Epcot Food & Wine Festival?

[AndieB]

Anyone have any observations on the annual Food & Wine Festival at Epcot (this year from 9/30-11/13)? We're going in October, and wondering if this makes Epcot more fun or just more crowded?

 

[DisneyDar]

It makes Epcot.....both.


More fun and more crowded. It's a wonderful event.

 

[dvcgirl]

Anyone have any observations on the annual Food & Wine Festival at Epcot (this year from 9/30-11/13)? We're going in October, and wondering if this makes Epcot more fun or just more crowded?

Food and Wine Fest is a wonderful event at Epcot. In addition to all the wonderful booths that are around the World Showcase, there are free seminars and some additional merchandise. The booths generally represent a country with a couple of different foods and a corresponding wine/beer to match. On top of all of that there are wonderful special dinners, tastings and events that need to be reserved for a fee. If I was a newbie to this event, and enjoyed wine....hit the booths around the WS during the week (locals flock to the F&W Fest on the weekends) and then book a Party for the Senses reservation for a Saturday night. It's a bit of a splurge at roughly $100 per person, but it are is a wonderful events.

Generally they'll have 20+ wineries there as well as 15+food stations that are represented by restaurants all over the country....including some of the Disney restaurants. You just taste and taste and taste....all night long. It's a great event. If you enjoy food and wine.....this wouldn't be something you'd want to miss.

 

[crazy4wdw]

Here is the recent press release from WDW regarding 2005's Food & Wine Festival. You can make reservations for the special events starting July 25.

10th Annual Epcot International Food and Wine Festival
Runs Sept. 30-Nov. 13

Walt Disney World Resort Celebrates Great Food, Wine and Beer with Flair

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Walt Disney World guests can immerse themselves in cultural experiences from around the globe or sip to learn at a wine seminar. They can expand their culinary repertoire at one of many cooking demonstrations or drop by the Specialty Beer Garden. The opportunities are many when Future World and World Showcase overflow with first-rate food, wine and beer experiences during the six-week-long Epcot International Food and Wine Festival Sept. 30 through Nov. 13.

Each year, the festival features at least 20 international tasting marketplaces and a lineup of winemakers and guest chefs, elegant dinners, wine schools, tastings and pairings.

In recent years, the festival around World Showcase Lagoon has grown dramatically, attracting a diverse audience of more than one million each year -- from wine connoisseurs and epicures to droves of wine neophytes eager to boost their wine IQs. In addition, the fest's nightly Eat to the Beat! concert series will feature an even more varied lineup this year, including classic rock, oldies and country performers.

"The festival is our opportunity to showcase not only all the culinary and wine-related talent at Walt Disney World Resort, but also to introduce great celebrity chefs and wine connoisseurs in the industry," said Nora Carey, festival manager. "We strive to provide various levels of experiences that reflect the diverse interests of our guests, from simple marketplace tastings and seminars to extravagant dinners."

More than 100 wineries offer tastings, and guests can sample the marketplace cuisine in tasting portions ranging from $1 to $4.50. Other highlights include:

* The Festival Welcome Center, with a Champagne and Sparkling Wine Bar, commemorative posters and other festival keepsakes.

* Some 250 Disney chefs and guest chefs conducting culinary demonstrations and hosting elegant dinners and tasting events (past guest chefs have included Allen Susser, Dominique Macquet, John Ash, Diego Lozano, Michael Ginor and many others).

* Up to 1,200 wine and beer seminars providing complimentary samplings.

* Elegant dinners, the weekly Party for the Senses grand tasting and other by-reservation-only events.

Along with the music, dance, acrobatics and avant-garde entertainment showcased at Epcot pavilions, festival guests can enjoy Eat to the Beat! concerts performed three times each evening at America Gardens Theatre.

Entrance to the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, plus wine and beer seminars and cooking demonstrations, is included with regular Epcot admission. Guests can call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378) for information or reservations for special events and programs. By summer, festival details will be posted on the Web site: disneyworld.com.

 

[floridagirrl2]

Fun, fun, fun! The F & W Fest is what hooked DH and I on WDW.

