***2009*** Epcot Food & Wine Festival ENDED NOV. 8

[BelleLovesTheBeast]

Originally Posted by TDC Nala

Sunday is better than Saturday but not much. If the Monday is a holiday (Columbus Day is in there somewhere), it can be just as bad as Saturday. The absolute best times to go are Monday - Thursday.

Columbus Day falls on Monday Oct. 12th this year.

[podsnel]

We will be there the first week as well- but we'll be in Vero Beach for the weekend, so don't arrive in WDW until Sunday afternoon. That Monday is a holiday- it's Yom Kippur. Here in NJ, in some towns the schools are closed, but don't know if it means the same elsewhere as it seems to be a regional closure.

[DizDays]

How early should you get to the Eat to the Beat concerts to get a good seat?

[hmgray95]

I'm in as well....DH & I are ditching the kids and heading to the F&W fest! Looks like it will be Taylor Dayne and Boyz II Men while we're there.....all, it's like senior year of high school all over again!

[notaclue]

Any idea what time the concerts start? Esp Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on 9/25 - 9/27.

[copperbrick]

My husband and I will be in WDW October 2 - 11. This will be our first time attending the Food and Wine Festival. We're excited!

Any tips for baby-boomer first-timers?

Thanks much.

[LydiaAch]

Originally Posted by notaclue

Any idea what time the concerts start? Esp Big Bad Voodoo Daddy on 9/25 - 9/27.

Let me know when you find out! We'll be there too!

[BriarRosie]

Originally Posted by copperbrick

My husband and I will be in WDW October 2 - 11. This will be our first time attending the Food and Wine Festival. We're excited!

Any tips for baby-boomer first-timers?

Thanks much.

If you're going to graze around World Showcase for the food tastings, I suggest doing it on weekdays, as weekends are more crowded. And it helps to share the food with another person, in order to purchase as many samples as you can without hitting the wall.

There's a Festival Guide for the kiosks available near the park entrances and the festival merchandise locations. It not only lists the kiosks, it will also show the times and locations for each food and wine demo.

As we hear more info about the pay-to-attend events, I'm sure that will be posted in this thread.

[kabuki]

Originally Posted by copperbrick

My husband and I will be in WDW October 2 - 11. This will be our first time attending the Food and Wine Festival. We're excited!

Any tips for baby-boomer first-timers?

Thanks much.

Hello! 1st time -so exciting!
Pay attention to this thread! A LOT of tips and great ideas run around. When you arrive get a festival broacher - it has the full schedule of daily FREE wine and food classes. Show up to FREE classes 1/2 hour early week days and 45 min early on the weekends - ( don't worry you are inside out of the heat and can grab a glass of wine or sparkling at the festival bar while you wait and chat up some nice people) The week days are better to show of course because nights on the weekends can get crazy. If you are up for a big ticket event - we love PArty for the Senses. It's an all you can eat and drink party with some really wonderful food and drinks. I and others have posted reviews from festivals past. Look them up and you can see what your in for. Mostly have a good time!

[kabuki]

Originally Posted by BriarRosie

If you're going to graze around World Showcase for the food tastings, I suggest doing it on weekdays, as weekends are more crowded. And it helps to share the food with another person, in order to purchase as many samples as you can without hitting the wall.

There's a Festival Guide for the kiosks available near the park entrances and the festival merchandise locations. It not only lists the kiosks, it will also show the times and locations for each food and wine demo.

As we hear more info about the pay-to-attend events, I'm sure that will be posted in this thread.

and check out BriarRosie reviews from the fest! They are some of our Favs!

[TDC Nala]

Last year they did not have any free food seminars on Mondays or Tuesdays. (They did have wine seminars though). The festival center where the seminars were held was located at The Pavilion Formerly Known As The Wonders Of Life - a long way from the World Showcase where the kiosks are where you can buy food and wine samples. That made it a little difficult to plan both in one day. If you have one day where you want to attend some free food seminars AND hit the booths, until the schedule is actually known it may be best not to plan your one day at the Festival for a Monday or Tuesday. Wednesdays and Thursdays featured both shorter weekday lines at WS kiosks and free food seminars at TPFKATWOL.

[MissMet]

This is my third F&WF but I have never done any of the hard ticket events. Do you think the hard ticket events like Party for the Senses & Sweet Sundays are worth it if you don't drink alcohol. My dad is an alcoholic so out of respect for him, I won't drink in his presence & he will be with me on this trip, as I think food has now filled his alcohol addiction. I don't want to waste money and/or feel like I'm out of place not having a glass of wine.

Thanks guys!

[kabuki]

Originally Posted by MissMet

This is my third F&WF but I have never done any of the hard ticket events. Do you think the hard ticket events like Party for the Senses & Sweet Sundays are worth it if you don't drink alcohol. My dad is an alcoholic so out of respect for him, I won't drink in his presence & he will be with me on this trip, as I think food has now filled his alcohol addiction. I don't want to waste money and/or feel like I'm out of place not having a glass of wine.

Thanks guys!

Hi MissMet! It's a hard call .. My husband and I think it's a great queston!
I think the food is great most of the time at PFTS but it is $135.00 per person and for that you could have a sit down meal at Victoria and Alberts. So it's up to you if you like a party type situation or a sit down private situation with this one. I have not done Sweet Sundays but I have read reviews and it seems like it's more about the food but maybe someone will pipe in that had been! Hope we helped a little!

[slk537]

I'm excited to find this thread! Back when DH and I used to go to WDW for our October anniversary, F&W was only in later Oct/Nov. This is the first F&W for us and we are really excited!

[MissMet]

Originally Posted by kabuki

Hi MissMet! It's a hard call .. My husband and I think it's a great queston!
I think the food is great most of the time at PFTS but it is $135.00 per person and for that you could have a sit down meal at Victoria and Alberts. So it's up to you if you like a party type situation or a sit down private situation with this one. I have not done Sweet Sundays but I have read reviews and it seems like it's more about the food but maybe someone will pipe in that had been! Hope we helped a little!

Thank you very much for such a fast response. Your response really helped! Thank you. I thought it probably wouldn't be the best idea but I always feel like I'm missing out.

Thanks.