A warning regarding Epcot F&W ...

[Jennygt]

We were at F&W 10/7 friday, I did see one poor woman getting very sick in the bathroom,other then that I don't remember much of a problem. We did not ride the bus that night so I don't know what that seen was like. Sorry that you had a bad experience, there is a lot of liquor around so I am not too surprised.

 

[dvcgirl]

I've got to tell you, my DH were there at the exact same time that you were this past Sunday. We arrived at 3pm and left around 7:30 and didn't see anything even remotely close to what you are describing. We've been over to take a lap around the WS a few times already this year and in all of those times I don't believe that we saw one person who was visibly drunk.[/QUOTE

op said saturday not sunday

lol...I meant Saturday too. We were there this past Saturday, October 15th. We did not see anything like the OP saw. I'm not saying that they didn't see this, but the OP is making it sound like it's Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street, and we just did not see that atmosphere....

 

[Gaiusrex]

When you combine the heat with drinking a variety of liquors, you're bound to feel sick. They should just post signs:

Beer before liquor; never sicker. Liquor before beer; never fear.

 

[kidangel]

We experienced Epcot during F&W for the first time during the afternoon of Saturday Oct. 8. Someone asked me what it was like and I referred to it as "Like Pleasure Island, only better dressed."

I'll preface that by saying we had little interest in F&W. We were at Epcot for Epcot's sake. While we didn't experience overt signs of drunkeness, it was obvious that many in the crowd were "pleasantly lubricated." This, of course, leads to the usual lowering of inhibitions and awareness of anything beyond self. Pushing a wheelchair through the World is difficult at the best of times - try doing it when people are "drifting" rather than walking, waving glasses around, gathering in large knots of people to discuss what booth to hit next, cutting in line, etc. And for the record - a few glasses does not improve anyone's ability to push a stroller or pilot an ECV. Oh, my ankles!

I heard loud, offensive language, much more than we usually do, and the smell of alcohol - you could get a buzz just standing in a line.

The restrooms were crowded, and dirty, and the presence of the F&W booths narrowed the traffic flow. Combined with the larger crowds, it was almost gridlock at times.

For the first time ever, we did not see the entire WS. After three countries, we'd had enough and called it a day. While I know that F&W has its appeal, if that's not what you're there for, you might be disappointed. I know that we'll never go to Epcot again during that time. I found it had a very "adult" feel to it, and that's just not what we look for in a Disney family vacation.

Shelley

Read my Disney blog!
http://www.movershakerbirthdaycakebaker.blogs.com/remember_the_magic

 

[dvcgirl]

We experienced Epcot during F&W for the first time during the afternoon of Saturday Oct. 8. Someone asked me what it was like and I referred to it as "Like Pleasure Island, only better dressed."

I'll preface that by saying we had little interest in F&W. We were at Epcot for Epcot's sake. While we didn't experience overt signs of drunkeness, it was obvious that many in the crowd were "pleasantly lubricated." This, of course, leads to the usual lowering of inhibitions and awareness of anything beyond self. Pushing a wheelchair through the World is difficult at the best of times - try doing it when people are "drifting" rather than walking, waving glasses around, gathering in large knots of people to discuss what booth to hit next, cutting in line, etc. And for the record - a few glasses does not improve anyone's ability to push a stroller or pilot an ECV. Oh, my ankles!

I heard loud, offensive language, much more than we usually do, and the smell of alcohol - you could get a buzz just standing in a line.

The restrooms were crowded, and dirty, and the presence of the F&W booths narrowed the traffic flow. Combined with the larger crowds, it was almost gridlock at times.

For the first time ever, we did not see the entire WS. After three countries, we'd had enough and called it a day. While I know that F&W has its appeal, if that's not what you're there for, you might be disappointed. I know that we'll never go to Epcot again during that time. I found it had a very "adult" feel to it, and that's just not what we look for in a Disney family vacation.

