First stay during F&WF

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

We're taking a short trip at Halloween, which will be our first trip during F&WF. I printed out the phamplet (aka book!) for the festival and our eyes both went . There's so much going on! Aside from our MNSSHP evening, it looks like we'll be spending most of our 2 1/2 park days in Epcot.

I need some advice on ADRs. My first impression is that with so many F&WF booths to check out, we won't necessarily want to sit down for many (any?) formal meals.

On the other hand, free dining is still going on. If it turns out we do wind up wanting a sit down meal, I don't want to be out of luck getting in somewhere.

What do you think? Do I need to make some ADRs, or will we be happy walking around gathering countless sampler plates at $3 - $5 each? What do others do?

Also, has anyone done the Sweet Sundays event? This is the only F&WF special event that remotely fits our schedule. It seems a bit pricey at $80 per person. Is it worth it? I'm not sure the timing will work out for us, as we have a 3:45 flight. That means our DME bus from SSR will probably be scheduled around 12:30. The event is from 10:00 - 12:00.

 

[disneybride96]

This is our first visit during F&WF too. Initially, we were not even going to do the parks on this visit, but then realized we hit the first week of food and wine!

Here is what we did. We are staying at SSR on our developer points, so I made ADR's at some the Downtown Disney Restraurants that we miss because they are not on the Dining plan. (HOB, Fultons etc.) If we get the lazys and don't make it to EPCOT, we have a ADR close by. If we eat and drink our way around the world, we will cancel the ressies!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I've never had the patience to wait in line enough of times to satisfy my hunger during F&W. I try some things...maybe it would work for a lunch, but I prefer to sit down and eat dinner. I think booking DTD restaurants is a great idea! We were going to try a Sweet Sunday, but the price scared us, so we passed. This time next week, we'll be in WDW...looking forward most to the MNSSHP.

Bobbi

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Well, since I've been raving about the Turf Club in another thread, I'll go ahead and make a reservation there. (We're staying at SSR.) I've also been talking up the Wave, so maybe we can do a late lunch/early dinner there on our MNSSHP night. As previously suggested, I can always cancel them if we're not hungry.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

Our first 2 trips during F&W we were on the dining plan and I never felt hungry enough to try much of anything so this year (8 days and counting) we are not doing the dining plan. I did schedule 1 meal each day, usually an early lunch so we should be able to munch away this time.

 

[benthr]

This will be our 4th year. You can get filled stopping at all the booths. Honestly we have never waited in a long line maybe 4min max. We go every year in October the 3rd week. We do get breakfast every morning at the BCV grocery take out. Eggs and Crossiant.
This year we are making reservations for dinner every night just to get an actual sit down meal, too feel full. LOLOL!
The Food & Wine food list is out.
Any other questions??

 

[evaready51]

We're taking a short trip at Halloween, which will be our first trip during F&WF. I printed out the phamplet (aka book!) for the festival and our eyes both went . There's so much going on! Aside from our MNSSHP evening, it looks like we'll be spending most of our 2 1/2 park days in Epcot.

I need some advice on ADRs. My first impression is that with so many F&WF booths to check out, we won't necessarily want to sit down for many (any?) formal meals.

On the other hand, free dining is still going on. If it turns out we do wind up wanting a sit down meal, I don't want to be out of luck getting in somewhere.

What do you think? Do I need to make some ADRs, or will we be happy walking around gathering countless sampler plates at $3 - $5 each? What do others do?

Also, has anyone done the Sweet Sundays event? This is the only F&WF special event that remotely fits our schedule. It seems a bit pricey at $80 per person. Is it worth it? I'm not sure the timing will work out for us, as we have a 3:45 flight. That means our DME bus from SSR will probably be scheduled around 12:30. The event is from 10:00 - 12:00.

This is our 3rd year at the F & W...the last 2x's we had the Dining Plan...not this time...by the time you start eating Around the World we were full. JMHO

 

[Figment2]

We've done several Sweet Sundays and who the chef is will make it or break it. Last year we did two. Loved one, hated one. If you are there when BAKED (a NY bakery) is there, you will love, love, love it. This is the second year we will have missed them by one week but still keep in contact with them.

