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

[dizneykid]

Hi all,

Just got the mail and we received a F&W Festival Guide Booklet, map and all!! Same as the download.

I had seen you could download it also. Can't believe we have this much information so early. It's nice to see the daily events included.

[oybolshoi]

Originally Posted by dizneykid

Hi all,

Just got the mail and we received a F&W Festival Guide Booklet, map and all!! Same as the download.

I had seen you could download it also. Can't believe we have this much information so early. It's nice to see the daily events included.

I'm impressed that so much information has been released this early ... maybe someone was listening to all of us after they only gave us four days to plan last year.

And you've got a booklet already! Woo hoo for you!!

[dizneykid]

Glad someone is listening.

Marcel noticed on the front page of the booklet and the download, from Cockerell's this note -

Consider this your official guide to help you discover all the Festival has
to offer, including details on our culinary and wine experiences. Upon arrival
at the Festival, be sure to pick up the NEW weekly Festival schedule to help
plan your visit.

So I guess that the booklet is a guideline right now and if there are any changes, they will have them in the NEW Weekly Festival Schedules.

Interesting.

[oybolshoi]

Maybe they did that to cover themselves in case there are any last minute cancelations / replacements ... which we all know happens.

Still, I do think it's great that the info is out here so early for all of us to drool over.

Originally Posted by dizneykid

Glad someone is listening.

Marcel noticed on the front page of the booklet and the download, from Cockerell's this note -

Consider this your official guide to help you discover all the Festival has
to offer, including details on our culinary and wine experiences. Upon arrival
at the Festival, be sure to pick up the NEW weekly Festival schedule to help
plan your visit.

So I guess that the booklet is a guideline right now and if there are any changes, they will have them in the NEW Weekly Festival Schedules.

Interesting.

[redzinner]

Originally Posted by dizneykid

Hi all,

Just got the mail and we received a F&W Festival Guide Booklet, map and all!!

We received ours today also! I'm happy we have it but it does feel strange to have it before the Festival opens!

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Originally Posted by dizneykid

Hi all,

Just got the mail and we received a F&W Festival Guide Booklet, map and all!! Same as the download.

I had seen you could download it also. Can't believe we have this much information so early. It's nice to see the daily events included.

We always seem to get ours dead last and when it no longer matters. Maybe there is hope for us this year since you have yours in hand already.

[Tinky624]

So much for those free wine seminars and culinary demos.
$8.00 dollars per person for a few sips of wine.
WHY! Not because they like you! Because they CAN!

[poocher]

I was recounting with my wife how we were camping in the US NW several years ago when the 7am phone-in craziness happened. We were standing in a phonebook buzzing with mosquitos and moths at 3:55am phoning over and over again (no cell coverage, no wifi, just a phonebooth). And we gladly did just to get bookings at the best pairings, the perfect PFTS, and the special dinners.

And we went crazy when we finally got a receptionist who insisted upon reading the full directions for EACH booking. And went back when she stumbled over words and re-read! It's been like that (with variations) for the last 9 years.

Well, that was then. Not this year. Not gonna be near a phone. Probably sleeping in. We'll make NO reservations. When F&W starts, I'll see if they are able to make the $8 price stick (they've folded before on charging for events that failed to draw a crowd). And if PFTS has anything going for it, I might pick up a last minute ticket. BTW, there is no Cirque or other entertainment, right?

If I were superstitious, I would say that 14, not 13, is F&W's unlucky number. Ordinarily, Disney has clever and wonderful ways of voluntarily persuading guests to happily part with great gobs of cash. This is the year they pushed too far.

For the kind of money they are asking, there are a TON of great Orlando restaurants where I can eat in a more relaxing atmosphere and not be worried I might be told when the meal is over and it's time to go.

That's what I'm planning.

The Pooch

[gokenin]

ok I am going to get in trouble for this post but i have to say it.

For years we have heard that Disney is dumbing down the menus and ruining the F&W because they are allowing the average person to go to these things and its no longer just for foodies. Well to me Disney has heard you and made these things so exspensive that the average person will not go. You the foodies will have it to yourselves now you complain that its tooo exspensive I am still going to the F&W festival and I will enjoy it with or without the high priced extra meals

[PNO4TE]

Originally Posted by gokenin

ok I am going to get in trouble for this post but i have to say it.

For years we have heard that Disney is dumbing down the menus and ruining the F&W because they are allowing the average person to go to these things and its no longer just for foodies. Well to me Disney has heard you and made these things so exspensive that the average person will not go. You the foodies will have it to yourselves now you complain that its tooo exspensive I am still going to the F&W festival and I will enjoy it with or without the high priced extra meals

You are not in trouble! I agree that I will go and have a good time with the booths. But I would have loved to be able to do some of the other events I have enjoyed before too. They are now out of my price range. After 11 years of F&W Festival we are back to just doing the booths. I think that is reason enough to bemoan the price increases.

