Food & Wine 2012

[dbs1228]

Okay I have never been to food & wine fest and DH and I are really thinking next year would be a good time to try it. Can anyone recommend 1 week over another? I am planning on booking BLT at 11 month mark but not sure which week to go.

Also do most of you buy the DDP or do you just wing it? As I said I know little about it but from what I read I am excited to go.

Thanks in advance

 

[JWG]

I think anytime during the festival is fine. I'd avoid the last week in Oct. only because if Halloween. Also, plan to do Epcot on a weekday. Weekends during food and wine are very busy.

That being said, there's not any real crowd difference. Everyone is in school for the month. MN schools have the 3rd Thu and Fri of October off, but not an impact to Dis.

We do the AP and Tables in Wonderland card instead of DDP. It gives the discount on alcohol and we can order whatever we want.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Unfortunately, the Festival Schedule doesn't come out until very close to the event, so it's really a matter of luck as far as what chefs, culinary experiences you'll be able to chose from. This year, we're going to be there a Wednesday and Thursday for the F&W, and then the family comes over the weekend and we'll concentrate on other things then. I agree that the F&W booths are crazy on the weekends, but if that's when you'll be at Epcot, try to go early in the afternoon, not at night.

 

[FRANKTSJR]

We've gone many times in October. Going this year, staying at the Boardwalk from 14th to the 23rd. One thing to consider when going in October is Columbus Day weekend. Can get a little crowded.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We've gone many times in October. Going this year, staying at the Boardwalk from 14th to the 23rd. One thing to consider when going in October is Columbus Day weekend. Can get a little crowded.

Yes. My DGC don't have off for Columbus day. I had thought that the extra night they could stay would be worth the crowds, but since they don't have off, I'm looking at another weekend.

 

[LisaS]

Also do most of you buy the DDP or do you just wing it?

We don't purchase the DDP. We usually fix breakfast in the room and do one TS or CS meal each day, usually dinner, sometimes as a late lunch. Plus, we like to order an appetizer and entree and rarely have dessert so the dining plan just doesn't work for us. The TIW card works better for us especially since the discount applies to adult beverages as well as the food in restaurants and some lounges.

I'm not sure what you mean by "wing it". If you mean "pay out of pocket" then yes that's what we do. If you mean "no ADRs" then no, we make ADRs for all TS meals 4-6 months out.

ETA: During F&W, we make fewer ADRs since we will be grazing around the WS in place of one or more meals. The food booths also help fill the gap between breakfast and dinner.

 

[Ms. WDW]

I traditionally go Columbus Day week (heading out Sunday!) and I've never had a real problem with crowds. I do tend to stay away from the F&W Festival on Saturday nights. I went once and the crowd was so overwhelming we left!!!

As for dining; I don't do the DDP anymore. We'll make some TS ADR's for dinner or lunch and breakfast is on the go. We do graze around the WS but do not use that as a substitute for dinner. We may do a lunch like that but DH prefers to "sit down" for his dinner!

 

[ccgirl]

Going next week with just my DH. So excited! Absolutely LOVE it! This year we are getting the DxDDP as we wanted to go to some signature places and wanted the 2 snack credits to use for the booths around the world. I picked this weekend because I didn't want the first weekend of the festival and didn't want Columbus Day weekend. I will do a report when I get back.

 

[LisaS]

Another option is to have a sit down dinner and then some time later pick out a dessert at one of the booths. We don't usually eat dessert but I have found some of the offerings at F&W too tempting to pass up. The portions are small which is good if you're still full from dinner or you are trying to stick to a healthy eating plan even while on vacation.

 

[Ms. WDW]

Another option is to have a sit down dinner and then some time later pick out a dessert at one of the booths. We don't usually eat dessert but I have found some of the offerings at F&W too tempting to pass up. The portions are small which is good if you're still full from dinner or you are trying to stick to a healthy eating plan even while on vacation.

Chocolate Lava Cake......delish!

 

[mikeandkarla]

Anytime in October is great. Plan your food & wine days for Mon- Fri as weekends are very crowded.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Okay I have never been to food & wine fest and DH and I are really thinking next year would be a good time to try it. Can anyone recommend 1 week over another? I am planning on booking BLT at 11 month mark but not sure which week to go.

Also do most of you buy the DDP or do you just wing it? As I said I know little about it but from what I read I am excited to go.

Thanks in advance

We were at the F&W 2011 the first weekend, and I've decided two things-first, next year we'll get the DDP. There are so many F&W festival offerings that cost $4-$5 that are snack credits that I'm sure the DDP would be a better deal. Second, don't go the first week-boy, was it hot!! But since DH was running the Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon, we were locked into when we went. Frankly, because the weather was so hot, I hope he doesn't want to run it next year. A few years ago, I went around the 20th-25th, and the weather was perfect then.

 

[bbluvsdis]

On the other side of the DDP discussion we had the plan when we went to the festival. We snacked at the festival many days instead of lunch and ended up with lots of counter service credits left at the end of the week. We couldn't eat a big breakfast, F&W for lunch and a TS dinner. That was just too much food. We used the snack credits and bought a young couple their dinner at Cosmic Rays on our last night to use up some credits. We now use TIW instead. It all depends on how many meals you want but whatever you do it will be lots of fun!

 

[dbs1228]

Going next week with just my DH. So excited! Absolutely LOVE it! This year we are getting the DxDDP as we wanted to go to some signature places and wanted the 2 snack credits to use for the booths around the world. I picked this weekend because I didn't want the first weekend of the festival and didn't want Columbus Day weekend. I will do a report when I get back.

Thank you all for your responses, ccgirl I will look for your TR. I am leaning towards the TIW card since we are getting AP's when we go for 10 nights in Feb. I will buy the card then so we can use it for both trips. We too like to have a light breakfast in the room and I imagine we will graze throughout the day so I am not sure the DDP is a good idea. I will make our ADR'S early on.

I think mid Oct after Columbus Day but before Halloween may work.

 

[Cee]

We just returned and found this first week of Oct.(and the Festival itself) to be wonderful. Weather was perfect and wait times minimal. Enjoy!

 

[franandaj]

We never do the dining plan because it would require us to eat too much food. That said, we made ADRs when we went in 2009 and I regretted it in hindsight. We eat almost everything and in one week we barely got through all the F&W offerings with one TS ADR every day. I can't even imagine if we had to try and eat a CS too!

This year we are only planning 4 nights 5 days and two are weekends, so we will not visit the kiosks after our Grand Mariner tasting on Sat and probably not at all on Sunday. That leaves Thursday, one thing on Friday (French Regional lunch booked at 12) and Saturday 11-2 and Monday lunch to try and fit everything in. I don't think we're going to make it.

The good thing is that we are moving to the VWL and if we REALLY want to come back for something we can, but the plan was to hit everything while staying at the BCV before we move.

 

[starbox]

I'd aim for middle of the festival. In past years they have moved that start date back a week and - this year - did not do many of the special events opening weekend (Party for the Senses, 3-D Dessert, Grand Marnier......). I'd plan for mid-Oct to be safe! We will actually probably stay offsite next year (Swan or Dolphin) to get the benefit of being walking distance to Epcot and still be able to reserve after the calendar is released. We were bummed to miss out on so much this year because we went opening weekend!