New Epcot Food and Wine Premium Package for onsite guests only

[Mickeynutty]

Our bags were just delivered - no gift cards, no magic bands!!! Did you pick those up at Epcot or were they in the bags?

 

[angelgurl]

Our bags were just delivered - no gift cards, no magic bands!!! Did you pick those up at Epcot or were they in the bags?

Ours were in an envelope at the hotel front desk

 

[Disneyhappy]

DH and I want to purchase the package. My sister and her DH will be joining us from Tampa for one day at the Food and Wine. If DH and order food in the premium areas can we take it out of the area to share with my sister? I am trying to envision what this premium area is like. It sounds like a roped off area for folks with the F&W magic bands where we can order the food to be delivered to us rather than waiting in long lines.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Our bags were just delivered - no gift cards, no magic bands!!! Did you pick those up at Epcot or were they in the bags?

Ours were in an envelope at the hotel front desk

Yup, we got the bands and gift cards when we checked in and the gift bag (you already have) the day after.

DH and I want to purchase the package. My sister and her DH will be joining us from Tampa for one day at the Food and Wine. If DH and order food in the premium areas can we take it out of the area to share with my sister? I am trying to envision what this premium area is like. It sounds like a roped off area for folks with the F&W magic bands where we can order the food to be delivered to us rather than waiting in long lines.

That would be weird, but fine. The VIP areas are pretty small and have 4 or 5 tables in each. Each area includes 2-5 booths that you can order food from. It takes some time to get the food if the booth is busy so I would find it weird for you to be in the rope and your family to be standing waiting for you outside it. You could share the food, but you would have to leave the area and the tables (and benches that are in some) to get it to them, so that would be a bit of a waste of money (since you are paying for the tables and quiet areas to eat at). Also the servings are tiny (think tapas) so I don't know how 4 people could share each one unless you just want a bite each, but that is just personal preference. Also, the late night party is for ticket holders only, so they would have to buy a ticket for that. I think just the party is like $90 or something so add in the $50 gift card, the VIP experience booths are about $75 or so and worth the price if you really use them. However, I don't think $75 is worth skipping a few lines and still having to hold your food and walk since you won't have the nice quite areas with tables to enjoy eating at if your family is waiting for you somewhere else.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Our bags were just delivered - no gift cards, no magic bands!!! Did you pick those up at Epcot or were they in the bags?

Oh and the late night credentials have to be picked up in epcot. You can get them at the festival center in the life pavilion.

 

[Disneyhappy]

Yup, we got the bands and gift cards when we checked in and the gift bag (you already have) the day after.



That would be weird, but fine. The VIP areas are pretty small and have 4 or 5 tables in each. Each area includes 2-5 booths that you can order food from. It takes some time to get the food if the booth is busy so I would find it weird for you to be in the rope and your family to be standing waiting for you outside it. You could share the food, but you would have to leave the area and the tables (and benches that are in some) to get it to them, so that would be a bit of a waste of money (since you are paying for the tables and quiet areas to eat at). Also the servings are tiny (think tapas) so I don't know how 4 people could share each one unless you just want a bite each, but that is just personal preference. Also, the late night party is for ticket holders only, so they would have to buy a ticket for that. I think just the party is like $90 or something so add in the $50 gift card, the VIP experience booths are about $75 or so and worth the price if you really use them. However, I don't think $75 is worth skipping a few lines and still having to hold your food and walk since you won't have the nice quite areas with tables to enjoy eating at if your family is waiting for you somewhere else.

Thanks for your insight. It does sound awkward. I think DH will still purchase the package since we will be there several times over the course of our 6 night visit and will be able to enjoy the perks during other times.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

It sounds like a roped off area for folks with the F&W magic bands where we can order the food to be delivered to us rather than waiting in long lines.

The magic bands have nothing to do with whether or not you will be allowed to use the premium areas. You will be issued a lanyard with credentials which will show the dates you are entitled to use the areas. You will have to wear or carry these credentials to use the areas. They can scan your band if you want to use it to pay for your food/beverage items, but not to allow you inside the areas.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Here now and really enjoying it!! Loud music, performers out in the streets, and we each get a card with six tokens on you can snap off and redeem for food or drink at the booths. One of the sox tokens is for a limited cocktail in a souvenir glowtini glass. Right now it's buzzing!

I was there too! I really enjoyed myself. The Martini Pop band in the back area was fun. And I liked being able to sit there and enjoy my drink.

I also liked the dancers with the fiber optic whips (?) I'm not sure what to call those things. But I did have to plaster myself against the outside wall when they arrived to stay far away from those things. They were really swinging them around and one of the dancers dropped hers a couple of times.
Also Disney was there with an official photographer and video person who kept nearly running into me. I guess they were taping the event for an ad later.

After I used up my 6 tabs, I bought some other food myself to try and had no issues doing so.

I saw no underage kids at all - it was all adults wherever I looked which I really appreciated. It was kind of nice having a mostly adult party.

I would do it again if I ever get the chance.

Oh and I've already lost my F&W magic band. It fell off my wrist at some point that night and I didn't notice it. I reported it at lost and found but it hasn't been found yet so it might be a lost cause to think I'll ever get that back.

