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

[MakiraMarlena]

Yes you can use the magic bands.

Yes the kiosks are set up for the RFID read.

The dining plan is something else altogether. It is not certain that one will be able to use QS credits. They can definitely use snack credits. And they can choose between using dining credits or charging back to their room.

There is nothing stored on the bands. The bands will access your room account. If you have a dining plan on your room account, you can use dining credits to pay if you wish. If you don't have a dining plan and have set up room charging, you can use the band to charge back to your room.

As for why another method is necessary: Not everyone has a magic band. Offsiters have to buy them if they want them. Many don't bother. And some just like having the gift card because it helps them budget (load the card with a certain amount of money, and when it's gone, just don't reload the card.) And there are even some who prefer not to charge back to their rooms.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Clarification, are the regular MagicBands able to be used to charge food & drinks at the F&W kiosks for the F&W Festival? Or are we still better off loading a GC and using that?
Confused because if purchases in general can be charged using your MagicBand and if you do the Dining plan QS credits can be used/taken from the MagicBands (we are NOT doing the Dining Plan, but saw this mentioned), then why would we need another easy method (gc) to purchase items at Food and wine - MagicBands are on the wrist, just like the F&W gift card wristband.

Only thing I can think of is if the kiosks are not setup for the RFID read.

First time to F&W and super excited, but my waistband won't be, luckily swimsuit season will be over.

Thanks for your help.

ALWAYS, ALWAYS have a back up method. Tragic Bands can and do quit working! At the Flower and Garden Festival one Friday evening this spring the entire Tragic Band system went down. Lots of angry upset people who couldn't buy their goodies, but those of us with a back up method were just fine. And that's not the first time it's happened.

 

[vettegirl]

Well darn the discovery package is full every single day of our trip Oh well at least I have my snack credits.

 

[jen23il]

Thanks so much, forgot that not everyone has to have the magicbands. And yep I can understand the budgeting reason, may do that myself.

 

[Tozzie]

ALWAYS, ALWAYS have a back up method. Tragic Bands can and do quit working! At the Flower and Garden Festival one Friday evening this spring the entire Tragic Band system went down. Lots of angry upset people who couldn't buy their goodies, but those of us with a back up method were just fine. And that's not the first time it's happened.

I usually don't use my magic band I use one of those gift cards you where around your wrist. I think it is easier and quicker.

As for the bands last August one day when we were going to MK the whole system went down we were waiting outside at the gates for a half hour finAlly they let us in without scanning the bands. It took them over 2 hours to fix jt

 

[samsteele]

Yes you can use the magic bands.

Yes the kiosks are set up for the RFID read.

The dining plan is something else altogether. It is not certain that one will be able to use QS credits. They can definitely use snack credits. And they can choose between using dining credits or charging back to their room.

There is nothing stored on the bands. The bands will access your room account. If you have a dining plan on your room account, you can use dining credits to pay if you wish. If you don't have a dining plan and have set up room charging, you can use the band to charge back to your room.

As for why another method is necessary: Not everyone has a magic band. Offsiters have to buy them if they want them. Many don't bother. And some just like having the gift card because it helps them budget (load the card with a certain amount of money, and when it's gone, just don't reload the card.) And there are even some who prefer not to charge back to their rooms.

This exactly. I use my DP snack credits for the most $ F&W offerings and then buy a $60 gift card with wrist band to pay for the less $ items that I want. It allows me to keep track of how much I have spent OOP at F&W and gives me a rough budget. If I don't use the entire balance on the card at F&W (which isn't very likely ) then I can apply it to any purchase at any WDW park on my vacation. I don't charge back to my room as it is just too easy to go charge happy and spend way too much.

 

[POOHsie]

Clarification, are the regular MagicBands able to be used to charge food & drinks at the F&W kiosks for the F&W Festival? Or are we still better off loading a GC and using that?
Confused because if purchases in general can be charged using your MagicBand and if you do the Dining plan QS credits can be used/taken from the MagicBands (we are NOT doing the Dining Plan, but saw this mentioned), then why would we need another easy method (gc) to purchase items at Food and wine - MagicBands are on the wrist, just like the F&W gift card wristband.

Only thing I can think of is if the kiosks are not setup for the RFID read.

First time to F&W and super excited, but my waistband won't be, luckily swimsuit season will be over.

Thanks for your help.

I usually don't use my magic band I use one of those gift cards you where around your wrist. I think it is easier and quicker.

As for the bands last August one day when we were going to MK the whole system went down we were waiting outside at the gates for a half hour finAlly they let us in without scanning the bands. It took them over 2 hours to fix jt

Dining Plan Snack Credits are used for F&W food & non-alcoholic drink purchases, not QS credits. I recently read that "there's talk" that QS credits could buy 3 food/'non-a' drink items at a single booth, but I'm not sure about that.

I agree with Tozzie about the F&W wearable gift cards. Probably your MagicBand will work for your trip 100% but what if there's a blip while at Epcot. The F&W wearable GC is not only good for F&W food & drink, but any Disney item (souvenir, etc). It's versatile, reloadable, and you won't lose it if you use the wristband. You can get them at the F&W Festival Center while you're picking up your PP goodie bag. Just my opinion.

 

[romitaz]

The wearable gift card was so easy to use, that we will be using them again this year. Purchases seemed to flow better with the GC vs our Magic Bands. It also helped to see how much we spent at the kiosks.

 

[moonburst37]

So have they released the card for pre-purchase yet or will we have to wait and pick it up at the Festival Center?