[MickeyAddict]

Originally Posted by PNO4TE

I have to say I loved it when it only cost $95. Now we are looking at French Regional Lunches for that price. In all honesty, it is not surprising that things are costing more. Everything costs more. But I still think they are shooting themselves in the finances when they alienate loyal returning guests. Most people don't even know the F&W Festival exists. Those of us who go back year after year are the ones they need to court, or they need to advertise what is going on better. No one that I know (adults and families alike) knows anything about this event when I talk about it. And many of them are not WDW newbies.

On the 2008 thread we discussed that we thought Disney had hit the wall as far as acceptance of their price increases. We will all have to wait and see how all these changes play out. I know that I, for one, am not spending much money one special events this time around. I just cannot afford it!

Elin, We should get together - we are practically neighbors! I agree that most people have never heard of the F&W Festival. My husband and I go every year for 3 weeks, but even when we tell people about it -- with great enthusiasm -- they are not really interested.

We have shortened our F&W experience this year from 3 weeks to 5 days. With the higher prices, especially the charge for the seminars, I can't figure out what we would do for any longer. How many times can you walk around the countries? We've been to PFTS many times, but after last year we decided that it would be our last.

If anyone is interested, there should be a DVC studio available 9/30 - 10/7 at BLT and 10/7 - 10/16 at Kidani Village. We will be on a Princess cruise during that time...

Marilyn

[oybolshoi]

Originally Posted by gokenin

ok I am going to get in trouble for this post but i have to say it.

For years we have heard that Disney is dumbing down the menus and ruining the F&W because they are allowing the average person to go to these things and its no longer just for foodies. Well to me Disney has heard you and made these things so exspensive that the average person will not go. You the foodies will have it to yourselves now you complain that its tooo exspensive I am still going to the F&W festival and I will enjoy it with or without the high priced extra meals

We always have a good time at F&W, whether we're rubbing elbows with our fellow unwashed plebians around the World Showcase or pretending to be something we're not when attending special dining events with the ruling class.

[PNO4TE]

Originally Posted by MickeyAddict

Elin, We should get together - we are practically neighbors! I agree that most people have never heard of the F&W Festival. My husband and I go every year for 3 weeks, but even when we tell people about it -- with great enthusiasm -- they are not really interested.

We have shortened our F&W experience this year from 3 weeks to 5 days. With the higher prices, especially the charge for the seminars, I can't figure out what we would do for any longer. How many times can you walk around the countries? We've been to PFTS many times, but after last year we decided that it would be our last.

If anyone is interested, there should be a DVC studio available 9/30 - 10/7 at BLT and 10/7 - 10/16 at Kidani Village. We will be on a Princess cruise during that time...

Marilyn

Hi, Marilyn. We should get together. PM me if you are serious! We have a lot of DISers in our area and some of us get together a lot!

I wish I could persuade my DH to stay another week... I would take you up on the Kidani Village rental!

[disneyfav4ever]

Originally Posted by gokenin

ok I am going to get in trouble for this post but i have to say it.

For years we have heard that Disney is dumbing down the menus and ruining the F&W because they are allowing the average person to go to these things and its no longer just for foodies. Well to me Disney has heard you and made these things so exspensive that the average person will not go. You the foodies will have it to yourselves now you complain that its tooo exspensive I am still going to the F&W festival and I will enjoy it with or without the high priced extra meals

I am limiting myself to one special event this year to keep costs down. Next year I don't see myself doing more then one or two special events, maybe three if I do three of the cheaper ones.

[BriarRosie]

Originally Posted by gokenin

ok I am going to get in trouble for this post but i have to say it.

For years we have heard that Disney is dumbing down the menus and ruining the F&W because they are allowing the average person to go to these things and its no longer just for foodies. Well to me Disney has heard you and made these things so exspensive that the average person will not go. You the foodies will have it to yourselves now you complain that its tooo exspensive I am still going to the F&W festival and I will enjoy it with or without the high priced extra meals

You'll find that the majority of us foodies who have been Festival regulars are not elitist food snobs. But I think we all draw the line over what we perceive to be a good value for the money we're shelling out.

This is the first time I've skipped a PFTS during a Festival trip since I started doing them in 2003. I do intend to book a couple signature dinners if I manage to book them. My first Festival experience was actually in 1997, when I had no clue that there was anything other than the kiosks around World Showcase. I still enjoy that part of the Festival.