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

[Disneyglobegirl]

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.

Thank you I appreciate the advice...we'll definitely plan to be there by 6:15 or a little earlier

 

[pepperandchips]

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.

The disney website says "The package also includes admission to one (1) IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party Monday through Thursday of the purchased package week. The IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert party allows you to savor delectable treats and wines in an exclusive setting along World Showcase Lagoon during the nighttime fireworks spectacular, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. The date and time the Food & Wine Premium Package is booked indicates the date and time you will attend the IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party."

I booked our package for October 5th and it's showing in MDE at 8:30 pm. I am fine with going to a Monday night dessert party because I think it will get our week kicked off on a celebratory note, but if you booked your package on Monday and don't want to go to the Monday night party, I'd call and see if you can switch it.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

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 would get there early. They line you up and take you to your table. So being in the front gets you in quicker and allows you to sample more before general admission gets in. Seems like I got in a little earlier the 6:45 last year

And I have been sitting here laughing at Disney's marketing. Sorry but having a runner deliver food is not Concerige service. Glad they finally figured out what the Premium package is. One caution I think some of you assume this guarantees you a seat. It does not. Even Disney says that. You may still be standing in the sun.

 

[FTM22]

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.

Awesome - thanks! Has anyone done a trip report for this event? I tried searching and it brought up tons of threads that didn't seem related. Just wondering if anyone could provide a quick link? Super excited because this is the only event I have ever been interested in doing at all.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Awesome - thanks! Has anyone done a trip report for this event? I tried searching and it brought up tons of threads that didn't seem related. Just wondering if anyone could provide a quick link? Super excited because this is the only event I have ever been interested in doing at all.

I have seen a couple dining reports on the PFTS...let me see if I can find them for you.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I would get there early. They line you up and take you to your table. So being in the front gets you in quicker and allows you to sample more before general admission gets in. Seems like I got in a little earlier the 6:45 last year

And I have been sitting here laughing at Disney's marketing. Sorry but having a runner deliver food is not Concerige service. Glad they finally figured out what the Premium package is. One caution I think some of you assume this guarantees you a seat. It does not. Even Disney says that. You may still be standing in the sun.

Thank you...definitely will get there earlier

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

This review is several years old, but still relevant.

http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2011/10/24/review-epcot-food-and-wine-festival-party-for-the-senses/

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

Awesome - thanks! Has anyone done a trip report for this event? I tried searching and it brought up tons of threads that didn't seem related. Just wondering if anyone could provide a quick link? Super excited because this is the only event I have ever been interested in doing at all.

http://disboards.com/threads/keep-c...1-4-14-complete.3341435/page-28#post-53601388

Here is one from last year from a DIS member

 

[FeralCatRogue]

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!

Nope still no luck they tell me there system says there is nothing that day, yet i tell them online says there is and they state that it doesn't....

 

[mac3mpc]

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 actually have a Monday night dessert party on 10/26 that was scheduled before the premium packages came out. Maybe the day switches from week to week?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Nope still no luck they tell me there system says there is nothing that day, yet i tell them online says there is and they state that it doesn't....

Ugh. For a while they had a different date posted for him. I wonder if maybe he hasn't confirmed yet for the 27th.

 

[FTM22]

http://disboards.com/threads/keep-c...1-4-14-complete.3341435/page-28#post-53601388

Here is one from last year from a DIS member

That's awesome! Thanks so much for finding it - I am seriously search challenged.

 

[mrobin023]

I just called about the Premium package. I have a confirmation number for the package I ordered on Thursday. I was told they are not booking that package yet, to keep checking back. I told her that I already had it booked, that I just needed to choose my seminar and date for the dessert party. She says they are not doing that yet. Anybody else had any luck with this?

 

[Lsdolphin]

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

Uh oh, I just found this regarding the Premium pckg and the dessert party so it does look like everybody goes to same parties except for Fridays...unless maybe de figure how many spots to allocate to premium package people and how many to sell tomthose just wanting the Illuminations party.

• The package also includes admission to one (1) IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party Monday through Thursday of the purchased package week. The IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert party allows you to savor delectable treats and wines in an exclusive setting along World Showcase Lagoon during the nighttime fireworks spectacular, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. The date and time the Food & Wine Premium Package is booked indicates the date and time you will attend the IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party.

 

[karrit2000]

Uh oh, I just found this regarding the Premium pckg and the dessert party so it does look like everybody goes to same parties except for Fridays...unless maybe de figure how many spots to allocate to premium package people and how many to sell tomthose just wanting the Illuminations party.

• The package also includes admission to one (1) IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party Monday through Thursday of the purchased package week. The IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert party allows you to savor delectable treats and wines in an exclusive setting along World Showcase Lagoon during the nighttime fireworks spectacular, IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. The date and time the Food & Wine Premium Package is booked indicates the date and time you will attend the IllumiNations Sparkling Dessert Party.

Since it seems that the main focus of the package this year is the perk of having the exclusive eating areas with the food runners and the limited edition Magic Band I've decided to just go purchase $200 in gift cards to use at the booths however I want. For those who purchased specifically for those perks I truly believe you will enjoy yourselves immensely. I'll be sure to give a wave as I make my way around World Showcase and maybe I'll stop to chat through the potted plants. I really did enjoy the interaction with the Cast Members working at the reserved areas last year. I'll miss that the most but the overall value just isn't there for me this year.

 

[ethanwa]

Even with me being a lover of the Food & Wine Festival as well as a huge graphic MagicBand collector, I can't get myself to pull the trigger on this $200 package. All of the benefits take place during the week when I won't have anyone to watch my kids, so the benefits will be really limited between Noon and the time I need to get the kids from school. I wouldn't be able to go to the demo or the desert party. If it had the $50 gift card then it would probably make it worth it for me, but I'm having a really tough time with this one.

The issue is that the Limited Edition MagicBand might sell on eBay for $100+ later on, and at that cost I might as well just book the Premium Package anyway! Tough one for me this year...

 

[gottalovepluto]

Is it safe to assume that the alcoholic beverages like the Happy Lychee in China or the Pomegranite Kir in France would count as an alcohol entitlement?
Epcot Food and Wine Festival Tasting Sampler — NEW!

That's what I want to know too! What, exactly, is excluded? Maybe they'll just exclude certain booths (ie desserts and champagne, wine booth) instead of on a per item basis? I'm hopeful! However, I'm going to wait until we see some more details on the package come out, either from Disney (preferable, though unlikely) or from other's experiences actually trying out the new packages when F&W kicks off.

 

[BwoZoo22]

We booked the PP (and Illuminations) for a Tuesday night. The WDW info says nothing about a corkscrew in the bag this year. And since it's an in park pick up, I bet there will not be one. Maybe it will be a screw cap...

 

[BwoZoo22]

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?

If you want food sampling time before the masses are allowed in, get there early. We usually tried to arrive about five minutes before general admission "walked" in, and never had to wait to be seated. If you do get there early and don't like your table (we were against the stage one year, wanted to sit near some new friends another year) the wonderful CMs will change table numbers around, if they are available.

 

[BwoZoo22]

.

Get all the important details about your Premium Package at the festival.

Love the added Disney caveat in the official description that means "we can change things at any time for any reason if need be."