September food & wine date change???

[TOUCHE]

I just got home to pick up my messages from the last few days, one of which was from a dvc customer service rep. I have mixed emotions. First, I was excited that I booked the third wk of September for a villa at BW for me and 6 of my friends to go to the Food & Wine Festival ( I even went to the extent of buying more points to get the 3 br villa.) Flights are booked, vacation days at work requested. Then I get a phone call from DVC member services that told me that the festival doesn't start until 9/29 this year!
Everyone at DVC that I spoke to to get these ressies knew what that the purpose of this trip was the festival! Why didn't they say something while I was in the process. (within the last week) While I am very greatful that Cloe called to let me in on the date I am upset at the same time. Aside from the expenses we must incur to change flights - what are the chances of getting a BWV 3 br now? I can't stand the wait until Monday to find out.

 

[byoung]

Good luck.

 

[CRSNDSNY]

UGH...that must be a major disappointment. So sorry to hear this. I hope it works out for you and your friends.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think it ever started before the end of September. When did you reserve the 3 bedroom villa? They usually book up at 11 months.

 

[debbiepump]

I saved my 'program' from last year's F&W and it states the dates are 9/29 to 11/13.

 

[DVC-Don]

DW went to the F&WF with a girlfriend last year and it did not start until the last weekend of September then.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Everyone at DVC that I spoke to to get these ressies knew what that the purpose of this trip was the festival! Why didn't they say something while I was in the process.

There has not been any change to the dates for the 2006 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. The Festival is scheduled to run from September 29 through November 12, 2006. Those dates were announced at the Festival last year (which ran from September 30 through November 13, 2005). The 2006 dates have been published for a long time at WDWinfo.com and AllEarsNet.com.

My guess is that the DVC Member Services cast members assumed that you knew the dates that you wanted. I imagine that they focus on what dates you're trying to reserve, rather than on any conversation about what you plan to do at WDW. All Member Services cast members have not necessarily memorized the dates of all WDW events. It seems that your date disconnect registered in someone's head at DVC after the fact, and that's why you received a call from DVC. Yes, it would have been great if someone caught sooner that you didn't know the correct dates for the 2006 Food and Wine Festival.

I hope everything works out well. Please don't read this reply as some sort of attack. In reading what I've written, I know it sounds somewhat harsh. Perhaps your experience will be a good lesson for others to be 100% sure of dates for WDW events, holidays, school schedules, and so one, before calling Member Services to reserve a DVC accommodations.

 

[rinkwide]

...the expenses we must incur to change flights - what are the chances of getting a BWV 3 br now?

Most likely, the only reason you got the Grand Villa in the first place was that the Food & Wine wasn't going on. Mine was booked at the 11 month window, day-by-day at 9:00 am sharp.

F&W is nice but it ain't that nice. Even without it, the World Showcase has plenty of food and wine to keep you all busy. Add in the Boardwalk, Downtown Disney and Pleasure Island and you've got yourself a big 'ol week-long party. Don't try to change your ressie, be glad you have it and make your own festival.

 

[justplaingoofy]

That really stinks for you... However, those dates have been published for a very long time... Sorry to hear that!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Don't try to change your ressie, be glad you have it and make your own festival.

TOUCHE,

I think rinkwide has made a great suggestion, under the circumstances.

If your primary reason for going during the F&W Festival is to attend culinary demos and wine tasting seminars, then you'll lose out by going the third week of September.

However, if your primary goal is to have a great, adult vacation at WDW — with the luxury and convenience of a Grand Villa at BWV, fine dining with properly paired wines, snacking on ethnic foods around World Showcase Lagoon, and enjoying WDW at one of the least crowded times of the year — then keep your current BWV booking and flight tickets. You can do all those things in the third week of September.

Getting a BWV Grand Villa during the F&W Festival at this late date (within the 7-month window) is highly unlikely. And the airline tickets are likely to require a change fee of $100 (sometimes only $50 to Florida) each plus any fare difference.

Then try the Food & Wine Festival another year.

 

[Figment2]

When you called in your reservation, did you ask what was available or did you have specific dates in mind? I'm hoping you didn't call and ask for a GV for anytime during the F&W. If you did (and I don't mean to sound harsh) then it was your responsibility to know those dates.

I agree with Horace that your dates probably didn't even register with the CM when the reservation was made. Last year friends who live down there told me that it was announced at one of the wine seminars that F&W was going to be extended. Apparently that changed (as so many things do).

I'm impressed they called.

Good luck. If nothing esle, as Rinkwide suggested "make your own festival."

Cyn

 

[TOUCHE]

Thanks everyone. Next time I will know better. When I called I did say I wanted to go to the festival. Being this is my first 1) trip home since purchasing DVC and 2) my first crack at the festival - I was a rookie. I'll ask the girls what they want to do. I imagine we still will have a great time at Disney - like you said it won't be crowded. Like I said before, I am thankful that the CM called to let me know after noticing it - the ball is in my court now.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I imagine we still will have a great time at Disney - like you said it won't be crowded. Like I said before, I am thankful that the CM called to let me know after noticing it - the ball is in my court now.

I hope you have a great time.

Consider signing up for the Disney Dining Plan. Use the snack and counter service credits to sample ethnic foods all around World Showcase Lagoon. Use the table service credits for three-course dinners, and consider ordering the suggested wine pairings on the menu — the Disney sommeliers and chefs generally do a great job suggesting appropriate wines. Also, buy tastes of wine throughout the countries of World Showcase.

In other words, you really can make your own Food and Wine Festival, even if you're there a few weeks too early for the official event.

In September, the weather should be great for the water parks, but the summer crowds will be gone. You don't have to be a little kid to enjoy the water parks.

