Food and Wine Festival

[Bunless]

DH and I decided to go to DL at the end of April (Saturday 25-Tuesday 28). Surprise surprise! the Food and Wine Festival will have just opened!. We've never been to the F&W at Disneyland...the closest thing would be things like Bite of Seattle, or Kirkland Uncorked (a small town wine/food festival).

So, what's different about the F&W from the normal local fare in any other city? lol, other than combining booze with Mulholland Madness...

Any hints or suggestions? we wouldn't be able to do any of the ticketed events because of timing.

 

[Lakewood]

Its pretty cool, the restaurants all have smaller portioned "alternate" foods. They're usually a few bucks for each serving...

Pretty good time, just have some $ handy..

 

[ScooterL]

I'm not sure they are going to have the "small servings" foods this year - the place that has done that in the past is the Lucky Fortune Cookery, and that is under construction. Last year (and this year) they offered special food items at most of the other counter service places, but those are regular-sized portions and not a smaller size. They will probably serve some appetizer-type foods at the Vineyard Room patio, though last year there wasn't a very big selection, and they were pretty expensive.

But, one thing that you CAN do, and it's free, is attend the complimentary beer, wine tasting, and cooking demonstrations. You will probably have to get in line 40 minutes early for them, but you get to taste multiple beers and wines at those, and at the cooking ones they serve you a sample of whatever they were demonstrating, and it's always been really good at the ones I've attended!

Hopefully it won't be 90+ degrees this year for the first weekend of the festival like it was last year...whew, it was HOT!!!

 

[Bunless]

Pretty good time, just have some $ handy..

Does that mean that there are added vendors who only take cash?

But, one thing that you CAN do, and it's free, is attend the complimentary beer, wine tasting, and cooking demonstrations.

Ok, let me clarify...the complimentary tastings..

Is it complimentary in that the actual eating and drinking of the tastings are on the house? Or is it one of those things that you go in, watch for free--but if you want to taste you have to pay up...because I love disney, but that sounds like something they would do.

 

[ScooterL]

Ok, let me clarify...the complimentary tastings..

Is it complimentary in that the actual eating and drinking of the tastings are on the house? Or is it one of those things that you go in, watch for free--but if you want to taste you have to pay up...because I love disney, but that sounds like something they would do.

The *entire* thing is free. There's not a cash register in sight!

 

[Evil Genius]

I'm not sure they are going to have the "small servings" foods this year - the place that has done that in the past is the Lucky Fortune Cookery, and that is under construction. Last year (and this year) they offered special food items at most of the other counter service places, but those are regular-sized portions and not a smaller size. They will probably serve some appetizer-type foods at the Vineyard Room patio, though last year there wasn't a very big selection, and they were pretty expensive.

But, one thing that you CAN do, and it's free, is attend the complimentary beer, wine tasting, and cooking demonstrations. You will probably have to get in line 40 minutes early for them, but you get to taste multiple beers and wines at those, and at the cooking ones they serve you a sample of whatever they were demonstrating, and it's always been really good at the ones I've attended!

Hopefully it won't be 90+ degrees this year for the first weekend of the festival like it was last year...whew, it was HOT!!!

You're makiing me rethink if I even want to do this.

 

[fairycat]

Actually according to the information I saw from Disney they will be offering more of the small serving "tastes" but in multiple locations (locations are listed on the website, and on DTD which is new). The vineyard patio will also be open for flights and appetizers (which I did not find that expensive ) That must be how they are working around Lucky Fortune Cookery being down.

I have to say I had a very different experience last year then the other poster. I was able to get into every free class I wanted with little issue, I was even able to leave one class, get in line for another and be seated in 10 minutes or so. Even the most desireable class (Nickle and Nickle who do high end wines) I was able to line up 15 minutes early for and be towards the front of the line. I did my classes Thursday Afternoon and Friday morning, and got into two food classes, three wine classes and a tequilla class, I also had time to eat the small tastes and relax with a flight on the patio.

Yes, the weather can be warm but that is true of So Cal. I brought water, had on sunblock and hung out in the shade when I could. Over all the classes all offered shade and bottles of water and I did not have any issues at all.

Personally I am very excited to do this event again, though it will be busier I am going to go on a weekend this year to allow DH to go with me. I might even try to go on a week day to see the difference. I had a great time last year.

 

[ScooterL]

Let me qualify what I said about waits to get into free events. I agree with the previous poster that during the week, you can get into just about any event without waiting very long (or at all) for it. But the original poster said that her visit was starting on Saturday and Sunday, and sessions on weekend days are VERY busy, and you do have to wait in line. The sessions earlier in the day are not quite as bad, although last year the first cooking demonstration of the day on each Sunday was a dessert demonstration, and people started lining up for it at soon as the park opened! And I arrived almost 45 minutes early for a chocolate/sparkling wine tasting session and it was already full. So just be aware of that if you're going to the Festival on Saturday or Sunday.

 

[Bunless]

Everyone, thank you so much!

I was guessing that if I wanted to do any of the demonstrations, I 'd get more milage on Monday and Tuesday.

Another question, though. I know that the Sunshine Plaze is the offical place to get all the information for the day...but if we're staying at the GCH, is there information closer to that entrance?