Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

[earthfaries]

We will still be in WDW that day before we head off on our cruises ...

• Is it worth going ... do they have little tasting booths outside the pavilions?
• Do you purchase tickets to exchange for each item you want to taste?
• Do they print out a brochure for the event listing where and what is all available ... what are the hours generally?
• Or is it more a dine-in event at the various restaurants where they have special dining/wine menus?
• What was your experience with the Festival?

Thanks.

I really suggest going ~ it's very fun and a wonderful experience .

They have the food booths in the World Showcase, but you don't have to go into the countries to get to them, they are set out in front of that country , or in between them for easy access.

They don't have tickets for the food, they take money and credit cards and gift cards. We always put some money on a gift card and just use that throughout the night. They make little gift cards you can refill that you wear on your wrist. They are handy but BEWARE!!! They do fall off!!!

They do have a guide map with ALL the locations of the food booths AND their menus. You can pick one up at either of the entrances to Epcot.

The hours of the food booths are usually the hours of the park, until 9pm.

You basically just walk around the world showcase and stop at the booths with the foods you want to try and experience.

The sizes are small, sample size, and they run about 4-7.00 dollars each. They are delicious and you can spend a lot. We usually go through at least 100.00 each night we go and sample the foods.

It's very, very fun and I can't wait!

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[domiii]

We usually take 2 days to go through all of the booths. We start at 11a and by 2p we are stuffed. DH, DD and I share an item from each booth. Ok sometimes 2 items! It's just a taste and we are happy to sample. Especially the wines! We mark the items in the booklet and discuss them later. We don't do any other TS or CS for the day. We stay at a DVC property and snack in the room later if we want.

 

[cruisingkat]

DH & I make a trip every Oct just for F&W and MNSSHP. For F&W, we split the WS into 3 to 4 sections and do one section each day - Mon-Thurs - usually for lunch. We try one of each food item from each booth in that section and a specialty drink from each booth. We do share each item so it is only a couple of bites - but we do get filled. If anything, we end up sharing a CS meal for dinner that night back at the resort.
It can be expensive - Trying one of each food item at each kiosk ran us over $300 just for the food items.

 

[leedavidt]

november 2010
november 2011
And...Planning On
november 2012 !

It's A Wonderful Time To Visit Epcot...
I Usually Catch The Last Few Days Of The Festival...
Then Its Gone

Def.Worth It !
Disney In 44 Hrs!

​

 

[GeneralTso]

It's all about the little wrist card. It really makes it so easy and fast. Unless you are super light eaters, load it with more than $20 to avoid having to reload a lot. Between the "bites" and the "sips" it really adds up.

Do not go on the weekend. Friday and Saturday night are God-Awful. Like a big, obnoxious frat party. Drinking games, people "drinking around the world" with t-shirts that they check off after they complete a country. Loud, ridiculous and just a drunkfest. We saw and heard some really gross stuff and kids were all around. We avoid it completely.

Any other time and it's wonderful. We paid for some of the demos and really liked that. We love it. The best part for us is the after hours party, post-marathon. You get to stay there til 3am, there are barely any kids and the characters are out in pairs, really mellow and interacting and taking "unusual" pictures with people. All the kiosks are open, it's a great time.

 

[ThumpersWorld]

It is an experience that is not to be missed! Between the food and the crowds/atmosphere, it is definitely my favorite event of the year.

 

[Liz Z]

Hi Everyone,

This will be our 1st time at the F&Wand I was wondering where you can buy the wrist bands? We're most likely be entering at the international gateway.

There will be me, my DH and DD(21) would $100pp be enough? We will have a big breakfast and lunch and dinner will be eating around the world

Thanks for your advice

 

[cruisingkat]

Instead of getting the wrist card at Disney, we got Disney gift cards at Target. By buying them with our Target card, we got a 5% discount so a $50 card cost us $47.50. If you really want the wrist card, if you are staying at a Disney resort I believe you can charge the wrist card to your room with your KTTW and then pay your room charge at the resort with the discounted gift cards. They sell the wrist cards at the F&W fest headquarters in the old Wonders of Life pavillion or at any of the kiosks.

