2017 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: August 31, 2017 - November 13, 2017

[JerseyJanice]

@supersnoop Your recollection of the prices last year are correct.

For how we used our coupons last year, this will probably still be a good deal, but we haven't seen this year's prices yet.

It worries me though. A $6 price increase and the removal of the 16 coupon option is substantial. I hope it's not a sign of significant price increases at the booths.

 

[loves to dive]

I was curious and would like to know if anybody brings their own tray to the Food and Wine Festival? I read an article on dfb saying that you can bring your own tray and it makes things much more easier with the food and your drinks of course. Just thought I'd ask and thanks in advance.

I have a number of the little ones like they sell that I've gotten at local food and wine events but never take them to F&W because I go bagless. I never have any problems carrying a plate and a glass of whatever.

 

[captaindavidhook]

I have a number of the little ones like they sell that I've gotten at local food and wine events but never take them to F&W because I go bagless. I never have any problems carrying a plate and a glass of whatever.

I love going bagless too but seeing I will be there in September I always like having a poncho and umbrella with me just in case.

 

[FoodieFriend]

I was curious and would like to know if anybody brings their own tray to the Food and Wine Festival? I read an article on dfb saying that you can bring your own tray and it makes things much more easier with the food and your drinks of course. Just thought I'd ask and thanks in advance.

Is it worth getting one of those little trays from the Festival Center? There are a number of booths where I plan on saying, "Yeah, I'll take the lot," so I'm thinking the tray might come in handy, and it looks small enough to shove in my purse when I don't need it.

For any food festival, I've found some type of tray very helpful. I was able to find a tray similar to the branded F&W one at my local restaurant supply store. It came in white or clear. I chose the white & it worked out really well because it fit two or three samples plus it had a place for my drink. It fit easily in my backpack & it was less than $2 each. You could easily "jazz it up" with stickers or drawings too. I've used it at Flower & Garden food booths as well.

 

[captaindavidhook]

For any food festival, I've found some type of tray very helpful. I was able to find a tray similar to the branded F&W one at my local restaurant supply store. It came in white or clear. I chose the white & it worked out really well because it fit two or three samples plus it had a place for my drink. It fit easily in my backpack & it was less than $2 each. You could easily "jazz it up" with stickers or drawings too. I've used it at Flower & Garden food booths as well.

I bought one today from the dollar store. Looks nice and will fit in my back pack.

I know I might have asked this earlier, but those who go to F&W, how many days do you attend. I will be there for 9 days but plan on spending 4 days at Epcot, including two full days. Is that a bit extreme? Just thought I would ask.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Wow, that's going to be difficult to break even. Do you know if $65 includes tax? That's a break-even of $7.67 or $8.12, depending on tax. There wasn't a single food item that expensive last year, was there?

If I recall correctly, last year 8 coupons were $59 and 16 were $109.

Hate to say it but I think it will still be a deal when the new prices for this year's festival comes out...

 

[JerseyJanice]

@captaindavidhook That doesn't like too much to me. LOL!

I was there 9 days last year. We lost one entire day due to the hurricane, but other than, we spent two full days at Epcot and went there every night.

We blew off the Studios completely. We spent one day at AK and went to Epcot that night. The rest of our park time was at MK.

And still TBH, it wasn't enough time at the F&WF. We missed all of the Eat to the Beat concerts, and we never made over to the Festival Center.

Time flies when we're enjoying Epcot.

 

[captaindavidhook]

@captaindavidhook That doesn't like too much to me. LOL!

I was there 9 days last year. We lost one entire day due to the hurricane, but other than, we spent two full days at Epcot and went there every night.

We blew off the Studios completely. We spent one day at AK and went to Epcot that night. The rest of our park time was at MK.

And still TBH, it wasn't enough time at the F&WF. We missed all of the Eat to the Beat concerts, and we never made over to the Festival Center.

Time flies when we're enjoying Epcot.

Wow thanks for the confidence builder lol At this point I was planning on doing only a half at DHS, maybe 2-3 at Ak, 2 of those are nights but I am waivering on that and the rest at MK (MNSSHP) twice and one day at universal.

I do plan to see Sugar Ray perform when I'm there. Can I ask how did you spend the entire days there. I was considering getting there at 10 or so and jump on the Soarin then wait for FW to open and go from there till 4 or 5 then return in the evening's. May I aks did you every make ADR's at all for the evening?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

@supersnoop Your recollection of the prices last year are correct.

For how we used our coupons last year, this will probably still be a good deal, but we haven't seen this year's prices yet.

It worries me though. A $6 price increase and the removal of the 16 coupon option is substantial. I hope it's not a sign of significant price increases at the booths.

Hate to say it but I think it will still be a deal when the new prices for this year's festival comes out...

I think people are missing the point. Disney is not selling these for you to save money or even break even. Disney wants a profit on these.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Almost no ADRs last trip. We ate at Ohana one night and at the Garden Grove in the Swan the night the parks were closed. But we did the bulk of our eating and drinking at the kiosks.

