Food & Wine Festival

[DznyDreams]

Since WDW decided to lengthen the duration of EPCOT's F&W Festival, I will be able to experience it for the first time this year.

QUESTION: Can you only enjoy this event if you spend a lot of extra money for special meals, wine tastings, etc., or are there special things unique to this festival that you can experience without spending a small fortune?

 

[catsrule]

All the countries have booths set up. You will pay up to about 4.00 to taste various small portions of different foods.

Here is a link to last years food and prices.

http://allearsnet.com/tp/ep/fw03c.htm

 

[Flower4Pwr]

There are things to look at and exibits to see. But one whiff of the "Shrimp on a Barbie" or the "Maryland Crab Cakes" and you'll probably end up buying food anyway! It doesn't help that they are in booths around the lagoon so you literally can't escape it! I think you should just budget out an amount and stick to it. Look at the maps and decide what you really want to try and what you want to see and plan so that you can do just that. I went to 3 days of the food and wine festival and ended up spending something like 40$! Yikes!! It was so much fun though I still think it was worth it!

 

[RickNWendy]

Samples seem to go for $1 to $4.

Check this out:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/EpcotsFoodWineFestivalMenus/index.html

 

[betterlatethannever]

There are also free wine tasting seminars at the old Odessey Restaurant every day starting at noon. The are free wine tasting and food demonstrations(tastings) at a stage set up next to Morocco.

Ed

 

[mickeys friend]

I sent you a e-mail about you Hawaii trip,if you do not get it would you e-mail me at mickeys_friend@hotmail.com or mickeys_friend@charter.net

 

[DznyDreams]

Originally posted by catsrule
All the countries have booths set up. You will pay up to about 4.00 to taste various small portions of different foods.

Here is a link to last years food and prices.

http://allearsnet.com/tp/ep/fw03c.htm

WONDEFUL! I'm so glad to know there are reasonably priced samples available. I wouldn't put those prices into the "spending a fortune" category, although I'm sure it does add up over time.

In my original post, I was referring mostly to the special events that I've read about on other sites. I thought perhaps these events were all the Food & Wine Festival is about. Some of the prices I saw were in the $75 to $175 per person category, and I'm not interested in that at all.

 

[catsrule]

Originally posted by mickeys friend
I sent you a e-mail about you Hawaii trip,if you do not get it would you e-mail me at mickeys_friend@hotmail.com or mickeys_friend@charter.net

I got your email! I leave tomorrow and will take lotsa pics. We are only going to Oahu though, for 8 days.

fodors.com go to the travel talk section for Hawaii.

 

[floridagirrl2]

Originally posted by DznyDreams

In my original post, I was referring mostly to the special events that I've read about on other sites. I thought perhaps these events were all the Food & Wine Festival is about. Some of the prices I saw were in the $75 to $175 per person category, and I'm not interested in that at all.

DH and I attend the F&W Fest last year and didn't do any of the special ticketed events--just did the rounds of the World Showcase sampling food and wine--we had a great time!

We didn't happen on any free wine tastings, thought--all the wine was priced at $3-$7 for a small (about 3 oz.) glass.

 

[DznyDreams]

Originally posted by floridagirrl2
DH and I attend the F&W Fest last year and didn't do any of the special ticketed events--just did the rounds of the World Showcase sampling food and wine--we had a great time!

This sounds GREAT! I know there are a lot of people who enjoy the F&W Festival, but I've never been able to make the dates work for me, so I never looked further into the goings on. Now I'm so excited that I'll be able to "get a taste" of this event! I just wish I could be there for a full week. . .but alas, this must be a short trip (weekend only).

 

[te2077]

thanks for this thread and all the great links. im now so exctied to munch around the world showcase. thanks again.

 

[TDC Nala]

check the Food and Wine Festival Guide that is given out during the Festival for a schedule of the free wine tastings and cooking demos (you get a free taste of whatever they're cooking). The wine tastings take place at the Odyssey Restaurant and in the World Showcase. Cooking demos are usually set up in the World Showcase near France. Both types of seminars are offered all day long.

If you like beer, there are free beer seminars, too.

 

[francie]

hi all. anyone have an opinion on the crowds at this event? are they manageable?

 

[floridagirrl2]

Epcot was crowded on the weekend but not on weekdays. The crowds were still manageable on weekends though (no comparison to the crowds at MK on the same weekends, which were amazing).

 

[webray]

You can enjoy it without spending any extra money on the special meals.

Just visit the booths set up all around the world showcase. You will still spend $1-$4 on whatever you choose, still can get pricey..but, you have to eat that day anyway..right.

 

[jtjarvis]

Originally posted by DznyDreams
This sounds GREAT! I know there are a lot of people who enjoy the F&W Festival, but I've never been able to make the dates work for me, so I never looked further into the goings on. Now I'm so excited that I'll be able to "get a taste" of this event! I just wish I could be there for a full week. . .but alas, this must be a short trip (weekend only).

Hi Diane, looks like I might not only see you at LTT for mnsshp but F&W as well! Thanks for starting this thread -- I had some of these same questions!

 

[DznyDreams]

Originally posted by jtjarvis
Hi Diane, looks like I might not only see you at LTT for mnsshp but F&W as well! Thanks for starting this thread -- I had some of these same questions!

We'll "PIG OUT" together!

 

[KCMiller]

Can someone tell me when the 2004 schedule will be out, and how I can find out about the special, hard ticketed events?

Thanks so much,

KC

 

[HookedOnDiz]

We like to skip dinner and just walk around and dine on the various samples from each country.... its a lot of fun and the cost is similar to sitting down at a restaurant.

 

[jtjarvis]

Originally posted by DznyDreams
We'll "PIG OUT" together!

LOL Yep, finding food will not be a problem on our WDW weekend!