the tables and cast members who will pick up your food for you
Bring your ID - you will need it to pick up your credentials and the Cast Members in the Package areas will ask for it if you are ordering alcohol.

And that is it - no mention of a special Illuminations viewing area or dessert party.

So you can only use it one day? (10/15 is a Thursday!)

The other bad part is you have to carry around the goodies all day (And it's not good for wine to broil in the Florida heat LOL! I would be tempted to bring my corkscrew )

 

[karrit2000]

I just called back to book Eat to the Beat dinner & lunch and asked about my premium package and she said it includes:

4 F&W booth entitlements
Either one Beverage seminar or one demo (I specifically asked about the dessert party and she said no it's definitely not included)
Goodie bag with wine, a glass and the magic band
access to the premium areas with wait service from noon - 8pm mon - thurs

I found it really odd that she told me that the demo or beverage seminar had to be booked on the day that the credentials are picked up...I would think that everything would be pretty well booked by then.

I was told the same as Tink10. Premium Package includes four entitlements, goodie bag, choice of beverage or culinary demo, and reserved areas with wait service. $211.95 per person.

Based on this I would not even consider booking at that price. It's less than 1/2 the value of last year's package with no special perks other than the Premium areas Monday-Thursday. Last year's package included the Late Night Live Party w/ six entitlements (3+ hours which alone cost $79 if purchased separately) and the $50 gift card. According to what you've been told this year you get only 4 entitlements (figure about a $30 value) and admission to a $15 seminar instead of those two items. The Goodie Bag & Magic Band even out since they're included both years.

 

[YodasMom]

Just got off the phone after only a 5 minute wait.

I booked the premium package for Oct. 15th. I asked what it included and this is what she said and it sounded like she read it off directly from her screen:

It is good Monday - Thursday 12 noon - 8pm
comes with 4 entitlements
The bag is picked up at Festival center and comes with a bag, festival glass, wine, magic band
The package comes with a choice of 1 culinary or wine seminars - they are booked at the festival center when you pick up your package and the times must be either 2pm or 5pm - I already have the wine seminar booked I want to attend so maybe I'll try for a culinary one.
And your credentials will list the areas where you can go to have the special spots with the tables and cast members who will pick up your food for you
Bring your ID - you will need it to pick up your credentials and the Cast Members in the Package areas will ask for it if you are ordering alcohol.

And that is it - no mention of a special Illuminations viewing area or dessert party.

I was pretty tempted to book the sampler too just for the Eat to the Beat concert seating and the pin and since I'll be eating around the world - I know I'd use up the extra entitlements for food and drink.
Not sure what I'll do yet. I'll think about it this afternoon while I'm packing for my weekend at the beach.

Oct 15 is a Thursday, though. So you're only covered for that one day?

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

On the line with a cast member now. I have the premium package booked, but curious about how to add the deminar. Did they book that for you separately? My CM doesn't know.

I told the CM what GaSleepingBeautyFan's post said. She said, oh wait a minute. Here's a number you can call, and they'll book it for you in advance. She then read me 407-WDW-FEST. She was very surprised to hear that it was her phone number. LOL!

 

[wzd081]

Just booked the premium package. I was told it did have the dessert party included. She was reading it off of something when she was giving me the information. The reservation time I was given was 8:30 p.m. so I can only guess the date of your reservation is the date of the dessert party. I asked, but the CM had no clue. I did get concerned when she was reading me the typical disclosures and mentioned that the Late Nights Live could be cancelled due to weather. I told her as an fyi it seemed she was given information from last year. Asked about when I could book the demonstration and she said when I picked up my stuff like the other CMs have said. All that can be said for certain is that it's completely a cluster with so many things flying around no one can tell what's true. And I'm the idiot that just spent $400 to book said event. Not sure what's wrong with me.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Based on this I would not even consider booking at that price. It's less than 1/2 the value of last year's package with no special perks other than the Premium areas Monday-Thursday. Last year's package included the Late Night Live Party w/ six entitlements (3+ hours which alone cost $79 if purchased separately) and the $50 gift card. According to what you've been told this year you get only 4 entitlements (figure about a $30 value) and admission to a $15 seminar instead of those two items. The Goodie Bag & Magic Band even out since they're included both years.