We usually plan at least two graze days where we'll either graze around the world for lunch, dinner or both.

Enjoy!

Cyn

 

[CoolDisneyCat]

This will be our first trip during F&W! We are getting more excited by the day.

We have ADRs for lunch the 2 days we are going to be in Epcot.. but dinner will be munching!

 

[photobob]

Please send reports, I'm going next year. Never been and really wish i was going this year!

 

[tonypal251]

We've done several Sweet Sundays and who the chef is will make it or break it. Last year we did two. Loved one, hated one. If you are there when BAKED (a NY bakery) is there, you will love, love, love it. This is the second year we will have missed them by one week but still keep in contact with them.

We usually plan at least two graze days where we'll either graze around the world for lunch, dinner or both.

Enjoy!

Cyn

Would you please explain to me what "Sweet Sunday" is? I live about 10 minutes from BAKED and had their cupcakes once. They were good, but expensive, even for New York. Thanks.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Would you please explain to me what "Sweet Sunday" is? I live about 10 minutes from BAKED and had their cupcakes once. They were good, but expensive, even for New York. Thanks.

Sweet Sundays is one of the specialty events at the Food and Wine Festival. It starts with a brunch buffet and champagne, then a famous pastry chef (different chef each session) demonstrates the preparation of three of his/her signature desserts. Then you get to dig into them. The cost is $80 per person. More information is available here on the WDWInfo web site... 2009 F&WF Info.

 

[Silver Queen]

We'll be down there in October an our plan is to "graze around the world" for lunch and have our dinner sat TS restaurants. (We have ADRs.) It's our first time for Food & Wine and we're really excited.

 

[wildernessDad]

We'll be on the Dining Plan for our October stay, but I was thinking about switching it to TIW. We'll see.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We had a much better time grazing around the World Showcase this year, and I think it was because we had a plan. We did check out the offerings on the map and did make notes on the ones we thought we would try. We didn't stick with the notes exactly, but it did help. The lines were not that bad on Sunday. My favorite offerings were the crab cake in America and the Fisherman's pie in Ireland. The pretzel bread and cheese dip was great in the Beer place. DH tried the Grand Marnier dessert in the "Champane" place, it was delicious, as was the Bailey's lava dessert in Ireland.

Bobbi

 

[eporter66]

Everyone is different, but this will be our 5th time going during the F&W Fest and I think it is great.

On the day we go to EPCOT, I just plan on sampling my way around the world and it is a blast. I dont think the lines are bad at all (unless you go on a weekend). Some booths are more popular than others. It can get expensive as the portions are like a small appetizer, and can run anywhere from $3-$5 bucks per item. But, I find that I get filled up rather nicely. Also, I like to grab a beer or two at the Sam Adams booth, and we often enjoy a Margherita (sorry for the spelling) in Mexico. It ends up being a fairly expensive day, but it's once a year, and I enjoy all the different foods - so I think it is worth splurging on our vacation. I dont care to have a sit down meal every night anyway - so as we spend a day in the park, if I get a little hungry I can find many things to try

Personal Favs :
Italy - Pizza
Argentina - Empenada
Mexico - Everything
Canada - Cheddar Cheese Soup
But we have tried so many different things, and for the most part all have been very tasty!

We dont usually eat dinner on that day as we have picked throughout the day. We also have a one bedroom, so we do have some groceries, so if we get back and are a little hungry I can make a sandwich or something.

Enjoy - it is a great event

 

[Ms. WDW]

We had a much better time grazing around the World Showcase this year, and I think it was because we had a plan. We did check out the offerings on the map and did make notes on the ones we thought we would try. We didn't stick with the notes exactly, but it did help. The lines were not that bad on Sunday. My favorite offerings were the crab cake in America and the Fisherman's pie in Ireland. The pretzel bread and cheese dip was great in the Beer place. DH tried the Grand Marnier dessert in the "Champane" place, it was delicious, as was the Bailey's lava dessert in Ireland.

Bobbi

OMG you've made me hungry and it's only 8 am!!! I'll be there next week and thanks to you I know some of the booths I'll be stopping at!!