Food and wine festival planning help! [Archive]

Keith

08-08-2009, 04:14 PM

Ive always wanted to be at EPCOT For the food and wine festival but somehow our dates have just never worked out that way, until this year :D

FINALLY this year we'll be there at the right time so I'm really looking forward to it :wiggle:

Thing is, I'm also a bit overwhelmed! They sent out the booklet with all the events and there seems to be so much on!

IVe no real idea where to start because we'll have to move other things around to do things that are really worth doing at the festival.

So I thought I'd ask if anyone who's been in the past has any recommendations? things to definitely go to? things to miss? Things to book in advance and so on?

If I had to express a preference to help assess the best events for me, I'm more interested in the wine tastings, vineyard lectures etc than I Would be trying LOADS of different foods (though I'd like to try a bit I guess!).

What about the party for the senses? worth it?

Any and all ideas would be very welcome :yes:

Slowhand

08-08-2009, 04:29 PM

I just enjoy walking around World Showcase to visit the additional countries who haven`t got a permanent location at Epcot... Ireland, Bulgaria etc.etc..
You can sample food from most [if not all] of those countries for around $5 or so.
Beware though the portions are not large and if you eat your way around the World, you can easily spend a fortune!!!

Keith

08-08-2009, 04:31 PM

ooo ok so a much around the world kinda experience?

What about the wine tasting etc? Are they just walk up, pay and try a few or are there more organised events?

Slowhand

08-08-2009, 04:38 PM

Although I`m quite a wine tippler Keith, oddly enough I`ve never been to the wine tasting sessions.
Many of the "new" countries have wine from their region where you can just "walk up and pay up" as you say. :lol:
From memory, there is an organised wine tasting though which takes place in the buildings just behind Spaceship Earth [can`t think of their name right now] but as I said, I`ve never done it yet.

Keith

08-08-2009, 04:41 PM

oo ok thanks! Well it all sounds fun :D

uscwest

08-08-2009, 08:41 PM

Keith, I couldn't begin to explain all the different things that go on. When are you going? There are usually a couple of different places where you can pay $5 - $ 10 and sample a handful of different wines. Though pricey ($135/pp) the Party for the Senses to us is well worth it. Sometimes we manage to go to two of them during our stay. This time we will only be doing 1 however. We have never done one of the special dinners however. There are LOTS of different foods around the world show case and when we go we normally don't make an ADR that day or those days as we normally do multiple days to try and get it all in.

Tink

09-08-2009, 12:15 PM

Since it is your first time going, I'd think carefully about spending any extra on the ticketed events. We were sorely disappointed in the Party for the Senses that we attended. :sorry:

There are about 30 or so food/wine/beer booths to choose from throughout the world showcase. You pay for your samples of course. They are changing it up this year from what I've heard, so there are (supposedly) no free wine seminars anymore. You'll need to pay for those. I don't know if we will. We'll take a look at the listing and see if any interest us.

One thing that we will do, if Andrea Immer (master sommelier) is there leading a seminar we'll attend. She is fabulous. (I think she's remarried and her last name may now be Robinson)?

Resign yourself to the fact that you will spend a fortune. :D If you only try the wines, or if you try wine and food, regardless-you will spend a fortune. :D

Eat to the Beat Concerts can be fun. Check out who is on when you are there and you may want to go and see them. I find it more fun to watch the audience. Depending upon the group, the audience transforms before your very eyes. You can see them shedding the years and returning to uni days, or high school days... pay attention to the teens who may be with their parents. They look horrified. :lol:

If you do choose to do a ticketed event, be certain that you understand what it is you are buying. Some of the descriptions are a little confusing sometimes and those events are not cheap.

Enjoy the FWF. :yes: It's a great time to be in the World Showcase!

Keith

09-08-2009, 03:15 PM

Keith

09-08-2009, 03:18 PM

Since it is your first time going, I'd think carefully about spending any extra on the ticketed events. We were sorely disappointed in the Party for the Senses that we attended. :sorry:

There are about 30 or so food/wine/beer booths to choose from throughout the world showcase. You pay for your samples of course. They are changing it up this year from what I've heard, so there are (supposedly) no free wine seminars anymore. You'll need to pay for those. I don't know if we will. We'll take a look at the listing and see if any interest us.

Right! ok interesting. Well I love trying different wines so perhaps I'll just wander round and do those wine passport things for $20?

