Food & Wine for First Time

epcotWSC

epcotWSC

Well-Known Member
So my wife and I were able to get a reservation for September 18th through the 25th, in time for the beginning of the Food & Wine Festival. We've never done F&W before since we always have gone in the summer.

A few questions:
How many times should we go to Epcot? We were planning on going twice, is it worthwhile to go more than that?
Is there a need to even bother with table service restaurants when we're at Epcot? We didn't book any since we figure we would just go to the booths.
I think we're planning on doing one of the food seminars, are they worthwhile?
Anything else that we should know?

Thank you!
 
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bee

bee

Well-Known Member
Hi! Epcot is my favorite park so I may be a little biased when I say you COULD go there more than twice to enjoy everything at Food and Wine. Last year my GF and I went three times to Epcot during F&W. We are both vegetarians and wanted to try every vegetarian item plus many of the wines and cocktails at the booths. In three days we BARELY tried JUST the vegetarian foods, and that was with us sharing almost all of them. If you are the type who loves to plan things I recommend looking at the menus online and trying to narrow down which items you really must try, and consider sharing, at least on the first round so you can try more without getting totally full after only a few booths.

I personally would not make table service reservations during F&W as you can easily make a complete meal out of a few of the booth snacks. Also, the table service restaurants will be around all year while F&W is a limited time event, so you may not have the chance to try things again.

I haven't been to the food seminars (except for kind of overhearing some while in Wonders of Life/Festival Center) but I'm sure someone who has food seminar experience will chime in shortly!

Last year there was a Ghirardelli exhibit inside the Festival Center and they were giving out complimentary samples of chocolate so that was a nice surprise! I also recommend getting the free "Passport" to track what you have tried. Again, you may want to look up the menus online before you go and plan a few items/booths that are a priority lest you miss out on something you really wanted to try.
 
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Rob562

Rob562

Well-Known Member
On our upcoming trip we're planning on one full day in Epcot and two partial days (our arrival evening and then an evening after the daytime at MK).

We'll be eating at Biergarten our arrival night, but that's mostly because my bf was born in Germany and is curious about Disney's version of a German buffet. We'll probably use that evening to peruse the kiosks and form a gameplan, perhaps try a few of the wine and beer options, saving our food for the buffet.
The other days we're at Epcot, we plan on all of our food being the Food & Wine booths.

A few tips from past visits:
-Avoid the weekends, if at all possible. World Showcase is insanely packed. Our visits are Thursday, Monday and Wednesday. In 2012 our only possible day at F&W was a weekend day in the final weekend. Insanity.

-Take a look at the menus before you go to get an idea of what you might want to try.
http://www.wdwmagic.com/events/inte...festival-marketplace-kiosks-now-available.htm

-Unless there's something you *really* want all to yourself, definitely plan on sharing between the two of you. They're small tastings, but they add up quickly.

-You mentioned it's you and your wife, so this won't necessarily apply to you, but for people who are visiting with people on separate budgets, I suggest you get a gift card for the group. When you first arrive, go into a shop and get a gift card. Everyone in the group puts the same amount of money on it to start. Then at each booth use the gift card for any food or beverage that the group will be sharing. Anyone who wants to get something for themselves can pay for it themselves. It may require multiple transactions at the booth, but I've found it's the most fair and equitable way to do it.


-Rob
 
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Christine in NJ

Christine in NJ

Member
We're spending a full day enjoying Epcot without worrying about the festival and then doing a full day enjoying food. We want to try stuff at almost every booth and we plan on splitting each thing we're both willing to eat. Figure we'll stuff ourselves, take a break, stuff ourselves again, etc. It may not work out that way, but we're going to give it a go. Worst thing that happens is we don't try everything, but on the bright side of that, it would save us money! We're going to use all of snack credits for food, but I'm sure they'll run out eventually.
 
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CtDisneyGuy33

CtDisneyGuy33

Well-Known Member
I agree with above posters. We went to F&W last year for 2 days and really loved it. As much as people say the crowds were very bad on the weekends, I dont really think there is a time when the crowds are that slow at F&W, so be ready for the crowds whenever you go. Between all the food choices and adult beverages, I wouldnt make table reservations. Remember, Eat to the Beats is a decent stop as well.

Actually, we head down Sept 20-28, so planning to do a couple more days at F&W. Be sure to check the menus, so you can at least have an idea as to what you guys are looking to try...
 
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Sweet Melissa

Sweet Melissa

Well-Known Member
How many times should we go to Epcot? We were planning on going twice, is it worthwhile to go more than that?
Obviously your mileage may vary, but we like to cover ALL of the Festival Marketplace, which takes several meals. For instance, this year, we're planning on having "brunch" at the Festival for 5-6 days. We aren't spending the whole day in Epcot on any of those days, though. All I'm saying is that if you go more than twice, you won't run out of things to see or taste.

Is there a need to even bother with table service restaurants when we're at Epcot? We didn't book any since we figure we would just go to the booths.
We do. We usually just have brunch at the Festival, and then do late dinners at table service restaurants or in lounges.

I think we're planning on doing one of the food seminars, are they worthwhile?
Some are, some aren't. If it sounds interesting to you, it's probably worth a try. They're inexpensive enough to do one or two.

Anything else that we should know?
Grab yourselves a passport at one of the Festival Marketplace kiosks or at the Festival Welcome Center. That way, you'll have a handy, pocket-sized guide to all of the marketplace menu items. It's a good way to plan what you'd like to taste. The passports can also be stamped as you visit each country, so it's a nice free souvenir.
 
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loriloughs

loriloughs

Member
We are also attending F&W from 9/22-928. We have been at F&W before but never did any seminars. We got the free dining plan this time, but as I am scheduling the meals I think we are all going to come home 10 pounds heavier. I understand that they let you you use your snack option for the food bites at the kiosks. Perhaps you might do one special sit down meal at Le Cellier. We are spending mornings in a different park each day and then one full day at Epcot. We plan to hop over to Epcot at least two other evenings. It takes time to sample all those bites! Last time we went to F&W we got the passport to track our food and drinks. That was fun. We spent at least two days and still couldn't sample everything. This time we booked the new Late Nights Live Premium Package. They have 2 versions - a "street party" from 9:45pm - 1:00am on Tuesdays and Thursdays for $79 and a premium package for $199 that includes wine, a glass, a F&W MagicBands, and other special privileges. We will post later how it went. We also booked fastpasses on 2 days at Epcot so we can do both Soarin and Test Track with very little wait time. Haven't been to Disney since the whole magic band and FP+ change! but I am hoping the lines are still short when we get there at opening. You sound like a Disney veteran who doesn't really need advice, but I can tell you F&W is our favorite time to go, even without the seminars. Of course it is still really hot that time of September, probably in the low 90's. Have a wonderful, fantastic time!
 
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