Food & Wine Festival Question: When is it best?

[Darian]

For those folks who have experienced the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival - When is the best time to attend? At the very beginning/opening day?

Does the Festival "peeter out" in the last week or so?

Do the exhibitors run out of supplies? It would be dissapointing to find the champaign tasting seminar was cancelled because they ran out of champaign....

And what about all those tasty treats they sell in booths around Epcot? Do they run out of the "good stuff" in the first week or so?

We've only been once to the F&W festival and it was just amazing. So amazing we just have to come back this year.

Thanks for your input!

Darian

 

[Luvinit]

We went last year during Veterans day weekend. It was crowded due to the fact it was a holiday weekend, and it was also super soap weekend at MGM. However, I really didn't feel like it "peeter" out. I am not sure what they had there at the beginning of the festival, but they had PLENTY of tasty treats for us when we were there.

Tracy

 

[Darian]

Tracy, do you think the food offerings changed as the festival went on?

When was Vetern's day last year? We were there from Oct 19th to the 28th... did you attend the Pommery champaign seminar? Who knows, we may have run into each other!

Darian

 

[CarolA]

I went one opening day and don't think I would go again if I had a choice. It was very crowded and the lines were LONG. Talking to people in line it seemed to me that a lot of locals had come for opening day. Week days seem better crowdwise.

 

[montessori]

Originally posted by Luvinit
We went last year during Veterans day weekend. It was crowded due to the fact it was a holiday weekend, and it was also super soap weekend at MGM. However, I really didn't feel like it "peeter" out. I am not sure what they had there at the beginning of the festival, but they had PLENTY of tasty treats for us when we were there.

Tracy

We were there on Veteran's Day weekend too. November 8 - 11?
Although Epcot was busy, it was still quite manageable.
Everywhere else seemed to be so crowded!
It was the busiest I've seen DW in years. It was busier on The Boardwalk than it was during Christmas week.
That was also the weekend of the Festival of the Masters, the arts and crafts show in Downtown Disney.
I'm not usually interested in art shows but this show is always fantastic. We try to attend every year, I wish they would schedule it for a different weekend.

We did go to MGM early one morning.
Some of those soap fans are really extreme!
It was interesting to sit on a bench and "people watch".

We also went to The Food and Wine Festival on opening day a few years ago. We won't make that mistake again.

I don't THINK the vendors run out of supplies, I'm sure they can order more as needed.

 

[PammyK]

Nothing petered out last year during F&W...things continued at full blast until the last day. In fact, IMO, they had a couple of the best culinary demos on the last weekend.

The offerings at the different kiosks around WS do not change during the festival, however, there are different culinary demos and wine tasting seminars every day/weekend. Weekends tend to get more "celebrity" chefs. Often, some of the chefs who are doing the "Party for the Senses" will do culinary demos that weekend and the wines from the party are usually featured during the seminars the same weekend.

 

[Darian]

Oh Pam, Thanks for the tip!!! This is all very reassuring and very helpful too. We had thought about coming the opening day, but now, yikes... I think we'll wait a bit.

How early can one make reservations for the party for the senses? Last year by the time we heard about being able to make ressies, they seemed to instantly fill up...

Thanks again!!!!

Darian

PS What was your fave part of the F & W festival? Did you eat the crocidile or alligator (can't remember which ones are in florida)

 

[Darian]

Anyone have any tips or strategies to best enjoy the F&W festival?

 

[PammyK]

If you want to sample the foods from the booths around WS, go on a weekday for shorter lines.

Read through the F&W Fest program booklet to find out which demos and tastings will be going on during your visit and plan your Epcot days to coincide with the ones that interest you.

If you REALLY want to do a particular wine tasting at Oddessy Pavillion, get there early as space is limited.

Same goes for the culinary demos - be sure to get there early enough to get a seat in main area if you want to enjoy a sample.

If you miss a demo that sounds yummy, you can usually still get a copy of the recipe....just ask a CM at the demo area.

The port wines are great after dinner while waiting for IllumiNations to begin.

 

[Morticia]

bump