One thing that we will do, if Andrea Immer (master sommelier) is there leading a seminar we'll attend. She is fabulous. (I think she's remarried and her last name may now be Robinson)?

ah yes I've seen her name (Robinson now as you say). She's doing a few things I believe

Resign yourself to the fact that you will spend a fortune. :D If you only try the wines, or if you try wine and food, regardless-you will spend a fortune. :D

sure, can quite imagine that :lol: nevertheless, it's a time we don't usually visit so I'd like to make the most of it

If you do choose to do a ticketed event, be certain that you understand what it is you are buying. Some of the descriptions are a little confusing sometimes and those events are not cheap.

yes I must admit that's why I've asked here. Although the booklet is huge, there really isn't an awful lot of detail as to what extra there is in the ticketed events

Tink

09-08-2009, 05:39 PM

The wine flights or walk abouts as they are sometimes called are fun and they do give you the chance to try more than one at a go.

There is usually one in the Australia exhibit. Some others elsewhere, depending upon what is going to be done this coming season. They sometimes change things at the last minute.

You'll have a great time regardless of what you choose to do. It's a busy time with loads of choices. :yes:

I don't know how they are going to do the food demonstrations this year. Last year there were loads of complaints about a certain group holding the front of the line for every demonstration. (And I do mean every!). WDW is supposedly trying to put something in place to prevent that from happening again this year. We'll see.

Keith

09-08-2009, 05:42 PM

So basically the advice is not to sweat the detail too much, just pick a day or two and wander round?

uscwest

09-08-2009, 10:00 PM

Thanks John! We'll be there late oct, early november. Sounds good! Is the party for the senses just somewhere special to watch eat to the beat then a meal and is the meal a set menu??Party for the Senses is held inside of what used to be the Millennium Village Building. They have several different stations where chefs from around the world prepare some of their specialties. They also have wine stations set up, as well as normally one beer station. If you are lucky you can get a table with a seat, otherwise you float around eating and drinking. They also have live entertainment. You cannot, however, see or hear the Eat to the Beat concert during PFTS. They will give you a wine glass and a plate when you go in. You can keep the glass when you leave. They have plenty of water to rinse the glass out between wine tastings.

gwennie81

12-08-2009, 03:52 AM

I go every year. (Sometimes more than once!)
I've never booked a special event. They're too pricey for me.

I just enjoy walking around and seeing what all the countries have to offer. Make sure you take cash. I probably burned through $80 last year (food & drinks combined). By only using cash it will keep you on a budget because you can literally "taste" all day!

Look at the program online beforehand, maybe even print it out, and mark the items you'd like to try. This is another way to not only budget money, but also time. Some of the food items are very popular and lines can get fairly long in the afternoon on a Saturday!

If you enjoy wine, do the wine tour. (I think it's NY wines this year.) Last year it was wines from Australia and they called it the Wine Walkabout. You got to pick 4 out of 8 to try. I was with a friend so she and I each picked different ones so we got to try them all! (I think the fee was ~$8.00)

DO THE SAMUEL ADAMS TASTING!! IT'S FREE!! Located to the right of the American Adventure building. Make sure you get there in plenty of time. It fills up fast. The Sam Adams representative tells you a little background on the company, how beer is made, and then you get to sample 4 beers (Usually Boston Lager, Boston Ale, Oktoberfest, and another) and take home a free keychain. If you do it in the afternoon people are generally "toasty" by then and it's a good time.

BON APETITE!

Tinker

14-08-2009, 04:04 AM

Thanks for that tip Gwennie81 . Missed that last year .

uscwest

14-08-2009, 11:45 AM

Keith you and Helen need to come a few weeks earlier and let Donna and I lead you through it. LOL

Keith

14-08-2009, 12:33 PM

Keith you and Helen need to come a few weeks earlier and let Donna and I lead you through it. LOL

How very true that is :yes: maybe next year. As you know we tend to go early December so we usually miss it! Really looking forward to it this year

Tink

14-08-2009, 02:13 PM

You'll be fine. Pick up one of those little booklets and use it to get an idea of what you want to do when. :yes:

Get there early (11:00) am so you can have a quick stroll once around the world showcase to get your bearings and then stroll and taste and sip and stroll and taste and sip and stroll and taste and sip... :D :D

See? It's all in the rythym. :yes:

Keith

14-08-2009, 02:16 PM

Interestingly Disney sent me a full booklet! Perhaps they were reading :) Very nice of them anyway. So Ive been studying that

I'm sure once I get there it'll all become clear and as long as there are lots of different wines to taste I'll be a happy person :D

BevW

27-09-2009, 12:55 AM

Oh I need a booklet!!

