We have been the last three years and are going to miss it this year. Very sad but trying the Christmas season this year. No matter the time of year we tend to go to a park in the morning, pool all afternoon and then spend the evenings at Epcot. We follow the same routine with F&W. I should also point out we stay at BCV.
The Disney Food Blog has fabulous reviews and photos. I like to get a list of must try booths ahead of time.
We don't drink that much so cannot comment much on the drinks. Tons of beer. Though Belgium has this yummy super expensive godiva liquor coffee drink, always good with a waffle
There is a lot of food to try. Sometimes you get more then just a bite. Sometimes it feels like less. We will eat dinner of samples plus a CS meal or two we all share. Kids seem more willing to try new things there which is nice. Last year Canada had samples of some of the Le Cellier items I had always wanted to try without going through eating there.
The food samples are expensive. You will drop a bunch of cash fast. As a family of 4 I kind of try and turn a blind eye to it
Crowd wise I think Saturday and Sunday afternoons are the worst. We tried once to hit a few booths at 11am when the world showcase opened, starting in the back entrance, and we watched the mob come over the hill
Also standing in a 30 minute line in the hot sun for an expensive bite of food is not something I will do. We have repeatedly gone back on weekend evenings and find people tend to have already been eating and drinking or are in restaurants and lines are shorter. Plus no hot sun. We discovered this the first year when we popped into Epcot for an ADR. Had to walk part of the world showcase to leave and there were so many booths with little or no lines. Now we go every evening no matter the day.
We have never seen anyone grossly drunk or acting inappropriately even on a Saturday night. Last year was the first time we saw someone drunk, in a stupor, sitting on a wall. Others were concerned and CM's were on the scene. I have read reports of drunk people behaving badly, but like I said we have never seen anything.
I noticed, and maybe it is my imagination there were less places to sit with your food last year. We found ourselves trying to get organized on a trash can more then once. That was a little frustrating. We did drag out the stroller just for last years F&W. My 7 year old, who might be 7 and weigh too much for it, made no complaints having a comfy seat to sit as we strolled through every evening. Meanwhile we had cup holders. DH is so bummed that by 2014 that will no longer be an option as kiddo will be 9 and really too heavy for the stroller. He is trying to come up with easy ways to carry our food & drinks. Looking for tips if you have any
He has mentioned bringing the stroller anyway but it's presently on craigslist.