Tips for a 1st Timers Food & Wine!

[disneydad78]

This will be our first time at Food and Wine. We have 3 kids, so the extra seminars tastings are out due to cost. Yes Im crying inside.

Anyway, do you guys have any tips or info you are willing to give out?

Thanks

 

[dsnyfan608]

This will be our first time at Food and Wine. We have 3 kids, so the extra seminars tastings are out due to cost. Yes Im crying inside.

Anyway, do you guys have any tips or info you are willing to give out?

Thanks

F&W is awesome and we go every year! We have learned that when we get to the park, we purchase a gift card. It helps us to control costs and keeps us from having a bunch of coins in our pocket. We have given each kid their own card and they can choose what they want, when they want. They also have gift cards on a bracelet which can be convenient and fun! Most importantly, have a blast!

 

[OKW Lover]

We've done F&W for several years now. Some of the things we've learned:

• Plan it costing a lot! The price of the individual items isn't much but it adds up quickly.
• Plan on sharing. The portions are small but my wife & I typically get a couple of bites each from them. That way you can try more foods before you are full.
• Plan on going more than one day. There's too many booths to hit them all in one day.
• Go different directions. Clockwise the first day, counter clockwise the second. That's because by the time you get half way around you won't be hungry so you'll skip some really good booths.
• Get a wrist band gift card at any of the booths or festival shops. This makes paying at the booths very quick. Actually, get two so you can swap-off the ordering responsibilities.

Oh, and listen to the first podcast after the Festival opens. They will have some great reviews of the items and special tips.

 

[wdwscout]

I would echo everything Jeff just said and add this...

Try to get a copy of the food booth map beforehand. There should be one on the DIS as soon as it is released.
Then go over the map and decide which booths are "must dos" and which you think you can skip. If your kids are old enough, have them review the offerings too and pick a few they want to try.
That way you can focus a little better and not miss what you wanted to try. You'll also have a better idea of how much you will be spending at the booths and how much to put on those gift card bracelets. If you do run out of funds on a card- remember they are reloadable at every booth and the most shops! (Also- you can use them anywhere in WDW- not just at the F&W booths)

Also- plan to go in the early afternoon- for lunch. Lines will be shorter and it will be easier to try more items. Lines get longer in the evening and very long on weekends. If possible- avoid World Showcase on weekend evenings during Food & Wine!

In the evenings- if you are there for Illuminations- you could catch a few of the Eat to the Beat concerts in the America Gardens Theater!

ENJOY!!! And NEXT time, you can plan to go for a few of the seminars!

 

[OKW Lover]

Just to add to the above:

• Go on a week-day late morning/early afternoon, preferably not a Friday, for the shortest lines
• Have one of your party scout a table or other flat surface for eating while one gets the food.
• Sharing tables with strangers is fun. You get to compare notes.
• Stick some extra napkins in your pocket, sometimes things get a little messy
• If you are concentrating on beer or wine offerings, be sure to also have some food with them
• Beer flights may be offered, but aren't really a good choice. You can't easily walk around juggling 3 different small cups and the beers are warm before you finish them.
• Be prepared not to like some of your choices, but be sure to try anything that sounds remotely interesting. You may be surprised.

 

[winthropf]

Don't be afraid to try something that you may not like, you never know. If you don't like it, it didn't cost the same as a whole dinner.

Avoid WS on Saturday afternoons. The locals come out en mass. Friday nights and Sundays are also crowded but nothing like Saturday.

Share the few tables. A great way to meet people from all over the world.

 

[brer_rabbit]

Probably repeating what others have said but have a look at the booths during the day then go back in the evening with a list in your head of things you'd like to try.

Definitely try something new - I loved the food in Morocco.

Also agree a budget and have money added to a wristband so you don't end up spending too much.

 

[disneydad78]

Thank you so much.
We are planning on attending Epcot on a monday!
I think I will cancel my coral reef res since there are way to many good food options in WS!

Please keep them coming!

 

[OKW Lover]

Another tip is to get one of the F&W "passports" and have them stamped at each booth you buy something at. Kind of fun and it gives you an easy place to rate the things you try.

 

[DisneyKentucky]

I've never been either but a friend has advised me (probably more specific to me) don't try beer at every stand. He knows me well.

Second, carry your own tray. I stared at him when he said this like he grew a second head but, it makes sense. Epcot isn't great for seating during the event he said and with a tray it makes it easier to carry your food.

So, if you see a guy trying to juggle a ton of beer and desserts on a tray..... come say hello.

 

[FireDancer]

I'm sure almost all of this has been said already but:

Go on a weekday or, if you have to go on a weekend, go sometime between opening and closing weekend.

Eat outside of your comfort zone. When people go and don't try anything new it just boggles my mind. I mean new as in a vegetable or type of meat you've never had before, not just beef cooked a little differently.

As an add-on to above, don't be afraid to throw something out. If you tried something new and didn't like it don't feel like you have to force it down. You made the attempt, save room for something you might like.

Use a gift card. It is just easier.

Take your time. The festival is an attraction all on its own, not something to do between rides.

It's too late for this year but do the Wine & Dine half marathon and enjoy the after party. It isn't often you get to hang our in Epcot until 4am

 

[OKW Lover]

Eat outside of your comfort zone. When people go and don't try anything new it just boggles my mind. I mean new as in a vegetable or type of meat you've never had before, not just beef cooked a little differently.

