Wine & Food ??

[crazy4wdw]

First food and wine trip for me this year! So excited!
when are the menus usually announced??

Accoding to Disney Parks Blog, they will be out on July 24th.

 

[skier_pete]

About time! I've been watching the MNSSHP and MVMCP and CP all open for sale, and yet no Food and Wine Schedule. This is our first chance to do F&W just DW and I, and I'm hoping we can schedule an event, however I am not willing to spend too, too much on that.

 

[crazy4wdw]

About time! I've been watching the MNSSHP and MVMCP and CP all open for sale, and yet no Food and Wine Schedule. This is our first chance to do F&W just DW and I, and I'm hoping we can schedule an event, however I am not willing to spend too, too much on that.

Get ready to spend a lot of time on the phone! Sometimes the waits are over two hours! You will be able to book some of the events online which will help. Last year, Disney Visa cardholders were able to book events a day in advance - hope its the same this year.

 

[skier_pete]

Get ready to spend a lot of time on the phone! Sometimes the waits are over two hours! You will be able to book some of the events online which will help. Last year, Disney Visa cardholders were able to book events a day in advance - hope its the same this year.

Ah, well I have my Disney Visa so that's good. I am not of the mind that I HAVE to book something, so if it doesn't happen, so be it.

 

[KenDoll]

Food and wine is my complete favorite time to visit WDW! It can get crowded but it is worth it and to the people above me concerned about the state of some of the people drinking, to each their own. Everyone tends to have different outlook on how they want to spend their free time or vacation time. For any newcomers just go slow and take the time to get what you are looking for out of it !

 

[crazy4wdw]

From the Disney Food Blog:

Booking for Tables in Wonderland members, Annual Passholders, DVC members, and Golden Oak residents begins July 25th at 9AM ET for seminars and demonstrations(including Mixology). Note that some guests had luck booking select special events last year during these early booking dates; Discounts ($2) will be offered for seminars and demonstrations Monday through Thursday only.

Booking for Chase Disney Visa Cardholders begins on July 29th at 7AM ET. Call 407-WDW-FEST to book.

Booking for all other events, and for the general public, will begin July 31st at 7AM ET. Call 407-WDW-FEST to book. ALL booking for VIP events and tickets (e.g. premium levels at the Party for the Senses) must be booked by phone. Booking for seminars, demos, and some special events will be available at epcotfoodfestival.com.

Wine/Beverage Seminars will take place Daily at 12, 2, and 4PM. They will cost $15.

Culinary Demos will take place Daily at 1, 3, and 5PM. They will cost $15.

Mixology Seminars will take place Daily at 6PM. They will cost $15.

More details about these events will be announced soon.

 

[ncurley]

So I love F&W and my DW and I have gone the last few years and we plan on continuing to go to this event. That being said, we went last year and our trip ended on the last day of F&W which was a Sunday I believe. That Saturday and Sunday were quite an eye opening experience!!!!
Before our trip in 2013 I had read on the boards about people complaining about the level of intoxication that people at the event were reaching. I kind of disregarded these complaints as people that were just hung up on the whole drinking thing. I guess we had avoided going on the weekend before because when we sent on the weekend this trip the crowds were pretty amazing. lines for booths were so long at some, I didn't get in them but I assumed they were like 20 minute wait times if not more.

A large crowd is one thing, and something you kind of expect at WDW in general. the attitude at that last weekend of F&W was pretty over the top. I assume it was so bad because it was the last weekend of the event. But there were so many people that were there with the sole intention of just getting wasted drunk. It wasn't just observed behavior on my part, my DW and I both heard several conversations of people talking about how they paid for babysitters that day or had arranged for people to drive them home that night.

It was like watching a bunch of college kids celebrating after finals. That was when I realized that this was some of the behavior that people on the boards were complaining about. Now I don't have any hangups about public drinking or even some moderate over imbibing on vacation. However this was shocking to me. As a former bartender I would have been concerned about serving people some of the people that were still in line to get drinks from the booths.

My whole point is to just be weary about F&W on a weekend, and especially the last weekend of the event. I think on the last weekend, a lot of procrastinating locals tend to come to really "tie one on" I think if you get there when the event opens for the day at 11 am you can easily enjoy yourself. If you haven't gone before I highly encourage you to go, however if you go on the last weekend and don't like it because of the volume and attitude of the people, don't think the festival is always over the top. And if my little warning is turning you off, don't let it. F&W is great. Like I said earlier, I have been many years now and this was the first time I saw anything that over the top, it may have just been an aberration of that one day.

We have been on the last day of F&W and it was very crowded but I did not notice a lot if overly intoxicated people. It was a couple if years ago though so perhaps it is getting "worse" in that manner. We did go back the following morning on a whim and it was refreshing how empty Epcot was on the day following F&W. So I would go to the festival only for the world showcase during F&W then go the following day when F&W is over to go on the rides!

 

[skier_pete]

One thing to point out about the "last day". Last year we went on Sunday, November 10th, which we presumed to be the last day and was quite crowded. However, we found out that day that they actually extended F&W to Monday, 11//11, since it was Veterans Day. From everything I heard, that actual last day was fairly quiet. We'd already planned for MVMCP that night, so we couldn't take advantage. I don't know if they will do the same thing this year, but for those going at the end, you should keep it in mind!