Epcot - International Food & Wine Festival

[In Luv with Disney]

Hi, all! We are going to be in the World 10/16-10/24. This is my FIRST time there during the Food and Wine Festival, and MNSSHP!!!! Obviously I am very excited!

I have a question. For those of you who have gone to the Food & Wine Festival,

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT IT?
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO EXPERIENCING?
WHAT IS THERE FOR KIDS TO DO?

Any and all info you can give me is GREATLY appreciated!!!

 

[TDC Nala]

I like being able to wander around Epcot and sample food and drinks, although I'm no longer really impressed with the food booths, they generally have the same ones every year. I have some favorites, though. Last year I was very into the beef stroganoff.

I'm really looking forward to the free cooking seminars and wine tasting seminars.

I don't have kids and have not looked for kids' things. There is a list on allears.net in their F&W section of the special events for kids. It looks like your baby is very young and these events are pretty much educational and geared more for older kids.

 

[FanofG00fy]

Hi, all! We are going to be in the World 10/16-10/24. This is my FIRST time there during the Food and Wine Festival, and MNSSHP!!!! Obviously I am very excited!

I have a question. For those of you who have gone to the Food & Wine Festival,

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT IT?
Generic answer. Everything about it! To narrow it down, trying the different foods for a really good price.
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO EXPERIENCING?
There are going to be several different countries there this year. I am looking forward to trying those out.
WHAT IS THERE FOR KIDS TO DO? I'm sorry to say, I too have no children, so I really don't know.

Any and all info you can give me is GREATLY appreciated!!!

Go to the allearsnet website, go to dining, scroll down and on the list on the right side of the Screen you will see "Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival". Click on it and ta-da! About a week after the F&WF starts, the menu's too the kiosks are on there too. Hope this Helps!!!! Chris

 

[Rpsemont]

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT IT?

Besides everthing! - PArty for the senses! It's the highlight of my year!

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FORWARD TO EXPERIENCING?

Every year, I try to do do a couple more wine seminars. There's one called pairing food and wine that has alluded me so far, but maybe this year they'll have it when we're there. Also, the food and wine pairing are always very intimate and special.

WHAT IS THERE FOR KIDS TO DO?

Follow the others advise and check out deb's site. They usually plan a couple things, but it depends on the ages of the kids. Personally, we've found it gives DD a chance to try new foods too. She's now added escargot to her menu of favorite things - not sure if that's good or bad - LOL! Last year there was one or two cooking demonstrations for kids. For the under 10 crowd that enjoys art, they'll just love being able to spend more time at the kidcot stations while you sample the food and wine.

 

[ReggieB]

The opportunity to sample so much food!!! I love the lamb chops in Australia, yum yum. I agree that the beef stroganoff is very good. The food at each stand is pretty much the same each year, but they do add new booths too, so there is always something new to try.

My family really enjoys it, including DS5. He gets to take it easy as we stroll around, after being run ragged around the other parks. We stop frequently at some very nice benches with great views and sample our beer/wine and food. We find it all extremely relaxing, my son is usually happy to just play with a toy car along the walls or bench (we are so lucky that he will do that) He'll try some of the food, or we can get him an ice cream. We always promise him a look at the toy shop in Germany (we also have a long pit stop at the outdoor train set in Germany, Daddy is usually seen with large stein and bratwurst), and the department store in Japan (great wind up toys and sweeties!) Disney have put in a bunch of things to entertain kids (that are there year round) They have areas in each country where they can do a craft (you make a mask and add to it in each country) There is the passport sticker book you can purchase and then get stamped as you go to each country. There is loads of street entertainment, which is excellent. There are also characters to be seen too. Plus just for the Food and Wine they do add some other kid friendly activities.

So in conclusion (!!) we find it really relaxing (no really!!!!) Having said that what's the betting that DS will be #1 pain this time!!!!

 

[blueangel]

Weird question - my mom hates drinking wine out of plastic cups. Hates plastic in general, really...so my question is, is the wine served in hard plastic type cups (such as New Year's Eve disposable chapagne flutes) or something else? I'm thinking of getting her a mickey wine glass from DTD that another poster mentioned to bring with her if its a softer plastic.

 

[ReggieB]

I am afraid it's those hard clear plastic things. You will be pleased to know that they do some very nice festival souvenir glasses (real glass), perhaps you could get Mom one of those.

 

[Amyality]

Weird question - my mom hates drinking wine out of plastic cups. Hates plastic in general, really...so my question is, is the wine served in hard plastic type cups (such as New Year's Eve disposable chapagne flutes) or something else? I'm thinking of getting her a mickey wine glass from DTD that another poster mentioned to bring with her if its a softer plastic.

Yes, hard plastic. You should get her something that can be clipped to a belt loop. My husband and I have leather mugs - yes, leather,it is deep fried so its hard - we bring to local festivals (not food and wine). Then there are thes little leather loops with snaps we have that we use to clip the mugs to our belt loops. maybe you could come up with something similar, maybe a light glass mug with a handle. then clip it to a belt loop for when its not in use. Or a glass flute with a ribbon tightly tied to the stem. When not in use it could be tied to a belt loop. I dunno. I don't really carry any bags around the parks but, she could just slip something into her purse. May want to wrap it in a light cloth like a bandana incase it is crushed in the purse/backpacke.

 

[TDC Nala]

Disney doesn't allow glass receptacles to be carried around the park. Your mom would probably be out of luck unless she was at an indoor venue or could come up with something that wasn't made of glass.

Or, take her to the free wine seminars, they always serve their wine tastings in glasses.

 

[Priorityonecb]

Silly question...is there an extra charge for just the sampling part of the event? I think we may be there during this time frame next October.

 

[blueangel]

Thanks! I didn't mean to thread hijack, but it seemed people here knew what was going on. The hard plastic will work, but I will probably get her some of the festival glasses as a souvenir.
You rock!

 

[henrylovespooh]

Priority One --

If you're talking about the food, there are booths around the World Showcase with food from various countries, even those without pavillions. You have to pay for all the food and wine at these booths. Sampling your way around the World can get expensive. I don't know if the wine tasting seminars have a charge, but someone else can hopefully answer that.

 

[eeyore45]

I'm jealous - you're going at the same time as MrDisney!! There is a thread he started at the resteraunt board about meeting about and tasting "around the world"!!!

Go ahead and read about the F&W at allearsnet.com - (sesarch Food and wine festival) they have menus from last years event... I'm jealous, but at least I get to go!!

 

[Rpsemont]

...is there an extra charge for just the sampling part of the event?

The cooking demonstrations and wine seminars are free. Usually all they cost is some time, since you have to usually get in line to get in. (more time on weekends, less time during the week) In the wine seminars, you really do get just a taste - probably 1-2 oz of 4-5 wines. In the end, it might net the equivalent of a small glass of wine.
The samples in the food booths vary in price from $2-$5 generally. Probably $3-4 for a 4 oz glass of wine.

It is extremely easy to overspend AND overeat. LOL!

For me the fun part is trying new things. While many things come back year after year. They always have some new ones. Plus for those favorites, like the Canadian cheddar cheese soup, it allows you satisfy the craving for a few dollars, rather than eating in Le Cellier for a whole meal - not that I don't enjoy Le Cellier!

 

[In Luv with Disney]

Guys, THANKS for all of this great info! It is my first Food and Wine Festival and I can't wait to go!

I have a 3 1/2 month old daughter (who will be nearly 5 months old when we go) and I also have a son who will be turning 4 three days before our trip! It is also my 33rd (ugh!) birthday while we are there. So we will be celebrating my DS's bday and my birthday, too! I have never done this at WDW, either!!!!!