As an add-on to above, don't be afraid to throw something out. If you tried something new and didn't like it don't feel like you have to force it down. You made the attempt, save room for something you might like.

Two very good suggestions...except the vegetable part.

The second suggestion is really good and something most people don't think of. If its not to your taste, toss it. Save room for something else. Last year Val & I actually tossed some wine we tried.

 

[disneysteve]

I'm going to post something that I'm sure will be seen as heresy around here.

Be prepared for the possibility that you won't like it.

There. I said it. We've been to Disney during Food and Wine numerous times as we used to take our trip during Jersey Week in November. All of the booths just don't appeal to us for a few reasons. First, we like to eat our meals together, not graze and each eat something at different spots along the way. Second, we like to sit down in a cool place and relax during our meals. We don't want to be balancing trays or sitting on the curb or leaning against a wall when we're eating. Third, it's expensive. To put together enough items to make a filling meal costs a lot more than just going to a counter service location and getting a meal. Fourth, it takes time. Rather than standing in one line for an entire meal, you may stand in 3 or 4 or 5 different lines. When we're at Disney, we don't want to spend a lot of time on meals. We'd rather be enjoying the attractions, shops, and shows.

I totally understand why people love F&W. I think it's a great event. Maybe when my wife and I are older and do Disney at a slower pace, we would be into this, but at this point in our lives and with our daughter with us, F&W just doesn't fit the way we like to do the parks.

You have 3 kids so keep in mind that while you or your spouse might want to try things from the booths, your kids may not, so you still may need to do traditional meals in addition to what you eat from the booths.

 

[Txshadow]

If you have the Disney Dining Plan use your snack credits for F&W. Much more cost effective to purchase soda and water out of pocket and use your snack credit for the $5-$7 booth offerings.

 

[Sweetpeamd]

We have 4 kids and we go to F&W every year. We tend to try the booth foods for lunch or snacks because table service meals are essential for us at the end of the day. We all need the rest by then.

One of the posters above mentioned getting a passport for your kids (available for free at any booth). My kids love going booth to booth and getting their passports stamped. Don't forget about the KidCot Fun Stops, too. My husband will get in line for a drink and I'll take the kids over to the KidCot table so they can color while we enjoy our drinks.

We enjoy trying a few new foods and drinks at the festival, but with 4 kids we never expect the experience to be excellent. We would never try to substitute the booth foods for our dinner (and usually not for lunch, either). Walking around and sampling foods would just be too complicated for our family. If your kids are older, it could be really fun.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Here's my suggestions:

I went for the first time last year. I tried to go one evening but it was way too crowded and the lines were long. I ended up leaving after an hour and going to another park instead. (I have an AP).

So I went on 2 afternoons instead and it was great. Short lines and it made for great lunches and dinners with all the grazing I did. And there were plenty of tables available so I didn't have to balance my little tray on a garbage can to eat.

Bring a tray - because it was just me I had a small square dinner plate that I found at my local dollar store for .99. It was just perfect for me. It made carrying the food to a table much easier.

Buy the wristband gift card. I found it so very handy. One thing though - the cashiers wanted me to take it off my wrist each time to pay rather than scanning it while it was on my wrist. A small annoyance but still much easier than digging into my pockets for money every time I bought something.

check out the vendors selling things - there were some really cute items last year.

And make sure to visit Festival Center and get a little booklet you can have stamped at each food booth before you start. It's free and fun. Even if you don't buy anything to eat they will stamp your book if you ask.

I also went into the free Chase Lounge that was located there for a nice break. I just had to show my Chase Visa. They had small free sodas and chairs to sit in. The iphone charging stations were all broken when I was there on the last weekend. It doesn't matter to me because I don't have one but other people were upset.
I'm not sure where the Lounge will be located this year but keep a lookout for it.

I stopped to watch the entertainment and go through each country while doing the Food and Wine Festival.

And don't forget to check out the Eat to the Beat Concerts. Those are fun.

I think that's everything. I won't be going this year but I know I want to go check it out again sometime.

 

[OKW Lover]

There will be some interesting merchandise created especially for F&W. In the past we've bought some very nice wine glasses, some kitchen utensils, cookbooks, and apparel. You can get all of these items at the main festival center in the former Wonders of Life building. You can usually find the same merchandise at 2-3 kiosks around World Showcase.

We've found that the checkout lines inside the festival center can be very slow moving. It will also be very busy immediately before/after any of the demonstrations/seminars, but less so during one.

If you're going to have your purchases shipped back to your resort or sent back home, tell the cashier immediately. There is a form you need to fill out and you'll save everybody time if you do it while the merchandise is being rung up and packaged.

If you have something shipped out of state you shouldn't be charged FL sales tax. Some of the cashiers don't know this.

 

[disneydad78]

Great info. Looking forward to the podcasts review!

 

[OKW Lover]

Also wanted to mention that there are usually several local artisans with booths at F&W. One of our favorites is an artist who's paintings have lots of food & wine themes. Her name is Heather French and she is just delightful to chat with. Look for her booth (usually) between France and USA.

We bought three prints from her that will go in our new house. Seriously considering commissioning her to do something special for the house once its built.

 

[travisx4]

Watch what you have for breakfast. We made the mistake of going to a buffet and then heading to F&W. We were full within 2 booths and just walked around for the rest of the afternoon. The next year that we went we had a light breakfast early in the day.