Epcot Food &Wine tips needed

[twinx4]

Hi

I've been to Disney several times, its like my second home. However, this will be my first time going to Epcot's Food and Wine Festival. Does anyone have any helpful tips. I want to do some of the seminars and cooking demo's.

Has anyone ever been to the Burger Block Party or the Party of the Senses? Is it worth it or should I just go with the regular tasting booths?

Thank you

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

There's an entire sticky at the top of the Disney Restaurants board. Has lots of information that might help.

 

[BrianL]

My number one tip for F&W is to read through the menus ahead of time. I make a list of the items that I really want to try (or get again if it's returning), ones I might try, and ones I do not want, plus the booth that they are at. Then I make sure to visit the booths that have must have items first. It also helps so I can skip booths that have nothing on my list. The first year I went I did not do this and I ended up full after the first 6 booths. There was more stuff I wanted to try, but there was just no room. Pace yourself as well. There's a lot of ground to cover!

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

My number one tip for F&W is to read through the menus ahead of time. I make a list of the items that I really want to try (or get again if it's returning), ones I might try, and ones I do not want, plus the booth that they are at. Then I make sure to visit the booths that have must have items first. It also helps so I can skip booths that have nothing on my list. The first year I went I did not do this and I ended up full after the first 6 booths. There was more stuff I wanted to try, but there was just no room. Pace yourself as well. There's a lot of ground to cover!

Such a great tip! My husband and I sit down with a drink and do this about a month before we go...both because we're excited to be going but also because you really do need to make sure you map out your must haves and make them a priority. Haha and save room in case there are some you end up wanting doubles of !

 

[twinx4]

There's an entire sticky at the top of the Disney Restaurants board. Has lots of information that might help.

I'll look into it . thank you

 

[twinx4]

My number one tip for F&W is to read through the menus ahead of time. I make a list of the items that I really want to try (or get again if it's returning), ones I might try, and ones I do not want, plus the booth that they are at. Then I make sure to visit the booths that have must have items first. It also helps so I can skip booths that have nothing on my list. The first year I went I did not do this and I ended up full after the first 6 booths. There was more stuff I wanted to try, but there was just no room. Pace yourself as well. There's a lot of ground to cover!

That is very helpful thank you. Are there any favorites that stand out? And have you done any of the seminars?

 

[twinx4]

Such a great tip! My husband and I sit down with a drink and do this about a month before we go...both because we're excited to be going but also because you really do need to make sure you map out your must haves and make them a priority. Haha and save room in case there are some you end up wanting doubles of !

How many days do you allow yourself for the event?

 

[BrianL]

Such a great tip! My husband and I sit down with a drink and do this about a month before we go...both because we're excited to be going but also because you really do need to make sure you map out your must haves and make them a priority. Haha and save room in case there are some you end up wanting doubles of !

Yes, doubles can be a real problem too! Maybe Triples? A few years ago it was the Muffaletta Pinwheels with the homemade pickles that were doing it for me!

 

[BrianL]

That is very helpful thank you. Are there any favorites that stand out? And have you done any of the seminars?

I've never done seminars. Also, I'm not a drinker, so it's focused on the food for me. They change it up every year so it's hard to know if a favorite will return. The corn cheesecake from Mexico is pretty great, and the Belgian waffle dishes are always good. My favorite from last year was a pate set from the Craft Beer place in the old Odyssey Restaurant.

 

[winthropf]

If possible, go on more than one day. For F&W trips, I usually visit a park in the morning and then hop to Epcot for the booths. I schedule very little dining other than the booths (except Saturday, skip it if possible).

 

[Laura's Dad]

It is our first time as well. We are perusing the menus. We are on the Dining Plan and trying to figure out where to use our counter service/snack credits to the best advantage. It adds a new dimension to planning fun.

 

[loves to dive]

If possible, go on more than one day. For F&W trips, I usually visit a park in the morning and then hop to Epcot for the booths. I schedule very little dining other than the booths (except Saturday, skip it if possible).

This is what I do as well, all of my meals except tea at the GF come from F&W and I'm normally there for 4 to 5 days. Last year I did a food demo and a wine tasting per day at the festival center, they are $15 each and last about 30 to 40 min. Disney Food Blog has a list of what they are this year. I also try to do one Food & Wine pairing meal. I've done Morocco and Spice Roads (Mediterranean food). Both were excellent and I'll be doing the Spice Roads one again this year just because it's about all that is going to be offered during the time frame I'm there. I've done one of the big wine seminars year before last but one won't be offered during the time frame I'm there. This one was wine and food pairings, small samples of different wines and how to pair them. This year I also plan on doing a cheese seminar.

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

How many days do you allow yourself for the event?

We will generally stay for 5 nights and in those 5 nights do two park days. In the morning we'll go to a different park and then hop to Epcot between 12 and 2 for the rest of the day for Food and Wine. It ends up being a full day split into two. We really enjoy the ambiance of Epcot though and don't have any children yet so we can easily create a schedule that works for us.

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

Yes, doubles can be a real problem too! Maybe Triples? A few years ago it was the Muffaletta Pinwheels with the homemade pickles that were doing it for me!

Yes!!! The pimento cheese slider got me last year!

 

[BrianL]

I saw this was returning for 2016: Charcuterie Plate: Country Pâté, Cured Meats and Crostini. This was my hands down favorite from last year and it comes form the Craft Beer. It aslo had the homemade pickles with it, which were amazing! And here I am going to DLR this year....

 

[TDS533]

My number one tip for F&W is to read through the menus ahead of time. I make a list of the items that I really want to try (or get again if it's returning), ones I might try, and ones I do not want, plus the booth that they are at. Then I make sure to visit the booths that have must have items first. It also helps so I can skip booths that have nothing on my list. The first year I went I did not do this and I ended up full after the first 6 booths. There was more stuff I wanted to try, but there was just no room. Pace yourself as well. There's a lot of ground to cover!

Where do you find the menus? Thank you.

 

[Cynister]

This is our first F&W as well, but we've done F&G a few times which is similar in approach. I plan multiple days to be at the festival, then print the menu list that was just published for this year, marking everything you want to eat. Use last year's festival map as a guide & plan your route around the world, breaking the items you want into meal times (lunch/dinner). You will probably get to between 2-4 countries of food per meal if you are like us. We also order an item & split it, so that we can taste more as we go. If the Festival Center is like F&G, it is only open Fri- Sun, so plan days accordingly to be able to get in. Seminars & shows should be reserved ahead of time.

I've never done seminars. Also, I'm not a drinker, so it's focused on the food for me. They change it up every year so it's hard to know if a favorite will return. The corn cheesecake from Mexico is pretty great, and the Belgian waffle dishes are always good. My favorite from last year was a pate set from the Craft Beer place in the old Odyssey Restaurant.

I didn't see the corn cheesecake on this year's list, did I miss it? I really hope so because we had wanted to try it!

 

[BrianL]

Where do you find the menus? Thank you.

This is where I saw them:

http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/inte...estival-global-marketplaces-now-available.htm

 

[BrianL]

I didn't see the corn cheesecake on this year's list, did I miss it? I really hope so because we had wanted to try it!

It is not on the menu I saw, which is too bad. It was great.

 

[Cynister]

It is not on the menu I saw, which is too bad. It was great.

Darn it!