tell me about the party for the senses

[Lisa F]

DH and I are considering booking this F&W event for this year, but I'm worried about the "scramble" to get seats. Once you have a seat, do you keep it? Or is it meant to be like a cocktail party where sometimes you stand and talk and eat and sometimes you sit and when you abandon your table someone else will sit there? It's an awful lot of money to have to fight for a seat!

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

Hi there! This will be our 3rd PftS (we plan on going Sept 29, 2007) but there are plenty of DISers that have been WAY more than that, so hopefully they can offer some insight as well.

I truly think it is meant to be a "cocktail party" type atmosphere. There are many tables (seating 4, 6 and more...mostly 4 tops) and also "stand up" table....high tops that you are supposed to stand at and munch. You are given a wine glass (that you keep) and also a plate that has a notch in it that the wine glass fits into, although I must say it makes me nervous to walk around like that (glass placed into "notch") so I never do.

That said, I will tell you that DH and I like to eat while seated, so we get a table. Usually another couple will approach us and ask if it is ok to share our table, which of course is fine with us! We met some honeymooners from MD our first PftS, and a couple from NYC last year, she was a cookbook author and they were so interesting. The other nice thing about sharing the table and making friends with your table mates, is then we take turns walking around together, knowing the other couple is "saving" our seats.

Hope this helps, we are SO looking forward to our next PftS! It is incredible!

 

[Lisa F]

Thanks for the review! Hopefully some other people will chime in. I read some of the reviews on allearsnet from last year and it sounds great, but I'd hate to fight for a table!

What's the dress code for it? Do people wear park clothes or do they dress up?

We'd like to do one "special" event when we go to the F&W festival this year and it sounds like this one could be it. So you basically wander around and eat for 2.5 hours?

 

[wildernesslodgelover]

I kind of dress "middle of the road" meaning capris and a cute top with some cute flat sandals. I saw some gals there in cocktail attire, and some people in VERY casual attire, although I must say, no one was wearing jogging shoes and a ratty Tshirt. Maybe *someone* was, but I did not notice! I would actually like to dress a bit nicer, but we are usually staying at BWV (this trip Dolphin) so we walk to the park, and I just want to be comfy! DH wears dockers type pants and a collared shirt, maybe something button down and not tucked in.

This is the only special event we really do for F&W Fest, as we are there with our 8 year old DD and we feel guilty enough leaving her in a kid's club for close to 4 hours while we do PftS. For the record, she LOVES the kid's clubs and begs to go every WDW trip we take...so we don't feel *too* guilty! But we will only be there 4 nights this trip, so one "adults only" event is enough.

At the beginning of the night, DH and I are so piggish, you know how you feel when you are hungry...you feel like you will never get full? We act like 2.5 hours is no way enough time to get full. Of course about an hour into it, we are stuffed and feeling kind of sick! We definitely get our moneys' worth, I will say that!

The first year I got tickets, my DH was so annoyed...he could not imagine what I wanted to spend so much money on. After our first PftS he declared it would become an annual event for us. It is really wonderful, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

 

[Wendy1953]

DH and I are considering booking this F&W event for this year, but I'm worried about the "scramble" to get seats. Once you have a seat, do you keep it? Or is it meant to be like a cocktail party where sometimes you stand and talk and eat and sometimes you sit and when you abandon your table someone else will sit there? It's an awful lot of money to have to fight for a seat!

We went last year, first time, got there too "late" to get a table....not late at all, but yes, the rush is on.......the event itself was wonderful, the food and wine were excellent! It is really like a cocktail party, they do have great plates, it actually has a hole in the side where you can carry your wine glass on the plate, however, it's not conducive to cutting anything....you don't fight for seats, either you get one or you don't or you can "hawk" the situation out and grab one when you can. That is the only part of the party we didn't care for. I think they could improve on this as they take reservations, so they know how many people are attending(everyone pays the same price so everyone should receive the same treatment), so they should have enough tables/seats for all. It was an excellent affair, however, it would have been better if we had seats and a table to sit at. I believe, Disney could reduce the amount of people they accept for this program, have seats and tables for all in attendance, and it would be a better experience for all, as I've mentioned before, everyone walking in the door pays the same price, but not everyone gets the same service.

 

[Kteacher]

I'm planning on doing this for the first time this October. What time does it start, and what time do people start lining up? This will be my first " kids-free " trip, so I'm really looking forward to this event

 

[BriarRosie]

I'm planning on doing this for the first time this October. What time does it start, and what time do people start lining up? This will be my first " kids-free " trip, so I'm really looking forward to this event

I usually checked in with the cast member with the guest list outside World Showplace around 6pm. They will start letting people get their notched plates and wine glasses, as well as a menu/program soon after. There's a holding area inside, with a few sofas, but most people will herd themselves toward the drapes.

Once those open around 6:30 or so, the running of the bulls commences.
Many people will rush to get the first table they can find, but if you get further into the room, you'll find more tables more centrally located. If you have a large party, the tables in the far back of the room seat a lot of people.

It's a HUGE venue, so if you found a spot, park yourself there. Offer extra seats at your table to others who can fill the table. Often, you go wandering for the next nibble while others at your table are trying their stuff. And I always keep the wine glass with me. I never know what wines I will find in passing, so it's good to have the glass handy.

At the end of the event, when you're ready to go, I've found cast members at the exit offering small plastic bags to hold the wine glasses. I believe they have to provide them due to the glass issues / safety. I could be wrong, but that's my guess.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I honestly didn't have time to sit. I was constantly roaming with my party looking for good food & drink.
Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I can't imagine parking it at a table for the evening...

MG

 

[Kteacher]

It will just be two of us, so I doubt we'll sit in one spot. One more question- does the event end in time for you to see Illuminations?

 

[budbeerlady]

I think you might miss illuminations as I thought the event was from 6:30 to 9ish? But there is nothing stoping you from leaving when you are ready.

We are planning on going to our first one also.