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

[BriarRosie]

Thanks for the shout out. Here are some relevant food and wine reviews I did from last year's festival. My signature links to my various food reviews, and in the first post of every review I did, I linked directly to each review in a handy index. I'm thanking my lucky stars I did that back then. Makes it much easier to copy and paste them here.

2008:Quick F&W kiosk taste and Kitchen Conversations with Robert Irvine

2008:Epcot Festival Kiosks Nosh Heard 'Round the World

2008:Party for the Senses - Part 1

2008:Party for the Senses - Part 2

2008:French Regional Lunch - Burgundy at Bistro de Paris

2008:Festival kiosks - Part Deux

[enchantingodin]

Originally Posted by webray

The locals...drive straight to EPCOT for F&W, before going home, and don't have to pay for parking because they have annual passes (well most of them anyway)

I lived in East Orlando for 3 years. I had a SP - not a AP, as did most everyone I knew living in Central FL. Mostly because we didn't want to bother going in high season anyway as it's not only too hot but also WAY too crowded.

Even still it doesn't seem like it would be worth the hassle to me. Most (not all) locals work east of OBT. Unless they're in the service/tourism industry that is. Which is about 1/2 hour drive on a GOOD day to the parks. Let alone 5 o'clock rush hour. And on a friday? On I-4? Hello gridlock. For what? An hour or 2? Again - I know I wouldn't bother.

Maybe others will. Who knows for sure. But with everything else going on in the other parks (F!, eve EMH @ AK, MNSSHP) I'm hoping it'll be dead during the day anyway and I can get most of it done before any locals do decide to show up.

All I can do is plan the best way I can with what I've got.

[kathiewe]

Originally Posted by enchantingodin

I lived in East Orlando for 3 years. I had a SP - not a AP, as did most everyone I knew living in Central FL. Mostly because we didn't want to bother going in high season anyway as it's not only too hot but also WAY too crowded.

Agreed, I'd be interested to see the number of local who have full APs. We also SPs because its way too crowded for us during the high season. I cannot think of anyone we has a full AP -- we actually had them the first year we moved here and then got smart and went to the SP.

You are also right about traveling I-4 during rush hour. I do consulting work in Orlando and if you hit I-4 in the evening life can be hell both directions from outside Tampa to outside Orlando. Not sure anyone would want to rush to Epcot and have to deal with that.

[oybolshoi]

Here are some F&W events we've attended over the last couple of years. I'm not going to include any food booths in here because mine are so scattered that it would be painful for anyone to have to go through them.

Please keep in mind that some events offered in one year were not offered in another and there is no guarantee that they will be offered at this year's festival either. That said, I hope this is a little helpful for those of you who may be wondering about some of the different things that the festival has to offer.

2008 F&W Festival

Free Wine Seminar - Banfi Wines

Party for the Senseless, Part I
Party for the Senseless, Part II

French Regional Lunch - Bistro Paris

Kitchen Conversations w/Robert Irvine


2007 F&W Festival

Food & Wine Pairing - Le Cellier

Party for the Senseless, Part I
Party for the Senseless, Part II
A Truly Senseless Summary

Scotch & Food Pairing - Rose & Crown Pub


2006 F&W Festival

Food & Wine Pairing - Coral Reef

Sweet Sundays, Part I
Sweet Sundays, Part II

Food & Wine Pairing - Restaurant Marrakesh

[kathiewe]

Thanks for the reviews. So, if you were to pick a great date event for F&W what would it be? While we have go every year for the last 5 we have only done 1 event and I don't think they still have that one.

Thanks for recomendations.

[BriarRosie]

Originally Posted by kathiewe

Thanks for the reviews. So, if you were to pick a great date event for F&W what would it be? While we have go every year for the last 5 we have only done 1 event and I don't think they still have that one.

Thanks for recomendations.

That's a tough call. If they brought back the Signature Dinners or similar events of multiple course meals, I'd say those are special enough. I don't think Party for the Senses is conducive to a fun date night if you don't like throngs of people in a bustling venue. I've liked PFTS because I'm not tied down to another person. There's a lot of people who guard their tables zealously, and if you feel the need to be at a table all the time, that can be difficult at times.

If there aren't any meal events that aren't grazing stations, you could always do what I did last year: I went to Victoria and Albert's main dining room.

[DisneyCruiser83]

Originally Posted by kathiewe

Agreed, I'd be interested to see the number of local who have full APs. We also SPs because its way too crowded for us during the high season. I cannot think of anyone we has a full AP -- we actually had them the first year we moved here and then got smart and went to the SP.

I have a SP, but my husband has an AP because we hate paying for parking and use the TiW card. The savings we have throughout the year more than make up for the expense of a full AP. Just my two cents!

[DisneyCruiser83]

My husband and I are planning a trip in October for the F&WF. This will be our first trip (and our last for a while) so I would like for us to do as much as we can. I plan to do a PFTS and Sweet Sunday as well as browse the kiosks, two Eat to the Beat concerts and perhaps some seminars if something sparks our interest. (This would be over the course of 4 days). I also would like to go to Victoria and Albert's. We will be there for nine days and eight nights. Do you think this is too much to do in that time frame? Any input is appreciated! Thanks!

[kathiewe]

Originally Posted by DisneyCruiser83

I have a SP, but my husband has an AP because we hate paying for parking and use the TiW card. The savings we have throughout the year more than make up for the expense of a full AP. Just my two cents!

That's a good idea.

