Epcot Food & Wine: Tips for a Newbie, Please!

[jduran]

Hey everyone... Heading to WDW in 11 days! It will be the first time I ever attend during Epcot Food & Wine, and while I've read everything there is to read on the subject, I'd really like to know from personal experience any tips anyone has about the event. I'll be there October 3 to 6, which means I'll be there Monday to Wednesday. I know all the big ticketed events happen Friday, Saturday and Sunday so I'm not counting on going to those. But I still have a few questions...

What should I expect when it comes to crowds?

Is there a game plan I should think of when it comes to hitting all the booths around World Showcase?

Are the plates big enough to share? (I know they range in price from $3 to $8.)

Are the $10-$12 seminars at the Welcome Center worth the price? I signed up for $10 mixology seminar, but not sure what to expect other than someone telling me how to make the drink.

Any other newbie advice is appreciated...

 

[xdan0920]

Hey everyone... Heading to WDW in 11 days! It will be the first time I ever attend during Epcot Food & Wine, and while I've read everything there is to read on the subject, I'd really like to know from personal experience any tips anyone has about the event. I'll be there October 3 to 6, which means I'll be there Monday to Wednesday. I know all the big ticketed events happen Friday, Saturday and Sunday so I'm not counting on going to those. But I still have a few questions...

What should I expect when it comes to crowds?

Light crowds. You are going early in the week, which is the perfect time.

Is there a game plan I should think of when it comes to hitting all the booths around World Showcase?

Do not be scared off by an ingredient you may not like. Try everything.

Are the plates big enough to share? (I know they range in price from $3 to $8.)

Eh. Some are big enough, some are not nearly big enough. For example. The Cheddar Cheese soup in Canada is no where near big enough to share. But the Waffle with Berry Compote in Norway is. You will be able to see the items before you order, so you can judge for yourself.

Are the $10-$12 seminars at the Welcome Center worth the price? I signed up for $10 mixology seminar, but not sure what to expect other than someone telling me how to make the drink.

IMO, no. These seminars are a major waste of valuable touring time. They are tedious, and a poor value.

Any other newbie advice is appreciated...

Have an awesome time!

 

[GeoDonJac34]

The crowds should not be a problem at all. As for a game plan, I say try everything. Go hungry, and try some things you maybe wouldn't normally try. We always share even if the portions are small. We get more if we like. If you are on meal plan, many of the menu items will count as a snack, so save your snack credits for when you go.

 

[lbrad]

Also going to F&WF for the first time ... will be there Fri & Sat Sept 30th & Oct 1st. Hoping it's as good as they say :slurp:

 

[popsicletrees]

F&W Festival is one of my favorite times to visit. I will be there just two weeks after you. Since you will be there during the week, crowds really shouldn't be an issue, but it does get more crowded as the day goes on. During one visit my family hit up the festival right after WS opened for the day and sampled our way around for lunch. We hardly waited in any lines at all, and any wait that we had was only a few minutes long.

I really don't think that many of the dishes are big enough to share, unless sharing means I take a bite of yours and you can take a bite of mine.

I cannot comment on the seminars because I've never taken the time to do them.

Have fun! It is an experience and a great way to try new things.

 

[ArtieJim]

The only dishes I remember being able to share with my girlfriend last year were the ravioli from Italy, which was pretty large, dumplings in China because there were two or three on the plate and the lobster roll at the American Pavilion stand. Granted I did not share the lobster roll because she doesn't eat seafood (poor me, had to eat the lobster roll alone). That lobster roll was actually the best thing I had all day.

We had a ton of fun at the festival last year, a little too much fun as it detracted from our time at other parks, but a great way to do it is by grabbing a passport at the Welcome Center (not at either of the shops at the start of WS as someone we first asked mentioned). There is a checklist of all the offers from each booth that CMs happily stamp as you make your way around the world, it also helps keep track of what you've tried.

One of the best pieces of advice might be to pace yourself, there's a lot of booze flowing at that Food & Wine Festival. Some great, some not very good at all, but try as much as you can (food and drink).

 

[eagles]

The only dishes I remember being able to share with my girlfriend last year were the ravioli from Italy, which was pretty large, dumplings in China because there were two or three on the plate and the lobster roll at the American Pavilion stand. Granted I did not share the lobster roll because she doesn't eat seafood (poor me, had to eat the lobster roll alone). That lobster roll was actually the best thing I had all day.

We had a ton of fun at the festival last year, a little too much fun as it detracted from our time at other parks, but a great way to do it is by grabbing a passport at the Welcome Center (not at either of the shops at the start of WS as someone we first asked mentioned). There is a checklist of all the offers from each booth that CMs happily stamp as you make your way around the world, it also helps keep track of what you've tried.

One of the best pieces of advice might be to pace yourself, there's a lot of booze flowing at that Food & Wine Festival. Some great, some not very good at all, but try as much as you can (food and drink).

is the passport that you are referring to different than the ones they sell on normal days? i am not sure i understand this passport, is it one that is for the f&w festival with all the kiosks? if so exactly where would i find one on these? this sounds like a great idea. each stand has a stamp just for these?

thanks for any help on this.

