**2010** Epcot Food & Wine Festival ENDED 11/14. 2011 FESTIVAL 9/30-11/13

[Inkmahm]

I'm getting worried about crowds for our trip. We leave on Thursday and our plane to Orlando has exactly one open coach seat. I called tonight to try to use Airtran A+ rewards to upgrade to Business Class and I couldn't as all seats were taken. That has never happened to me on any flight to or from Orlando before on Airtran. Ever. I have always been able to upgrade and usually had a choice of 10 to 12 seats out of 12 seats in business class. Not this time.

Luckily we don't have the kiosks planned for Saturday at all. With PFTS in the evening, we will do Hollywood Studios earlier in the day instead of Epcot.

 

[marshwiggle]

I'm not sure if it was only in the WVL goodie bags, but there was a signed headshot of some man. I'm having trouble uploading the pic, but does anyone know who he was and/or why we should have recognized him? We're not foodies by any stretch (we'd be generously characterized as just above "eater") but it just seemed odd and on the creepiness scale, it was probably a "slightly".

Also, wrt the weekend crowds, we had a plan that seemed to work pretty well but we did avoid most of the worst lines by doing the wine school and PFTS. Our plan was hitting the kiosks on the northern side of the lake (closest to the big ball) on Friday afternoon when crowds felt pretty light and then doing the kiosks on the southern side as soon as they opened on Saturday. We figured that most people would be coming from FutureWorld and by 12:30pm (if not earlier) the lines at the kiosks closest to there like Chile and NZ were noticeably longer.

 

[redzinner]

I'm getting worried about crowds for our trip. We leave on Thursday and our plane to Orlando has exactly one open coach seat. I called tonight to try to use Airtran A+ rewards to upgrade to Business Class and I couldn't as all seats were taken. That has never happened to me on any flight to or from Orlando before on Airtran. Ever. I have always been able to upgrade and usually had a choice of 10 to 12 seats out of 12 seats in business class. Not this time.

Luckily we don't have the kiosks planned for Saturday at all. With PFTS in the evening, we will do Hollywood Studios earlier in the day instead of Epcot.

The airlines are eliminating flights for cost saving purposes. That means more people in fewer scheduled flights versus people spread over multiple flights throughout the day.

I'm not sure if it was only in the WVL goodie bags, but there was a signed headshot of some man. I'm having trouble uploading the pic, but does anyone know who he was and/or why we should have recognized him? We're not foodies by any stretch (we'd be generously characterized as just above "eater") but it just seemed odd and on the creepiness scale, it was probably a "slightly".

Could have been the musician that performed at Eat to the Beat that night.

A word about the crowds: Orlando is having a spectacular October weather month ... no rain, lower humidity and no hurricane threats! Epcot will be packed every weekend and crowded every evening after 7 pm, when other parks close. For the locals it is an adult picnic in the park and they will take advantage of it, with their seasonal and annual passes. No abnormality here just the reality.

 

[TDC Nala]

I am sure the headshot was of Howard Jones, who performed at the Eat to the Beat concert that night. They've been giving those out to wine view room participants. I think it's silly but not sure it would be creepy.


I am having problems with Airtran too. I was able to check in but can't print the boarding pass. The barcode doesn't print on it. If I try to go back in I get a system error. Loads of open seats on my plane though. I'm not upgrading. I can probably get a whole row to myself in the back. So if you are worried about crowds at WDW just because your plane is full, rest assured that there are planes to Orlando from other destinations that are not full.

 

[Billabongi]

Well, I think they might want to let it bother them because it did me. We were there Sat. and it was awful. We ate exactly two items (Creme Brulee and Cerviche and both were good). But I've been 5 times in the past two years and this time was just terrible, TERRIBLE!

In no way could I ever endure and enjoy this type of crowd. Walking shoulder to shoulder, standing in 30 minute lines to purchase overpriced food, beer and wine is tough to do (and make note, it's the standing in line that was the problem). Now I know this is just me but people should look at all of the facts to prevent the crushing disappointment we felt on Saturday (we'd really been looking forward to it).

We were there on Saturday and did not wait in a 30 minute line for anything and we were there all day, maybe you meant a different Saturday? I think at tops we waited 15 minutes. The lines seemed like they'd take forever but in reality they were very efficient except for Australia as they couldn't keep up with the Lamb chops (same complaint as last year)

We tasted just about as much food this year in the terrible crowds as we did last year in very very light crowds, we may have been 1 stand off.Did I enjoy the crowds certainly not, but did we still have a blast and try lots of food yes!

