2014 Epcot Food and Wine Festival 9/19-11/10

[DCLbrideSept2009]

I agree with you. Food and Wine is all about sharing tables, there aren't that many and we never mind sharing with others. Really!!!!! It's not a sit down restaurant!

We just got back like 5 days ago. Most of the time we could find a table or trash can to eat/drink at. When we got to the America pavilion, we went to the area that has the picnic tables. There were no empty ones, but there was one with just one couple sitting on the end. I asked if they minded if we shared the table. Of course they didn't. We ended up chatting with them for about 15 minutes or so. That's one of the highlights of our F&W (kidless) trips - chatting with other people!

 

[DCLbrideSept2009]

I just took my four stemless wine glasses out of the dishwasher. Talk about cheap. After one washing. One of them had no logo and the other three all had damage to the logo I checked the box and it does not say hand wash only. Luckily I'm going back to Epcot in two weeks. Hopefully they'll give me a credit for this junk. I bought the wine glasses a few years ago at food and wine They are great still look just as good as new. I guess raising the prices once again resulted in lower quality

I just came on here and posted asking if anyone had a problem with their glasses. I haven't even washed mine yet, just took them out of the box (we got back 5 days ago). Two of the glasses have the "festival 2014" almost completely rubbed off. I'm going to be calling WDW merchandising to see what if anything they can do about it. I agree that these glasses just aren't as good as years past. I'm disappointed with the whole F&W logo this year. I almost didn't get the glasses but really wanted to add to my collection.

 

[tony67]

I had several beers there last week and did not notice this. They are 3.5 ounces this year.

We were there for 4 days (10/15-10/18) and I hit most of the beers, not one foamy beer!

Thanks - I'm fine with the smaller beers as long as it is not all foam and it's not in an Irish bar that calls a small Guinness a pint.

 

[4everGoofy]

We just got back from our F&W trip less than a week ago. I bought the set of (4) stemless wine glasses. They were packaged up nice for me to take home. I unwrapped them when I got home but hadn't opened the box up until tonight. I was going to keep 2 of them for myself and give 2 to my parents. Two of the glasses are fine. The other 2, the "festival 2014" is rubbed almost completely off!! Anyone else experienced this?!?

Ours don't have a date on them at all!

 

[txlibrarian]

Just back from the Party of the Senses tonight and it was fantastic! Food was wonderful, wine & drinks choices great, entertainment first rate. It was worth every penny in our opinion. We would love to go back every year. We got to take home 4 wine glasses, and multiple other glasses from various tastings. Plus a variety of chocolates. On the way out of Epcot we stopped in the character meet & greet with no one else in sight and got lots of great photos with Mickey, Minnie and Pluto. Lots of pixie dust for us today. Sure glad we were in the party as it was wall to wall people with long lines outside in World Showcase. Our first day at the World so sure hope the rest of the week is as good as today

 

[ChrisNY2]

The Party for the Senses with Disney chefs from around the world tonight was so much fun! It was great to chat briefly with the chefs from the various Disney venues. We had fun, had lots of food, and really enjoyed ourselves!

 

[kimmar067]

....I haven't read all the pages here, but I haven't noticed any comments on the Eat To The Beat Concert Series. Anyone want to share?

 

[Tozzie]

....I haven't read all the pages here, but I haven't noticed any comments on the Eat To The Beat Concert Series. Anyone want to share?

Sorry. They are not my "thing". So I don't wven pay attention I did hear smash mouth while walking by the other day and they were good

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

We just got back from our F&W trip less than a week ago. I bought the set of (4) stemless wine glasses. They were packaged up nice for me to take home. I unwrapped them when I got home but hadn't opened the box up until tonight. I was going to keep 2 of them for myself and give 2 to my parents. Two of the glasses are fine. The other 2, the "festival 2014" is rubbed almost completely off!! Anyone else experienced this?!?

Hmmm. I reported mine came off in the Dishwasher but honestly i didn't do a good inspection first.


And I wonder how the posters who defended Disney's merchandise by saying it was my fault for using a dishwasher can defend this?


I am returning mine.

 

[tony67]

And I wonder how the posters who defended Disney's merchandise by saying it was my fault for using a dishwasher can defend this?

Unfortunately, there are people that will defend Disney no matter what, but they were always reasonable people...it's always been the way here and it was just fine.
The tide has been changing over the last few months...many of those defenders are now the ones pointing out their concerns and being labeled "negative Nellies".

Surprisingly the new people that have stepped in to be the defenders of the faith will defend Disney no matter how wrong and are less resonable IMO.
They claim to have been here for years, but only registered in the last couple of years. Now they are demeaning the people that helped them with all their trip planning in the past.
When a person that has been here for 10 years and has 8 thousand posts is unhappy...then maybe something is wrong.

Anyway, I've said it on other threads and I'll say it again ...this is my last F&W festival...and I've been to every one since it has been held at Epcot.
Yes if it changes for the better I'll be back, but it's going to take an awful lot of positive changes.

From the lack of participation on the restaurant boards this year (it's a shadow if what it once was) - I don't think I'm the only one.
Many of the key people on this board, people I've met at previous F&W festivals have just walked away...or rarely post.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I bought a coffee mug in June and ALL of the graphic came off in the dishwasher. I had my receipt, so I phoned Merchandise and they sent me a new one. I would absolutely call about the wine glasses!

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Thanks - I'm fine with the smaller beers as long as it is not all foam and it's not in an Irish bar that calls a small Guinness a pint.

