So When Can We Book F&W Classic?

[mjaclyn]

We're still deciding what to do. We booked a room at the Dolphin for those dates expecting to simply roll it over to the Food & Wine Classic package. It's almost $70 per night more than it was last year. I'm kind of surprised that they would raise the prices so much. $50 was great last time but with only 9 food stations I don't think the wristband is worth $76 unless you plan on having a lot of drinks. DH and I are only really interested in the food because we're not big drinkers. If you compare it to the offerings at Epcot's Food & Wine Festival, which are similar portion sizes, you could buy 20 different appetizers there for the same price as this wristband. Are they not doing the tickets this year?

 

[DebbieT11]

The ordering page for the event is now visible to me.... but no information about the tickets - that'll be the way we'll end up going if we go at all.

 

[4orm]

We called and asked about tickets and were told that there is no ticket option - only the wristbands. Since I don't drink and we're small eaters I will not be spending $300 for the 2 nights for us. We told the fellow on the phone why we would prefer tickets or a non-alcoholic wristband option we were told that a regular wristband doesn't force you to drink. I know that, but I also know I won't be eating $75 worth of food per night. We're not too happy about the decision to exclude tickets this year.
I'm thinking of changing my reservations from the D/S since half the reason we were going to stay there was due to the proximity to the Classic.

Maybe if enough of us Dis'ers let them know that they'll be losing a lot of customers due to this they'll add tickets. I don't mind buying them at an over inflated price. I'll pay $75 for tickets that my husband and I could split on food with the option of buying more if we need.

 

[DebbieT11]

Regarding the ticket sales..... I emailed and asked if it was true that there would be no ticket sales this year as i'd heard....I got this response today from the food and beverage department by email...

That is not true. We are still going to sell ala carte tickets this year; I am still waiting to hear what the cost will be for them. I will keep you posted.

So, that sounds positive! We're eager to try some of the dishes there, especially after last year's rave reviews.

 

[aspen37]

Regarding the ticket sales..... I emailed and asked if it was true that there would be no ticket sales this year as i'd heard....I got this response today from the food and beverage department by email...



So, that sounds positive! We're eager to try some of the dishes there, especially after last year's rave reviews.

Oh good, because I will not eat $75 plus tax in food. I don't really, drink so like others have said that price is not worth it for me.

 

[BriarRosie]

Oh good, because I will not eat $75 plus tax in food. I don't really, drink so like others have said that price is not worth it for me.

I don't think it's worth the increase in price based on last year's event. They needed more food to compensate. The food they had was awesome, but there was not enough of it to balance the booze.

The new charges for the seminars is a bad thing, IMHO. I don't think I would have thought the Modern Mixology seminar was worth it if it hadn't been free (basically the cost of the $50 wristband).

If you were buying a seminar ($39.50) and a wristband ($74), that's $113.50.
That's taking the original price and tacking $63.50 to it.

That would have been a deal breaker for me, as I would have considered going with the wristband only and no seminar. But they should have more food stations.

I won't be going this year due to vacation plans changing. I'd be curious to hear from others who also attended last year if the event has improved in terms of getting value for the money.

 

[ziggy298]

We went last year and will be in Florida again this year whilst the event is on and had been looking forward to attending again as it was really good last year.
However with the new prices announced we have changed our mind as the increase is simply too much and to me seems like greed on the S&D side after the success of last year. I totally understand the need to charge more but to put the prices up by what is in essence more than a 100% increase is crazy to me. Also i read that the stations will only be open until 9:30pm. Last year we were still eating and drinking after 10:30. So not only have the prices gone up they have cut the hours.

As someone summed up in an earlier post the amount this year is about 20 portions worth at the Epcot F&W.
I personally think the S&D are going to price themselves out of the event and this will now slowly die off over the next few years. Which will be a shame as last years event was really good. Just my opinion, am sure others will disagree.

 

[4orm]

Regarding the ticket sales..... I emailed and asked if it was true that there would be no ticket sales this year as i'd heard....I got this response today from the food and beverage department by email...



So, that sounds positive! We're eager to try some of the dishes there, especially after last year's rave reviews.

That's fantastic!!! I wonder why we were told otherwise when we called. I guess the person we got wasn't totally in-the-know. Thanks so much! Now I can plan on going again!

 

[BriarRosie]

We went last year and will be in Florida again this year whilst the event is on and had been looking forward to attending again as it was really good last year.
However with the new prices announced we have changed our mind as the increase is simply too much and to me seems like greed on the S&D side after the success
of last year. I totally understand the need to charge more but to put
the prices up by what is in
essence more than a 100%
increase is crazy to me. Also i read
that the stations will only be open
until 9:30pm. Last year we were
still eating and drinking after 10:30.
So not only have the prices gone
up they have cut the hours.

As someone summed up in an
earlier post the amount this year is
about 20 portions worth at the
Epcot F&W.

I personally think the S&D are
going to price themselves out of
the event and this will now slowly
die off over the next few years.
Which will be a shame as last
years event was really good. Just
my opinion, am sure others will
disagree.

I posted that it is over an 100% increase if you count the seminar and tasting. The tasting alone going from 50 to 74 bucks is closer to a 50% increase. Still a bad thing, IMHO.

 

[dansyr2514]

I was very excited to attend this and currently have a reservation, but I'll be honest, I'm not sure if we're going to keep it. DBF doesn't drink and not sure if he would consume $74 worth of food in the a few hours. I know he could...lol, but with the lines and crowds I'm not sure if it would be worth it.

 

[mjaclyn]

I think DH and I are going to cancel our S&D reservation and go the weekend before to the 40th Anniversary Celebration. After thinking about it I'd rather pay $150 for DH and I at the Food & Wine Festival in Epcot. We don't drink much so I can't see myself having more than 1 cocktail and with only 9 food stations the price is not worth it this year IMO. I agree with one of the previous posters that it seems like they're getting really greedy this year. I definitely expected some kind of increase but not 50%+.

 

[mjtm610]

What 40th Anniversary celebration? What have I missed?

 

[jeanigor]

What 40th Anniversary celebration? What have I missed?

Saturday October 1st is the 40th Anniversary of WDW. They have had oodles of specialty merchandise (pins, tee shirts, vinylmation, Mickey hats, computer cases, even underwear) touting it. I am not aware of any special celebrations going on that day being put on by Disney, but I know some fan communities are planning things. They may wait to announce whatever they are doing. How long beforehand did they give out information about what they were doing for Epcot's 25th?

 

[4orm]

Any more word on tickets (instead of wristbands)?
Their site doesn't.