We had been to Epcot once or twice together, kinda thouight it was small fun, and hadn't been in 12 or 13 years. For some reason DH wanted to go back and wanted to park hop. The cheapest way to park hop was to buy Florida Residents Seasonal Passes. We somehow ended up in Epcot during the Festival in 2003. Now we wouldn't miss it for the world! (pun intended), and we park hop at least 6 weekends a year!

It does make Epcot more crowded, but not intolerably so. Saturday nights are the most crowded but in a festive way. DH and I have not done any of the extra ticketed events, and we have a fab time roaming around the World Showcase, sampling tidbits of food from different conuntires, plus wine (me) and beer (DH).

 

[GC&S]

When we go, we go during the W&F festival. It is so much fun - and yes, it can get crowded, but not horribly. At night we have gotten a lot of free food because a lot of stands give it away before they close so they don't have to throw it out. If you like to sample wine and food, you'll have a great time.

 

[mjmcca]

I love this time of year at wdw. If you plan right you might be able to fit F&W and MNSSHP or Festival of the Masters at DTD in one trip .

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

I have dedicated one afternoon/evening of our upcoming trip to the F&WF. I am a major wino and DH is a minor one. I didn't exactly plan the trip over the F&WF, but was glad it worked out. I can't wait!

 

[AndieB]

Thank you for all the tips! I may beg my mom to babysit DS4 one night so DH and I can spend an adult evening "sampling"!

 

[Lorelai]

Question for all of the "experienced" Food & Wine festival goers (of which I am not one....yet):

Are there any weeks that tend to be "less" (ha, ha) crowded at the Food & Wine Festival.

 

[minijeanie]

my favorite time in the world is at F&WF....
not sure when the least crowded time is but I personally dont' think it matters.
The booths are alll outside the countries and you can dine & wine yourself all you want..

food is delectable...believe it or nor germany was my fav for ribs ..and my son loved the lemonade served outside japan

DH & I are now trying to squeeze out a getaway weekend to do F&W festival..
it is the best time of the year to be at WDW in my opinion

 

[southjerseymom]

I may get called on this....but I didn't love the F&W Festival. DH and I were so excited when we went in November. The plan was to put the kids in strollers, relax, and eat our way around the world (a real evening for "us"). The kids were good. The music and entertainment were good, and the crowds were tolerable. But I just wasn't that impressed with the food. I had read allears before the trip so we really had a plan for what we wanted to eat. Other than the lamb at New Zealand nothing met our expectations. Both DH and I have worked in gourmet food and beverage positions for over thirty years. And I am more than understanding of the logistical problems of putting out quality tastings in what is basically a street cart. I am not trying to sound like some snobby foodie that hates everything...I just didn't love most of what we sampled. And by the time you have had a couple adult beverages and some apps for two you end up spending enough that you want to walk away happy. Maybe we just hit a bad night. Overall we enjoyed ourselves - I just wish the food had just come a little closer to what we were led to expect.

 

[Mykelogan]

Just found out my parents, newly "poured" wine connoiseurs, are going to be in Orlando for the F&W festival at Epcot. When I mentioned this to them they got excited and wanted details. Anyone know if they are released yet? Are there any events they should be trying to make reservations for now? Sadly I cannot go with them as work will not give me the time!! <sigh>

Thanks!
Mike

 

[blacklily]

As you can see from my signature, I go to the F&W almost every year except last year. Wife was pregnant and September was the latest we could go. Not sure about busy weeks but I know Jersey week (second week of November this year) tends to be a little more crowded. Definately go during the week on a non EMH day and eat and drink around the world. I'll be there Oct 30-Nov9 and am taking my DD (11 months / first time) my wife's parents (first time) and wife's grandparents (first time). Already got them ready for some babysitting if I can keep them away from too much wine.

 

[ReneeDisney]

This will be my first F&W Festival and I'm looking forward to the schedule of events being released! Does anyone know when the schedule will be released?Do all the events sell out quickly?

Thanks for the Info!

 

[TDC Nala]

Are there any weeks that tend to be "less" (ha, ha) crowded at the Food & Wine Festival.

It really only affects the World Showcase. Go there on a weekday to avoid the crowds. On weekends the locals show up.