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

[yorkieteacher]

Bummer on no festival center since I have read it is suppose to be between canada and U.K. (believe it was suppose to be where I attended a Vera Bradley event a few years ago)

Wait-what??? No mimosa bar? What about this building beween UK and Canada I had never noticed before everyone (bloggers/vloggers) keeps saying is the Festival Center?

 

[crazy4wdw]

Fun day at F&W today. More info to come but for now, wanted to share that there is no Festival Center. World ShowPlace is events only. Initial map showed the mimosa bar there but it is not. Merchandise is spread around. Port of Entry has the Passholder stuff and is not set up for the crowds (in my opinion)

That is certainly interesting. So no free Ghirardelli chocolate and they don't have the elaborate confection sculptures.

Any idea where the culinary demos and beverage seminars are taking place (World ShowPlace)? Also, where do you pick up your tickets for the demos and seminars?

 

[crazy4wdw]

Can someone share the map? (I assume there's one.....)

This is the only one I could find, hopefully folks will post a more complete map in the coming days.

https://chipandco.com/epcot-food-wine-festival-map-and-passport-for-2019-363443/

 

[brnrss34]

The culinary demos, mix make it, beverage seminary’s are in building between Canada and U.K. CMs are standing outside and they said there is no merchandise in that building. Free Ghirardelli chocolate is in the Land where Circle of life was. Mouse Gears has Passholder merchandise, besides Ports of Entry. Candy sushi is next to living with the land.

 

[sherlockmiles]

Thanks for the map link.
So where do you actually get your passport, and F&W wristlet? Port of Entry? any where else?

And can somebody PLEASE find the mimosa Bar!!??

 

[brewhome]

Thanks for the map link.
So where do you actually get your passport, and F&W wristlet? Port of Entry? any where else?

And can somebody PLEASE find the mimosa Bar!!??

The mimosas are at Shimmering Sips. I found a map on Chip & Co. It’s near Hawaii and across from Port of Entry in the Showcase Plaza area.

https://chipandco.com/epcot-food-wine-festival-map-and-passport-for-2019-363443/
I can’t wait to try the mimosa flight!

 

[sherlockmiles]

The mimosas are at Shimmering Sips. I found a map on Chip & Co. It’s near Hawaii.

https://chipandco.com/epcot-food-wine-festival-map-and-passport-for-2019-363443/
I can’t wait to try the mimosa flight!

THANK YOU!!
Glad its not lost....

 

[2xcited2sleep]

 

[Mickey18girl]

I was at Epcot yesterday for opening day... the brat in Germany wasn't very good... better to just order it at the counter in the quick service restaurant instead. But I enjoyed the hummus fries (does have a little bit of a kick!) and the filet in Canada was super yummy! I had a lemon cider as well in the Canada area... the apple/cider area is inside and air conditioned if you need to get out of the heat.

 

[brnrss34]

Thanks for the map link.
So where do you actually get your passport, and F&W wristlet? Port of Entry? any where else?

And can somebody PLEASE find the mimosa Bar!!??

Wristlets with giftcards are at port Of entry and a few kiosks around world show case. Also stand to right as you are entering World showcase from front of park. Same for Passports and you can also get passports at entrance to front of park next to maps. Not sure about entrance for Boardwalk area.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Yesterday was a fun day at F&W – as it always is. It was not terribly crowded at all (except in Port of Entry trying to buy passholder merch – more on that in a bit) but it was brutally hot so I didn’t try a lot. Rather than go chronologically through my day I think I’ll just hit some highlights here.

World ShowPlace – as mentioned there is no festival center. World ShowPlace is strictly for the daily events. No food, no merchandise. There was a sandwich board outside detailing the day’s events. I got a peek inside and immediately inside the automatic doors there was an area with the usual dark purpley lighting, draped to define the space, small cocktail tables with white tablecloths. I’m not sure if that was just the waiting area or if that’s where the actual demo was. If that’s the demo area, it’s certainly a switch from the classroom style seating of years past. The Shimmering Sips mimosa bar that was shown to be located here on an early map is over by the walkway from Future World.

The walkway from Imagination has been finished and widened. What are presumed to be new restrooms by Refreshment Port are not finished and that is blocked off but all booths in the area are operational.

Former Festival Center “stuff”:

Merchandise is spread in kiosks around the lagoon. MouseGear and Port of Entry have the passholder merchandise. Cast members do have a binder detailing all the festival merchandise and where they are sold. I was looking for the Spaceship Earth cutting board and was told it was in MouseGear, Port of Entry or a kiosk near Japan. The cutting board is as cute as it is in pictures. For those who were wondering, the shapes on the rolling pin are “indented” so would leave interesting marks on your dough – might be more decorative. Port of Entry has only the two registers in opposite corners and each register had a line snaking around the store – so much so that it was hard to browse and in fact they were only allowing entry into the store through the back door. It might have been a first day thing or maybe they’ll iron out some better line logistics.

Port of Entry had, behind the counter, those wine station machines that used to be in the Festival Center

Vendors like Cutco cutlery are around the lagoon. Cutco is by Morocco. I overheard the rep telling someone that they had all be dispersed around the festival.


