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

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Can you imagine being a CM today?? You'll deal with the usual crankiness, plus a bunch of people wanting to book unlisted events and thus not even knowing the dates/times?? The position Disney puts their people in. Not ok.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

How do you even know when these things are offered?

I'd assume guessing from roughly when they've been offered in the past.

 

[Miss Frankie J]

All of this is making me feel discouraged for general booking on Thursday..... The last time we went we werent able to secure any special events that we wanted last time in 2016. So Im hoping we could get something this year but I wish they would post the info ....

 

[Deb123]

On phone for an hour and six minutes, booked seven events, CM was great said can't book until 9AM (it was 8:50AM) but she was kind enough to stay on the line with me and start holding events before 9AM (two Frunch, two Italy wine, Italy beer vs. wine, mediterranean pairing and parisian breakfast).

Can you tell me prices for these events? I am still on hold with member services.

 

[ksromack]

Okay. I called the passholders number but was told they would have to transfer me to someone who could help. I was so very worried I would be put in the queue with the dining reservations but I wasn't. I was put through to "recreation". Here's the number....I was on hold for maybe 90 seconds!

407-939-7529

I wanted to book the French Family Meals but they aren't offered on saturdays according to the cast member that helped me. They are select FRIDAYS and SUNDAYS. The dates for october were 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, and 10/26. This threw a monkey wrench in my plans. I booked the Parisian Breakfast 10/6 and will be going solo because my hubby won't arrive at MCO until 11am. I am traveling with friends that will be leaving that day. Someone book with me! Incidently the Parisian breakfast was $42.xx

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

How do you even know when these things are offered?

You spend an hour on the phone to find out.

 

[jessicag13]

How do you even know when these things are offered?

i just named events i knew of from previous years, and asked if they were available "the week of"- 9/8 in my case. then she came back with the results she found.

 

[grinninghost]

Boo We're not really looking to book any special events this year but I wanted to do the Trader Sam's event at some point in the future.

Just got through after 45 minute hold. Asked about Trader Sams. CM said there are No events happening outside Epcot this year, they were all eliminated. I asked if they were cancelled or just not posted yet. She said they are not doing them this year. She checked the calendar of events and confirmed...

At least this saves me the disappointment of getting shut out of the trader sams event again..

 

[Dis_Yoda]

My lady is being really nice and trying to look up signatue dining events for me but I rather just obok the events I can get and stop being hold!

 

[cdtommie]

How do you even know when these things are offered?

We have done these events so many times so I knew the French lunch is Fri/Sun, Italy wine Mon/Wed, Italy beer Tues/Thurs, Spice Road Mon/Wed.

I was also told there are no signature dinners this year.

 

[gottalovepluto]

okay, called the AP line at 8:59, was told they'd transfer me to the dining line (ughhh!) but then it went straight to a person.
was going blind with the wonderful CM, just guessing times for events i'd done in the past- she specifically mentioned they got rid of all events out of epcot- Trader Sams was the first one i tried- but was able to get Italian Food & Wine pairing for 9/10.

They “got rid of all events out of Epcot”? Yeah I’m sure they got rid of those $200/pp events...
ETA: wow, caught up reading here but I still don’t think Disney would eliminate those money makers. Not schedule them yes but eliminating them entirely is a poor decision unless they weren’t making money with them. And then wouldn’t they just raise the prices?

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Got through on FEST number and secured everything I wanted including unadvertised tequila lunch. There ARE discounts (passholders, DVC, TiW) on weekday culinary demos and beverage seminars - total was $15.98 with tax.

 

[Dis_Yoda]

Got through on FEST number and secured everything I wanted including unadvertised tequila lunch. There ARE discounts on weekday culinary demos and beverage seminars - total was $15.98 with tax.

Nice! I still havent gotten anything booked but she just found out no signature dinners too!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Nice! I still havent gotten anything booked but she just found out no signature dinners too!

Like @gottalovepluto I find it hard to believe they’d not offer these cash cow dinners... but this year is a whole new world... hopefully those just aren’t loaded yet.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Like @gottalovepluto I find it hard to believe they’d not offer these cash cow dinners... but this year is a whole new world... hopefully those just aren’t loaded yet.

Great. I just woke up and now I’m going to hearing Aladdin in my head all day

 

[MichellT]

Got a wonderful CM on the DVC line, right at 9a (6a!). PTFS, Parisian Breakfast and Beverage Seminar all booked. She also found French Family lunch, Tequila lunch and a couple other events for us but I wanted to leave time to enjoy the kiosks so resisted booking everything. No hibachi lunch or Japan craft beer tasting, no Behind the Scenes at Trader Sam's. Seems like a subset of the usual events. Either Disney is cutting back, or they are going to do another release of events later on.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I didn’t book it but operator I spoke with did confirm that Hibachi Experience is also loaded in addition to all those confirmed above.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I was ready to forget about any special events and just do booths. DH said he'd still love to do a few special events that we've done before and wanted me to try despite Disney's insanity. Fine.

I talked to an amazing CM (407-939-3378) who took down my AP# and ultimately booked the following for me (all in MDE already) -- posting in case anyone else wants to try for these:

• Tokyo Pairing "Rice Country" at Tokyo Dining, 11/1 at 4pm ($168.82 pp w/tax)
• The Parisian Afternoon, Sandwiches, Macarons and Bubbles!at Monsieur Paul, 11/3 at 1:30pm ($58.03 pp w/tax)
• French Family Meal Traditions at Monsieur Paul, 11/4 at 12pm ($100.24 pp w/tax)

So Disney wins again. Despite their insanity. I'm still writing them a letter (that they can throw away) about this mess. But I'm definitely a Disney enabler on this one -- no two ways about it.

 

[cdtommie]

Can you tell me prices for these events? I am still on hold with member services.

French lunch 100.24, Italy lunch 104.46, Italy beer 92.85, Spice Road 68.59, Parisian breakfast 42.21 per person including tax and gratuity

 

[kellyr66]

I had no plans on calling today but after reading here that they already booking lunch events I decided I better call. I'm going to be on hold over an hour Grrr!