Food and Wine Festival 2011 -- First Time Help!

[BerrysGirl]

So I've been to Disney many many times but I've never been to the Food and Wine Festival. I've been reading up on it and it's definitely something I want to try -- and I'll be there for the opening weekend this year.

I'm looking for some tips and tricks from the veterans.

What's your favorite part? What's a can't miss?
Would you recommend going on opening day (Sept 30) or should I wait for later on that weekend? I stay until the Oct 3.

Thanks in advanced!

 

[TXMemaw]

We love the Food and Wine Festival. You'll enjoy it if you like to try different foods and drinks.

I would go on the opening day and that way you could go back if you find there was just too much for you to try before you got full. Also, if you go on the weekend, plan to be there by 11 am when the WS opens and all the booths open up. This is a very popular event for locals and weekends especially can get really crowded, so the earlier you are there, the better.

If you are on the Dining Plan, they have let you use snack credits to purchase food at the booths in previous years. While we won't know if this is true this year until they release the Festival information, it's a great way to use those credits if you have them.

 

[deej696]

Being fairly local and attending multiple times a year, I can tell you that the weekends are quite busy. I believe it starts on a Friday this year, and if given the choice I'd say that's the better option crowd wise compared to Saturday, even if it is first day. As for whats good...well, all of it My advice is to pace yourself, as there is quite a bit of food. We usually get started in the afternoon, take a nap around 4pm, and then head out for round two in the evening

 

[miztressuz]

We split a tasting between the two of us - this way we can taste everything and we get farther in one 'sitting'

My other advice is to check out the size of the portions before ordering if you are value conscience. Our 'never-do-again' is the kielbasa and perogie from the Poland booth. It was 2 small slices of kielbasa and 2 store bought perogie for I think about $4. For us, not a value. But one of the South America booths from last year had an empanada the size of half the plate for less than $3 which was filling and the perfect snack size for 2 of us.

We also found last year they did a soft open the day before the official day. We were pleasantly surprised the carts were open but this was the first time we were even there in the opening week so I don't know if they do this all the time. I would think so to work out the bugs. So if you wanted to try it out before the weekend crowd and not feel like you have to do it all in one day, you could risk going on Thurs if you had park hoppers.

 

[Redheaded Sunshine]

LOVE LOVE LOVE F&W. I can't wait to go again this year.

My best advice is to be adventurous. I made a promise to myself that I wanted to try something from every booth, unless it was something I truly hated (like fish). There were things I NEVER thought I would eat and loved (Coconut chicken thai soup) and things I couldn't wait to try and HATED (Kerry gold cheese plate we still laugh about that one). Granted I didn't even come close to making it all the way around the World Showcase, I had fun trying.

Tip #2...we had only one night to experience F&W and made the mistake of making dinner ressies at Teppan Edo. We waited 2 1/2 hours and nearly didn't get seated! In retrospect, we should've just given it up and gone to more booths! So I would advise NOT having dinner ressies.

Also, we did what the PP said and shared portions. If it was something we really liked (Cheddar cheese soup anyone?), you can always get another one. Here's hoping they'll let us use snack credits again! First dining plan when I didn't go home with a suitcase full of disney snacks that we didn't use!

 

[Mozart]

We did a DCL cruise in September 2007 and went to EPCOT the day before the Food and Wine Festival started. Much to our delight, they had a soft opening that day and all the booths were up and running by about 12:00. Because it wasn't expected, crowds were virtually nil and there were no lines at all at any of the booths. If it fits into your plans, plan on going to EPCOT the day before F&W begins, and you'll probably get a little surprise.

 

[Hopefully]

We love the F & W festival and we go every year.
We enjoy "noshing around the world" and the food booths. We share the food samplings and enjoy the beer and wine as well.
There are many extra admission events as well, so keep your eyes open for the schedule to be posted. You can see what interests you durning your stay.
We have fun, even if we don't do any of the extra events.

 

[Niki in NJ]

We loved the wine and food festival!!
We ate (or at least tried to eat) something at every country at the kiosks. Definitely share and pace yourself. There are so many yummy things to eat and drink!

 

[KCSherri]

I went last year for the first time, and loved it so much, I've booked my trip already for this year. Here are my best tips:

1. Avoid the weekend, if possible. When people say it gets crowded on the weekend, they are NOT KIDDING! I went on a Thursday - and crowds were manageable. I went back on Saturday - WOW! Couldn't even walk through.

2. DON'T eat at the restaurants or counter services if you truly want to experience the food in the kiosks. I had to go back 2-3 days just to try everything, as I got so full from all of the food!