Have fun!

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I don't think it ever started before the end of September. When did you reserve the 3 bedroom villa? They usually book up at 11 months.

True.
The only thing I could think of that starts earlier this year is the Halloween Party and Christmas Party at the MK.

Still too bad that the OP was misinformed like that.

TOUCHE -- We've been to Disney (stayed at BWV) twice during the time in Sept. that you're going. It is really empty. Last year our last night there was the night before F&W started. They had already began putting some of the kiosks out at WS and let me tell you it was a MADHOUSE! In a matter of a day we noticed how incredibly crowded it had gotten. We were thankful we were leaving.

HAVE FUN!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I had a friend who specifically wanted to take her kids to Disney for SWW. She's never been so she went through a travel agent. They got reservations, tickets, etc. only to find that SWW didn't begin until the week after they went home. Talk about bummer!

 

[TOUCHE]

OK, So I took a vote among the girls. . . keep the ressie's for a fun but quite time at BWV in September or attempt to find an opening at another 3 br villa.
I have such helpful friends - 3 of us didn't care either way (we were out for a good time no matter what) the other 3 were definite food & wine votes. . .
I let the luck of the draw roll, if there were openings we would change the dates - if not we'll keep what we have. It turned out that we were able to get into SSR for the third week in October (definitely during food & wine festival - I checked) with a wait list to BWV. The cast member told me that SSR should be a little quiter during the festival (compared to BWV) and we could walk (or boat) to Pleasure Island. She also mentioned SSR has its own bus directly to Epcot and back (no Disney bus stopping at other resorts). Can someone confirm what the CM told me.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

The cast member told me that SSR should be a little quiter during the festival (compared to BWV) and we could walk (or boat) to Pleasure Island. She also mentioned SSR has its own bus directly to Epcot and back (no Disney bus stopping at other resorts). Can someone confirm what the CM told me.

Yes. The cast member is correct.

Depending on where your room is at SSR, you may find it more convenient to get to Downtown Disney (including Pleasure Island) by foot, bus, or boat.

The SSR-Epcot bus makes a loop through SSR, stopping at three SSR bus stops. It then goes directly to the Epcot. To return from Epcot, go to the OKW-SSR bus stop. Don't worry. It's one bus stop, but it's served by separate bus routes for OKW and SSR.

Now watch for Disney to begin taking bookings for F&W Festival events, probably in mid or late July. The free events, such as wine tastings and culinary demos, are fun and don't take reservations. But the ticketed events, although expensive, can be the real highlights of the Festival.

It's good to be able to use Disney transportation (rather than driving a car) when attending the F&W Festival — especially if you go to an event like the Party for the Senses, at which it's possible to drink a fair amount of wine.

Were you able to get a 3BR at SSR at this late date? If so, that's great! Congratulations!

 

[paults]

if staying at SSR try requesting CONGRESS PARK AREA very short walk to DTD and back and has its own quiet pool with view of DTD

good luck

 

[TOUCHE]

Dear fellow Chicago Suburbanite (aka Horace) - Thanks for the advice. Yes,
I was lucky to get a 3 br at SSR even at this late date. This trip was meant to be I guess. What kind of things do we register for & where do I take care of this?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Dear fellow Chicago Suburbanite (aka Horace) - Thanks for the advice. Yes,
I was lucky to get a 3 br at SSR even at this late date. This trip was meant to be I guess. What kind of things do we register for & where do I take care of this?

The paid events include the Party for the Senses, Lunch and Learns, Exquisite Evenings, Cooking Schools, Sweet Sundays, Vertical Tasting, Food & Wine Pairings, Epcot Wine Schools, and Signature Dinners. For more information, see http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/epcot/events/ — but notice that, as of now, the dates and guest chefs/winemakers are from 2005, not for 2006.

For the paid events, it's a good idea to like a lot of different kinds of food. At most events, you're served a set menu. For example, you may have an opener with raw salmon, a course with scallops, and another course with lamb. If you don't like raw salmon, scallops, and lamb, you've just paid a lot of money to leave food on your plate. There are many different choices at "The Party for the Senses," but, even there, the food tends toward more unusual ingredients and preparation — which is fun for foodies, but not fun for picky eaters. (I'm glad I'm not a picky eater!)

In 2005, Disney began accepting bookings for Epcot International Food and Wine Festival events on Monday, July 25, at 7:00 a.m. EDT / 6:00 a.m. CDT. I've heard the date for 2006 might be July 31, but it could be sooner. Last year, some events are sold out in less than an hour. Other events are still available weeks later, such as The Party for the Senses (which has a huge capacity) and some less popular events. (Two years ago, the Food & Wine Pairings at China had to be cancelled due to lack of interest.) Every year, they add more events, but the demand increases every year too.

For the past few years, sites such as DIS and AllEarsNet have published a detailed schedule around early July. That makes it possible to pick and choose the events that you're interested in.

It can get expensive quite quickly. It's easy for a couple to spend a thousand dollars for a half dozen events. Officially, Disney charges your credit card immediately — in 2004 it actually took about a month, but in 2005 it only took 2 days. After the charges hit credit cards, there seem to be a fair number of cancellations, so that's another opportunity to book events that were previously sold out.

You can find detailed reports of past Food & Wine Fetivals at http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/ep/foodwine.htm — just click on the links in the left column under "AllEarsNet® Reports."

Keep in mind that in addition to the paid events, there are also free culinary demonstrations (which include a complimentary, small food portion) and free wine tastings. For most free events, there are no advance reservations. For the free beer tasting at Rose & Crown and the free tea tasting in the UK, you need to sign up on the same day — or that's how it was last year.

Good luck! Have fun!

 

[TOUCHE]

Great info - Thanks so much.