***2009*** Epcot Food & Wine Festival ENDED NOV. 8

The only downside to the evening was having to walk through Epcot to get there. I wasn't expecting that at all. (When the info on the dinner says Epcot ticket not required, I didn't think I would have to walk through Epcot). Too bad Disney couldn't have brought back the Exquisite Evening/Reserve Dinner feature of a limo ride to the venue.

As TDC Nala mentioned in her review, it is a long walk from the IG.

Ed

I met a lady from Ft Myers by the elevator who had just walked from IG and had the same remark.
 
Just want to chime in to say that the F&W festival was excellent. I was able to attend 2 nights at the beginning of the event and saw Voodoo Daddy. The food is incredible, the crowd is lively and it is all out just a great time. For those who have not been there during this I event, I highly recommend it :)
 


Agree totally with the limo ride comments! Dh and I felt the walk from IG would be just too long in our dinner attire, given we were running late. So we took a taxi from the Boardwalk to the front gate at Epcot. That helped, although it was still a bit of a hike.

Worse, though, was the situation after the dinner. I don't know about others, but we were told that we could not exit through IG. We wouldn't have minded a slow and leisurely walk back through IG after the dinner. Instead, we were led to the front gate. Well, of course, there are no buses from the front gate to the Epcot resorts! So, a taxi was our only alternative.

No problem, really, but the disorganization regarding getting people to and from the venue was odd given the excellence of the rest of the evening.

Oh well. No more limo rides I guess!
 
We did walk back through IG - they escorted us as far as the fountain plaza and then left us on our own recognizance. There were still stragglers in WS. I'm surprised they made Elizabeth go back out the main gate.
 
...Worse, though, was the situation after the dinner. I don't know about others, but we were told that we could not exit through IG. We wouldn't have minded a slow and leisurely walk back through IG after the dinner. Instead, we were led to the front gate...

When we left, there were two groups of guests forming - one to the front and one to the IG.

I'm gussing you were in a later group of guests and there were only enough CMs to escort to the front.

From what I could tell, there was only one group that went to the IG. We were walking pretty slow, and nobody else walked past us.

Ed
 


Had they stranded me at the front gate with no transportation other than a cab I had to pay for, they would have gotten an earful from me.
 
... Dh and I felt the walk from IG would be just too long in our dinner attire, given we were running late. So we took a taxi ...


Along this line, was I the only one who thought that there would be a limo ride? ElizebethB, how did you know that there wouldn't be a limo ride?

I know this was ONLY a signature dinner, but we had a limo ride to the American Pavilion for the Piedmont chocolate signature dinner (maybe four years ago).

The last reserve dinner we attended, we had a limo ride to the front of Epcot guest relations, and then, after a shiort wait, a limo ride to the venue.

Ed
 
Got towncar (not a full limo) rides from IG for both wine schools attended in past years, so it was not just the reserve dinners. (The Wonders dinner is the only signature dinner that was held inside the theme park and did not require Epcot admission.)

On the other hand there was a signature dinner at The Seas two years ago and I walked into and out of that one (to the main gate, not to IG)
 
Have to say that when we did a wine school a few years ago we did get a ride from the IG and saw something that haunts me to this day...Mary Poppins smoking a cigarette and talking on her cell phone.
 
Never did the wine schools. They were on Saturdays and, back then, the PFTS was more important to me. And there was no way I could do both the wine school and PFTS on the same day.

Now, both the wine schools and PFTS have changed. And neither one is a must do for me.

Ed.


...On the other hand there was a signature dinner at The Seas two years ago and I walked into and out of that one (to the main gate, not to IG)

Was that the "Blue Montage" dinner? That was one nice event.

I don't remember if it stated we needed Epcot admission or not for that dinner. I'll have to check later tonight. And yes, we walked from the IG then also.

Ed
 
Was that the "Blue Montage" dinner? That was one nice event.

Yes and it was faaaaabulous. Who figured when they said "Blue" they meant cheese.

I thought California Grill and Wonders were excellent, both of them. Bodes well for more of those dinners next year. I hear Jiko mucked things up though, which isn't like them.
 
I'm not sure how we knew there would be no transportation. I think we just assumed, based on things like the fact that we did a wine school a year ago at Wonders of Life pavilion and there was no town car. We did enjoy the town cars when they had them. Oh well.

I now understand that there was a group that went to IG. We just seemed to have missed them. That's what we get for lingering over the wine and our pleasant table mates! Shame on us!

I heard the CG dinner was terrific, too, so I hope like Nala that this bodes well for the future!

One of the really nice things about the Wonders dinner was the jazz combo. It was great to listen to them during the reception and reminded us of the Reserve Dinners under the circus tent!
 
Was that the "Blue Montage" dinner? That was one nice event.

I don't remember if it stated we needed Epcot admission or not for that dinner. I'll have to check later tonight. And yes, we walked from the IG then also.

Ed


According to the 2007 festival booklet, Epcot admission was not required for this event either.

since we walked then, I don't know why I thought it would be any different for this (Wonders Retreat) event.

Ed
 
...I heard the CG dinner was terrific, too, so I hope like Nala that this bodes well for the future!

One of the really nice things about the Wonders dinner was the jazz combo. It was great to listen to them during the reception and reminded us of the Reserve Dinners under the circus tent!

Yes, we were very happy for the return of the Signature dinners. We were fortunate enough to go to 5 of them (as opposed to 0 last year).

The Wonders dinner had the best wine. CG had the best food (the wines weren't too shabby either:)). The Wonders was the only dinner with music.

The others dinners were Bluezoo, Flying Fish, and Jiko. So, some might say that Wonders and CG didn't have much competition;).

Maybe, since WDW had signature dinners this year, there are Reserve Dinners in the near future.

Anyway, looking forward to next year.

Ed
 
Yes, we were very happy for the return of the Signature dinners. We were fortunate enough to go to 5 of them (as opposed to 0 last year).

The Wonders dinner had the best wine. CG had the best food (the wines weren't too shabby either:)). The Wonders was the only dinner with music.

The others dinners were Bluezoo, Flying Fish, and Jiko. So, some might say that Wonders and CG didn't have much competition;).

Maybe, since WDW had signature dinners this year, there are Reserve Dinners in the near future.

Anyway, looking forward to next year.

Ed

While I'm a bit envious of the California Grill and Wonders dinners, I thought the Flying Fish one was fantastic. And I know you were at that one. ;)
I won't be giving Todd English another chance at a signature dinner, but I have no problem going to the restaurant for a regular meal.
 
I won't be giving Todd English another chance at a signature dinner, but I have no problem going to the restaurant for a regular meal.
Hi Lori.

I agree 100%. You can get an amazing meal at Blue Zoo for less than 180.
The only one of Todd's restaurants I enjoy is Blue Zoo and he has little to do with it IMO.

I am looking forward to trying his new Burger place in Boston (if it ever opens) though.
It seems like everyone is opening burger places these days.
 
Yes and it was faaaaabulous. Who figured when they said "Blue" they meant cheese.

I thought California Grill and Wonders were excellent, both of them. Bodes well for more of those dinners next year. I hear Jiko mucked things up though, which isn't like them.

Jiko has been mucking things up since chef Gray left. They should have paid her what she wanted to allow her to stay!
 

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