 

[princesspiglet]

Instead of getting the wrist card at Disney, we got Disney gift cards at Target. By buying them with our Target card, we got a 5% discount so a $50 card cost us $47.50. If you really want the wrist card, if you are staying at a Disney resort I believe you can charge the wrist card to your room with your KTTW and then pay your room charge at the resort with the discounted gift cards. They sell the wrist cards at the F&W fest headquarters in the old Wonders of Life pavillion or at any of the kiosks.

You can not use the KTTW card to purchase the wrist cards...at least that was the case with us in Nov 11. We tried and they said no, it had to be cash or a credit card. They also are not sold at the food kiosks, but are at the merchandise kiosks.

The wrist card worked out wonderful for us. DH and I each got one and we were able to go to different booths at the same time and then meet up to share and it was so easy to remove from your wrist, hand to the cashier and get it back within 30 seconds with nothing to sign! There were 3 of us, DH, myself and DD8. We spent $200.

 

[LilyWDW]

I used my KTTK card to charge everything to the room at the different kiosks and I do not remember any hassle. It was fast and easy. Much faster then those using credit cards or cash.

 

[cruisingkat]

You can not use the KTTW card to purchase the wrist cards...at least that was the case with us in Nov 11. We tried and they said no, it had to be cash or a credit card. They also are not sold at the food kiosks, but are at the merchandise kiosks.

The wrist card worked out wonderful for us. DH and I each got one and we were able to go to different booths at the same time and then meet up to share and it was so easy to remove from your wrist, hand to the cashier and get it back within 30 seconds with nothing to sign! There were 3 of us, DH, myself and DD8. We spent $200.

Thanks for the clarification - Someone reported last year that you could purchase the wrist card with your KTTW.
As far as the wrist cards not being sold at the kiosks, when we were there, there (we go in early Oct) we saw them for sale at a couple of food kiosks - don't know if it was last year or the year before.
Any Disney gift card works the same way - nothing to sign. We liked the idea of using the $50 gift cards - we each carried one instead of having all our funds on one card.

 

[princesspiglet]

I used my KTTK card to charge everything to the room at the different kiosks and I do not remember any hassle. It was fast and easy. Much faster then those using credit cards or cash.

You CAN use your KTTW to purchase items at the kiosk, however, you CAN NOT use the KTTW to purchase the actual wrist credit card. The only reason we did not use the KTTW card at each booth was so that I could keep track of our spending and not go overboard.

 

[Fºoºz]

Looks like a don't miss event with all the postiive reviews here!

I like the idea of the wrist cards and dining your way around the World and saving the TSM credit to put towards a Signature Dining event. When I read how one can get up to $100 - $200 +, I though WOW, that is certainly a lot of food ... but then realized that even though we don't drink Wine, that must be what others are spending $$ on -

 

[LilyWDW]

You CAN use your KTTW to purchase items at the kiosk, however, you CAN NOT use the KTTW to purchase the actual wrist credit card. The only reason we did not use the KTTW card at each booth was so that I could keep track of our spending and not go overboard.

Yes, I used it at each kiosk. I was just stating that it wasn't a hassle at all.

I also WAY over budget to every trip so I am never too worried about the spending. I think I budgeted one of every item and one drink at every kiosk plus I still kept in the daily amounts for snacks and drinks... and then I round everything up! I'm terrified of the idea of not having enough money to do whatever we want... so I always bring too much. It really is a bit funny!

 

[LilyWDW]

Looks like a don't miss event with all the postiive reviews here!

I like the idea of the wrist cards and dining your way around the World and saving the TSM credit to put towards a Signature Dining event. When I read how one can get up to $100 - $200 +, I though WOW, that is certainly a lot of food ... but then realized that even though we don't drink Wine, that must be what others are spending $$ on -

Actually, it's not that hard to spend a lot of money there. Last year, there were 29 Food and Wine Kiosks. Of those, only 3 did not sell food (Fife and Drum, Brewer's Collection, and Craft Beer). Each spot that DID sell food averaged 3-4 offerings so lets say 3. Each of those was between $2-$7, so lets say $3 again.

So, even with staying on the LOW end and not adding any booze, you have 26 booths with food with about 3 offerings at about $3 each. If you got one of each item, you are looking at 78 items at $3... or $234.