3. Pace yourself. Eat...drink...walk...eat...drink...walk...if you try to rush it, you'll be miserable.

4. Google for F&W Food reviews...not sure if it was AllEars - but somewhere last year, I found readers' reviews of the different food offerings at all of the booths. I used the ratings system to create a "cheat sheet" - so I would know what I definitely had to try.

5. If you don't want to mess with paying cash for everything - buy a F&W Gift Card - wear it on your wrist - and all you have to do is swipe. Saves a lot of time and hassle.

6. Check into the special events they have going on - classes, demonstrations, tastings, etc. Lots of fun - but they can fill up fast!

 

[jonurse]

I went last year for the first time, and loved it so much, I've booked my trip already for this year. Here are my best tips:

1. Avoid the weekend, if possible. When people say it gets crowded on the weekend, they are NOT KIDDING! I went on a Thursday - and crowds were manageable. I went back on Saturday - WOW! Couldn't even walk through.

2. DON'T eat at the restaurants or counter services if you truly want to experience the food in the kiosks. I had to go back 2-3 days just to try everything, as I got so full from all of the food!

3. Pace yourself. Eat...drink...walk...eat...drink...walk...if you try to rush it, you'll be miserable.

4. Google for F&W Food reviews...not sure if it was AllEars - but somewhere last year, I found readers' reviews of the different food offerings at all of the booths. I used the ratings system to create a "cheat sheet" - so I would know what I definitely had to try.

5. If you don't want to mess with paying cash for everything - buy a F&W Gift Card - wear it on your wrist - and all you have to do is swipe. Saves a lot of time and hassle.

6. Check into the special events they have going on - classes, demonstrations, tastings, etc. Lots of fun - but they can fill up fast!

Where do you get the F&W wristbands? Can you purchase them before leaving from home??

 

[Bonniec]

Awesome tips!

 

[Kay1]

Avoid weekends and rainy days, keep your hands free as you'll need them to eat and walk, and have a wonderful time.

 

[DisneyNoob13]

Good tips all...unfortunately, the only day I'll be there is the last day of F&W. I'm already preparing to stand in lots of lines!

 

[TDC Nala]

For the person who wanted to go the first weekend: Go on Friday, but get there early - when they first open the World Showcase. In the evening it will get crowded. Avoid Saturday if at all possible - unless it rains. I don't agree with avoiding rainy days. It's not nearly as pleasant as a sunny day, but that's when you'll find no lines for the booths. If there's a strong storm they will shut the booths down, though. Sunday the 2nd might be more crowded than other Sundays because it's the first weekend, but it will be better than Saturday.

Our 'never-do-again' is the kielbasa and perogie from the Poland booth.

I had these several years ago, they were fine. Got them two years ago and they were horrid. Worst thing I ate at the festival. I haven't tried them since. I didn't really care about the amount on the plate, but they were cold and the sour cream accompanying them tasted off.

Where do you get the F&W wristbands? Can you purchase them before leaving from home??

No. You can only get them at Epcot.

 

[redzinner]

1. Avoid the weekend, if possible. When people say it gets crowded on the weekend, they are NOT KIDDING! I went on a Thursday - and crowds were manageable. I went back on Saturday - WOW! Couldn't even walk through.

We are NOT KIDDING! A Saturday in October 2009. It's only gotten worse, year by year.



A previous poster mentioned low crowds for soft opening day in 2007. That is no longer the case since word has spread about the booths being open. The World Showcase starts to fill up every night about 6:30 with people coming over for noshing and fireworks.

If you are on a budget be aware it is an expensive way to dine, with individual items costing anywhere from $3 to $8 dollars. It's fun though and we haven't skipped a festival in 11 years. We have seen/tasted the best, the good and the worst and we keep coming back. Crowds or no crowds. You just need to be prepared.

 

[BerrysGirl]

bump for anymore good tips thanks so much guys. keep them coming!

 

[minniebeth]

I love the idea of the wristband/giftcard. Where do you go to get one? Is it rechargable/reloadable? If you don't use all the credit on there, can you use it anywhere else just like a regular Disney gift card or does it have to be used at Epcot? Thanks!

 

[MMluvsWDW]

I have fallen in love with Disney Food & Wine.

My tips would include:
1. Share as much as possible
2. Skip meals on the days you're going to tour Epcot
3. Look over the menus and events time and time and time again
4. Use an application for your smart phone rather than carry all the paper
5. Take in one of the beverage or culinary events
6. Take your time!!!

 

[boufa]

I love the idea of the wristband/giftcard. Where do you go to get one? Is it rechargable/reloadable? If you don't use all the credit on there, can you use it anywhere else just like a regular Disney gift card or does it have to be used at Epcot? Thanks!

I believe that it is a standard gift card in an non-standard format. So yes, the value is usable anywhere you can use a disney gift card.