Food and Wine Festival 2016

[autkidd]

We are a group of 3 couples scheduled to go to DW the last weekend of September. We are looking at accomplishing two bucket list items; MNSSHP and Food and Wine Festival.

I'm trying to plan for the food and wine festival and get some ideas.

-We all will have the DP with 7 days on it. I've read to utilize your snacks at the festival. To get a really good sampling will that amount of snacks be enough? (I don't drink and neither does my wife so we won't use any snack credits for alcohol, but the other 2 couples do a little bit) If it isn't enough, what kind of money should we budget for this?

-What would be the best time of week and time of day to go and do this? We want the lightest of crowds possible.

-I've seen some other activities involved with this like special meals and such. What are some of those that you have done in that past that you have really enjoyed?

-Any other helpful information you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

 

[strat68]

To get a really good sampling you may need more snack credits. Between the 2 of you that's 14 items. Each serving is pretty small. I'm assuming you can use all snack credits on the same day. But I don't know for sure. To get an idea visit EasyWDW and find the Food and Wine reviews. Josh usually has a photo of everything.
I'm not even sure that all food at each kiosk is eligible for DP snack credits. I'm pretty sure alcohol in any form is not. All drinks are more expensive than any snack.

The best time to go is NOT on a weekend and during the daytime, not evenings.

 

[KNovacovschi]

You can definitely use your snack credits in one day, we do every time, the problem is that you won't receive enough for everything. You will receive 7 credits per person. What we do is use all our credits and purchase a wrist gift card so I don't have to worry about carrying cash. If only one of you plan to eat, which I don't think you do, then 14 credits may be enough. I would definitely go expecting to pay out of pocket if you want more then 7 items. It is totally worth it though, that I can guarantee. alcohol is definitely not covered. In regards to the time to go I would go during the week,not the weekend.

 

[autkidd]

Thanks.

KNovacovschi- you mentioned the wrist gift card. What is this? Is it separate from the Magic Band?

 

[ktlm]

This will give you an idea of the food items and prices. This is the menu list from last year- if you click on the countries, you can see the prices:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/FWmenus.htm

If you have to go on the weekend, the best thing you can do is to go to WS right when it opens at 11:00 a.m. and start eating at the F&W booths. It gets crowded quickly on the weekends. We have stayed in the EPCOT area the last 2 years and have been in and out of WS over the weekends. Saturday is typically insane. Sunday is better, but still crowded. If you can swing a weekday, that is absolutely best- but if it has to be a weekend, then go early. F&W is typically less crowded at lunchtime than the evening. We tend to go right at 11, even during the week and eat until we can't eat anymore. Then, instead of going back at dinner time, we do an ADR inside an EPCOT restaurant, so we are inside enjoying a nice leisurely dinner while WS is crowded and the booth lines are long.

 

[purple figment]

The menus that ktlm linked are included in this F&W overview that has a lot of info on last year's festival and will give you an idea of what to expect. If you scroll down the page, just above the F&W maps is a photo of someone holding the F&W gift card. It is just like any other Disney gift card, but smaller and most years had a spiral band to wear around your wrist.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/index.htm

Another good resource for F&W is the Disney Food blog which has extensive information on the event every year:
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/food-and-wine-festivals/

There has been a dedicated F&W thread over on the Restaurants board so hopefully there will be one this year once more information is released.

The offerings are sampler/small plates sized. Our family of 3 adults will share the items so it's about 1 or 2 bites per person per item. In the past you were able to use snack credits for any non-alcoholic items so use them for the more expensive things. Last year dining plan users were also able to use Quick Service credits at the food booths, but when using the QS credits all 3 items had to come from the same booth. When Flower and Garden opens next week we will find out if there are any changes.

We've been to the Party for the Senses, the 3-D Dessert Party, and the Parisian Breakfast. While alcohol was available at all three events, no one in our family drinks, but the food and atmosphere were well worth the price so we are hoping to do them again. We have also attended some of the less expensive chef's demonstrations and the quality and enjoyment varies depending on the chef and what is being prepared.

As far as when to go we found the it least crowded on weekdays as soon as it opened at 11 AM. We typically tried the booths for lunch. Busiest and most crowded would be on Friday night and Saturday when many locals come.

 

[loves to dive]

I've been the last 2 years, love it. I don't do the dining plan so can't help you with that but I can tell you I was there 5 days last year and the only meals I ate outside of sampling booths were tea at the GF, a food and wine pairing meal at Spice Roads and QS breakfasts. They have cooking demos at the festival center, given by the chefs at WDW, you get a sample of what they cook paired with the festival wine. I had one of those every day I was there. They only tell you what the protein is when you sign up, I think they were $10 each but I have an AP so I got a discount during the week. They also have wine tastings at the festival center, same price and you taste 3 wines. You can sign up in advance pretty close to when the festival starts or you can just drop by the festival center and grab some tickets. The food and wine pairing meals tend to book up fast, those can run anywhere from $50 to $100 each person. I buy the gift card with the wrist band since it's just easier to hold up my arm for them to scan then to dig around for money. Last year I put $200 on it and spent all of it but some was a some non food booths and mouse gears.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Thanks.

KNovacovschi- you mentioned the wrist gift card. What is this? Is it separate from the Magic Band?

This was last years, it was the 20th anniversary. They are great and so much better then carrying cash and if you don't use it all at the festival you can use it anywhere in Disney.

 

[KangaFan]

You'll definitely want to preview the menus and be strategic with your snack credits--use them for the most expensive snack-credit eligible items and pay cash for the less expensive. Enjoy!

 

[Bunch0rz5]

Following

 

[kplatt]

Is the F&W Festival open 7 days every week?

 

[tinkerbell1967]

Is the F&W Festival open 7 days every week?

Yes from September 14 to November 14. Weekends are the busiest

 

[mcarr1635]

Does anyone have a plan of attack to walk around World Showcase for the Wine and Food Festival.
We will be there in October.

 

[siskaren]

Does anyone have a plan of attack to walk around World Showcase for the Wine and Food Festival.
We will be there in October.

I would just start at one end and work your way around.

 

[Hopefully]

Does anyone have a plan of attack to walk around World Showcase for the Wine and Food Festival.
We will be there in October.

This is an old resurrected thread from February. There is a current, comprehensive stickie thread at the top of this forum. Check that for great info.

 

[mcarr1635]

This is an old resurrected thread from February. There is a current, comprehensive stickie thread at the top of this forum. Check that for great info.

I am fairly new at this. Where is the current, comprehensive stickie thread at the top?

 

[siskaren]

I am fairly new at this. Where is the current, comprehensive stickie thread at the top?

It's in the Restaurant forum.