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

[River Country]

So here is my question and I guess the answer is different for everyone....What is the draw of the premium package?
$200+ for???? A wine glass, a bottle of wine, a magic band, dessert party, a $15 demo, 4 small plates, and a place to sit. I am sad to see the $50 gift card go away.....

I am glad I booked the Sampler Package

 

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

Based on other posts in this thread, I would say for most the biggest draw is the table and chair area and CMs to bring your food to you.

 

[karrit2000]

When I was trying to decide about the Premium Package last year I tried to put a monetary value on each part of the package that we knew was included. I was very interested in the Late Night Live
Party that was being included which if booked alone was $79. The next big component was the $50 gift card. That left everything else including the wine, the glass, magic band the tote bag & chocolates that we estimated to be about $60 worth of goodies making the seating & concierge service to cost $10. My calculations this year make the seating & concierge service cost $40-50 based on the other included items which were already enumerated by another person in an earlier post. The package overall is still a good deal. My big issue is the replacement of the $50 gift card with a set of only 4 entitlements. I'd much rather have the gift card value to use than be forced to have to figure out how to maximize the value of the 4 entitlements. Had they included a Sampler Package instead of the 4 entitlements I'd think it was a much better offering. Yes the seating & concierge service have value and that is the big draw for many who are booking the package. I do agree the seminar & Dessert Party are an equivalent replacement to the Late Night Live Party. If it was just me I would probably be booking the package but my mom has no interest in the Dessert Party so she doesn't see the value compared to last year.

 

[Spliter]

Called the dining number this morning. Was told the Sampler Package wasn't being sold quite yet, as it wasn't in the system, and to call back in a few hours. I informed her other people have already booked it. Was put on hold several times. A supervisor was then put on with me, put on hold again with apology that they were trying to find the information for me. After almost an hour from initial pick up we are now booked for Nov 9th with the 8 entitlements & seats for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Surprising to me that 24 hrs after release three people at the dining center had not even heard of the package...let alone know how to book it. smh I just don't understand, but glad they hung on till I was booked.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Having the hardest time booking 9/27 for Zimmermn, online just refreshes, phone i get sold out or not loaded yet....

Any luck? I'm also trying to get this. Online I see availability but I click and it goes back to the home page. Annoying!

 

[YodasMom]

Called the dining number this morning. Was told the Sampler Package wasn't being sold quite yet, as it wasn't in the system, and to call back in a few hours. I informed her other people have already booked it. Was put on hold several times. A supervisor was then put on with me, put on hold again with apology that they were trying to find the information for me. After almost an hour from initial pick up we are now booked for Nov 9th with the 8 entitlements & seats for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Surprising to me that 24 hrs after release three people at the dining center had not even heard of the package...let alone know how to book it. smh I just don't understand, but glad they hung on till I was booked.

The Sampler package actually was released for booking 2 days ago on Thursday morning. That's when I booked mine. Sounds like more uninformed CMs! Glad you got yours booked. We're booked on a day when there is a group performing that we want to enjoy, too.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Called the dining number this morning. Was told the Sampler Package wasn't being sold quite yet, as it wasn't in the system, and to call back in a few hours. I informed her other people have already booked it. Was put on hold several times. A supervisor was then put on with me, put on hold again with apology that they were trying to find the information for me. After almost an hour from initial pick up we are now booked for Nov 9th with the 8 entitlements & seats for Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Surprising to me that 24 hrs after release three people at the dining center had not even heard of the package...let alone know how to book it. smh I just don't understand, but glad they hung on till I was booked.

Wow...I just called and got a great CM and booked the sampler package for DH and I on Oct 16th...no issues what so ever. It does make you wonder how on earth some CM's have no idea about the products that they have to offer. Sorry you had issues but glad you got it booked

 

[Spliter]

The Sampler package actually was released for booking 2 days ago on Thursday morning. That's when I booked mine. Sounds like more uninformed CMs! Glad you got yours booked. We're booked on a day when there is a group performing that we want to enjoy, too.

Two days is even worse. lol I feel bad for the sweet people working the phones there. It's not right they weren't informed about the new releases or how to book them. Seems silly to have released them without cluing them all in as to their existence.

Have a great time at your concert and eating all the yummy food.

 

[Spliter]

Wow...I just called and got a great CM and booked the sampler package for DH and I on Oct 16th...no issues what so ever. It does make you wonder how on earth some CM's have no idea about the products that they have to offer. Sorry you had issues but glad you got it booked

That's too funny how it all depends on who picks up the phone. Glad at least some of them were informed. Have a great time!

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

DH and I have reserved seats for Party for the Senses ..it states we get in at 6:45 but how early should we get there to line up to get seated? Do they ever let you in a little earlier or right at 6:45?

 

[mrobin023]

Notably, the description of the premium package mentions nothing about being required to be a resort guest. Guess I can cancel my reservation if it doesn't end up working out for us without fear of losing our premium package access! I think that's one good thing about the changes this year.

