Food And Wine Tips For A Newbie

[JennyDrake]

I'm not much of a drinker, so know that there will still be LOTS for you to do and try! As other have said, avoid the weekend (Friday night-Sunday) if at all possible. VERY crowded. I'll echo using MB or gift card to pay. Much faster. Also, you can go through a lot of $$$$ VERY quickly! Decide ahead of time IF you have a budget what that amount will be. Without alcohol, I easily blew through $75 in a day.

 

[lpizzuro123]

We get our Disney Gift Cards at either Target (save 5% with Target Credit Card) or BJ's (they are discounted there). You can use these gift cards and save a little bit of money too. Not sure but I think you can only use Magic Bands if you are staying at a Disney resort. We have AP's and sometimes stay offsite so we do not have an account with a credit card attached to our Magic Bands.

Also, make sure you check out the concerts in the American Gardens Theater.

Linda

 

[TayjaDanger]

If you happen to be in Epcot on the 13th, the CM preview day should be held then and all guests can purchase items at the kiosks. It's the soft open to make sure they are prepared for the opening day on the 14th. You can always walk around and check the offerings. Or, check the Disney Food Blog site as they'll release menus before F&W begins.

If you need to take a break and have a Chase Visa card, you can relax and cool off in the Chase Lounge in the American Pavilion. Complimentary soft drinks, water, and coffee will be available. If you have a Disney Chase Visa, you can pick up a wristband for special seating at the Eat to the Beat concert for that evening.

This is very interesting-- I have an Amazon Chase CC, can I use the lounge too? That's a great tip!

 

[bryanb]

So you can pay with a gift card, magic band, or cash?

Using Apple Pay or similar services is also very fast and easy. Just let the cashier know first, since the Mickey readers are otherwise looking for a Magic Band.

 

[Hikergirl]

Check out the Disney Restaurant board here, there is an official thread for F&W

http://www.disboards.com/threads/20...ovember-14-2016.3518694/page-24#post-56127206

 

[cshell624]

Thanks!!! This looks incredible!

Can you use Disney dining snack credits on drinks at the F&W festival?

You can purchase most food items with a snack credit, but alcohol is not included as a snack credit. If this is your first F&W festival keep checking the disney food blog as they should post a map of all the booth locations throughout Epcot. Happy snacking!!

 

[hiroMYhero]

This is very interesting-- I have an Amazon Chase CC, can I use the lounge too? That's a great tip!

Yes; any guest with a Chase branded Visa can enjoy the Lounge. Only Disney Chase Visa cardholders can get wristbands for the concerts.

 

[RipClutchgoneski]

I heard you could buy a voucher for some food and drinks (NOT a gift card) that comes with special pin- but I can't find anything online. Does anyone know about this?

 

[ArmyVet80]

We use our snack credits for the more expensive items (Filet in Canada for example) and use a little gift card explained in previous posts for the less expensive items.

I would recommend looking at the menus on the wdwinfo site and pick out things that you really want to try opposed to things you think you might want to try. Get the "must have" items first because those may also be "must have items" for others.

Head to the food booths/kiosks as soon as you can (1100 am). Since you will be there on a Thursday the crowds shouldn't be too terrible that early unless Epcot has EMH. I would recommend trying to be done by 5 pm though as more people start to show up around 4 pm and it can get crowded. At least that has been our experiences with the last 5 F&W Festivals.

We budget $100 on our cards ($200 total for the 2 of us) for trying food items. That is on top of our snack points we will use. We tend to only spend $50-$75 of the $100 though.

We do consume alcoholic beverages and have a separate budget for that. We do not try all of the alcoholic beverages in one trip. lol. Usually 1 or 2 per day we spend at Epcot and we do the F&W Festival 3 days while we are on our trips. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are the best times to go when it isn't too busy. Unfortunately there is an EMH day on one of those days (I think wednesdays?) which can make lines a little longer.

Another thing.. If you are willing to split up and one person get into one line and another in another line you can maximize your time getting a couple of different items from different booths/kiosks. We do this if/when the crowds get a little bigger. It has worked well for us.

 

[leebee]

When going to F&W, we usually enter via the International Gateway around 11am and head for Future World via the Great Britain/Canada side of WS. We snack our way to FW as our lunch, then ride/experience attractions for several hours. During the early evening hours and into the night, we venture back into WS, walking along the Mexico/Norway side, noshing as we go along. It breaks it up and gives us more opportunity to sample more things. I agree with those who said to read the menus and study the festival map, so you make sure you don't get too full before being able to sample the things that sound most intriguing. Last year, DD and I did a food seminar and a beverage seminar. I think they were each $15 per person, which we found reasonable, given that it's Disney. We watched a guest chef prepare an entree/dessert (or mix drinks) and then were served samples of everything that was demonstrated. It was a fun break in the early afternoon, and a chance to get out of the heat!

