I just got back from the opening weekend, and sadly can say this was first time I've ever been in a Disney park that was teeming with people acting like loud, drunken jerks. I'm from New Orleans, so am pretty used to seeing this kind of behavior during Mardi Gras, but seeing it at Disney totally took me by surprise. People were tripping over strollers, pushing little kids out of their way, and, as others have mentioned, wearing shirts that said, "Drunk 1" and "Drunk 2"- totally not the Disney family atmosphere, imo. I didn't even bring my kids, and I still left the park four hours early (despite really wanting to see the fireworks) just to get away. Sorry, but as much as I love, love, love Disney, and have been going regularly for 37 years, this was my first and last Food and Wine Festival.
However, since I'm not a regular Festival-goer, maybe my experience was because it was the opening weekend, and your weekend will be much less crowded. I can say that if you want to stay away from the flat-out drunk folks, just avoid the food booths entirely- or maybe have one parent get food at the booths and have the other parent wait with the kids at a quiet spot in each pavilion, since the heaviest and loudest crowds were on the footpath around the lake. Hope that helps!
I was there this weekend... and honestly didn't see anything. I saw the shirts, but those folks were sober when I saw them so no big deal. Not sure what you saw but at 4 PM there were not many "flat out drunks' based on what I saw.
(And I was not drinking as I was doing the race later that evening so I couldn't drink so it's not like I was drunk and couldn't tell the difference LOL!) Not to mention that on both Friday and Sunday we all spent a long time "hiding" from the rain with the booths closed (cuts down on the eating and drinking)
Now it was INCREDIBLY crowded. And of course there are always folks acting out (Of course some of them are 8 so .... YMMV) In a crowd things get more magnifed (includng the bratty kid on the wheeled shoes who ran into me and whose mom got told off LOL!)
Now my reviews from the food I did try between Thur evening and Sunday evening.
Mexico - Crispy Shrimp Taco 4 to 5 stars. Really liked this one
Poland - Kielbasa and Potato Pierogie 5 stars. This is one of my favs every year
Poland - Belvedere Frozen Lemon Apple Tea 3 Stars Better then what they tried to pass off last year, but if there is any booze in there you can't tell it LOL!
Hops & Barley - 17th Anniversay Festival Beer, Chocolate Block, 1 star. Not very good glad I only got the 3 oz, Too "chocloate" with beer Strange!
Florida - Shrimp Ceviche with Fire Rosasted Vegtables, Fried Plantains. 2 stars. Ceviche was good. Friend Plantain was bad
New Zealand - Seared Sea Scallop with Kumara Red Curry Puree. - 1 star 1 scallop and the puree was gross IMHO
Ireland - Lobster and Seafood Fisherman's Pie 3 stars. mine was a little spicier then last year and the lobster was overcooked.
Canada - Cheddar Cheese Soup 4 stars Good as always
Canada - Chicken Chipolte Sausage 3 stars. Sausage was a little spice for me
Canada - Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Migon. 4 star. MUCH better then anything I have eaten in the resturant! (Why?) \
Deserts & Champagne - Dark Chocolate Mousse 4 star YUMMMY
Not much beer or wine due to a combo of the heat and the race! I did have one of the beers from Canada that is discussed earlier in this thread and it was very good!
I will be back with the "flat out drunks" later this month
As for the college kids I saw LOTS of ID checking with the youngsters in front of me. (I was a little unhappy that I am so old they didn't bother LOL!)