 

[xdan0920]

is the passport that you are referring to different than the ones they sell on normal days? i am not sure i understand this passport, is it one that is for the f&w festival with all the kiosks? if so exactly where would i find one on these? this sounds like a great idea. each stand has a stamp just for these?

thanks for any help on this.

It is a separate passport. They are available at many of the F&W kiosks and the Festival Welcome center. They are free, so just ask for one. It is a very cool souvenir.

 

[ArtieJim]

is the passport that you are referring to different than the ones they sell on normal days? i am not sure i understand this passport, is it one that is for the f&w festival with all the kiosks? if so exactly where would i find one on these? this sounds like a great idea. each stand has a stamp just for these?

thanks for any help on this.

Along with the post above: Yes, each booth has it's own stamp, which is great in itself, the fact that the passport also has a checklist for the items at each booth is great too. This way you can keep track of what you have and have not tried, there's also room for some notes on each page if you write small enough. We picked ours up at the Welcome Center, I believe we just walked up to the first register we saw and asked about them.

 

[crispy]

We always go as soon as the World Showcase opens and it's never too crowded.

If you are on the dining plan, you can use the snack credits to purchase the food at the kiosks.

If you aren't on the dining plan, consider getting the F & W Festival gift cards they sell. It seems to make purchasing easier.

We always share dishes because we just get too full after eating only a two or three items otherwise.

We always start in Canada and have the cheddar cheese soup first. That line always seems to be the longest, but it's not bad if you get their early. Plus, it's a nice tradition.

 

[JillC LI]

I agree with the recommendation to attend as soon as the World Showcase opens. Make it your lunch experience. It is much less crowded then than later in the day - almost no lines. If you have the dining plan, use your Snack credits to purchase plates. The plates are generally small - not a full meal - and although you can share in the sense that someone can taste a bite or two, they would not be very filling if you only got 1 or 2 plates to share (and I am a small person). I recommend you check the menu listing online in advance so you have some ideas of things you "must" try, and then be open to other ideas when you get there.

 

[fillerup]

My piece of advice, whether someone is new or not is to stand near a booth's exit area and eyeball the food that you're interested in trying.

You may well find more than one that you don't think is worth the price charged.

 

[EvilQueen-T]

thanks for posting this question. we're going for the first time this year too...oct 20 and 21st.

 

[NYwdwfan]

I'm going 1st time as well...I am a bit afraid of the crowds because my first 2 days are the last 2 days of the festival, Saturday/Sunday, and it is Veterans Day weekend (Veterans day is the Friday before).

 

[JillC LI]

I'm going 1st time as well...I am a bit afraid of the crowds because my first 2 days are the last 2 days of the festival, Saturday/Sunday, and it is Veterans Day weekend (Veterans day is the Friday before).

Plan to go right when the World Showcase opens for least crowds.

 

[jessfriends]

I too will be going for my first F&W Festival experience at the end of October and I am psyched! Also it will be my first MNSSHP too! Also it's been a very long time since i was in wonders of life.

Does anyone know if the booths accept gift cards? I am not talking about the special gift cards you can load for the festival but ones like you could buy at a grocery store? I was thinking about buying them to use for my food but wasn't sure if they were accepted. They are real gift cards that would work everywhere else on property like at the gift shops but considering these festival booths are not permanent buildings I was curious. If not could I use the gift card to load a special festival gift card?

 

[Phonedave]

I too will be going for my first F&W Festival experience at the end of October and I am psyched! Also it will be my first MNSSHP too! Also it's been a very long time since i was in wonders of life.

Does anyone know if the booths accept gift cards? I am not talking about the special gift cards you can load for the festival but ones like you could buy at a grocery store? I was thinking about buying them to use for my food but wasn't sure if they were accepted. They are real gift cards that would work everywhere else on property like at the gift shops but considering these festival booths are not permanent buildings I was curious. If not could I use the gift card to load a special festival gift card?

A gift card is a gift card is a gift card. Just because it has a different picture on it, or says Food & Wine, does not mean anything.

Your gift card will work at a Kiosk, and if you get a F&W card, it will work at a store.

-dave

 

[Tiggerish]

I'm going 1st time as well...I am a bit afraid of the crowds because my first 2 days are the last 2 days of the festival, Saturday/Sunday, and it is Veterans Day weekend (Veterans day is the Friday before).

I was there those same two days last year, and while I believe that Saturday was a madhouse, the Sunday was a great day--it was kind of like the locals got it all out of their system on Saturday and were taking Sunday to relax before going back to work. (no offense to the locals, of course!)

That Sunday night we actually managed to dine "around the World" with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law. With all of us sharing, we were able to consume every dish that was of interest to us. Being a small person myself, and married to a "non-adventurous palate" (sounds a bit better than "picky eater", right? :lol, I am usually full by halfway round the Showcase.

Have fun! I'm sure you'll enjoy the F&WF.

 

[jessfriends]

Does anyone know if the Tables in Wonderland card is good on any of the items (food & alcohol) at the booths?

 

[Yanks07]

Does anyone know if the Tables in Wonderland card is good on any of the items (food & alcohol) at the booths?

I wish but no.