We stayed at the Swan and entered Epcot through the International Gateway. We would normally start grazing on something right away.

Could be salmon and potato pancakes at the Scotland booth washed down with a sampling of Innis & Gunn stout. Or we might go in the other direction and hit up the France booth for an escargot croissant and a passion fruit martini.

We would venture into Future World for the attractions there and make our way back on the path from the Imagination pavilion since there were a few good booths over there.

Or by the Odyssey path to Mexico since my sister-in-law and I were obsessed with the jalapeño margaritas at the Mexican booth. We bought a few of the sampler coupon packs to get at least 2 each every day.

It was so enjoyable just to nosh and have a small drink or 2, then go see the movie in France or the American Adventure. We watched a lot of the entertainment too while we snacked. Drums in Japan, rock band in England, oompah-pah in Germany, etc.

We just roved around at a leisurely pace (except when we had a Fast Pass), noshing and sipping, while fitting attractions in between. You eat and drink similar to how you do at the cocktail hour of a wedding, except all day long with way better entertainment.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I think people are missing the point. Disney is not selling these for you to save money or even break even. Disney wants a profit on these.

True, but Disney needs to sell a high volume of food and drink to make a profit on the Festival. The coupons encouraged me to buy more items and spend more time there last year.

 

[loves to dive]

I know I might have asked this earlier, but those who go to F&W, how many days do you attend. I will be there for 9 days but plan on spending 4 days at Epcot, including two full days. Is that a bit extreme? Just thought I would ask.

I go for 5 or 6 days and spend every single afternoon/evening at F&W so no, I don't think that's too much. I tend to do the mornings before WS opens at the other parks then move over to Epcot around 11:30. Like JerseyJanice, most of my meals come from F&W. I do a kid's breakfast at the resort or grab a muffin at one of the parks for breakfast. I attend a couple of the culinary demos and normally do one of the special food and wine pairing meals and other than that the booths are where all my food comes from. I, also, stay at one of the Epcot resorts, usually just whichever one is cheaper, this year I'll be at the Dolphin and just walk to the IG. I love HS so do spend time there just about every day too just walking around. Being able to walk between HS and Epcot is worth the price of staying at the Epcot resorts for me. I have an AP so I do a lot of park hopping, if I get too full for words grazing at the booths, I'll hop over to another park for a couple of hours or go back to the resort and spend time by the pool. I rarely book FPs, I just do stand by if I want to ride a ride but I go often so rides aren't my main focus any more.

 

[loves to dive]

I love going bagless too but seeing I will be there in September I always like having a poncho and umbrella with me just in case.

Yep, I go in September too and I have a little hook on my umbrella that I just hook onto a belt loop on my shorts if I have one. If not, it goes around my wrist or I take a cheap poncho that will fit in a pocket. If the rain is too hard for that, I'll just stop and buy a Disney poncho but I've only had to do that once.

 

[captaindavidhook]

Yep, I go in September too and I have a little hook on my umbrella that I just hook onto a belt loop on my shorts if I have one. If not, it goes around my wrist or I take a cheap poncho that will fit in a pocket. If the rain is too hard for that, I'll just stop and buy a Disney poncho but I've only had to do that once.

Sometimes I do that too I put the Poncho in my back pocket LOL

 

[Dale Compton]

Dale, I loved the hummus fries last year. Great taste and texture, very falafel-like. they were easy finger food too, so easy to eat as you walk.

Hummus fries? Hmm I will have to give them a try, even if it seems to be a stretch. I love hummus but more of the traditional style...

 

[Dale Compton]

I just want my visit to WDW to get here already (less than 60 days now!). It's been a stressful, aggravating year so far, and wandering around WS while pouring food and drink down my gullet will make me feel much better.

We are headed down in 2 weeks, I feel ya, and yes wandering around eating and drinking will do the soul wonders.

 

[Dale Compton]

Yep, I go in September too and I have a little hook on my umbrella that I just hook onto a belt loop on my shorts if I have one. If not, it goes around my wrist or I take a cheap poncho that will fit in a pocket. If the rain is too hard for that, I'll just stop and buy a Disney poncho but I've only had to do that once.

I would love to go bagless, however the misses requires that I carry certain items, like lip gloss, her compact, etc, ponchos blah blah. I am the pack mule, so I have a small pack. Muh its the little things I do that keep her happy lol

 

[mara512]

2017 Map

http://blogmickey.com/2017/08/2017-epcot-food-wine-festival-guidemap/

 

[AquaDame]

2017 Map

http://blogmickey.com/2017/08/2017-epcot-food-wine-festival-guidemap/

Thank you for posting this!

 

[smallworldnh]

2017 Map

http://blogmickey.com/2017/08/2017-epcot-food-wine-festival-guidemap/

Whoohoo! thank you!