If there is too much foam just ask them to try again.

 

[Gryhndmom]

Back from F&W and had a good time ! Tried most booths with the exception of any seafood since I am allergic. Over 4 days DH and I shared the empanadas , veggie haggis, ravioli (which was so, so)teriyaki just to name a few food items and more beers, wine, champagne than I think I've had since college! mom -thurs seemed less crowded and by fri afternoon it was wall to wall people in world showcase. Now back to yogurt and salads....preparing early for next time !

 

[ElizabethB]

We're with Tony67. We've been to every Festival but one since 1998. We did not bother attending this year and doubt we will ever attend again. Everything now seems to be mediocre in the extreme. Not just the Festival. Everything at WDW. Prices continue to climb for everything and quality is constantly being reduced. A Sleepy Hollow ice cream sandwich with cheaper soft ice cream that melted and dripped out so we were left with two cookies and no ice cream was a very tiny but perfect example of what is going on at WDW.

As for the Festival, the events are mere shadows of their former selves. The dinners used to be amazing. And, they were dinners. Not lunches. They used to pick us up at the Boardwalk Inn in a limo. Everyone dressed in suits and cocktail dresses and we were driven to the Epcot venues. We once had a Grange served at an Australian wine dinner. We had marvelous Joseph Columbo wines at a Rhone Valley dinner. We had Lynch Bages Bordeaux at a V&A Signature Dinner (and it didn't cost $1200 for two to enjoy it). We had a South African dinner that featured desserts served on individual platforms for each guest of chocolate held up by four chocolate elephants. The events used to be truly exquisite. Not anymore. Too many people, lesser wines (or something silly like a cocktail pairing with each course????) and sky high prices.

In my opinion, it's worth it to be a Disney shareholder but it is no longer worth it worth it to be a Disney guest.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Overall Merchandise Quality has gone down a ton - we don't buy much anymore. My last mug I bought I just use as a pen holder as work instead of risking it washing away.

The Dooney & Burke F&W Wristlet I bought in October already has a zipper problem but luckily I am returning this weekend to have that addressed with either a refund or replacement.

 

[jenjersnap]

Attending F&W on the last day, what can we expect in terms of food, beverage and merchandise availability, generally? Is it possible booths will not replenish their items once they sell out toward the end? How about bottles of wine at the festival shop? Are they likely to have limited inventory by the last day?

 

[tony67]

Attending F&W on the last day, what can we expect in terms of food, beverage and merchandise availability, generally? Is it possible booths will not replenish their items once they sell out toward the end? How about bottles of wine at the festival shop? Are they likely to have limited inventory by the last day?

Can't say for sure on the food quality and general availability...some of the beers may be gone as well as some of the wines. Namaste ran out last year for example..but it may have been back on the last day or so.

Food portions may be smaller...or they may be larger to get rid of things....can't really say. My experience has been that much of the down sizing starts in the middle as they adjust things. One less meatball or a smaller pork chop...I've seen others say the same..but it's really just anecdotal.

I don't think there is anything so unusual that they will be out of it food wise.
It's not like they have something unusual like kangaroo streaks in Australia, but I wish they did.

It's possible some of the wines in the festival shop may be out of stock ..but I doubt it. I've never noticed anything like that.

There may be less merchandise..hard to say ..as I have heard there is less stock this year..but that is a rumor as far as I know.

One good thing..whatever is left on the last day for merch is mostly half price (merchandise - not alcohol)...so I used to wait to buy that stuff until the end when I was there.

So I cant give you a definite answer, but hope this helps..

 

[jenjersnap]

Can't say for sure on the food quality and general availability...some of the beers may be gone as well as some of the wines. Namaste ran out last year for example..but it may have been back on the last day or so.

Food portions may be smaller...or they may be larger to get rid of things....can't really say. My experience has been that much of the down sizing starts in the middle as they adjust things. One less meatball or a smaller pork chop...I've seen others say the same..but it's really just anecdotal.

I don't think there is anything so unusual that they will be out of it food wise.
It's not like they have something unusual like kangaroo streaks in Australia, but I wish they did.

It's possible some of the wines in the festival shop may be out of stock ..but I doubt it. I've never noticed anything like that.

There may be less merchandise..hard to say ..as I have heard there is less stock this year..but that is a rumor as far as I know.

One good thing..whatever is left on the last day for merch is mostly half price (merchandise - not alcohol)...so I used to wait to buy that stuff until the end when I was there.

So I cant give you a definite answer, but hope this helps..

It does help, thank you and sounds like good news. We were there exactly a year ago today and there were a couple beers out of stock at that time that never came back during our entire trip so I was imagining barren booths if that were a pattern, LOL. Good to know about the sale on merchandise.

 

[crazy4wdw]

I received a survey from WDW today regarding the Food & Wine Fest as I paid for at least one special event or seminar. Many of the questions asked about the value paid for the events, had I ever paid for a F&W special event/demo in past, would I pay for an event in the futture, etc. Some of the question make me wonder if the number of people attending the paid wine and culinary seminars decreased for this year's festival?

 

[Dis_Yoda]

I received a survey from WDW today regarding the Food & Wine Fest as I paid for at least one special event or seminar. Many of the questions asked about the value paid for the events, had I ever paid for a F&W special event/demo in past, would I pay for an event in the futture, etc. Some of the question make me wonder if the number of people attending the paid wine and culinary seminars decreased for this year's festival?

I wouldn't be shocked.

I know I spent significantly less on special events this year than I had in the past.