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

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While the information may be still fresh I'm planning for 2019.

Question - was an annual pass voucher enough for early booking of the events? My plan would be to purchase the voucher early in 2019 but most likely not activate until we go in October of 2019. Given all our current plans it is unlikely we well be back in WDW before then so we let our current pass expire.
 
Is there a map of the available samplings, food & drinks? It appears there is one in the iphone app but I didn't see one here in the thread that I could download. We're going for the first time in 2019 and just planning ahead as much as possible. If there isn't one on this thread, is there anything that they hand out at Epcot to guide you thru the various offerings?
Yes, all over Epcot they have small booklets called Festival Passports that show what is sold at each location (food and beverage) and a brief description of the food item. You can pick them up at almost any cash register in the park. Or at the entrance when you arrive.
 
While the information may be still fresh I'm planning for 2019.

Question - was an annual pass voucher enough for early booking of the events? My plan would be to purchase the voucher early in 2019 but most likely not activate until we go in October of 2019. Given all our current plans it is unlikely we well be back in WDW before then so we let our current pass expire.
Yes - I booked with my voucher for this year. I did not activate it until I got there in Sept.
 


Today I was disappointed as i fully expected to see a sale of the F&W merchandise and there was none. I spoke with a CM and they stated that they dont expect to see a sale this year as sales have been pretty strong. At this time last year all items were on sale.
 
Just curious if anyone has attended one of the cheese seminars this year? We’re going tomorrow and wondered what to expect.
 


I'm thinking about going tomorrow to the last day of F&W. Are the culinary demos in the same place as they have been in years past? I wanted to watch the Alex Guarnaschelli demo but I didn't know if it was still in the open space where you could still watch it even though you didn't pay for the demo or if they changed it so that it's more closed off.
 
Maybe we can wrap the festival up with some 2018 superlative awards? Would love to know your votes in any of the following categories (don't have to answer all ... & feel free to add more categories too!)

  • Best "booth" overall:
  • Favorite savory item:
  • Favorite sweet item:
  • Favorite cocktail:
  • Favorite beer/flight:
  • Favorite wine/flight:
  • Best new item:
  • Most missed item of years past:
  • Best special event:
  • Biggest surprise:
  • Biggest disappointment:
  • Most likely to have multiple times over the course of your visit (food or beverage):
  • Item I most want the recipe for:
  • Advice you'd give the planning team for next year:
 
Maybe we can wrap the festival up with some 2018 superlative awards? Would love to know your votes in any of the following categories (don't have to answer all ... & feel free to add more categories too!)

  • Best "booth" overall: Mexico
  • Favorite savory item: Short Rib tostada
  • Favorite sweet item: Carrot Cake
  • Favorite cocktail: Blackberry Punch and Sangria
  • Favorite beer/flight:
  • Favorite wine/flight:
  • Best new item: Short Rib Tostada
  • Most missed item of years past: 1st visit
  • Best special event: Parisian breakfast
  • Biggest surprise: Pancake at China
  • Biggest disappointment: Kahlua pork slider
  • Most likely to have multiple times over the course of your visit (food or beverage): Sangria
  • Item I most want the recipe for: Baked Shrimp Scampi
  • Advice you'd give the planning team for next year:
 
