Food and Wine Nickel and Diming

[WDW1974]

Apparently, after 15 years of offering free food and wine tastings at the EPCOT Food and Wine Fest, Disney has come up with another way to empty your pockets.

Those tastings (which gave small to tiny portions and required standing in line) now are $8 each.

Obviously, anyone who has read anything I post here can imagine what I think of this change.

But anyone who has watched the samples at the booths that you paid for shrink annually, while prices that once started at 75 cents or $1 and are now generally anywhere from $3-5 each, can't be surprised by this.

It's a shame because this was always a great event, but now it's really all about gouging the guests (many locals and loyal, many who come from elsewhere because they want to be there during it).

You can easily spend $100 a person just nibbling and sipping your way around World Showcase Lagoon and now the few free tastings are history.

Let the TDO apologists rejoice!

 

[jt04]

Apparently, after 15 years of offering free food and wine tastings at the EPCOT Food and Wine Fest, Disney has come up with another way to empty your pockets.

Those tastings (which gave small to tiny portions and required standing in line) now are $8 each.

Obviously, anyone who has read anything I post here can imagine what I think of this change.

But anyone who has watched the samples at the booths that you paid for shrink annually, while prices that once started at 75 cents or $1 and are now generally anywhere from $3-5 each, can't be surprised by this.

It's a shame because this was always a great event, but now it's really all about gouging the guests (many locals and loyal, many who come from elsewhere because they want to be there during it).

You can easily spend $100 a person just nibbling and sipping your way around World Showcase Lagoon and now the few free tastings are history.

Let the TDO apologists rejoice!

Man you are narrow minded. Guarantee this is the path to an increasingly quality event. No apologies necessary. It's just the next natural evolution to an increasingly great event.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Man you are narrow minded. Guarantee this is the path to an increasingly quality event. No apologies necessary. It's just the next natural evolution to an increasingly great event.

They are raising prices on the same stuff they used to give you for free.


You must be dizzy from all that spinning.

 

[DMC-12]

Apparently, after 15 years of offering free food and wine tastings at the EPCOT Food and Wine Fest, Disney has come up with another way to empty your pockets.

Those tastings (which gave small to tiny portions and required standing in line) now are $8 each.

Obviously, anyone who has read anything I post here can imagine what I think of this change.

But anyone who has watched the samples at the booths that you paid for shrink annually, while prices that once started at 75 cents or $1 and are now generally anywhere from $3-5 each, can't be surprised by this.

It's a shame because this was always a great event, but now it's really all about gouging the guests (many locals and loyal, many who come from elsewhere because they want to be there during it).

You can easily spend $100 a person just nibbling and sipping your way around World Showcase Lagoon and now the few free tastings are history.

Let the TDO apologists rejoice!

http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=469720&highlight=Food+Wine

 

[JWG]

I'm confused, $8 per sample, $8 per country for various samples...
What is $8 buying me?

I know historically some things have been free and some have cost a nominal fee as you said $1-$3 or whatever.

I'm lost as to what is now $8? That would need to be a full size extra large beer to be considered close to valuable.

A full glass of wine is $8? Samples still $1-$3?

 

[jt04]

They are raising prices on the same stuff they used to give you for free.


You must be dizzy from all that spinning.

You never learn do you. College will be make or break.

Just watch and see, and don't be so quick to judge like the D&G crowd. It's going to make it a better event.

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

You never learn do you. College will be make or break.

Just watch and see, and don't be so quick to judge like the D&G crowd. It's going to make it a better event.

Thank for the insult!:lol::sohappy:

It's a shame you are not old enough to go to college...or to old to go back to it. I could say the same to you!

 

[jt04]

Thank for the insult!:lol::sohappy:

It's a shame you are not old enough to go to college...or to old to go back to it. I could say the same to you!

Where is the insult? :shrug:

:brick:

 

[rbrower]

I'm pretty sure no matter how old you are, you should see a price tag added to something that used to be free as something negative, not positive. :shrug:

 

[EPCOT Explorer]

Where is the insult? :shrug:

:brick:

Gimmie a break. The whole tone of this post, and most of them for that matter, is condescending. Keen of you to pick on the age issue.


I'm done with this thread...Must be a new record for me!

 

[CaptainMichael]

I'm pretty sure no matter how old you are, you should see a price tag added to something that used to be free as something negative, not positive. :shrug:

Exactly. When things that used to be free either get taken away or have a charge added, there is a problem. It has nothing to do with quality. In fact, you could argue it takes quality away from your EPCOT experience.