[oybolshoi]

Originally Posted by BriarRosie

That's a tough call. If they brought back the Signature Dinners or similar events of multiple course meals, I'd say those are special enough. I don't think Party for the Senses is conducive to a fun date night if you don't like throngs of people in a bustling venue. I've liked PFTS because I'm not tied down to another person. There's a lot of people who guard their tables zealously, and if you feel the need to be at a table all the time, that can be difficult at times.

If there aren't any meal events that aren't grazing stations, you could always do what I did last year: I went to Victoria and Albert's main dining room.

I agree with Lori ... PFTS isn't really a date night in my book, either ... too much work. My hubby and I haven't had a chance to do any signature dinners or regional dinners but I've heard they are quite nice (and pricey) and would make for a lovely date night. The regional lunch we tried at Bistro Paris was very nice and could be a good alternative as a date afternoon.

And Lori's V&A suggestion is great - the price for two people to attend PFTS is comparable to what you'd spend for dinner in their dining room (without booze) and it's a wonderful elegant place with amazing food.

Originally Posted by DisneyCruiser83

My husband and I are planning a trip in October for the F&WF. This will be our first trip (and our last for a while) so I would like for us to do as much as we can. I plan to do a PFTS and Sweet Sunday as well as browse the kiosks, two Eat to the Beat concerts and perhaps some seminars if something sparks our interest. (This would be over the course of 4 days). I also would like to go to Victoria and Albert's. We will be there for nine days and eight nights. Do you think this is too much to do in that time frame? Any input is appreciated! Thanks!

You're going to be at WDW for 9 days but you're only planning F&W for four days? It sounds like you're planning to spend most of your time at the festival on the weekend (maybe I'm reading too much into your post) and that's usually when it's the most crowded. You're probably looking at waiting in line for about an hour for any seminars / tastings that will be offered and lines at the food booths are likely to be long, too.

For what it's worth, here's what we try to do (we usually spend 10 days at WDW) ... we graze around the World Showcase in small bursts during the week (Mon-Th) when the crowds are typically much smaller. If there's a special event offered during the week that we're interested in we book it as soon as possible since seating is limited.

The weekend events you picked are fun, but do you really want to be at PFTS stuffing yourself silly (and maybe drinking yourself silly, too) on Saturday night only to get up early for Sweet Sundays the following morning? I think it usually begins at 9AM on Sunday morning ... or it did we when attended.

Personal preference, but we would choose one or the other, but not both. Now last year we did PFTS on Saturday night and then followed that up with the French lunch at Bistro which started at noon. That was nice because we were able to sleep in and relax before hitting up our second event in 24 hours.

I'm long winded ... (nothing new there ) but I'd say that you need to decide what kind of plan works for you. We like spreading things out but we also stay at the Beach Club Villas so that makes it a lot easier for us to do since we're so close to Epcot.

Just have a good time ... it's impossible to do everything so just focus on those things that you really want to do and then slow down and enjoy them.

[dizneykid]

Originally Posted by BelleLovesTheBeast

The wristbands were great last year. Not only are they an easy way to pay for things but they make great souvenirs too.

Remember, those wrist bands are re-loadable. They do make great souvenirs, but we are still using them every time we go to Disney.

They are very convenient having them on your wrist or as my dh does he attaches them to his belt. You don't have to fish out your money each time you want to buy something.

I hope they bring them back with a new design for this year's F&W.

[oybolshoi]

Hi Jeanne!

Originally Posted by dizneykid

Remember, those wrist bands are re-loadable. They do make great souvenirs, but we are still using them every time we go to Disney.

They are very convenient having them on your wrist or as my dh does he attaches them to his belt. You don't have to fish out your money each time you want to buy something.

I hope they bring them back with a new design for this year's F&W.

[dizneykid]

Originally Posted by oybolshoi

I agree with Lori ... PFTS isn't really a date night in my book, either ... too much work. My hubby and I haven't had a chance to do any signature dinners or regional dinners but I've heard they are quite nice (and pricey) and would make for a lovely date night. The regional lunch we tried at Bistro Paris was very nice and could be a good alternative as a date afternoon.

The weekend events you picked are fun, but do you really want to be at PFTS stuffing yourself silly (and maybe drinking yourself silly, too) on Saturday night only to get up early for Sweet Sundays the following morning? I think it usually begins at 9AM on Sunday morning ... or it did we when attended.

I agree also! We have been able to do some signature dinners and they are fabulous!

This was just our experience, but maybe it would help. We did PFTS and didn't leave until the very end, and then had Sweet Sundays the next day. We realized we will NEVER do that again. It was very early and we didn't feel like eating no less having three desserts!

There is a lot of food and drink at the PFTS. Plus, you may want to sleep in the next day. We did.

[TDC Nala]

The problem with the signature dinners (if there are any) as a "date night" is that they will not seat you at a table for two. You will be seated at a large table with other people. Even at Bistro for the French lunch it is likely youwill share your table with others. Only once have I been at a table for two at a signature dinner and that was last year at Bluezoo. If you had an intimate dinner for two in mind, and was going to pay the kind of price required by the festival events, Victoria & Alberts is the place.

If you have a TIW membership, you can use it at V&A if you eat in the main dining room (not Chefs Table) and it isn't a major holiday which TIW blacks out. Then the cost with booze is pretty much a wash with the F&W events.

I have done three Sweet Sundays and will never do another one - have learned that there IS such a thing as too much dessert.

[oybolshoi]

Originally Posted by TDC Nala

I have done three Sweet Sundays and will never do another one - have learned that there IS such a thing as too much dessert.

who would have thought that could even be possible?