Now, you might say that you don't try some of the items. That is true... but even with 2 items per booth you are at $156.

And that is with NO wine or other alcohol.

 

[Fºoºz]

Actually, it's not that hard to spend a lot of money there. Last year, there were 29 Food and Wine Kiosks. Of those, only 3 did not sell food (Fife and Drum, Brewer's Collection, and Craft Beer). Each spot that DID sell food averaged 3-4 offerings so lets say 3. Each of those was between $2-$7, so lets say $3 again.

So, even with staying on the LOW end and not adding any booze, you have 26 booths with food with about 3 offerings at about $3 each. If you got one of each item, you are looking at 78 items at $3... or $234.

Now, you might say that you don't try some of the items. That is true... but even with 2 items per booth you are at $156.

And that is with NO wine or other alcohol.

That is a LOT of kiosks ... I can see now why you would need more than one day there ... we'll be there on opening day so plan on having a light breakfast and then dine our way through Epcot for the afternoon and then head somewhere else for dinner to avoid what will likely be huge crowds Fri night!

 

[LilyWDW]

That is a LOT of kiosks ... I can see now why you would need more than one day there ... we'll be there on opening day so plan on having a light breakfast and then dine our way through Epcot for the afternoon and then head somewhere else for dinner to avoid what will likely be huge crowds Fri night!

We had one full day there last year (well, 2 half days due to dining reservations) and we didn't even get half way through. We are going back in October 2013 and are planning for 2.5 days (mom really wants to eat at Via Napoli again). We hope this will be enough time.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't know why you wouldn't just use a credit card for everything.

Because having a gift card on a wristband is easier than pulling your credit card out every time you want to buy a taste, and no approval or signature is required. If you're into budgeting, a gift card can also assist with that - load a particular amount, and then you won't be going over that if you can resist the temptation to reload the card.

You can't use your KTTW to load the gift cards. You also can't transfer the balance of a Disney gift card to another Disney gift card. There are no tickets, no vouchers and no "pay one price" arrangement for the World Showcase tastings, you pay as you go for each taste.

Most festival guests do only the booths, but there is much more available. The Festival Center has culinary and beverage demonstrations, some featuring celebrity chefs (there is a charge of $9-13 based on last year's prices.) The restaurants also host special food/wine pairings and dinners, these range in price from about $60 for a tequila tasting to $495 per person for the Victoria & Albert's special wine dinner. The events must be booked ahead and are not refundable.

If you don't drink wine, you won't get a reduced price on the events that include wine. You don't have to drink the wine but you will still be paying for it.

Someone figured out last year that it would cost about $780 to try every item at every booth.

 

[cruisingkat]

Actually, it's not that hard to spend a lot of money there. Last year, there were 29 Food and Wine Kiosks. Of those, only 3 did not sell food (Fife and Drum, Brewer's Collection, and Craft Beer). Each spot that DID sell food averaged 3-4 offerings so lets say 3. Each of those was between $2-$7, so lets say $3 again.

So, even with staying on the LOW end and not adding any booze, you have 26 booths with food with about 3 offerings at about $3 each. If you got one of each item, you are looking at 78 items at $3... or $234.

Now, you might say that you don't try some of the items. That is true... but even with 2 items per booth you are at $156.

And that is with NO wine or other alcohol.

We got one of each food item offered at each booth - that alone ran us over $300 not including any drinks. Looking at my receipts, the average price was closer to $4.

 

[Fºoºz]

We had one full day there last year (well, 2 half days due to dining reservations) and we didn't even get half way through. We are going back in October 2013 and are planning for 2.5 days (mom really wants to eat at Via Napoli again). We hope this will be enough time.

Via Napoli seems to have quite a following ... will have to check it out ...

....

Most festival guests do only the booths, but there is much more available. The Festival Center has culinary and beverage demonstrations, some featuring celebrity chefs (there is a charge of $9-13 based on last year's prices.) The restaurants also host special food/wine pairings and dinners, these range in price from about $60 for a tequila tasting to $495 per person for the Victoria & Albert's special wine dinner. The events must be booked ahead and are not refundable.

...

I can see how huge an event this is ... hope they have the schedule printed out ahead of time so I can plan around this and check out the Festival Center