It's much easier to just deal with it, realize you're in Disney and have fun!

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

We were there on Saturday and did not wait in a 30 minute line for anything and we were there all day, maybe you meant a different Saturday? I think at tops we waited 15 minutes. The lines seemed like they'd take forever but in reality they were very efficient except for Australia as they couldn't keep up with the Lamb chops (same complaint as last year)

We tasted just about as much food this year in the terrible crowds as we did last year in very very light crowds, we may have been 1 stand off.Did I enjoy the crowds certainly not, but did we still have a blast and try lots of food yes!

It's much easier to just deal with it, realize you're in Disney and have fun!

Well certainly my estimate of 30 minute waits were just that. I didn't actually time it. But the lines had multiple switich backs for goodness sake. There must have been 30-35 people in many of those lines!

I don't doubt that the F&WF can be done and enjoyed by many, but if you don't like throngs of people then it won't be enjoyed by you. Just being at WDW is not enough to float my boat anymore - My kids have grown and I believe Disney Magic is a thing of the past (btw, I DO believe people can make their own magic with Disney's assistance).

I just think people should know what the weekend, especially a really nice weather weekend could hold for them at F&WF.

 

[Skoolie]

Well certainly my estimate of 30 minute waits were just that. I didn't actually time it. But the lines had multiple switich backs for goodness sake. There must have been 30-35 people in many of those lines!

I don't doubt that the F&WF can be done and enjoyed by many, but if you don't like throngs of people then it won't be enjoyed by you. Just being at WDW is not enough to float my boat anymore - My kids have grown and I believe Disney Magic is a thing of the past (btw, I DO believe people can make their own magic with Disney's assistance).

I just think people should know what the weekend, especially a really nice weather weekend could hold for them at F&WF.

You probably just need more alcohol! lol If you aren't a local and are on vacation just plan to go on a weekday. I bet Tuesdays and Thursdays are pretty light.

 

[TDC Nala]

Thursday the 14th was pretty good, even with some extra traffic brought in by the Duffy premier stuff. I'm going tomorrow, hope it will be OK in the afternoon, but I have to get out in the evening for the Ca. Grill signature. The only time I can do an evening in Epcot this weekend is Saturday - go figure.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

You probably just need more alcohol! lol If you aren't a local and are on vacation just plan to go on a weekday. I bet Tuesdays and Thursdays are pretty light.

I Know! But the beer/wine lines were too darn long too!!!

I'm quasi local. Have a vacation home in Celebration and are there a couple times per month, so we're planning a week day visit (Fri or Sun evening at the least).

 

[redzinner]

Thursday the 14th was pretty good, even with some extra traffic brought in by the Duffy premier stuff. I'm going tomorrow, hope it will be OK in the afternoon, but I have to get out in the evening for the Ca. Grill signature. The only time I can do an evening in Epcot this weekend is Saturday - go figure.

Hey, maybe I'll get a chance to meet up with you tomorrow afternoon ... I'll be there solo for a couple hours.

Has anyone noticed a pattern to the wines being served at deminars and the wines being served at PftS? Are the wines served at PftS the same wines being served at the deminars the week before or the week after the PftS?

 

[Skoolie]

I Know! But the beer/wine lines were too darn long too!!!

I'm quasi local. Have a vacation home in Celebration and are there a couple times per month, so we're planning a week day visit (Fri or Sun evening at the least).

Oh very true. Well we can try all of the 15 beers for 15 years at once. We'll just have to drink them fast before they get too warm.

Your lucky. I'm a local and can't get out during the week. Going to have to sneak out of work some how.

 

[Peter Pirate 2]

Oh very true. Well we can try all of the 15 beers for 15 years at once. We'll just have to drink them fast before they get too warm.
Your lucky. I'm a local and can't get out during the week. Going to have to sneak out of work some how.

Agreed. Warm beer? Uhm no!

I'm lucky to a degree, I guess. I do have a 5 hour drive to get to Celebration though. That's the not lucky part.

I wanted to try the Tequila Bar too. Couldn't even get close enough to see it! LOL!

 

[skunkvette]

I wanted to try the Tequila Bar too. Couldn't even get close enough to see it! LOL!

Tried the Tequila bar on 10/14 - four shots $150 including tip. WOW!

My crowd report - and the weather was perfect!

10/13 Wednesday 12:30 arrival - not bad, really enjoyed the first loop around the world.