Ghiardelli is in the Land pavilion

I didn’t fully explore but I didn’t see a book store or a wine store.


Remy scavenger hunt – I didn’t do this but those who have done it in the past remember that the Remy figures are typically around the walkway and not hidden back in the pavilions as they are for events like the Easter egg hunt. Well, without offering any spoilers, I saw one Remy figure in a shop so I think they have made it a tad more challenging this year.

Emile’s Fromage Montage – for this you need to get an actual stamp at the register when you order. Stamps go on the last page of the passport. I forgot to get one and had no trouble going back and they gave me one. For all other booths, the “stamps” are stickers in the passport and you mark them off yourself.

Favorite item of the day: NY Strip Steak Green Shermoula Flatbread with Radish and Tomato Salsa (Morocco). So, so good. Flatbread a little deceiving in the sense that it’s not like a flat bread pizza. The bread is crisp – more like a tostada. There’s a fair amount of spice (but keep in mind I’m a mild salsa person). It was really so excellent. I will be having several of these, for sure.




In France, they’ve changed the braised beef dish a bit and instead of traditional mashed potatoes it’s served with “puffed potatoes” i.e. breaded and fried balls of mashed potatoes. Solid dish but didn’t wow me.



Lobster roll – I haven’t had this in a few years and this seemed improved from my last memory of it. I tried the coffee ale and I should have known based on the title but very strong coffee taste I didn’t care for.



Blended Burger (Flavors from Fire) – this was a favorite last year and didn’t disappoint this year. It’s basic but the cheese sauce and crunch from the potato chip are so good. I thought that the grills were more “center stage” this year both at this kiosk as well as the Caribbean booth where they’re doing jerk chicken. I know they had the grills before but it seemed more of an “on stage” presentation to me - and more seating as well. I certainly feel for those chefs working over hot grills in that heat.





Artist Palette of wine and cheese – I always enjoy this option. Very good.



Biggest disappointment: Warm Raclette Swiss Cheese with Baby Potatoes, Cornichons and Baguette (Alps – by Norway). I so wanted to love this and had high expectations as potatoes, cheese and bread are pretty much my favorite food groups, LOL. I don’t know… it wasn’t bad but the bread isn’t toasted and the serving I received had been sitting under the heat lamp for a while and the cheese had congealed a bit. I may give it another try.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Wristlets with giftcards are at port Of entry and a few kiosks around world show case. Also stand to right as you are entering World showcase from front of park. Same for Passports and you can also get passports at entrance to front of park next to maps. Not sure about entrance for Boardwalk area.

Wristlet gift cards, Remy’s Scavenger Hunt maps and passports are all available at the shop just inside the International Gateway.

 

[sherlockmiles]

Remy scavenger hunt – I didn’t do this but those who have done it in the past remember that the Remy figures are typically around the walkway and not hidden back in the pavilions as they are for events like the Easter egg hunt. Well, without offering any spoilers, I saw one Remy figure in a shop so I think they have made it a tad more challenging this year.

We were there 2 years ago for Irma. Remy was moved inside because of the hurricane, and then remained 'indoors'. I'm guessing that Dorian has prompted the move this year as well. we LOVE the scavenger hunt.

 

[randumb0]

Has the google doc been updated with the latest prices?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I'm really sad to hear the merchants are scattered around. Let's turn World Showcase into Costco on a Saturday.

 

[Mickeynutty]

I’m interested in purchasing the FW gift card that comes with a lanyard and sleeve. Did anyone see these? Thanks!

 

[gillep]

Fun day at F&W today. More info to come but for now, wanted to share that there is no Festival Center. World ShowPlace is events only. Initial map showed the mimosa bar there but it is not. Merchandise is spread around. Port of Entry has the Passholder stuff and is not set up for the crowds (in my opinion)

Sorry, I think I am confused by all the changes, where is the passholder daily check in for the coasters? At the Port of Entry with the other Passholder stuff or somewhere else?

 

[bookgirl2632]

I'm really sad to hear the merchants are scattered around. Let's turn World Showcase into Costco on a Saturday.

Sorry, I don’t follow. How is having the merchandise places in different location so making it a Costco? I mean, I liked the Festival Center too, but as long as the merchandise is accessible, that’s all that matters.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Sorry, I think I am confused by all the changes, where is the passholder daily check in for the coasters? At the Port of Entry with the other Passholder stuff or somewhere else?

No daily check-in for coasters. Your visits are automatically logged on your account/ticket/magic band. For coasters, just show up on your 4th day to claim. Can get magnet either at Mousegear or Disney Traders (at base of Future World into World Showcase) - can get this on first visit.

Details here:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/fall-passholder-exclusives/

 

[gillep]

No daily check-in for coasters. Your visits are automatically logged on your account/ticket/magic band. For coasters, just show up on your 4th day to claim. Can get magnet either at Mousegear or Disney Traders (at base of Future World into World Showcase) - can get this on first visit.

Details here:
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/fall-passholder-exclusives/

Oh perfect, thank you! I couldn't remember how it worked last year for the cutting board. I originally only scheduled to go to Epcot for 3 of our days so we are going to slip in a quick 4th trip there to get the coasters so I wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing as the extra trip really is not convenient with our schedule at all.