Keith

27-09-2009, 01:07 AM

Oh I need a booklet!!

available to download from here
http://wdisneysecrets.com/FoodandWine_2009FestivalGuide.pdf

Johnie

27-09-2009, 03:39 AM

They sent me a booklet too. It's quite nice to get a lay of the land ahead of time.

BevW

27-09-2009, 11:31 PM

thanks Keith! Looks interesting.

Beccaberry

28-09-2009, 12:40 AM

I've just gone through and highlighted all my "must try's" in order of appearance :)

We've decided to cancel our dinner at Kona on Sunday in order to "eat and drink our way around the world" that night.

Since we'll be on the dining plan (compliments of Disney) we'll be able to enjoy the kiosks without such a hit to our wallet (that we'll save for the beer/wine).

I'm psyching myself up to try the escargot :wink:

Johnie

28-09-2009, 12:43 AM

ok ma'am....I'm following you

Beccaberry

28-09-2009, 12:45 AM

hehehe we're going to have funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Johnie

28-09-2009, 12:50 AM

:yes: yes we are!!

Beccaberry

28-09-2009, 12:55 AM

Are we gonna eat shrimp topped with buttered popcorn?

Keith are YOU gonna eat shrimp topped with buttered popcorn?

Johnie

28-09-2009, 01:01 AM

Where is that????

Tink

28-09-2009, 02:40 AM

Oh you MUST try the escargot. It is absolutely wonderful. :yes: Johnie, don't bother. Truly. If you can't imagine liking biting into a medium size roasted whole button mushroom, then steer clear, because that is the exact texture. :yes: Bathed in butter and garlic and nestled in delicious tender brioche. It's too delicious. :D :D

Johnie

28-09-2009, 02:54 AM

But I like 3 out of the 4 things you mentioned......

Beccaberry

28-09-2009, 03:28 AM

Thanks. Now I have Meatloaf running through my head :)

Sold. I shall try it. I love mushroom, texture wise as well as flavor wise.

OOOOH!! I can't wait to go!

Johnie

28-09-2009, 04:02 AM

:tongue: ok I get the Meatloaf reference...took me a minute.

Meatloaf the singer/actor has been a huge topic of discussion with my mother and I this month. It seems he is acting in a movie using his last name which is Aday. I didn't know she was speaking of the singer when she kept mentioning his last name. I think I'm going to buy the Bat out of Hell cd for mom :tongue:

Tink

28-09-2009, 11:26 AM

Three out of four ... well, give it a try then! :yes: The fourth is the main feature though. Don't say I didn't warn you! :D

Beccaberry

28-09-2009, 01:28 PM

This is shaping up to be quite the adventurous trip!!

daveann

28-09-2009, 02:47 PM

we just realised food and wine festival will still be on 1st couple of days we get there yippeee.................. mind you i will give the snails a miss yuck :(

Debbie2

03-10-2009, 08:17 PM

Just back from our first stay during F&W and really enjoyed strolling through EPCOT sampling all the different countries fayre. Greece had some tasty treats. Cork had scallops and lobster tail fishermans pie. The portions are quite good too. We did the beer hop where you can sample 4 out of 8 wines on a 'passport'

Eat to the Beat concerts are good. Festival Center has lots of chef demos and wine tastings..we didn't do but they seemed popular.

You can buy a mini gift card which you put round your wrist like a bracelet. It can be loaded with any amount and it makes it easy to pay for things as you are going round World Showcase.

We really enjoyed it :)

Beccaberry

04-10-2009, 02:09 PM

OOOH LOVE THE IDEA OF THE BRACELET!!! Thanks for the heads up Debbie! Are they easy to find? And can they only be used at EPCOT?

gwennie81

04-10-2009, 03:57 PM

The shrimp and buttered popcorn is the Rock Shrimp Ceviche from Chile.
I think there are only certain items that you can use towards the dining plan. The menus indicate which ones.

Debbie2

04-10-2009, 07:51 PM

OOOH LOVE THE IDEA OF THE BRACELET!!! Thanks for the heads up Debbie! Are they easy to find? And can they only be used at EPCOT?

They are 'limited edition' apparently and were available throughout EPCOT. I loaded mine with $$ and used thoughout WDW not just in EPCOT. I have brought it home as hope to use it again next year. They are like mini gift/credit cards on a stretchy plastic 'coil'. It was really handy not to have to fish for money/purse/key card etc...especially when pushing a wheelchair :)

Beccaberry

04-10-2009, 10:39 PM

Fantastic news, Debbie...thanks for the info!

Tink

05-10-2009, 02:44 PM

Nice information Debbie2. Thank you for sharing it with our members. :yes:

Nothing like Disney for making spending money easier! :D :D

Glad to hear that you enjoyed the FWF!

