[kizzmitt]

I'm really looking forward to the Food and Wine Festival in October. I've never been to it before so I don't really know what to expect. To those of you who have been before, how many days/nights should I devote to this event? Oh- and how much should I budget to eat/drink around the world!

[bali]

The food and wine festival is a great event, especially if you want to join in on some of the seminars/special dinners they offer (check out allears.net for details). If not, the food stands in Epcot still offer a lot of interesting choices! If I were you, I'd allot at least two meals for the festival; start once in Mexico and work your way toward the middle and start the second time in Canada and work your way toward the middle -- that way you'll be able to try everything before you get full! As for budgeting, each individually-sized "item" is between 2-4 dollars, so budget around $20-25 per "tasting session."

Have fun!

[Park Hopper]

The Food & Wine Festival annually is the favorite Disney World event for DW and myself, two passholders who live in Orlando. Here are a couple of links to reviews I posted from last year's festival that might be of help: Here's one link and here's the other.

Pick up a festival guide book as soon as you enter Epcot. It gives a day-by-day schedule of what's going on and when. It's invaluable. And remember, almost all of the wine and beer tastings are free. And all of the food demonstrations, which include a sample of what's been cooked, are free, too. And don't forget the free Eat To The Beat concerts every night featuring various oldies performers.

[SnazzyCMB]

I don't mean to hijack your thread, Kizzmitt, but I thought you had a great question, which was the same as mine-we will also be going in Oct. during the F&W Fest for the first time. But, I have another question: we will have the MYW plus free dining package-how does that work with the F&W fest? Is that exluded? If so, maybe I should just change my reservation and renew my APs and try to get a discount that way....any thoughts or suggestions would be helpful-Thanks!

[downsouthtigger]

Originally Posted by SnazzyCMB

I don't mean to hijack your thread, Kizzmitt, but I thought you had a great question, which was the same as mine-we will also be going in Oct. during the F&W Fest for the first time. But, I have another question: we will have the MYW plus free dining package-how does that work with the F&W fest? Is that exluded? If so, maybe I should just change my reservation and renew my APs and try to get a discount that way....any thoughts or suggestions would be helpful-Thanks!

AHA a Thread jacker!!!!! Seriously dining wont include F&W since thats a pay per taste event, plus I do not think you'd want to waste your points on it either.

Back to the original question, as for how many days you want to allow the festival check who is playing at the concerts. Also there are various culinary presentations and wine tastings as well. Park hopper is right, pick up a festival giuide and plan. Or go to allearsnet and get an idea who will be there when. SO I would give it 2 days maybe, since aside from the presentations and some exhibits its mostly little booths.
As for budget, there are a couple ways to go. You can either eat around the world, or save your money have some snacks and eat a dinner at a sit down restaurant. Each sample ranges for food or alcohol from $5-7, some of the pricier wines can cost $10+. There are lots of booths from all around the world, so you can see how that can add up. Oh and portions are very small! I paid around $15 and all I got was some escargot (3 snails), piece of baklava, mini-gyro, "glass" of zinfandel and mango wine. Both my "glasses" of wine were about 4oz, each entree was a small snack. SO for the price of 2 counter service meals I got small appetizers which made me more hungry.
I just wish I would've known more about food and wine before I went too.
Its a good time to go, but you can waste more money on the food and wine than you should.....and still be hungry!!!

[kizzmitt]

Snazzy-We also have the dining plan but since we are having a couple of character breakfasts and also going to California Grill we will end up paying out of pocket for a few meals anyway. $15 for 4oz of wine and some appys doesn't seem too bad. My last glass of wine at WDW was $13 alone! I'm really looking forward to the F&W Festival, I'll probably want to go everyday!

[Dana]

Does anyone know the schedule for the "eat to the beat" concerts? I would love to do this, but have no idea how it works. Also, is the festival all day or is it just in the evening? Thanks.

[bali]

Dana -- don't know the schedule, but I know that the concerts (they're free to all Epcot guests) work the same way as the flower power concerts during the Flower and Garden Festival. They're offered twice (three times?) every night and the artists change every week or so. The food and wine festival stalls are arranged around the World Showcase and are open and available during the same hours that World Showcase is open.

