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

[blissventure]

Originally Posted by nenner1

Ahhh..excellent!

Thanks you all for the great info and pics for the gift cards/wristbands.

Now that I know the logistics it's on to planning the good stuff! Mmmmmm!

Thanks again!

Hi nenner1, Just wanted to give you a little heads up about the gift cards. Sometimes they work great at the F&W kiosks, sometimes they don't. We bring along about 40.00-50.00 in 5's and 10's when we're visiting around the world. If the cards are working at a particular kiosk, great. But if they aren't you can just switch to cash pay and be on your way, instead of waiting for the CM to try to figure out what the problem is with the machine.
Those smaller bills can really come in handy!

[Steve-O]

Originally Posted by blissventure

Hi nenner1, Just wanted to give you a little heads up about the gift cards. Sometimes they work great at the F&W kiosks, sometimes they don't. We bring along about 40.00-50.00 in 5's and 10's when we're visiting around the world. If the cards are working at a particular kiosk, great. But if they aren't you can just switch to cash pay and be on your way, instead of waiting for the CM to try to figure out what the problem is with the machine.
Those smaller bills can really come in handy!

Most booths that take cards (gift or other) also take credit cards. While it's not much, I like to use a credit card that has cash back (2%) rewards. Credit Cards are also at the mercy of the machines at each booth so having cash in pocket is a must.

[DebºoºS]

Originally Posted by Steve-O

Credit Cards are also at the mercy of the machines at each booth so having cash in pocket is a must.

We experienced a few occasions where credit cards wouldn't swipe. In those situations we paid cash.This has happened to us in DHS as well so it's not just an Epcot kiosk problem. I usually carry $50 in small bills just in case.

[MusiqChic99]

If you don't sign up for anything special during the wine and food festival are there still booths were you can (buy)sample food? I was thinking I saw something about this somewhere. I have never been during the F&W so I dont know what to expect at all.

[TDC Nala]

Yes, you have access to all the booths in the World Showcase on just your Epcot admission (you do have to pay for the food and drink samples).

[castmemberb4]

Originally Posted by MusiqChic99

If you don't sign up for anything special during the wine and food festival are there still booths were you can (buy)sample food? I was thinking I saw something about this somewhere. I have never been during the F&W so I dont know what to expect at all.

Here's a list of the food avaliable at the food kiosks

http://allears.net/tp/ep/fw09/fw09_booths.htm

[llqool]

and there are still some free talks that you don't have to sign up for in advance...like the Samuel Adams talk. But you do have to line up a bit before.

[jasminewannabe]

Hi! Love this thread! I am so happy I found this because I am going to be at WDW for my 2nd time sept 27-oct 1 and this will be my first food and wine festival. This thread is so helpful and love the reports! I am definitely subscribing!

[DisneyFreq]

Originally Posted by BriarRosie

I like Abita beer. You can try that seminar or go over to the New Orleans kiosk and buy some. Purple Haze...awesome. As for wines, you don't have to go to a kiosk to enjoy this, but go to Italy pavilion and buy a glass of Rosa Regale. It's a sparkling wine with some sweetness to it. I'm sure you can ask at the kiosks if there are any wines that might fit your tastes.

Authentic taste series are free, so why not attend them? They might be interesting. Some of the early posts in this thread showed some rating templates for cards, but I usually just mark the festival guidemap, usually.

Thanks briarrosie!

DH also wants to do the abita beer...his company sent him to LA to help with Katrina efforts and he discovered it then. We were going to do the demonstration but decided it would be too difficult to get to the F&WF headquarters in the middle of the day like that (we'll be stumbling thru the world showcase!). We're just going to hit the booth.

I'm actually looking forward to the puglia demos. Hoping to get some quality ingredients for cooking at home. My kids go nuts over stuff from other countries....they love world market!

As for the gift card..dh and I used one last time we went. They didn't have the WONDERFUL wristband when we went...so that will be a new convenience. I don't remember having any trouble with them tho. Of course I'm more patient with a drink in my hand so I may not have noticed. I do remember having some problems with the DDP snack credits a few years ago. I think it was the first year they were letting us use them. It seemed like it was a two step process too.

Getting close...can't wait!

[summy32]

We are planning our Epcot day on 9/28 when the park is open until midnight for EMH. Does anyone know if the food kiosks stay open that late or do they close at regular hours?

[glendalais]

Originally Posted by summy32

We are planning our Epcot day on 9/28 when the park is open until midnight for EMH. Does anyone know if the food kiosks stay open that late or do they close at regular hours?

As I am understanding it, the Marketplace Kiosks in World Showcase will be staying open 1 hour past regular Epcot/World Showcase closing on evenings when the Park is hosting Evening Extra Magic Hours.

On your typical 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. day, this would mean the Kiosks would close at 10:00 P.M..

[BriarRosie]

Originally Posted by glendalais

As I am understanding it, the Marketplace Kiosks in World Showcase will be staying open 1 hour past regular Epcot/World Showcase closing on evenings when the Park is hosting Evening Extra Magic Hours.

On your typical 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. day, this would mean the Kiosks would close at 10:00 P.M..

Sadly, that isn't always the case. There have been conflicting reports of kiosks closing early during Extra Magic Hour nights, and reports of the kiosks being open late. I wouldn't count on them being open past closing time. I would just consider it a lucky bonus if the kiosks are still open.

[oybolshoi]

for what it's worth, last year when we were at Epcot one night during EMH the kiosks were open until just before 10PM ... after that they all closed down.

[castmemberb4]

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

for what it's worth, last year when we were at Epcot one night during EMH the kiosks were open until just before 10PM ... after that they all closed down.

That was our experience too, very different from previous years. We were disappointed. It was also very crowded with locals, they've figured out they don't make non resort guests leave they just stop them from going into attractions. Therefore they could hang around WS all evening. I suspect that's what brought about the change.

[TinkerBelle_325]

Just thought I would let you all know that the Festival Map is now available on the official WDW Food & Wine Festival page

Epcot's 14th Annual International Food & Wine Festival