Johnie

05-10-2009, 05:01 PM

They are 'limited edition' apparently and were available throughout EPCOT. I loaded mine with $$ and used thoughout WDW not just in EPCOT. I have brought it home as hope to use it again next year. They are like mini gift/credit cards on a stretchy plastic 'coil'. It was really handy not to have to fish for money/purse/key card etc...especially when pushing a wheelchair :)

Oh! That sounds very handy!! Kind of like the photopass cards on the coil...

Beccaberry

05-10-2009, 05:08 PM

OOOH! That would be cool too!!!

Johnie

05-10-2009, 05:11 PM

Apparently you can get the photopass coils at the water parks and when you meet Tink....they called it a pixie something or other

Tink

05-10-2009, 06:00 PM

OOOOH! They have a special name for it when you meet ME??? Oh, that's not really necessary! :D :D :wink: How so very kind of them, though! :D :D

BevW

05-10-2009, 08:33 PM

Oh yeah...I'm getting one of those bracelets...with the mini card. Yup...

Johnie

05-10-2009, 09:46 PM

hmmm I already have a gift card that I got as a bday present. I wonder if I can exchange it for a smaller one?

Tinkfan

06-10-2009, 01:29 PM

We were there on Saturday, huge crowds especially in the evening. There were quite a few tipsy folks as well!!:yes: DH and I had quite the laugh , I've never in my life seen the park close as fast as they did!! All the kiosks just zipped and folded up promptly at 9:00 pm. We were wondering why they wouldn't stay open till 11:00 at least to accomodate the vast amount of people who clearly wanted to spend more $$$$

Tink

07-10-2009, 01:33 AM

Liability. They would have mass chaos on their hands if they tried to stop serving those who appeared to have over imbibed (although they will in the actual pub/bars).

Then turning all those people loose with who knows how many that are driving? It's up to the merchant to stop selling the liquor to the patron, so WDW would be heavily liable if there were/was an accident(s).

Can you imagine the law suits? :eek:

gwennie81

07-10-2009, 03:16 AM

OMG. I totally agree with Tink. There have been times when I couldn't control my enjoyment of alcoholic beverages and haven't even made it to Illuminations. One time one of my friends and I couldn't figure out which bus was ours and some random bus driver told us to hop on his bus. Luckily he was going to the hotel we were staying at. I'm thinking about getting a t-shirt made saying, "If found, please place on bus after Illuminations". HAHA!

Cutting people off AT 9pm is a must!!! (Especially if people have continuously been drinking since 11am) 10 hours of drinking! AAAAHHHH!!!!

Tinkfan

07-10-2009, 03:31 PM

That is true !!! It's been many years since I've been like that though!!!I know we have a warped sense of humor, it comes from having 7 kids you know, but we saw 2 seperate Moms about 2 minutes apart covering their childrens eyes as they were trying to push the stroller and run by a few groups of tipsy college age kids!! We cracked right up, you know they were thinking very un-Disney like thoughts!!!:ROFL: It just struck us as sooo funny. ( and no, we don't advocate drunken behavior!! They were just laughing and singing... loudly and off tune I might add!!)

gwennie81

08-10-2009, 01:38 AM

Oh, I know. I have a few pictures of me doing questionable things toward the end of the night. (Such as trying to scale the viking boat...that's not there anymore or giving the donkey outside of Italy a kiss on the cheek) But at least I had fun! And it wasn't "raunchy" things kids shouldn't see, it was crazy things I wouldn't normally do but, I was in the moment and having fun!

On the other hand, I was embarrassed for several women that were "grind" dancing with each other in front of Off-Kilter (not to mention several toddlers) when I was there a couple weeks ago. THAT was too much and something my friends and I would never do outside of an 18 and older club.

There's a difference between being obnoxious and inappropriate. It's a fine line but it's there, nonetheless. Come to think of it, I was inappropriate ONE time. But it was just something I said to an 18+ cast member in UK. HAHA! (Hint: He was holding a couple soccer balls...)

Beccaberry

12-10-2009, 05:30 PM

WOOOHOOO!!! Thank you so much for the gift card tip, it worked WONDERFULLY!! I reloaded it a coupe of times during the week and even brought home a couple of "extra" ones as the sign said they were there only for a limited time. I thought they might be handy for the kids next trip.

BevW

13-10-2009, 03:16 AM

I'm going to get that card for Rick and I. Like we NEED more food to eat on this trip!

Debbie2

13-10-2009, 11:47 AM