Shelley

Read my Disney blog!
http://www.movershakerbirthdaycakebaker.blogs.com/remember_the_magic

I guess I'd say in just about every way that F&W Fest is for adults. I don't think it has a pleasure island feel to it at all though. And if I was a kid, and my parents dragged me around the WS to sample food that is not kid-friendly...and most kids are bored in WS to begin with, well, I probably wouldn't bring my kids. We've been over a few times and we have seen lots of bored kids in line with parents.

 

[randyl]

I have to agree. There were alot of drunks this weekend. I have to admit that I got a little "tipsy" trying the beers and wines but I was not vomiting or stumbling or anything near that. We actually saw a girl (in her 20's I would guess) being helped out of Epcot by her friends. One friend was on each side of her holding her up as she stumbled into the Boardwalk area.

 

[Feralpeg]

If you want to avoid the drinking issue at F&W, I suggest you go to WS early in the day. Most of the real drinking doesn't start until evening. I was there early on Friday with friends and it wasn't bad at all.

 

[vanyel]

I was there Oct. 1, a Saturday, and I did notice a difference in the crowd. While sitting down and drinking to cool off (water!), I overheard a really loud conversation by a guy on his cell phone telling someone how much he had already had to drink, and this was about 5 pm. He also said something like, "I'm going to get really **** up tonight". We quickly moved away.

We didn't get much at the F & W because of the long lines and there were things I would have liked to try but... We actually left Epcot before Illuminations, can you believe that?

 

[Otter49]

F&W is easily my favorite 6 weeks at Disney. We'll average 3 to 4 times a week.

That said - I've noticed many more drunks this year than I've seen before. Not necessarily much bad behavior, but some very inebriated people.

Evenings are very definitely an adult atmosphere, unlike the rest of the year.

 

[airplane]

I was there on Sat (10-15) from 2:00 until 9:00. I was the one w/ a big group of girls who was wearing Bridal Mickey Ears. We did not notice any drunks. We had so much fun that we are going to make this an annual trip. I did notice that the bathrooms were very dirty which is not typical of WDW, especially Germany.

 

[Snowy]

ok so all those who have seen "unruly" behavior it's mostly been on weekend nights? so if we go mid week and get out of there by a little after dinner we would be ok?

really i can see the differing opinions depending on if you have had something spilled on you or whatever...i just remember key west after a "sunset" ...piles & puddles of human waste on the public bathroom floors and really did not find that fun so maybe i am overly cautious about that type "partying" of atmosphere.

I was there twice last week, on Monday night through Illuminations and on Wednesday night leaving just before Illuminations. We saw no unruly behavior. I love the F&W festival and have thankfully never witnessed any of the ugly scenes some folks are describing. I've got to think it's a weekend problem.

 

[loriandmatt]

the OP is making it sound like it's Mardi Gras on Bourbon Street, and we just did not see that atmosphere....

ok, so maybe what we saw didn't involve any beads or top lifting (much to my husband's disapointment) but it was packed with adults who were way too loaded to be stolling thru a family venue. (one very bright - not - college girl said very loudly to her friends as they followed my family including our infant in her stroller...."they should make this place adults only after 5." One other family with kids that was beside us in the mob, found great humor in this and did laughingly reply "well, it is disney world, did you expect there would be no kids?!!"

IMHO - epcot has a rough time appealing to (some) kids anyway and there is a reputation out there among those of us who don't go frequently that epcot is "skipable" if you have young kids. this additude and activity doesn't help that reputation. Epcot is beautiful and the F&W is very nice, even for kids. My 10 year old loves this park and had a ball trying different foods he wouldn't normally get to try.

that being said, we were there at 8:30 on the opening saturday night of F&W. We knew it was going to be loaded with locals who were there for that reason alone. We took it in stride and when we had enough, we got out of there.

Generally F&W is very nice, we just try to enjoy it earlier in the day, and if we do want to go in the evening, we try to make it a weeknight and not in the first 3 or 4 days of the event starting.

- lori

 

[misslissa]

Hi there,

I have never been to Disney during the F&W Fest but am looking forward to trying it. We will be there only during the last day which is a Sunday. Has anyone ever been there for the last day before?