Didn't you get chocolates last year too?

 

[River Country]

I collect Pins so I like the idea of that. I booked on a night that Boyz II Men is there so please look for me I will be the one belting out on bended knee while my wife is slapping me for being embarrassing LOL I think the there is no real value to put on the concert because honestly I have walked up 10 minutes prior and got a seat, you really don't need a seat just go to American Pavillion and listen that's what we did last year

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I told the CM what GaSleepingBeautyFan's post said. She said, oh wait a minute. Here's a number you can call, and they'll book it for you in advance. She then read me 407-WDW-FEST. She was very surprised to hear that it was her phone number. LOL!

I have to quit reading this thread at work I just burst out laughing!

 

[TDC Nala]

If I'm not interested in the pin and the Eat to the Beat concert - is the sampler still a deal? I was thinking not, but I'm not sure on the pricier options at the booths.

If you do the math, excluding any value for the pin and ETTB, it comes out to paying about $7.50 for each booth item you choose. Whether that is worthwhile will depend on how many items you want that cost $7.50 or more. I doubt there will be any exclusions on food but I bet that the higher-priced beverage options will be excluded.

If you're getting 8 lobster rolls it might work out that you make money off the deal - have to see how much those are this year.

 

[bcarey2k]

Quick Service Dining Plan Update

Per the Disney Customer Service email (I like things in writing):
-------------------------
7/30/2015
Dear Brian,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.
The Food and Wine Kiosks will subsititute to the snack credits for you, but it will require to the use of 3 snacks in a single transaction.
If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Tasha Wilusz
eCommerce Sales and Service Team

 

[TDC Nala]

I just called back to book Eat to the Beat dinner & lunch and asked about my premium package and she said it includes:

4 F&W booth entitlements
Either one Beverage seminar or one demo (I specifically asked about the dessert party and she said no it's definitely not included)
Goodie bag with wine, a glass and the magic band
access to the premium areas with wait service from noon - 8pm mon - thurs

I found it really odd that she told me that the demo or beverage seminar had to be booked on the day that the credentials are picked up...I would think that everything would be pretty well booked by then.

I'm willing to bet these are the actual entitlements. (Checking in on a Wednesday night and spending Thursday at Universal means I'd be totally excluded from using the premium areas)

Last year when I did it they subtracted the cost of Late Night Live when the one I signed up for was cancelled, but this year they have nothing equivalent to Late Night Live.

 

[TDC Nala]

Quick Service Dining Plan Update

Per the Disney Customer Service email (I like things in writing):
-------------------------
7/30/2015
Dear Brian,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.
The Food and Wine Kiosks will subsititute to the snack credits for you, but it will require to the use of 3 snacks in a single transaction.
If you have questions or need further assistance, feel free to contact us.

Sincerely,

Tasha Wilusz
eCommerce Sales and Service Team

I might suggest printing that out and taking it with you.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Didn't you get chocolates last year too?

Yes, four chocolate truffles in a chocolate box. There was also a cork screw.

 

[mejo]

You got a cork screw?????? we had to get our cork out with a fingernail clipper, The front desk couldn't even help us.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

So you can only use it one day? (10/15 is a Thursday!)

The other bad part is you have to carry around the goodies all day (And it's not good for wine to broil in the Florida heat LOL! I would be tempted to bring my corkscrew )

I'm not sure if it's good for only Thursday - I don't arrive until Wednesday evening so I only have the one day. I bring my own corkscrew for the room but I doubt they'd let me bring it into the parks. LOL

I'm thinking that if I get in a bit earlier on Wednesday that I could go to the Festival Center, pick up my package, and enjoy a little bit of the package areas but that I couldn't do a seminar until 10/15.

I will have to keep an eye on this thread and see how it is for others - I mostly wanted to be waited on and have a table to stand at to eat anyways. The rest is just a tiny bonus (very tiny.) LOL

I already had the one wine seminar booked that I wanted to do so I'm not sure if I even care about booking another seminar.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I might suggest printing that out and taking it with you.

And packing your patience. The CMs working these booths are often temporary hired only for the Festival. So knowing how to do this.... is beyond them