 

[Laura's Dad]

We are going on a Wednesday after the first weekend. How busy do you think it will be? We have gift cards that we purchased at Sam's at a discount and are on the Dining Plan (was able to get Free Dining). We really wanted to try to eat our way around World Showcase starting about 12:30 and finishing up around 5 before heading to DHS for the Star Wars fireworks. We also have a FastPass for Frozen Ever After and will do that. Is that enough time to eat several things or do we need to budget more time? We would probably like to try 5-6 things apiece. Would this be enough to serve as lunch? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[BippityBrittany]

If possible, I recommend going on a weekday. Weekends can get extremely crowded with long lines at each pavilion!

 

[loves to dive]

We are going on a Wednesday after the first weekend. How busy do you think it will be? We have gift cards that we purchased at Sam's at a discount and are on the Dining Plan (was able to get Free Dining). We really wanted to try to eat our way around World Showcase starting about 12:30 and finishing up around 5 before heading to DHS for the Star Wars fireworks. We also have a FastPass for Frozen Ever After and will do that. Is that enough time to eat several things or do we need to budget more time? We would probably like to try 5-6 things apiece. Would this be enough to serve as lunch? Any help would be appreciated.

It really depends on what you eat and how long it takes you to eat it. 5-6 things a piece might be hard in that time frame just because you might get full and need some non-eating time in between. Yes, it would be plenty for lunch. The portions aren't big but it looks like you are talking about at least 10 items and even sharing that is going to fill you up.

 

[Cait]

Having never been, looking at the menus has been a bit like a little kid in a candy store. My husband and I have each picked out roughly six food items a piece, with around 3 that we would share. Considering we plan on snacking at booths from the opening of World Showcase up until Illuminations, is this crazy? We also have our eyes on several drinks, but considering the pours aren't huge from what I can tell, and we are spacing it over such a long time period, I don't think we'll have any trouble with that being too much alcohol. We also have no dinner plans, and the only thing discussed for lunch was splitting an order of fish and chips from Yorkshire Fish shop.

 

[Richard M Nixon]

Having never been, looking at the menus has been a bit like a little kid in a candy store. My husband and I have each picked out roughly six food items a piece, with around 3 that we would share. Considering we plan on snacking at booths from the opening of World Showcase up until Illuminations, is this crazy? We also have our eyes on several drinks, but considering the pours aren't huge from what I can tell, and we are spacing it over such a long time period, I don't think we'll have any trouble with that being too much alcohol. We also have no dinner plans, and the only thing discussed for lunch was splitting an order of fish and chips from Yorkshire Fish shop.

Snacking around the world is what F&W is meant for. I have two days planned where there's a light breakfast and then grazing all throughout the day, no lunch or dinner.

Wine and beer pours are a bit small, but the mixed and frozen drinks have been a good 8oz.

 

[lilfaeriebrat]

Do the food booths stay open as late as the park or do they close early?

 

[Richard M Nixon]

Do the food booths stay open as late as the park or do they close early?

Usually as late as the park is open, maybe they'll close a half hour before park closing if it's an EMH, I believe.

 

[goofyintoronto]

My number one F&W tip is to read the menus ahead of time and prioritize the things you really want to try. You may find you've made it a third of the way around the World Showcase and are too full to eat any more. Then you see an item you really want to try...but no room. Having a plan can help you manage and to fill up on the items you really like or want to try most.

I agree with this. Its a great idea to read the menu ahead of time so you know what you want to try. You don't want to be too full by the time you reach your fave kiosk.

Yes, and I think it's a lot easier than having to use the gift card option and needing to work with some pre-set amount. Just use the band.

I agree with this. Its so much easier to pay with your magic band. But always have a backup method of payment ready just in case there are technical issues with the magic band. That way you wont be left empty handed. I don't usually attach a credit card on my magic band...so for F&W I found it easier to go to the front desk at my resort and put money down towards F&W. I put $50 last trip and that lasted me a couple days (no alcohol of course).

Yes you can use snack credits on the food items, we found one of the best uses of this was the filet in Canada.

I agree!! Its the best use of a snack credit. Love that mushroom filet!

Do the food booths stay open as late as the park or do they close early?

I found out the hard way that during EMH at the world show case, the food booths DO NOT stay open. The booths close when the park closes (regular closing time, not EMH closing time).

 

[DisneyaHolic23]

What are your best tips/suggestions/ideas for folks attending the Food & Wine Festival for the first time?

Thanks!!!!

 

[hakepb]

Avoid weekends at all costs