  • Best "booth" overall: Ireland
  • Favorite savory item: Fritto Misto
  • Favorite sweet item: Warm Chocolate Pudding
  • Favorite cocktail: Guinness Bailey's Shake
  • Favorite beer/flight: Craft Drafts Flight #1
  • Favorite wine/flight: Didn't care for any I tried they were unimpressive
  • Best new item:Fritto Misto
  • Most missed item of years past: Goat Cheese Tart in France & the Chicken & Rice dish they used to serve in Morocco.
  • Best special event: Tequila Lunch
  • Biggest surprise: Gift at the Tequila Lunch
  • Biggest disappointment: the Wine Flights & Spinach & Artichoke dip
  • Most likely to have multiple times over the course of your visit (food or beverage): Fritto Misto
  • Item I most want the recipe for:
  • Advice you'd give the planning team for next year: Make sure you have enough specialty items like the Shake Glasses in Ireland & the Flasks at the Light Lab & the Remy Prizes to last the entire length of the festival. Come up with some exciting new events that are moderately priced. The festival is getting stale and way too expensive. Every Booth should have a dessert. Australia needs a menu overhaul (at least a new version of both the Shrimp and Lamb but not the junk cut of lamb they served last year) & Canada needs another item or two but please not the Salmon. Better Variety of Cheeses please but no more Blue Cheeses.
I had an enjoyable time during my two visits but the running out of specialty items so early in the festival shows extremely poor planning. I was fortunate enough to hunt down all 4 of the Remy Tumblers at the beginning of October. Was very disappointed they ran out of the Ireland Cups because I was hoping to get another one so I would have a pair. It was inexcusable that they ran out of the Flasks at Light Lab less than 2 weeks into the festival. While I enjoyed the special events I attended I had hoped for something new. Was a bit disappointed for the first time in the Italian Wine vs. Beer Pairing I attended at Via Napoli. The Appetizer was the best I've ever had there but the meal was mediocre after that. Had a hard time getting refills on the wines & the main course was uninspired & cold. I wish they'd go back to offering just a Wine Pairing meal at Via Napoli. I also wish they would scale back on the Asian booths & excessive use of heavy spices. Unless there is a major overhaul I'll be skipping next year. May plan a quick trip just to visit a few food booths before my AP expires but I'm bored with the same old events & mostly same old booth menus.
 
  • Best "booth" overall: Islands of the Caribbean
  • Favorite savory item: Fritto Misto
  • Favorite sweet item: Banana Almond Soft Serve Sundae
  • Favorite cocktail: Frozen Mimosa
  • Favorite beer/flight: N/A
  • Favorite wine/flight: N/A
  • Best new item: Fritto Misto
  • Most missed item of years past: Griddled Greek Cheese
  • Best special event: Mexican Tequila Lunch
  • Biggest surprise: Fritto Misto
  • Biggest disappointment: Teriyaki Chicken Bun
  • Most likely to have multiple times over the course of your visit (food or beverage): Banana Almond Soft Serve Sundae
  • Item I most want the recipe for: Spicy Ethiopian Red Lentil Stew
  • Advice you'd give the planning team for next year: Bring back the signature meals at various restaurants, and events at the hotels like the Trader Sams event.
 
I am trying to guess when Food and Wine will begin in 2019. It began this year Thursday, Aug 30. Has the festival always begun on a Thursday? I'm hoping in 2019 it will begin on Thursday, Aug 29, that way I can catch it on my last day at WDW.

Thoughts?

TIA!

Edit: I see it started Thursday, Aug 31 in 2017. I think I have a good chance of it starting on Thurs Aug 29 next year. That would be great!
 
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I am trying to guess when Food and Wine will begin in 2019. It began this year Thursday, Aug 30. Has the festival always begun on a Thursday? I'm hoping in 2019 it will begin on Thursday, Aug 29, that way I can catch it on my last day at WDW.

Thoughts?

TIA!

Edit: I see it started Thursday, Aug 31 in 2017. I think I have a good chance of it starting on Thurs Aug 29 next year. That would be great!
The August Labor Day start is a recent history event. It is likely to start then but Disney could change as they changed the festival a bit this year
 
It's hard to believe that another festival has come to an end!

Thanks so much Dis_Yoda for hosting the meets thread this year. Also, thanks again to Doug S for your spreadsheet with the marketplace menu prices.

Also, thanks to everyone else who provided reviews, information, and suggestions for this year's event.

We'll keep this thread open until dates for the 2019 festival are revealed. It will be here before you know it.

I hope Disney gets their act together for next year and we have details on the special events before the day of booking as did not happen this year. What a debacle that was?!
Please PM me with any suggestions you might have for the thread for next year.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving this week!
 
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