2019 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival: August 29-November 23, 2019

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Beyond excited for Mercy Me! I was hoping for them. We could also hear Grace Kelly (whom I listened to this evening....a young saxophonist and quite talented!

Celeb chefs for Sunday brunch with. Looks like they’re keeping the same format where it’s a Q&A not a cooking demo.

2019 Dates and Special Guests
  • September 8: Carla Hall (Celebrity Chef & author of Carla Hall’s Soul Food)
  • September 22: Richard Blais (Chef & Entrepreneur)
Sad to be missing these two! I just love Carla Hall and her energy. And Richard Blais has a restaurant here that is pretty fun (even though I'm sure we were the oldest people in there)!

Thoughts from those that have done the food and wine pairings in previous years. When deciding between these two, do you think the Italian food, beer vs wine pairing or Regional Italian food and wine pairing is better? One is a Via Napoli and the other is at Tutto Gusto if that matters. I'm not sure we've been to either restaurant.
We did the Regional Italian F&W pairing in 2015 and loved it. We really wanted to do the Beer vs Wine one but it's too late for our dates.

Disappointed the French Family Traditions doesn't start till October 4, we leave the Oct 3. Will just go to the great French place at home instead... spend the money there.
We did this one last year and I also did the Parisian Breakfast. Both were excellent! I wonder why so many of these aren't available earlier in the festival?
 
Sad to be missing these two! I just love Carla Hall and her energy. And Richard Blais has a restaurant here that is pretty fun (even though I'm sure we were the oldest people in there)!

I like them too and a couple others on the list. I did the one with Richard Blais last year and enjoyed it. I’m torn on the format though. I think I prefer a cooking demo to the straight Q&A. And a photo doesn’t really interest me generally.


We did the Regional Italian F&W pairing in 2015 and loved it. We really wanted to do the Beer vs Wine one but it's too late for our dates.

We did this one last year and I also did the Parisian Breakfast. Both were excellent! I wonder why so many of these aren't available earlier in the festival?


Very odd. Mexico is starting day 1 and going straight through. That (tequila lunch) is excellent too. So good I may do it again this year. None of these are Disney restaurants. I imagine it all comes down to profit - maybe they’re not happy with the margin? Or I know Mexico employs its two tequila experts year-round and each are probably prepared to present a tasting at a moments notice... maybe the others don’t have the staff or need more time to prep? Or maybe dates will be added? I’m actually heading to Epcot later today... if it’s one of the nice managers in Tutto Gusto, I will ask.
 
Just noticed that people who reserve the wine view lounge package for Party for the Senses will be entitled to Minnie Van service from their Disney resort to Epcot and then return back to their resort once the event has concluded.

I would skip that LOL! My one and only Minnie Van was so unreliable that I'd be afraid the event would be over before the driver actually showed!

The cost of the beverage seminars and culinary demonstrations increased by $2 per person this year, from $17 to $19.

So basically $20 for a sales pitch with a tiny drink? OK then LOL!

10 of 18 culinary demos are Disney chefs (using the term loosely since Pam is one of them shilling her spice mix mess). And they want almost $20 for their self - promotion.


Every year I think the Disney "GREED" model can't surprise me more, but honestly what they have done to this festival over the years amazes me. It's gone from being a great don't miss event to "uh well maybe" in my book.
 
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I'm not sure if I should create a "stand alone" post for this or not. Feel free to give me input. :-)

If anyone is interested in California wines (specifically Zinfandel from Napa) and is going to be at F&W November 4th.....go see the Beverage Seminar with Bob Biale! I know him....he's one of the most down-to-earth winery owners I have ever met. The Biale wines are elegant and amazing. They have fantastic stories behind them.

If Mr. Spuds & I didn't already have a Chicago anniversary trip planned for the same date (weeping!) I would find a way to fly down to F&W just to see Bob.

I seriously can't say enough good things about Bob and about Biale wines. Go see him! LOL
 


I'm taking this year off unless I plan a late Sept. trip before my AP expires at the beginning of Oct. Went last year & decided that unless they came up with some new, interesting, reasonably priced events it's all been there, done that for the past couple of years. I'm done with the Deminars. Maybe I'll try the DL next spring instead.
 
Am one of the only ones excited to be going during food & wine. It is still seriously my favorite time to be there!

We will be in the area in a two bedroom villa at the Marriott for other business for three weeks this year. Looking forward to hopefully one special event a week and several days strolling around the world.
 
Am one of the only ones excited to be going during food & wine. It is still seriously my favorite time to be there!