[Park Hopper]

Originally Posted by kizzmitt

Snazzy-We also have the dining plan but since we are having a couple of character breakfasts and also going to California Grill we will end up paying out of pocket for a few meals anyway. $15 for 4oz of wine and some appys doesn't seem too bad. My last glass of wine at WDW was $13 alone! I'm really looking forward to the F&W Festival, I'll probably want to go everyday!

To get a better idea of what's offered at the food booths and the prices, here's what was on the menu last year.

If you're really into food and wine, here's another Festival event you might want to consider: the weekly Party for the Senses.

PARTY FOR THE SENSES
You’ll begin this memorable event at the 5:45 performance of the Eat to the Beat Concert. From 6:30 to 9:00pm, you’ll be sampling the culinary creations of 20 renowned chefs as well as 50 great beers and wines. This event takes place at the World Showplace Pavilion (formerly Millennium Village.)

$95.00 per person including tax and gratuity. The evening ends with preferred viewing of the Illuminations Fireworks. The schedule is as follows:

9/30 - 10/2 - Kansas

10/3 - 10/6 - Commodores

10/7 - 10/9 - Edgar Winter

10/10 - 10/13 - Kool & The Gang

10/14 - 10/16 - The Gap Band

10/17 - 10/19 - Arturo Sandoval

10/20 - 10/23 - Starship featuring Mickey Thomas

10/24 - 10/25 - The Beach Boys

10/26 - 10/28 - Family Stone Experience

10/29 - 10/31 - The Miracles Review featuring Sydney Justin

11/1 - 11/4 - Chubby Checker and the Wildcats

11/5 - 11/7 - The Rippingtons

11/8 - 11/10 - Loverboy

11/11 - 11/13 - Three Dog Night


You can read reviews of Party for the Senses on allears.net. They put out quite a spread.

[Dana]

Originally Posted by bali

Dana -- don't know the schedule, but I know that the concerts (they're free to all Epcot guests) work the same way as the flower power concerts during the Flower and Garden Festival. They're offered twice (three times?) every night and the artists change every week or so. The food and wine festival stalls are arranged around the World Showcase and are open and available during the same hours that World Showcase is open.

Thanks for the information.

Thanks to you park hopper for the schedule. Looks like Survivor will be there when I am....i'll pass..lol I wish it was Eddie money...I love him!

[Princess D]

I just booked my trip for Sept. and this will be my first time at the Food & Wine Festival, too. Kizzmit, I am soooo glad that you started this thread. Thank you to everyone who is sharing their knowledge and opinons. I know that for me it will be so helpful.
I am looking very forward to this quick trip.

[palmickey]

We are not wine drinkers but would love to sample all the food from the different places around the world. We went last year, planned a day and a half at EPCOT (our first trip to WDW ever). The only two days that it rained while we were there, were the days that we went to EPCOT! Our full day at EPCOT it rained all day. Everything was soaked and most of the little booths of food that we were looking forward to trying were all closed. Very dissapointing! We are hoping for sunshine this year!

[Twins1023]

I'm taking my mom to Disney 9/30-10/3 and planning a trip to Epcot on Saturday Oct 1, my question is will this event make Epcot packed or will we still be able to get around? Thanks

[Dana]

Originally Posted by Park Hopper

11/1 - 11/4 - Chubby Checker and the Wildcats



.

I get to see Chubby!!! WOO HOOO thanks for posting the schedule park hopper.

[downsouthtigger]

Originally Posted by Twins1023

I'm taking my mom to Disney 9/30-10/3 and planning a trip to Epcot on Saturday Oct 1, my question is will this event make Epcot packed or will we still be able to get around? Thanks

The event will add a little bit more people, but no overwhelming crowds.
If you are going to see epcot itself, instead of food and wine you will be ok.
The food booths, tastings, and presentations will draw most of the crowds.
Still going on a saturday would be more crowded anyways, so I think it would probably be just like a typical weekend with moderate crowds.