2018 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: August 30 to November 12, 2018

[Dis_Yoda]

Times on the Italy Wine vs Beer?
.

Tuesday and Thursdays at 1:30PM

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I am "in line" with DVC Member Services right now. They said a 30-minute wait when I connected and that was 10 minutes ago so I still have time to surf the web...

Hoping to book the Parisian Afternoon for October 20 so I am glad to see that it is being offered and the price almost exactly what I had budgeted. I guessed $175 for the three of us....$174.09 is pretty darn close.

I tried to call DVC this morning to change a reservation. At 9 am I had a "7 minute" wait. At 9:30 I took a chance and just cancelled online and rebooked for what I wanted. I gave up on DVC once that was done but my 7 minute wait was still going strong at 9:35 so plan on 90 minutes

 

[cpdisney]

Many thanks to everyone here for help. I was able to book beer vs wine 11/8 and French meal 11/9. I didn’t have my AP number on me, she had me on hold 30 min to verify. I thought my email or phone # would help, NOT, but all booked and paid for in long run. My bp is elevated from this stressful event. Only for Disney would I tolerate this.

 

[bearcountry]

Hello all. Long time lurker, first time poster here. I believe these are the dates for the Parisian Breakfast and the Mexican Tequila Lunch. I can't guarantee the accuracy but the CM I was booking with did say she was looking directly at the calendar for these.

The dates I got for the Parisian Breakfast are:

• 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/03, 11/10

And the Mexican Tequila Lunch:

• 8/30 and 8/31
• Every Thursday and Friday in September
• Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in October
• Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in November (until end of F&W)

Good luck everyone, hopefully these are helpful (and correct!).

 

[GoGoBeans]

I am furious that they ARE booking unlisted events! Of course I didn't call and NOW I am on hold for 70+ minutes on 2 lines. Great. Super. Please insert whatever colorful words and phrases you enjoy in this space. I am feeling very stabby at the moment.

Same. I was triple tasking with two lines going and working while the hold music continued on... how they can be booking events before they have even published them is beyond me. The CM said they gave them a spreadsheet so she was able to look things up pretty easily and said it was better than multiple paper copies they gave in them in the past.

Got the Italian Food and Wine Pairing Luncheon booked for the Monday we are there.

My as expected big bummer is the French Family meal was not offered during my trip so thankfully I already had brunch at California Grill booked as my backup. For those looking for the French Family meal, it does not start until October 5th.

I also could not get the Italian Food, Wine Vs. Beer Pairing as that does not start until September 25th.

The Mediterranean Food and Wine Pairing at Spice Road was available September 17th and 19th. They are not doing the Moroccan Food and Wine Pairing this year.

As others reported, the CM said they were not doing any special events outside of Epcot this year (I was wanting signature dining events). No Trader Sam's. Also said there is only going to be one stage.

Good luck everyone!

 

[gottalovepluto]

Well - am on hold for a third time. If they ask me for my passholder number I am going to explode. It's at home and I am at work

Sending you good vibes!! This is crazy!

 

[kristenrice]

I am "in line" with DVC Member Services right now. They said a 30-minute wait when I connected and that was 10 minutes ago so I still have time to surf the web...

Hoping to book the Parisian Afternoon for October 20 so I am glad to see that it is being offered and the price almost exactly what I had budgeted. I guessed $175 for the three of us....$174.09 is pretty darn close.

WE'RE IN!!

 

[kellyr66]

I called the FEST number at 9:30 Eastern time after reading the posts here. I was on hold an hour and ten minutes. I was able to book my first choice on everything. Below is what I booked, I probably messed up the names of the events but what do you expect when you are booking before they are actually listed anywhere. The prices are for two ppl:

Mon 10/29 Spice Road Med lunch $137.78
Wed 10/31 Italian Region Food & Wine @ Tutto Gusto $208.92
Fri 11/2 French family traditions lunch $248
Sat 11/3 Parisian Afternoon $116.06

The booking experience went smoothly, it helps to have the correct name of the event. For example, when I said I wanted the 11/3 event at Monsieur Paul she couldn't find it but when I said "Parisian afternoon" then she could see it.
I'm really glad I subscribed to this thread because otherwise I wouldn't have known they were booking all these events today.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

She DID ask me for mine....but mine isnt activated yet so maybe that's why?