 

[FoodieFriend]

UPDATE: after another call to the FEST line & speaking to CM Amy who elevated my call to supervisor Bruno, they both insisted that there must be a dessert party on Monday Sept 28 even though it doesn't show that on the WDW websit. that didn't ease my mind at all. i asked to simply have my dessert party date moved to Sept 29 where i knew there was a party happening AND i wouldn't give up any ADRs booked 135 days ago. Bruno had to check for availability & was able to change it for me! WHEW! it even shows up changed on MDE.

he did confirm that no one with the PP has been able to book any demos yet and that will be made available eventually. i could either keep calling back or wait until Disney contacts me. this info was something he received from his supervisor. he definitely didn't say we had to attend a demo on the same day as our dessert party as i was told previously. we'll see! 45 days until we fly!

 

[romitaz]

I don't know. We are bringing the ones we got last year. Either that, or we will snag them at the Festival Center when we grab our swag bag.

 

[VrBchJ]

I had the oposite info from a dining supervisor regarding seminar/deminar. I was told it had to be the same day as the dessert party. Is there no one in charge who can disseminate the same, correct info to the CMs? How can we be given diametrically opposite answers. One day I was told Illuminations Dessert party was definitely not included in PP. The very next day Disney announced it was included. I give up. But I can't wait for my Magic Band!

 

[FoodieFriend]

I had the oposite info from a dining supervisor regarding seminar/deminar. I was told it had to be the same day as the dessert party. Is there no one in charge who can disseminate the same, correct info to the CMs? How can we be given diametrically opposite answers. One day I was told Illuminations Dessert party was definitely not included in PP. The very next day Disney announced it was included. I give up. But I can't wait for my Magic Band!

i was told both versions of when the demos would be available for PP purchasers also. idk which is correct either. my only option is to keep calling back until i get something that shows up on my MDE.

 

[Biceratops]

he did confirm that no one with the PP has been able to book any demos yet and that will be made available eventually. i could either keep calling back or wait until Disney contacts me. this info was something he received from his supervisor. he definitely didn't say we had to attend a demo on the same day as our dessert party as i was told previously.

Is that true? I recall reading a few pages back that those who booked the PP as soon as it was available were able to also book unless they canceled their bookings. I also forgot to mention that the CMs yesterday told me the deminars (yes, deminars) did not have to be booked the same day as the desert party and you could also book (when booking becomes available) the Cheese seminar or Mixology seminar as part of your Premium Package if you so choose.

 

[FoodieFriend]

Is that true? I recall reading a few pages back that those who booked the PP as soon as it was available were able to also book unless they canceled their bookings. I also forgot to mention that the CMs yesterday told me the deminars (yes, deminars) did not have to be booked the same day as the desert party and you could also book (when booking becomes available) the Cheese seminar or Mixology seminar as part of your Premium Package if you so choose.

WOW! the Cheese seminar would be a major coup since it's value is way more than $15 as the culinary/beverage/mixology seminars are! i definitely like cheese but wouldn't spend the $79/pp because we're not wine drinkers. BUT if it can be part of the PP, i'm IN. just checked the WDW site & the cheese seminars are only on saturdays per the availability calendar. how would that work with the PP M-Th set up? curious to see how this pans out! thanks for reporting!

 

[Biceratops]

I know, right? The first time the CM tried to book it before we realized we couldn't she asked what deminar I wanted for the PP. I said I didn't know any and asked if she could list which ones were included...she indeed said Cheese seminar. The second time I called later in the day regarding if the desert party was still happening on Monday September 28th, I asked about the Cheese seminar and if it was one of the options to choose from for the PP. The CM told me yes so we'll see when booking is back online -- according to all of the CMs I've talked to the problem is it's a "glitch" in the system where the can't attach it unless they double-charge which is obviously not what we want. Hope this helps!

 

[smokeyblue]

I'm so super jealous of you all!!! We had such a good time last year. I've finally decided to cancel our reservations today. We ended up getting an excellent fare to Southern California, so it looks like we will be traveling to the west coast instead to visit family. We will be doing at least two days at Disneyland so I guess I cant complain too much. I love Disneyland too, just in a different way than WDW. We will just have to return to Food and Wine another time. I hope everyone has a wonderful time!

 

[gottalovepluto]

I'm so super jealous of you all!!! We had such a good time last year. I've finally decided to cancel our reservations today. We ended up getting an excellent fare to Southern California, so it looks like we will be traveling to the west coast instead to visit family. We will be doing at least two days at Disneyland so I guess I cant complain too much. I love Disneyland too, just in a different way than WDW. We will just have to return to Food and Wine another time. I hope everyone has a wonderful time!

It's a PERFECT time to visit DL! My home park! I was there at the beginning of summer and the parks are in beautiful shape for the 60th and the all the new nighttime entertainment is not to be missed! (After Paint The Night you may never want to see the Main St Electrical Parade again.)

 

[pinksand]

ALWAYS, ALWAYS have a back up method. Tragic Bands can and do quit working! At the Flower and Garden Festival one Friday evening this spring the entire Tragic Band system went down. Lots of angry upset people who couldn't buy their goodies, but those of us with a back up method were just fine. And that's not the first time it's happened.

This may be a stupid question, but are credit cards and cash not accepted at the kiosks? Is it just Magic Bands and gift cards?

 

[switch15foot]

It's a PERFECT time to visit DL! My home park! I was there at the beginning of summer and the parks are in beautiful shape for the 60th and the all the new nighttime entertainment is not to be missed! (After Paint The Night you may never want to see the Main St Electrical Parade again.)

that's great to hear as I plan on making the trip to disneyland in Feb/March