Newbie Epcot Food and Wine Festival

[rwatson626]

This will be my first Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Any tips or tricks anyone willing to share.

1.)I see a lot of special events going on, do I need to do any of them to get the full affect of EFWF?

2.)I have been to Epcot a lot and don't really need to do everything there but related to the festival can I do it in 1 day or should I plan for 2 days?

3.)Do you have a plan when you go like everything else Disney World related? Or can you just stroll and eat and drink your way around the world showcase?

4.)Are there any DVC discount's if not how about tables in wonder for the food kiosk and/or special events?

5.)It's hard for us to get to Disney this time of year and don't think we can get back anytime soon. Any MUST DO's for the EFWF?

Thanks!

 

[WEDWDW]

if you have a Disney Visa card or any Chase card definitely take advantage of the Chase Lounge!

 

[rwatson626]

Thanks, Just remembered can you use Magic Bands at all the Kiosks?

 

[danny1649]

Sorry been to Disney many times but never been to F&W.My son and his wife have been several times.They just work around tasting wine and food items. I know to many this a not be missed on their agenda. So I'm sure you will receive many more replies more informative replies than mine. Sorry should have said earlier DS&DW really love it and they go for tasting and food items, they have done all at Epcot so they just concentrate on food and wine.

 

[WEDWDW]

Thanks, Just remembered can you use Magic Bands at all the Kiosks?

Yes.

 

[Disnsyncey]

I would plan for a few partial days, last 6 day trip we went at least 3 afternoon/evenings....didn't want to get too full, but wanted to try everything!

 

[linbein]

I have never attended any of the other special events associated with F&W. But this will be our 3rd time going to DW during the F&W Festival. The first time, we had gone back one evening, me, DH, my brother, and my MIL (my parents were back at the house with the kids). I am a HUGE foodie, so I was overwhelmed! My MIL was stopping at almost every booth at the beginning, and we were just all sampling food. Last year, I checked ahead of time, and DH and I came up with a game plan. We left the kids with my parents one night, and we headed back in, we had dinner by strolling around the world. We put $100 on a little gift card, and used it mostly for drinks, and used several of our snack credits for food. We plan to do the same thing this year. You don't "have" to plan, but it doesn't hurt to look ahead of time, and identify the countries that you really want to try.

 

[MsMamaBear]

Glad to hear you can use gift cards at the kiosks! That was my plan because I am sure my daughter and mom will not want to try anything. LOL!

 

[Kimosabe]

Glad to hear you can use gift cards at the kiosks! That was my plan because I am sure my daughter and mom will not want to try anything. LOL!

You might be surprised. There is a very wide variety of items to try -- some are a little more exotic than others, but there are plenty of "normal" things, too. My wife wouldn't try the lamb meatball or anything with fish, but she was willing to try almost everything else. I say this because the key for us was sharing. The portions are not big, but if you are the only person eating a particular dish a few times in a row, then you're going to fill up pretty quickly. If that's the case, then pay extra-special attention to the little guidebook you will get upon entry (although you can certainly research it in advance, too) and plan your stops for those things that sound the best. Seems logical, but there is so much going on that it's easy to get distracted. We did it for the first time last year, and over a long weekend, we hit the World Showcase on three different days to help spread the food over a longer period of time (as we also wanted a nice dinner or two rather than just snacking at F&W for every meal). On each visit, we planned to hit a particular section of kiosks...and then the next day, we'd start where we had left off the day before. Worked out pretty well.

The only extra thing that we did was the Party for the Senses. It hurt ye ol' wallet, but it was absolutely incredible and we would do it again. Whether it is this or some other special event at F&W, check out the schedule NOW for the time you're going to be there and see what is being offered. Since you've hit Epcot a lot in the past, having an extra event that is not typically offered in the park can definitely make it seem like an entirely new experience.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

This will be my third year going to F&W fest. I've never done any of the parties, meals or deminars and yet I have a great time. Here are a few of my suggestions:

