Food & Wine

[mom3sonstt]

I don't know if this is the right place, but seemed like one of the most logical options. I am going to be at WDW for the last week of Food and Wine. We are actually going because it's the week of the Children's Miracle Network Golf Tourny (hubby going to go watch a round or two), but the fact that F&W is still going on is a bonus. We were here last year at the same time but F&W ended the Sunday we got here, this year the dates fall differently and it ends the Sunday after we leave.

That said, last year we walked over (from Boardwalk) in the evening (it was already kinda dark). I use a scooter and did not have a map. DH is very uninterested in trying new food. So we basically went past all the crowds lined up at the booths and ate at America

This year we plan to take "separate" vacations. He wants to spend some time at Animal Kingdom leisurely taking pictures on the trails, and attending the golf tourny (first round on Thurs). I want to spend time at the Food & Wine (not so much the wine as the food) How crowded and difficult will it be for a person by themself on a scooter? Like I said, when we got there last year it was the last night and it was dark. I couldn't see the signs that said what each booth had, I couldn't tell where you ordered and where you got the food. I thought I had seen where they usually have a map or something that shows who is serving what and where it's at - but I didn't have that either. I was also trying to stay with DH who was making a beeline for a hamburger.

Does anyone know when they announce what all will be there this year and do they post a map of where things will be? On the scooter its hard to back track if you go past something and realize you missed it if you are fighting the flow of the crowd.

How crowded should it be during the week? Is the fact that it's the last week make it more likely to be more or less crowded? Do any of the booths not stay the whole time?

I've heard about the prepaid cards you can wear on your wrist - so I will probably plan to get one of those. Is there anything else I should know about that will make this trip easier??

 

[purple figment]

The weekly festival guide which is available all over Epcot has a map with all of the booths and what they will be offering along with a listing of the daily seminars and special activities.

Sometime within the next month Disney will publish the complete Festival Guide minus the map page. Someone will definitely announce here on the Disboard when that happens.

Additionally there are signs at each kiosk with the food/beverage offerings listed. Since you were there last year, but it was dark, you probably didn't notice them because they were not lit.

At each booth there's a podium where you order and pay. You then move over to the actual food booth where you pick up your order.

During the weekdays, especially at lunchtime, there usually wasn't more than a few people waiting in line. The crowds are heaviest on weekend evenings. You shouldn't have any problem backtracking if you miss something.

The prepaid wrist giftcard is great because I didn't have to keep digging through my purse for my wallet.

 

[cbg1027]

It wasn't very crowded on Halloween weekend last year when I went. One of the days, my grandma renter a scooter and it was definitely more difficult to get around than with both of us walking. She would stake out a spot for us to eat while I went to the booth and got the food, but just moving from place to place was kind of annoying since you don't have the maneuverability you do walking. Like when someone pulls the good old 'I'll stop right here in the middle of the sidewalk and look at my map". Add a situation like that to the fact that my grandmother was not used to operating a scooter and there were many near run-ins.

I don't mean to discouage you though. You should definitely go and enjoy the food. They publish a festival guide which will have a listing of all the food items available at each kiosk, including a map with their locations. Just pick one up when you enter the park, and that way you can decide where you want to go without having to stop and read the menu boards at each kiosk.

No one knows when exactly they will announce the menu items. They ahve slowly been releasing more and more information, but no word on the exact foods at each kiosk yet. They have confirmed which countries will be represented though.

It's not a crowded time overall, but some people report that the weekends at F&W are more crowded. Can't really help you on that front - but I will be there at the same time so I guess we'll both find out!

I believe all the booths are there for the duration of the festival. Those don't change.

The prepaid cards with the wrist band are great. I used one last year and it was very nice to not be fumbling in and out of my wallet every time I purchased something. And you get a receipt that tells you how much money is left on the card each time you use it.

 

[mom3sonstt]

Thanks for the info - if the maps list what each booth has and not just what country it is - that will be very helpful. I can't walk the parks for a full day - but I can park my scooter and walk over to a booth for what I want. Especially if I already know where it is. I was afraid I was going to have to check out each booth and then decide. Since I'm going at the end of the festival, maybe somebody will post their map somewhere and I can make my plan of attack from home

 

[BriarRosie]

There is a sticky thread at the top of this forum dedicated to the food and wine festival. Usually around the start of the festival, someone will scan a festival guide showing what the food offerings are.

All the updates will be in the first post so you don't have to search through pages and pages of posts. But the information you want probably won't be there until the end of September. Check back then and you'll be able to get a better idea of the kiosk offerings.