We will be in the area in a two bedroom villa at the Marriott for other business for three weeks this year. Looking forward to hopefully one special event a week and several days strolling around the world.
I'm joining you in the excitement! F&W is also my favorite time to visit WDW.
I think your plans sound fun, especially since you'll be in the area for an extended trip. It's always nice to be able to combine business and pleasure.
I will be working on a bit of a event/dining plan this weekend. May 15th booking is just around the corner.
Happy planning! :flower:
 
I always enjoy it but with nothing new happening it's getting stale for me. That's why I'm taking a break this year. I always enjoy the special events I attend but there's nothing new to look forward to try out. The Deminars just aren't worth it anymore. I only attended one Food & Beverage Pairing last year and I wasn't impressed even though it was Robert Irvine. If I'm spending close to $30 I want to know what I'm getting before I pay for it so I'd rather spend that $ at the booths. I can get a whole dinner & drink for those prices at some decent restaurants at home.
 
I always enjoy it but with nothing new happening it's getting stale for me. That's why I'm taking a break this year. I always enjoy the special events I attend but there's nothing new to look forward to try out. The Deminars just aren't worth it anymore. I only attended one Food & Beverage Pairing last year and I wasn't impressed even though it was Robert Irvine. If I'm spending close to $30 I want to know what I'm getting before I pay for it so I'd rather spend that $ at the booths. I can get a whole dinner & drink for those prices at some decent restaurants at home.

You didn't like Robert Irvine? We did a special show with him in the Baltimore area and we thought he was awesome. $30 is a drop in the bucket to us so I'd gladly pay that to see Robert again. He's gone before we arrive. Hoping Andrew Zimmern is worthwhile.
 
You didn't like Robert Irvine? We did a special show with him in the Baltimore area and we thought he was awesome. $30 is a drop in the bucket to us so I'd gladly pay that to see Robert again. He's gone before we arrive. Hoping Andrew Zimmern is worthwhile.


I like Robert Irvine but I can't even remember what he served us last year. It was OK whatever it was but he was pushing his line of spirits so we had a very small taste, maybe two small sips, of a so-so mixed drink with an extremely small taste of food. A few years ago he made a wonderful lamb chop that I still remember to this day so I was really hoping for another memorable dish. I enjoy listening to him but I think the prices Disney is charging for the tiny tastes they give you is ridiculous and I'm done paying it. The prices at the booths are steep enough but I can get a full meal for less that those Russian roulette pairings & deminars. I'm just on F & W burnout at this point. I've been attending for most of the past 20 years. Missed a few of the early ones prior to that & two of the past 10 so I've seen a lot over the years. It's just time for me to take another break.
 
This October will be my first time at F&W - so excited! Does WDW ever have a "sip and savor" pass for the different booths, as Disney California Adventure does?
 
Looks like Trader Sams is gone for good

Such a bummer:( We did that in 2017 and loved it. I really miss all the events in the pavilions like American Adventure and Coral Reef. And the hotel signature dinners like Jiko!

Oh well, I guess we will have to find other cool events to book like Highway in the Sky, California Grill Brunch and Jiko Wednesday wine tastings. We also love Swan and Dolphin's Causeway event.
 
I always enjoy it but with nothing new happening it's getting stale for me. That's why I'm taking a break this year. I always enjoy the special events I attend but there's nothing new to look forward to try out. The Deminars just aren't worth it anymore. I only attended one Food & Beverage Pairing last year and I wasn't impressed even though it was Robert Irvine. If I'm spending close to $30 I want to know what I'm getting before I pay for it so I'd rather spend that $ at the booths. I can get a whole dinner & drink for those prices at some decent restaurants at home.

I feel the same way:( As far as the special events it is all the same ones! What about those of us that have been going since the begining? We have done Tequila, Italian Beer vs Wine, Mediterranean, French Family Traditions, etc. Where is Trader Sam's- that was unique? Jiko dinner on the savanna-loved that one! American Adventure with the ghosts Coral Reef. Champagne dinner! Remember those?!
 
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We are also - Sept 30th - final day of Illuminations @ F&W or do we head to SWGE in hopes that its less busy that night since so many may want to see the final Illuminations? Hmmmmmmm......

We weren't even planning to go down for Food & Wine this year, but when they announced Illuminations ending, we had to schedule a quick adults only trip to see the finale. That show has given our extended family some of our favorite memories over the years. Galaxy's Edge is tempting, but my sons would kill us if we saw Star Wars land without them.
 
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