Food & Wine Festival 2010

[knebkagnau]

We are going to have one day at Epcot during the festival. Would you make reservations or just walk around and sample the foods?

Also does anyone know when the entertainment schedule comes out?

Thanks

 

[disneyfans95]

We went last year. Just walk around and enjoy all the kios with the food and drinks.

It was great. We did it over two nights because there is just that much food to sample.

 

[TDC Nala]

If by "entertainment schedule" you mean the concerts, some of them have already been scheduled.

http://pages.prodigy.net/stevesoares/

has a list of them.

If you mean the special festival events and seminars, usually those are not officially announced until sometime in July.

 

[beachgirl2000]

We are going for the first time this year too -- From what I read, most people are saying to just sample the food. I figure we will have a big breakfast that morning and by the afternoon, we will be ready to start snacking around the World! I cannot wait.

 

[BriarRosie]

If your "one day" is a Saturday or Sunday, I would be telling you to avoid Epcot like the plague. It's much easier to do the food kiosks on a weekday during the festival. And that would be my recommendation. Food kiosks on a weekday.

 

[Twincess]

YES! Definitely sample the food AND beverages. I've been to the EFWF serveral times (it's my favorite event at WDW, I try to plan my trips so I can go).
Over the years the food has gotten better. The first time I went it was only ok for the most part, but the last couple years they really stepped up their game. There were some fantastic tasting things last year and I think it's just getting better. Every year I went was better then the year before. You'll be surprised I think at how much food there really is and how good some of it is. You can definitely get full on it. Especially if u go back for seconds of some of ur favorites! But don't forget to sample some of the beverages too. They have some REALLY good ones! Plus, u don't want to interrupt the experience of the festival by sitting down and eating. You'll need every minute you have to tour around the world. If you don't rush thru it, it takes up a good amount of time. I always try to time it so that I finish getting all the way around by the time Illuminations starts. But even tho I start earlier and earlier, I STILL always end up in England when the show starts. But I actually like to end there b/c we'll always get a pint at the England kiosk and drink it while we enjoy the show. Next year I'll just have to start even EARLIER and start in Canada, then go towards Mexico,...and hopefully still end in England. haha
BON APPETIT!!!

 

[Twincess]

...One more thing. Last year for the EFWF I put some money onto one of those Disney gift cards. BUt they weren't credit card sized ones. They were these little key chain sized ones that they attach to a wrist bracelet. So i got one before entering Epcot and in my opinion, it was VERY convenient for the festival. Instead of having to go into ur wallet every time you walk up to a kiosk, I just had to roll my gift card off my wrist, they swipe it, and they hand u ur receipt with ur balance. SO SIMPLE and SO EASY! I loved it! SWIPE, DONE!

 

[disneyfans95]

...One more thing. Last year for the EFWF I put some money onto one of those Disney gift cards. BUt they weren't credit card sized ones. They were these little key chain sized ones that they attach to a wrist bracelet. So i got one before entering Epcot and in my opinion, it was VERY convenient for the festival. Instead of having to go into ur wallet every time you walk up to a kiosk, I just had to roll my gift card off my wrist, they swipe it, and they hand u ur receipt with ur balance. SO SIMPLE and SO EASY! I loved it! SWIPE, DONE!

The only issue we had with this, was there is no refund. We put $50 the first time and of course blew thru that fast. Did it again $100 but ended up with about $30 left. We were told when we bought them, you could get a refund for unused dollars.

That is incorrect and we were "stuck" with the $30. You can easily refill it at any kios, so my advice is keep it lower and just restock as needed.

 

[sasmmb]

The only issue we had with this, was there is no refund. We put $50 the first time and of course blew thru that fast. Did it again $100 but ended up with about $30 left. We were told when we bought them, you could get a refund for unused dollars.

That is incorrect and we were "stuck" with the $30. You can easily refill it at any kios, so my advice is keep it lower and just restock as needed.

We used the wrist cards last year too. A little known fact is that it can be used just about anywhere on Disney property that accepts a Disney Gift card, not just the F&W booths. I found it very useful at Typhoon Lagoon. This minimizes being "stuck" with funds.

 

[dislaney]

Just walk around and sample the food.

 

[FireDancer]

If your "one day" is a Saturday or Sunday, I would be telling you to avoid Epcot like the plague. It's much easier to do the food kiosks on a weekday during the festival. And that would be my recommendation. Food kiosks on a weekday.

This is what I was going to say, hit the kiosks on a weekday. The locals go on the weekends and it can be hectic.

If you have to go on a weekend I would avoid the first weekend. Not only is it very busy because of the locals but this year is the inaugural Wine & Dine half marathon and it is bringing a lot of additional people into the parks and most likely Epcot on the first weekend. It is hard to tell exactly what effect it will have since this is the first year but if I weren't running it I would not be going the first weekend.

 

[TDC Nala]

I don't know why Disney doesn't do a better job of advertising that the Food & Wine wristband gift cards are just the same as regular Disney gift cards. Every year they grow more popular, and if the boards are any indication, there are lots of folks who aren't aware they can be used anywhere a Disney gift card can be used. If you have any money left on the card, you can use it to pay any bills you have at the resort when you check out, or to buy souvenirs.