How busy is Food and Wine Fest?

[icebox114]

First post! How cool is this!! I'll get right to the point....My wife and I and three kids (8,6,3) are planning a trip next October for WDW for a week, and we're concerned about this Food and Wine Festival and its potential increase in crowds. We do not desire to attend the Festival aspect of things, and probably would spend the least amount of time in Epcot anyways. Does the festival increase crowds for the entire park or just for Epcot? If it does increase crowds for the entire park, how much? Any response would be GREATLY appreciated, as my wife and I are planning this very, very soon. Thanks anyone in advance.

[rlovew]

Well, October is a busier month than Sept for a variety of reasons- the food and wine festival, Halloween parties, school year has started but not too bad to take kids out(views may vary and this is not to encourage/discourage anyone either way), fall breaks, columbus day (long weekend- add a day or 2).

The festival itself tends to add soime crowds overall but most of them are centered around Epcot and even there tend to be around the World Showcase.

Columbus Day weekend and the few days surrounding are w more crowded time for the fall but the rest of oct isn't too bad. Of course the dates of free dining make a difference in this and have increased overall crowds during this time the last few years.

[mom2rtk]

I probably won't go back again during FW fest. We were there twice on our late Sept/early Oct trip and it was WAY busier than on previous trips. And the tipsy young women fawning over Aladding didn't do much for me either.....

[RabFlmom]

We went to food and wine on October 30, a Friday night this year. Crowds were really pretty small compared to summer or December crowds. We didn't see any of the rowdy drunks that some people on here complained about and had a great time sampling the food.

[Twoboysnmygirl]

We went Oct. 19-27th this year and loved it! There were people in the parks, but everything was walk-on except a couple of the more popular rides, but even they weren't very busy. I gave FP's away b/c lines were so short they weren't needed. It was busier AT Epcot WS in the evenings, but festive, we enjoyed it.

[Missytara]

My fav bartender just got back a few weeks ago. They arrived Halloween night and stayed till the following Wednesday.

They did the Food and Wine Festival that Monday and found it very manageable and really fun! It was the favorite part of their trip. They bought a wristband for $100.00 each and basically ate and drank all day.

She said, "now, that's my kind of day!"

They absolutely loved it. And they went with an 18 month old.....

[madalex]

I have gone to the Food and Wine Festival the last two years. Crowds in the other parks were very manageable. Most rides (other than the super popular ones) had waits of 15 minutes or less. If there is a good reason to go in October, I wouldn't change plans due to fears of large F&W festival crowds.

[icebox114]

Thanks everyone for your replies, and yes there is a good reason to go when we want to in October, so we won't change our plans. Even though its almost a year away, we're getting fired up!!

[TDC Nala]

Avoid Epcot on Saturdays. Any weekday will be much better.

[DisneyDayTripper]

We went during the week on a Monday night in October and found it to be very crowded...the wait times for the rides weren't bad at all, but walking around the World's Showcase was pretty packed especially as it got later. I'd heard others mention too that it was busier than in the past. The weekends I could see being much more crowded due to the other locals coming out then.

[Mrs. Charming]

If I could live there for the whole month of October... I would! I'd probably avoid Saturdays though, and Friday nights were a bit crowded.