 

[wilkeliza]

I was there too! I really enjoyed myself. The Martini Pop band in the back area was fun. And I liked being able to sit there and enjoy my drink. I also liked the dancers with the fiber optic whips (?) I'm not sure what to call those things. But I did have to plaster myself against the outside wall when they arrived to stay far away from those things. They were really swinging them around and one of the dancers dropped hers a couple of times. Also Disney was there with an official photographer and video person who kept nearly running into me. I guess they were taping the event for an ad later. After I used up my 6 tabs, I bought some other food myself to try and had no issues doing so. I saw no underage kids at all - it was all adults wherever I looked which I really appreciated. It was kind of nice having a mostly adult party. I would do it again if I ever get the chance. Oh and I've already lost my F&W magic band. It fell off my wrist at some point that night and I didn't notice it. I reported it at lost and found but it hasn't been found yet so it might be a lost cause to think I'll ever get that back.

Maybe speak to guest services. Aren't they selling them as well maybe they will sprinkle some pixie dust and give you a new one.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Maybe speak to guest services. Aren't they selling them as well maybe they will sprinkle some pixie dust and give you a new one.

I did not see them for sale anywhere, but they may be able to give you an new one. I am sure they have extras somewhere.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I loved the Premium areas.
The cast members were thrilled to see me, loved to chat about the various offerings in each area and after I paid for my choices, they bought the food so I wouldn't have to stand in the lines.

I was thrilled with all of that and was even able to sit on ledges near the tables or in one case there was a bench in the area so I sat on that.
I did wish the premium areas were open until 9pm.

The cast members did have to ask many people to leave that tried to sneak in to the premium areas on Thursday evening. One person refused to leave until the cast member told her they were going to have to call security if she didn't leave the area because she wasn't a premium package holder.
That was awkward since I was the only person in that section at the time.

I saw alot of manager types checking the areas out and I did take a survey where I suggested that they add seats to the premium areas, umbrellas to those tables and keep them open until 9pm.

Overall I did really enjoy the premium package and felt it was worth the money to have a place to eat and not have to stand in the lines at the booths - some of which were long.

I would do the package again if I ever get a chance to go back to the Food and Wine Festival.

Oh and trying to visit the festival in the pouring rain doesn't go well if you don't have an umbrella to keep the water out of your food. It was a monsoon there on tuesday night but I still managed to enjoy myself.
And the Pointer Sisters were so fabulous it was worth dealing with all of the rain.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Maybe speak to guest services. Aren't they selling them as well maybe they will sprinkle some pixie dust and give you a new one.

I did speak to guest services the next day (they were closed that evening) but they didn't have any spares to give me.

No worries - if it shows up, cool - if not no biggie.

 

[KCSherri]

I had the Premium Package last week - and I LOVED it. I would SO do it again if they ever offered it.

During the day, it was AWESOME to have cast members run and go get your food/drink. It was also fun to chat with other guests/castmembers….I do agree that some of the areas definitely could have used some shade - or some seats - but some were shaded, and some had benches, which was nice.

The late night party was pretty cool…loved the music, the glow cups, the ambiance…and staying at Epcot until most of the guests had gone.

 

[johnsgrl]

I have to agree, I loved the premium areas! It was so nice to sit and chat with DH while someone else brought us food from several booths instead of having to split up and wait in several lines. Riding out a downpour under the cover of the premium area in the American Pavilion was a huge help! And we brought home our wine and chocolates for a "date night" when we want to pretend we are back at the World after a hard day.
The party was excellent, we were tired and said we were going to leave early, but had so much fun it was midnight before we even looked at our watches
If there is any advice I would give it is save the more expensive items you want to sample from the included booths for the night of the party, I would not have ordered the $12.50 glass of champagne while I was visiting the booths during the day, but after sampling things I wanted to at the party, the first glass was so yummy, I had to have another

 

[johnsgrl]

Our bags were just delivered - no gift cards, no magic bands!!! Did you pick those up at Epcot or were they in the bags?

The were separate at the front desk, the CM we talked too got us the envelope with the cards and bands and told us the giftbags were not there yet, but the gentleman next to us had his giftbags there so we asked the CM helping us to check and they were there, so she let the other CM know to go get the envelope as well. I would go back to the front desk and have them check for the envelope, they must be located separately.

 

[Mickeynutty]

Ours were in an envelope at the hotel front desk

Thanks. I was able to get them from the front desk. It took a bunch of explaining as they did not know what I was talking about. They kept saying this was a brand new offering and they didn't know much about it.

 

[Mickeynutty]

The were separate at the front desk, the CM we talked too got us the envelope with the cards and bands and told us the giftbags were not there yet, but the gentleman next to us had his giftbags there so we asked the CM helping us to check and they were there, so she let the other CM know to go get the envelope as well. I would go back to the front desk and have them check for the envelope, they must be located separately.

Thanks. I was able to get them from the front desk. It took a bunch of explaining as they did not know what I was talking about. They kept saying this was a brand new offering and they didn't know much about it.

 

[bmswart3]

Does anyone have a list of ALL the premium areas and which booths they correspond to? I am trying to make a schedule of sorts for our 3 days at the festival and I would love to know ahead of time which area corresponds to which booth so I know where to spend my time

 

[DVC_Corrys]

Does anyone have a list of ALL the premium areas and which booths they correspond to? I am trying to make a schedule of sorts for our 3 days at the festival and I would love to know ahead of time which area corresponds to which booth so I know where to spend my time

Yes. I am very interested as well.

 

[TheGoodes73]

There's a really good review of the premium package and late nights live party, but I can't post a link yet...Google search "Epcot Food and Wine festival premium package" lots of answers there, including a listing of what each vip area offers.