 

[jakeman]

Apparently, after 15 years of offering free food and wine tastings at the EPCOT Food and Wine Fest, Disney has come up with another way to empty your pockets.

Those tastings (which gave small to tiny portions and required standing in line) now are $8 each.

Obviously, anyone who has read anything I post here can imagine what I think of this change.

But anyone who has watched the samples at the booths that you paid for shrink annually, while prices that once started at 75 cents or $1 and are now generally anywhere from $3-5 each, can't be surprised by this.

It's a shame because this was always a great event, but now it's really all about gouging the guests (many locals and loyal, many who come from elsewhere because they want to be there during it).

You can easily spend $100 a person just nibbling and sipping your way around World Showcase Lagoon and now the few free tastings are history.

Let the TDO apologists rejoice!

That is, of course your opinion, but after seeing 1-2 hour waits for the past 3 years, I for one applaude this change:

Not to sound like a management apologist, but something needed to be done and this seems to be the easiest way. I am overall happy with this decision.

The fact there was only one tasting at a time last year no doubt contributed to the lines, but the year before it was just as bad.

I can't think of a less cumbersome way to control the crowds at the tastings other than charging at a price point that would discourage those that are in line for "free wine".

Time is obviously not a consideration for folks so the only other control resource seems to be monitary.

Am I happy they are charging? Not really. Does my happiness of possibly getting into a wine tasting for the first time in 3 years for outweigh that? You bet!

 

[rbrower]

Exactly. When things that used to be free either get taken away or have a charge added, there is a problem. It has nothing to do with quality. In fact, you could argue it takes quality away from your EPCOT experience.

It does indeed take away from the experience. Knowing that you are getting samples for free is quite different from knowing that you are paying to get a few samples.

 

[durangojim]

Eh, the way I see it is that this is no different than them raising ticket prices or room rates. After all, we were getting the same stuff last year for less money. I'm not happy about having to pay more for something that cost less last year or was free but maybe, just maybe the quality will be better. Either way I can afford to pay an extra $100-200 per trip for the F&W and perhaps it won't be so busy this year, making it a more pleasurable experience. Either way I dont really care:shrug:

 

[jt04]

I'm pretty sure no matter how old you are, you should see a price tag added to something that used to be free as something negative, not positive. :shrug:

Who says it will be the same thing?

Following wdw74 into every dark alley he tries to lure you to is not a good idea IMO.

But some people never learn.

"Paint It Black" has to be wdw74's all time favorite song. Get it? :lol:

:wave:

 

[jakeman]

I'm confused, $8 per sample, $8 per country for various samples...
What is $8 buying me?

I know historically some things have been free and some have cost a nominal fee as you said $1-$3 or whatever.

I'm lost as to what is now $8? That would need to be a full size extra large beer to be considered close to valuable.

A full glass of wine is $8? Samples still $1-$3?

There were free wine tastings by the vinyards.

It is $8 to attend now. In the past you would need to be in line 45-90 minutes prior to the tasting to get in.

 

[rbrower]

Who says it will be the same thing?

Following wdw74 into every dark alley he tries to lure you to is not a good idea IMO.

But some people never learn.

"Paint It Black" has to be wdw74's all time favorite song. Get it? :lol:

:wave:

I would think that an announcement saying that it would something different would come first. I could be wrong, but that would make sense to me.

I personally believe what 74 says because he has seemed to be on the right track in the past. I find it a good idea to at least take in what he says, even if you don't agree with it.

:wave:

 

[CaptainMichael]

Who says it will be the same thing?

Following wdw74 into every dark alley he tries to lure you to is not a good idea IMO.

But some people never learn.

"Paint It Black" has to be wdw74's all time favorite song. Get it? :lol:

:wave:

No one is following anyone, but following wdw74 down a dark alley is better than following you and the sheriff off of a cliff.

 

[rbrower]

No one is following anyone, but following wdw74 down a dark alley is better than following you and the sheriff off of a cliff.

I nominate this for post of the year...:lookaroun

 

[jakeman]

So we aren't going to talk about the pros and cons of this change and this is going to turn into yet another, "WDW1974 may or may not eat babies to get his information" thread?

There is no indication that the wine and food tastings have changed from last year. We will have to wait until the festival actually starts.