That is soooooo frustrating

My CM asked for the AP number — first time ever. So there’s that variability that Disney is infamous for!

Yea gotta love that they are not consistent..Now i gotta figure out why mines not in MDE.

 

[Kewz1]

What is the cancellation policy of the specialty lunches/breakfasts?

 

[grinninghost]

Disney food blog updated to say the following:

"Confirmed that all events outside of Epcot are not returning, including Trader Sam’s Behind the Scenes and Grand Floridian Brunch with a Twist, all culinary adventures in signature dining — events at places like Flying Fish, Victoria and Albert’s, etc.
Other events NOT returning: Japanese craft beer tasting, Morocco Food and Wine Pairing (Mediterranean food and wine pairing IS returning)."

Sounds like I won't be doing trader sams this year

 

[Dis_Yoda]

What is the cancellation policy of the specialty lunches/breakfasts?

Non-Refundable

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Disney food blog updated to say the following:

"Confirmed that all events outside of Epcot are not returning, including Trader Sam’s Behind the Scenes and Grand Floridian Brunch with a Twist, all culinary adventures in signature dining — events at places like Flying Fish, Victoria and Albert’s, etc.
Other events NOT returning: Japanese craft beer tasting, Morocco Food and Wine Pairing (Mediterranean food and wine pairing IS returning)."

Sounds like I won't be doing trader sams this year

Thanks for the update. That’s a shame. I was really looking forward to trying some of the special signature dining meals.

 

[karrit2000]

I honestly think some of the WDW restaurants are fed up with this annual circus. WDW is doing major rehabs at some resort restaurants. I know the Staff at the Restaurants in Italy & France prepare all year for these event & they genuinely seem to enjoy hosting them, but they are exhausted by the end of the festival. But the disorganization we've seen year after year with the F & W Special events staff causes other places to want nothing to do with the whole thing. I still morn the loss of the F & W Pairings at Le Cellier. In the end they decide if the $ they take in for these events is worth the losses they may experience by tying up their restaurants with a special event. For France it's a win because they aren't normally open when their special events are held. Italy uses separate areas from their main dining to host their events so they still have the majority of their space available for normal operations. In my opinion Epcot Special Events has totally dropped the ball year after year by not coming up with decent events that we are willing to pay for. Anyone remember the Wine Schools? Sweet Sundays (pre-Festival Center)? As someone else posted within the past few days, why would I want to pay $39 to decorate a cupcake? I can go to my local JoAnn's or Michael's for that.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Disney food blog updated to say the following:

"Confirmed that all events outside of Epcot are not returning, including Trader Sam’s Behind the Scenes and Grand Floridian Brunch with a Twist, all culinary adventures in signature dining — events at places like Flying Fish, Victoria and Albert’s, etc.
Other events NOT returning: Japanese craft beer tasting, Morocco Food and Wine Pairing (Mediterranean food and wine pairing IS returning)."

Sounds like I won't be doing trader sams this year

Woah!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Yes, you can. Under "My Tickets."

I don’t see any of our AP#s on MDE online or in the app.

 

[dachsie]

Sending you good vibes!! This is crazy!

Thanks. I finally got the Parisian breakfast. i made him take the CC before i tried for the Mix it Make it one I want to take. he is still looking for that one. LOL

 

[kellyr66]

I called the FEST number at 9:30 Eastern time after reading the posts here. I was on hold an hour and ten minutes. I was able to book my first choice on everything. Below is what I booked, I probably messed up the names of the events but what do you expect when you are booking before they are actually listed anywhere. The prices are for two ppl:

Mon 10/29 Spice Road Med lunch $137.78
Wed 10/31 Italian Region Food & Wine @ Tutto Gusto $208.92
Fri 11/2 French family traditions lunch $248
Sat 11/3 Parisian Afternoon $116.06

The booking experience went smoothly, it helps to have the correct name of the event. For example, when I said I wanted the 11/3 event at Monsieur Paul she couldn't find it but when I said "Parisian afternoon" then she could see it.
I'm really glad I subscribed to this thread because otherwise I wouldn't have known they were booking all these events today.

Correction on the French Family Traditions price. It was $200.48 for two people.

 

[dachsie]

What is the cancellation policy of the specialty lunches/breakfasts?

no cancellation - just forfeit

 

[grinninghost]

Woah!

Doesn't say how they confirmed it. Could just be the same cast members were all talking to!