We really enjoyed late nights live so I do wish it was coming back, but I think the $65 worth of culinary demo and dessert party are comparable enough value to sub in. The four entitlements come nowhere close to $50 worth of value unless I can use them for the $12ish champagne we enjoyed last year (here I'm assuming they've subbed the entitlement tabs for the gift card, just to see how the value shakes out for me).

I will admit I thought Disney priced these low (for Disney standards, maybe not real world standards) last year and really sort of included the concierge access for "free". When Disney food blog broke down the math, Wendy estimate the cost of the premium access area at about $18 after subtracting the value of the magic band, party ticket, wine glass, gift card, and bottle of wine from the $199 package price. She didn't account for the cost of the tote, truffles, or corkscrew. I think at Disney prices those items would cost at least $18, so the concierge access was "free".

I am surprised that Disney didn't raise the price AND give you fewer perks! This year, I see the value at $49 (dessert party) + $15 (demo/seminar) + ~$17 wine + $10 tote + $30 magic band (assuming these make noise at tapstiles as previously suggested) + $28 worth of entitlements (assuming they are spent on the most expensive food items, probably about $7 each this year for steak and lobster dishes). That brings us to $149 before seeing the contents of the amenity bag (so not accounting for chocolates or corkscrew, if they are included this year). The concierge value this year is $50 then, rather than "free" last year and makes sense to me. (Please correct me if I have missed any items)

As for my travel party, $50 each for concierge service for four days is a perfectly reasonable splurge. No, we probably wouldn't have booked the dessert party or purchased special magic bands without this package -- but that's the genius of Disney. I'm still pleased with the offering and looking forward to mingling with the same type of superb Epcot CMs we met in the premium areas last year - and hopefully some DISboards friends too! We'll be holding down those premium tables the week of October 5th.

I feel the same way. We will be joining you that week! Our package is showing up in MDE on that Monday, so I guess we might be doing the dessert party that night.

 

[FTM22]

DH and I have reserved seats for Party for the Senses ..it states we get in at 6:45 but how early should we get there to line up to get seated? Do they ever let you in a little earlier or right at 6:45?

I'd like to know this too, as well as any other tips. FYI, I had general admission but called and asked to upgrade. No big deal, awesome CM took care of it, and from first ring to me hanging up after filling out the survey was 13 minutes total. Very magical!

 

[SarahInMN]

I feel the same way. We will be joining you that week! Our package is showing up in MDE on that Monday, so I guess we might be doing the dessert party that night.

That is my assumption as well - do we have confirmation from any of the CMs that the date in MDE is indeed the night we are booked for the dessert party? On the thursday of our premium week, we have BOG dinner ADRs and tickets to MVMCP: so I'd like to ensure its on a different night. When I booked, the CM said nothing about the dessert party to me so I did ask about it.

Also, have people successfully called in and selected their deminar of choice with the package? When I booked it the person did not give me that option.

I know I could call in but I don't want to deal with the phone line right now.

 

[Lsdolphin]

I feel the same way. We will be joining you that week! Our package is showing up in MDE on that Monday, so I guess we might be doing the dessert party that night.

So are they having people who book the premium package as well as people who just book the Illuminations dessert party all together at the parties if so won't that make for super crowded parties? Or is there a separate dessert party for the premium pckg people???

 

[Tink10]

So are they having people who book the premium package as well as people who just book the Illuminations dessert party all together at the parties if so won't that make for super crowded parties? Or is there a separate dessert party for the premium pckg people???

It's my understanding that the dessert party for Premium package guests takes place on Monday nights and is not available for booking to non premium guests

 

[SarahInMN]

It's my understanding that the dessert party for Premium package guests takes place on Monday nights and is not available for booking to non premium guests

I just did a dummy booking of a dessert party for the same Monday night (11/9) that our premium package is booked for: I wasn't logged into the disney site and it was going to let me book the Monday night party.

 

[Lsdolphin]

It's my understanding that the dessert party for Premium package guests takes place on Monday nights and is not available for booking to non premium guests

Ok great that makes sense! We have never done the Illuminations dessert party as I am a little concerned that there is no seating but booked it anyway to have a less crowded spot to watch Illuminations. Also booked the Parisian Afternoon and really looking forward to it....

 

[Tink10]

Ok great that makes sense! We have never done the Illuminations dessert party as I am a little concerned that there is no seating but booked it anyway to have a less crowded spot to watch Illuminations. Also booked the Parisian Afternoon and really looking forward to it....

We didn't find the lack of seating to be an issue at all. The tables were spaced nicely, so guests weren't on top of one another. Granted, my last time there we were REALLY enjoying the champagne & prosecco, so there is that slight possibility that we were enjoying it more then we should have

 

[Carl Merrell]

Yayy!

 

[WDWGeek1971]

DH and I have reserved seats for Party for the Senses ..it states we get in at 6:45 but how early should we get there to line up to get seated? Do they ever let you in a little earlier or right at 6:45?

Absolutely get there earlier. I would get there around 6:15 (half an hour early). They form two waiting areas. One for the reserved seating and another for general admission. The earlier you get there, the more likely you will be waiting inside. If it is hot or rainy, I would get there even earlier to assure you are waiting inside vs. outside.