F&W festival - tell me about the free seminars/demos/etc?

[ncbyrne]

Is there a way to know in advance what's being offered each day?

 

[staylor]

Yes, I am dying to hear about the seminars too. Please someone, let us know.
Staci

 

[Ted and Holly]

The free wine tasting and food demonstrations are listed in the Festival Guide. The actual food that is being prepared is listed each day on signs near the Odyssey. One sign near the Coke "sutff" near test Track, and another near the bridge to the Odyssey from the Fountain area, across from the DVC/ATM area.

Some of the more well known presenters will draw a crowd, so be prepared to wait in line. I suspect Andrea Robinson (Immer) will draw a crowd to her wine tasting tomorow, and of course Paula Dean will likely have a line for two hours before her two shows later in the Festival.

Jon Ashton, the Mad Chef is not presenting this year. Otherwise I'd highly recommend one of his famous Saturday night shows.

Ted

P.S. - Update. Holly is there right now. The lines today are very long (for the food demos). I expetced that this would be the case on weekends. The Food and Wine Festival draws Florida residents from all over.

 

[MMPC123]

If I do wait in line the 2 hours to see Paula or another popular chef, can my 2yr old and 8yr old watch too? Does it stay rated PG? Is there an emergency exit for when my 2 yr old has had enough? (notice I didn't say "if" )

I can't wait to see for myself in less than 2 days but would love any advance info!!!
thanks

 

[Ted and Holly]

If I do wait in line the 2 hours to see Paula or another popular chef, can my 2yr old and 8yr old watch too? Does it stay rated PG? Is there an emergency exit for when my 2 yr old has had enough? (notice I didn't say "if" )

I can't wait to see for myself in less than 2 days but would love any advance info!!!
thanks

Of course! it is Disney so it stays very PG. Last year Paula gave her apron to a young girl in the audience (you will see this girl and her mom at pretty much every demo). The demos last around 45 minutes. Paula will probably go an hour. Jon Ashton had the last demo of the night and he went an hour and a half or more. But again, sadly, this will not be happening this year.

if you sit towards the back, you will still be able to see, but you will have an easy escape route. Luckily, they are pretty informal, so even if you were up front and you had to leave, you'd just go.

Some people will leave a demo early to get in line for the next.

Ted

 

[crazy4wdw]

You can access the daily schedule for the 2005 Epcot Food & Wine Festival here (pdf format):

Epcot F & W Festival Guide

 

[Ted and Holly]

Another quick thought. The place where you line up is outside, uncovered and can be quite hot. Direct sunlight pretty much all day. Luckily, you can leave the line if you leave someone to place hold. Paula Dean's line will be more strict as the CMs need an accurate count to make sure they know who in line will "fit" in the place. So, place holding and such is discouraged (was last year anyway).

Ted

 

[betterlatethannever]

It looks like this year the wine seminars will only be at the Welcome Center. But it looks like there will be two spots - the Cellar, and the Vineyard.

I am assuming the one location is the same place it was last year, but I am having a hard time visualizing where the second one would be. Did they just cut the spot it was held last year in half?

Ed

 

[crazy4wdw]

bumping up

 

[Ted and Holly]

It looks like this year the wine seminars will only be at the Welcome Center. But it looks like there will be two spots - the Cellar, and the Vineyard.

I am assuming the one location is the same place it was last year, but I am having a hard time visualizing where the second one would be. Did they just cut the spot it was held last year in half?

Ed

The Welcome Center is in the same place as last year. the venues are set up one of either side of the Fountainview cafe. There are actually queues set up outside, so you don't fill up the welcome center waiting for a seminar.

Ted

 

[JustHolly]

"The Cellar" is the venue in the front, where the wine-tasting was held last year.

"The Vineyard" is in the back of the building, on the side that looks toward World Showcase.... like around the corner from Ice Station Cool.

 

[betterlatethannever]

The Welcome Center is in the same place as last year. the venues are set up one of either side of the Fountainview cafe. There are actually queues set up outside, so you don't fill up the welcome center waiting for a seminar.

Ted

Too bad the queues are set up outside. It was so nice waiting inside with the AC.


Ed