• Avoid WS on weekends. This event is very popular with locals and the weekends are very crowded. You might be o.k. right when WS opens on Friday and maybe even early Saturday. But it will fill up quickly to the point where you can hardly even walk around.
• Plan to visit over a few days. There are around 30 booths, with multiple food and beverage items at each. You can get filled up very quickly. If you want to try things from most of the booths like I do, you'll need to split it up over a few days.
• Don't book an ADR during your time at F&W. You can easily graze and have a meal that way.
• There are no discounts at the booths for DVC or TIW.
• In the past, DDP snack credits could be used for any food item. We're speculating that will be the same this year. So if you're on the DDP use your snack credits for the higher-priced items at the booths (Le Cellier filet and lobster roll, for example) and pay OOP for less expensive items.
• You can use cash, credit cards, gift cards or magic bands at the booths. I love using my magic band but if you're going to do that I recommend having an alternate form of payment with you. One year some of the readers weren't working (being in direct sun messes them up), and another time the entire magic band system had a resort-wide crash for hours.
• Right after the festival opens you can find photos of the booth menus (with prices) on various blogs. I go through these and make a list of all the items I want to try at each booth. I save it to my phone for reference in the park.
• Don't put a lot of stock in all the "F&W is full of loud obnoxious drunks" posts you'll see on here. I'm not saying it doesn't exist, but I've never seen it. A lot of other regular visitors also have never seen it. So I think it's probably less prevalent than some posters would have you believe.
• Read and subscribe to the Food & Wine Festival sticky thread on the restaurant board. There's a lot of great info there from long time visitors and it's a great place to get an overview or ask questions of the "experts."

Hope this helps!

 

[DisneyHardin]

We've been to Food and Wine the last 4 years and don't really use any "plan." We don't get park hoppers, so we usually plan 2 days at Epcot. We visit Future World attractions until 11:00 and then head to WS when it opens. We just meander around trying things. We mix the booths with the regular WS sights to see and have a great time. We have never done any of the special events other than stand outside the theater to listen to the Eat to the Beat bands play (I have never waited in line and actually gotten a seat for the concerts).

 

[pmaurer74]

does it open at 11am? Which would you choose? Friday, Saturday or Sunday?

 

[JimmyV]

does it open at 11am? Which would you choose? Friday, Saturday or Sunday?

If those were my only options, I would choose 11:00 on Friday. The weekends can be insane. Yes, everything is up and running at 11:00.

As for the OP's inquiry, there are excellent suggestions here. What I would add is that if wine is a focus, set your expectations low. It is really the Epcot Food Festival with some pedestrian, supermarket wine served to wash down the food. Served in small plastic cups. At the wrong temperature. Food is my love but wine is my passion. I have sought out many events that looked like they might fulfill the needs of an oenophile and every one has disappointed. But the food booths are always fun. And set a budget and then double it!

 

[IsThatYouTigger]

We've been to Food and Wine the last 4 years and don't really use any "plan." We don't get park hoppers, so we usually plan 2 days at Epcot. We visit Future World attractions until 11:00 and then head to WS when it opens. We just meander around trying things. We mix the booths with the regular WS sights to see and have a great time. We have never done any of the special events other than stand outside the theater to listen to the Eat to the Beat bands play (I have never waited in line and actually gotten a seat for the concerts).

This sounds EXACTLY like my husband and me!!! We do get park hoppers though so if we are doing Epcot in the morning we will get there at park open and go to all the Future World attractions and then head to World Showcase when it opens before heading to another park around 6:00 and use our FP+. If we choose to do Epcot in the evening we generally try to get there by 3:00 at the latest and choose not to do rides and only focus on Food and Wine until park close.

 

[MsMamaBear]

You might be surprised. There is a very wide variety of items to try -- some are a little more exotic than others, but there are plenty of "normal" things, too. My wife wouldn't try the lamb meatball or anything with fish, but she was willing to try almost everything else. I say this because the key for us was sharing. The portions are not big, but if you are the only person eating a particular dish a few times in a row, then you're going to fill up pretty quickly. If that's the case, then pay extra-special attention to the little guidebook you will get upon entry (although you can certainly research it in advance, too) and plan your stops for those things that sound the best. Seems logical, but there is so much going on that it's easy to get distracted. We did it for the first time last year, and over a long weekend, we hit the World Showcase on three different days to help spread the food over a longer period of time (as we also wanted a nice dinner or two rather than just snacking at F&W for every meal). On each visit, we planned to hit a particular section of kiosks...and then the next day, we'd start where we had left off the day before. Worked out pretty well.

The only extra thing that we did was the Party for the Senses. It hurt ye ol' wallet, but it was absolutely incredible and we would do it again. Whether it is this or some other special event at F&W, check out the schedule NOW for the time you're going to be there and see what is being offered. Since you've hit Epcot a lot in the past, having an extra event that is not typically offered in the park can definitely make it seem like an entirely new experience.

That's good! Hopefully I get get them to try SOME of the food. LOL!

 

[Cee]

I would get a F & W themed gift card. They are on a wristlet and you can load it with as much $$$ as you like. It can be reloaded but makes it very easy and fast at the different kiosks for purchasing all the wonderful deliciousness! The MagicBand is good too, but that is linked to a credit card, and sometimes we spend more that way. GAH! The gift card allows a more controlled spending. We load it, and when it's gone, we have to decide to reload or not. ENJOY!