November Food & Wine Festival Solos Invite

[AnnB]

I know it's a few months away, but I figured it's never too early to plan your next WDW vacation--I just reserved mine this past month.

This November 1st-6th I will be making my first solo trip to WDW. I booked this time particularly to catch the Food & Wine Festival and the "Party of the Senses" grand tasting on November 5th. This will be my second year hitting the festival and the Party. Last year was fantastic! The daily international food tastings were wonderful, and the Party of the Senses grand tasting was a highlight of all my WDW trips. If you haven't gone yet, the Party features dozens of top world chefs who each cook a specialty dish in small plate format. All the cooking is done in the room, and the chefs are mostly happy to talk about their creations with everyone. There are also dozens of vinters with different wines to taste. You wander around a huge festival room sampling food and wine. Afterwards (for those who haven't overindulged...), everyone from the Party goes out for a reserved prime viewing section to the Illuminations. I can go into greater detail about the event for any who would like to read.

And now to my purpose: I think the Party of the Senses is a great opportunity for a bunch of solo travelers to get together. So, I would like to invite everyone on this Board to consider planning their festival reservations around November 5th and I will happily help to coordinate a meetup there (will even supply some sort of identifying ribbon). If enough people are interested, we can also do a meetup during the week at the EPCOT showcase, but, I am getting ahead of myself here.

What do you think?

Ann

 

[imnotaprincess]

But unfortunately I've already planned my November trip, arriving on November 10 for a couple of days prior to my cruise, and then a couple days post cruise back at the World!

 

[BriarRosie]

I know it's a few months away, but I figured it's never too early to plan your next WDW vacation--I just reserved mine this past month.

This November 1st-6th I will be making my first solo trip to WDW. I booked this time particularly to catch the Food & Wine Festival and the "Party of the Senses" grand tasting on November 5th. This will be my second year hitting the festival and the Party. Last year was fantastic! <snip>And now to my purpose: I think the Party of the Senses is a great opportunity for a bunch of solo travelers to get together. So, I would like to invite everyone on this Board to consider planning their festival reservations around November 5th and I will happily help to coordinate a meetup there (will even supply some sort of identifying ribbon). If enough people are interested, we can also do a meetup during the week at the EPCOT showcase, but, I am getting ahead of myself here.

What do you think?

Ann

Hey! You didn't happen to attend last year on November 6th with your sister
by any chance, did you? If so, I was one of the gals sharing a table with
you. If it IS you, I was the taller one. I think my friend might
be at the F&WF the same week as you, but my trip will be Oct 15-23 this
time.

It will still be a big food and wine fest trip. Last year, I think I booked 8
different events!

 

[AnnB]

Yes that was me (and my sister)!!! Small world...I loved it so much last year that I booked again--this time I'm staying at the Beach Club Villas so I can walk to the festival. I'm sorry you won't be there this time--please let your friend know I'll be there this time again. Also, feel free to share the your recommendations about the eight events from last year.

Hope all goes well with you!

Ann

 

[BriarRosie]

Yes that was me (and my sister)!!! Small world...I loved it so much last year that I booked again--this time I'm staying at the Beach Club Villas so I can walk to the festival. I'm sorry you won't be there this time--please let your friend know I'll be there this time again. Also, feel free to share the your recommendations about the eight events from last year.

Hope all goes well with you!

Ann

That is too funny! Beach Club Villas is my "home" resort, so I agree that it's a convenient place to stay for the F&WF! I've got it booked for October.

I'll let her know you'll be there again as soon as she gets back from the
Panama Canal cruise she's on with about 350 DISers. LOL!

I booked:

Party for the Senses: As you know, it was well worth the sampling and entertainment. I loved the Cirque performers. The foie gras mousse was one of my favorite samples.

Lunch and Learn: I booked one of these two years ago, and one this past year. The first year, the L&L was held at various resort restaurants, but this past year, they moved the venue to the Odyssey at Epcot. You get a few courses with wine, plus the chef will teach you how to make the food. We all got a booklet of the recipes. Think of it as Emeril giving you a full meal, while teaching you some of the basics. I definitely recommend it, although it's one of the pricier events.