10/14 Thursday (in WS all day), managable, two trips around, minor waiting times. Great food, loved the short ribs in France.

10/15 - Friday - okay, now it is getting busy, starting to skip the longer lines, noticed the queue line markers have been extended out further to hold the lines in place.

10/16 - Saturday , busiest I have ever seen WS, at 3 PM we bailed out.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I'm at my mom's house today and she just broke the garden Mickey gnome that I bought for her at last year's F&W festival. Can anyone tell me if they are selling them again this year or do I need to replace it for her by finding one on ebay?

It was really cute- about 14 inches high with Mickey dresses like one of the seven dwarfs.

FYI- saw the Mickey gnome in World of Disney at Downtown Disney just the other night.

 

[betterlatethannever]

...Has anyone noticed a pattern to the wines being served at deminars and the wines being served at PftS? Are the wines served at PftS the same wines being served at the deminars the week before or the week after the PftS?

Tough to call it a pattern, but went to two wine deminars on the 8th and all 6 wines were the same at the PFTS on the 9th.

Ed

 

[chip&dale&fun]

My biggest disappointment - I've posted the best in some categories so this was one item I was looking forward to, but disappointed....From the United States - Heirloom tomatoes with Oregon Blue Cheese, red onions and basil.

I love heirlooms but the yellow ones were just not ripe. Perhaps this was too much of a tempermental dish to pull off for a crowd. The Basil was a bit weak, the cheese was awesome and the dressing was quite nice, not overdone. Hence the disappointment.....I had intended to give this another chance, but alas, too much food, not enough time.

Those of you heading to F/W this weekend. Enjoy!

 

[BGK]

Has anyone noticed a pattern to the wines being served at deminars and the wines being served at PftS? Are the wines served at PftS the same wines being served at the deminars the week before or the week after the PftS?

Just one data point, but I went to the "Great Whiskey Debate" (Jim Beam brands: Canadian Club, Knob Creek, and Laphroaig) and Fess Parker seminars on Saturday the 16th, and both those sets of presenters were at the 10/16 Party.

 

[madcoco]

I love heirlooms but the yellow ones were just not ripe.

What yellow tomatoes? On one occasion the dish was very good. On another, like you mentioned the tomatoes were not very ripe and in this sample imho it was way heavy on the Onions and nearly void of dressing Wasn't allowed to speak to the wife and daughter until I found a bottle of Scope

Have seen some bad posts about the Gelatinous Shrimp Cake/w noodles. Again liked this dish as well. A Fans of Spicy Foods, DimSum and Noodle Houses. The ground shrimp cake was similar to some of the fillings you find in Dim Sum Dumplings. The Noodles had some kick and really enjoyed them. Chewing on the Sugar Cane was an added bonus.

Everyone has different tastes however sometimes consistency can be lacking batch to batch in some dishes.

For those who have hit the Champagne Booth recently just wondering are you getting a full flute now compared to the small wine glasses(blasphemy) they were using before the uproar? Walking by the stand yesterday, it appeared the prices have doubled since taking this picture during preview day.

Anyway I really hope everyone is enjoying/has enjoyed the Festival(and those who will be visiting soon ) Though it was a bit warm yesterday and heating up today, Oct has just been wonderful and now on 23 Days straight of Sunshine and counting.

 

[Skoolie]

Have seen some bad posts about the Gelatinous Shrimp Cake/w noodles. Again liked this dish as well. A Fans of Spicy Foods, DimSum and Noodle Houses. The ground shrimp cake was similar to some of the fillings you find in Dim Sum Dumplings. The Noodles had some kick and really enjoyed them. Chewing on the Sugar Cane was an added bonus.

Everyone has different tastes however sometimes consistency can be lacking batch to batch in some dishes.

I also enjoyed the shrimp cake and had a very similar experience as you had. It's not really a dish that is geared towards the American palette either so I can understand why some may have not liked the consistency.

 

[redzinner]

I also enjoyed the shrimp cake and had a very similar experience as you had. It's not really a dish that is geared towards the American palette either so I can understand why some may have not liked the consistency.

The shrimp cake I sampled in no way resembled the above photo provided by madcoco. It is not a matter of disputing that you like it Skoolie and it might be good, all we are saying is that the sample we tasted was gelatinous (and yes it was a white gelatinous blob on a sugar cane stick) and not prepared as intended. There is batch to batch variation. We are not trying to convince you not to like it and we respect your opinion. Our goal is not propaganda against the poor shrimp cake. We have merely stated what we experienced.