It is a shame that this kind of thing happens at Disney... but I guess where there is alcohol... there is alcoholics. I presently live across from a large park that hosts a food and wine festival (I really would like to compare Disney to it) but it sounds like the same thing. Sat/Sun mornings are really tame and then it fills up with crowds and drunks at nite.

 

[Skroops]

We were there Oct.4th during the week, and I noticed a couple of groups of folks who definately had too much. I noticed them because they called attention to themselves by being extemely loud. And maybe because I've seen this thread before, I was more aware of this issue with F&W.
I mentioned it to my parents a couple of days later when it somehow came up in conversation, and they didn't notice it at all. Same experience, different perceptions. I'm hoping it is something you have to be on the look out for (which I probably was).

 

[jann1033]

I was there twice last week, on Monday night through Illuminations and on Wednesday night leaving just before Illuminations. We saw no unruly behavior. I love the F&W festival and have thankfully never witnessed any of the ugly scenes some folks are describing. I've got to think it's a weekend problem.

thanks i would really like to do this but to me fallling down drunk people would ruin it. we'll go early someitme mid festival and see illuminations during the week

 

[Bill From PA]

Who can AFFORD to get smashed at $7 + per pint?

Bill From PA

 

[Phrank40]

Been to F & W 4 or 5 times over past 10 years. Until last year we always went during the week, last year went on a Saturday. While I saw no bad drunks on Saturday the crowds are substantially larger, if fact I was surprised with the large difference between a week and a weekend night. To be truthful I've never noticed any problems with over the top drunks the times we've been, maybe I'm just not that observant.

The worse case I've seen at Epcot was during Tapestry of Nations a few years ago. We were seated near France before Tapestry started and I noticed a group of 6-7 people who were obviously a bit inebriated across from me. When Tapestry started they started walking in front of the costumed cast members as Tapestry came through, one guy even did a cartwheel in front of one of the groups of performers. I wondered at what point some Disney cast member might ask them to calm down but no one ever did.

Phrank

 

[dvcgirl]

Been to F & W 4 or 5 times over past 10 years. Until last year we always went during the week, last year went on a Saturday. While I saw no bad drunks on Saturday the crowds are substantially larger, if fact I was surprised with the large difference between a week and a weekend night. To be truthful I've never noticed any problems with over the top drunks the times we've been, maybe I'm just not that observant.

The worse case I've seen at Epcot was during Tapestry of Nations a few years ago. We were seated near France before Tapestry started and I noticed a group of 6-7 people who were obviously a bit inebriated across from me. When Tapestry started they started walking in front of the costumed cast members as Tapestry came through, one guy even did a cartwheel in front of one of the groups of performers. I wondered at what point some Disney cast member might ask them to calm down but no one ever did.

Phrank

The worst group I ever saw was about 10 men...salesmen for a company I won't name who were in town for a convention. They were all very drunk, very loud and this was at the bar at the California Grill. Keep in mind, that October is a huge convention month and lots and lots of drinking goes on at some of those events. I wouldn't be surprised if some of what people are seeing is related to that....

 

[jackmac]

I've been to the F&W for the past 5 years and enjoyed it immensely. F&W is an adult event and not the best place to bring little kids. With that being said, it's still Disney and a family friendly atmosphere is maintained. I have seen people that had a bit too much, but you see this all of the time in Epcot. Most people are friendly and doing ok. There were some younger people there drinking, I questioned their age. I was talking to a CM at one of the booths about this and they told me how they have to be very careful. They said that Disney operates off of 1 liquor license and that if they were to have a problem then that would be in jeopardy.

When going to F&W go with the attitude that it's a party, an adult party. Some people overindulge and have to slow down. That's what Disney security is for.

 

[magsmom]

Who can AFFORD to get smashed at $7 + per pint?

Bill From PA

Bill, those were my thoughts exactly.

When going to F&W go with the attitude that it's a party, an adult party.

No, Pleasure Island is an adult party. Epcot does not fall into that category. DD (age 8) is sophisticated enough to have done the caviar/sturgeon tasting, and loves eating around the world during F&W.