Sweet Sundays: Last year was the first year they offered this. I thought of it as the desserts only version of the Lunch and Learn, but I didn't feel it was worth the price. I won't do it again.

Food and Wine pairings: You get three courses with wines, and the price is reasonable. $35 plus tax last year. I did sushi and sake at Japan, and I
booked pairings at Le Cellier and Coral Reef. I did not think the Marrakesh one was that special (when I went in 2003), so I didn't book it in 2004.

Beer pairing dinner: In 2003, it was at the Rose and Crown, and I had a five course meal with five international beers. It was really good, and the presenter was a lot of fun. In 2004, the dinners alternated between domestic and foreign, depending on the week you booked it. My week was domestic, so it was a variety of Sam Adams beers. It was special because it was in a VIP room at the top of American Adventure! I didn't know the room even existed. The food was set up as a buffet, and the beers were
terrific. (I liked the winter seasonal and the chocolate bock varieties a lot!)

I didn't get a Signature Dinner or Exquisite Evening at Epcot. Not only are they the priciest, I'd have to re-budget (aka "cut out a lot of events") if
I wanted to go for those events this year.

 

[AnnB]

Great report! I'm wishing it were November already (although, I don't really want to rush through summer all that fast--it's been a really cold winter here in NYC).

One last question--do you remember when they will announce the different festival events, and how do you sign up for them early?

Also, I am going to Chicago pretty soon, please let me know if you want to grab a non-WDW meal.

Thanks again for the recommendations!
Ann

 

[BriarRosie]

Great report! I'm wishing it were November already (although, I don't really want to rush through summer all that fast--it's been a really cold winter here in NYC).

One last question--do you remember when they will announce the different festival events, and how do you sign up for them early?

Also, I am going to Chicago pretty soon, please let me know if you want to grab a non-WDW meal.

Thanks again for the recommendations!
Ann

Oh, you can be sure it'll be discussed very soon in the Restaurants section.
I think late June/early July, a lot of message boards and websites had postings. Deb Wills has a great Food and Wine section at allearsnet.com ,
giving some of the food booth and event listings from prior years.

If the calling frenzy will be the same as last year, I'd expect the bookings will start sometime around July 20, more or less.

Sure, it'd be fun to see you again. I'll PM you.

 

[ImprovGal]

Yes that was me (and my sister)!!! Small world...I loved it so much last year that I booked again--this time I'm staying at the Beach Club Villas so I can walk to the festival. I'm sorry you won't be there this time--please let your friend know I'll be there this time again. Also, feel free to share the your recommendations about the eight events from last year.

Hope all goes well with you!

Ann

Hi, Ann!
I'm the short gal from last year's Party For the Senses.

I'll be at WDW from 10/28 - 11/6 this year and am planning to go to the 10/29 and 11/5 Parties (and several other events I'm sure). I'd be more than happy to volunteer my table snagging skills for the 11/5 gathering.

I don't know how accurate it is, but I heard a rumor that 7/25 would be the start of the festival event reservations. I'd expect to start seeing event information in the first couple of weeks of July.

-- Amy

 

[AnnB]

How great to hear from you! And I just met up with Lori this past week in Chicago. November's Party should be great--let's keep this posting updated so far as when reservations for the festival open up.

Ann

 

[reedycreek]

nice idea, i am thinking of going solo again in late oct or early november once i get my DVC membership squared away. will advise. thanks.

 

[BriarRosie]

How great to hear from you! And I just met up with Lori this past week in Chicago. November's Party should be great--let's keep this posting updated so far as when reservations for the festival open up.

Ann

The past two years, Rick Bayless has done the F&WF on the last weekend, which will be Nov 11-13 this year if he continues to do so this year.

But, if for some reason he shows up during your weekend, and if he's doing the Lunch and Learn again, I'd definitely recommend it.

His food does not disappoint.