Food & Wine Tasting Sampler?

[MattsPrincess]

Has anyone done this? Was it worth it? Can you tell me more about it?

At $60 a person it seems like it could actually end up being a decently good deal as long as you can find 8 samples you want, plus you get a pin.

 

[monorailmom]

I'll be curious in a couple of weeks after folks have had a chance to use it what they think. We are tempted, but 8 samples in one day for us is too much, since we split our days between Epcot and MK. If you could use your 8 entitlements over a couple of days, we'd be in!

 

[worm761]

Has anyone done this? Was it worth it? Can you tell me more about it?

At $60 a person it seems like it could actually end up being a decently good deal as long as you can find 8 samples you want, plus you get a pin.

No one has done this. It is new this year.

 

[MattsPrincess]

No one has done this. It is new this year.

Ah, lol well that does make a difference. I didn't realize it was new this year.

 

[karrit2000]

I posted this the last time this same question was asked:
In calculating the average food prices at the booths the Sampler Package is not worth it. For most people there is little or no value to the reserved seating for the concerts. If you conservatively figure the value of the special pin at $10 you are now paying $49 for 8 booth items so each booths item would need to cost at least $6.13 for you to break even. There are very few food items that cost more that $6 so unless you purchase several duplicates of those items and the pricier drinks & Champagnes there is no way to break even with this "deal". We do not know yet what will be excluded but expectations are they will exclude beer and/or drink flights and at least the most expensive Champagnes. If the pin is of no value to you it ups the need to value the booth items you will choose to a little less than $7.50 per item to come close to breaking even. Most people would do better to put that $59 on a gift card and choose the items they really want at each booth. I think the gift card would get most people way more than 8 items or for those who want the beer and/or drink flights they could get at least 8 items of what they really want.

In two more days we should get an idea of what will actually be excluded but I'm pretty sure it still won't be worth the price they are asking.

 

[MattsPrincess]

Thanks, that's exactly the kind of info I was hoping to get. We've never been to F&W before so had no clue what to expect as far as value, exclusions, item prices, etc. I think we'll skip this, if for no other reason than removing the possibility of having the things we're really wanting be on the exclusions list.

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

I can't see how it can really be a "deal" at all. We have free dining and plan on using our snack credits for the pricier credits and then getting a wrist gc to use for the rest. We also study the menus and decide ahead of time what we want to sample.

 

[karrit2000]

People are convinced it's a "deal" when they see the Pin & Reserved seating for a concert and 8 booth items. They don't know what the actual cost of most booth items are. When you actually calculate it as I did above the only one making out on this "deal" is Disney. If they had priced it at $50 to begin with I might say you could possibly at least break even but I still don't think I would go for it. Once we hear reports of the exclusions I may revise my opinion but going on the current info I have using pricing from last year unless they don't exclude anything but the really expensive Champagne there is no way you can break even with the Sampler. It was the same with the Premium Package this year. I was already to book again this year because we really enjoyed it last year but once the details started coming out it was just not worth it even though they kept it the same price as last year. For me the changes to some parts and the downgrading or elimination of others made it a big loss of value for me over last year and when I calculated it out it wasn't even a break even deal to me.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Since it appears they are including a lot of the higher priced beverages (just not champagne or flights) I actually think for a lot of us it's closer to break even.

 

[sunshinesisters]

Is there a current price list out for the F&W? This will be my first time going so I really don't have anything to compare or what will be available. Can you buy
the F&W pin separately? Anyone have a picture of the pin? Price? Looking forward to attending! Thanks!!

 

[karrit2000]

Is there a current price list out for the F&W? This will be my first time going so I really don't have anything to compare or what will be available. Can you buy
the F&W pin separately? Anyone have a picture of the pin? Price? Looking forward to attending! Thanks!!

DFB & All Ears have posted the Booth Menus with prices. The Pin included with the Sampler Package is only available with purchase of the package. Check out the Main F & W thread on the restaurant Message board, someone posted a photo of the pin there.

 

[sunshinesisters]

Thank you for sharing where to find the menus and price list. I love this site with so many helpful people answering questions!!

 

[cvjw]

I booked it for opening night, Friday the 25th for our party of 4. The price ended up being about $250. I knew it was hit or miss if we broke even with the cost of the samples, but we thought it would be a fun way to spend a night at Food and Wine.

We ended up at EPCOT for the cast member preview night on Thursday, the 24th. The lines for the booths were long on preview night. I started thinking about how long we would be standing in line to get our 32 entitlements (8 entitlements X 4 people).

After thinking this over for a while, I stopped by the BWV concierge Thursday night and cancelled the package.

I am so glad that we did. We ended back at EPCOT for opening night of Food and Wine. There were so many people there that you could hardly even move thru the crowd. There would not have been enough time to wait in all the lines for the 32 entitlements. It was a madhouse.

It would be fun on a less crowded day, but I would not sign up for a weekend night.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

No one has mentioned on this thread - originally we were told all entitlements had to be used in one day. Now it appears they can be used over multiple days. Since it can used over multiple days, I can get a $9 cocktail or two every day or so of my ten day visit. Makes it "worth it" for me.

 

[karrit2000]

I'm revising my original stance on the package based on the reports coming in so far. If a few more people report having success using the entitlements for the $9 glasses of wine @ Block & Hans I might even spring for two packages. So far reports are it's been no go for CoolPost and I'm not expecting the Coffee Carts to accept them either.

 

[hamilkm]

I booked it for opening night, Friday the 25th for our party of 4. The price ended up being about $250. I knew it was hit or miss if we broke even with the cost of the samples, but we thought it would be a fun way to spend a night at Food and Wine.

We ended up at EPCOT for the cast member preview night on Thursday, the 24th. The lines for the booths were long on preview night. I started thinking about how long we would be standing in line to get our 32 entitlements (8 entitlements X 4 people).

After thinking this over for a while, I stopped by the BWV concierge Thursday night and cancelled the package.

I am so glad that we did. We ended back at EPCOT for opening night of Food and Wine. There were so many people there that you could hardly even move thru the crowd. There would not have been enough time to wait in all the lines for the 32 entitlements. It was a madhouse.

It would be fun on a less crowded day, but I would not sign up for a weekend night.

How were you able to cancel? I was told it was non-refundable when I booked. I would like to cancel one of mine. I have 2 packages booked for my mom and I for this Thursday and 2 more for Saturday. Now that I know we can use the entitlements over multiple days I would like to cancel the Saturday one possibly. Thanks!

 

[vinotinto]

I'm with those of you that don't see much value in this. The break even point is $7.82. All of the food items cost $7.50 or less. So, this is not for food. Most of the wines are in the $8 and under range. The only way you would come out ahead is by ordering the $9.xx mixed drinks, and that will only save you a buck per drink and you would be committing to a few drinks. So, the value is not there unless you really want the pin and the reserved seating (you can FP+ it for free).