Drunks @ Food & Wine Festival?

[Susiesnowflake]

Have been during the F&W Fesitival a number of times and have seen some very tipsy people. Not many but some. Had to jump out of the way once of one younger woman whose friend was trying to hold her up and get her to a restroom. I doubt very much she made it! Yuck. That I'd rather not see!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

just what you need, a bunch of stroller pushing, scooter riding, close talking, stop dead in the middle of the path, parade seat stealing drunks...as if going to wdw wasn't torture enough

(seriously i wondered about this myself)

Never been during the F&W festival (this year will be a first!) so I was curious too. However, obviously intoxicated people do seem fairly common at Universal.

 

[safetymom]

I wouldn't say there are lots of drunks but enough that it doesn't seem like the same park during the F&W festival. I am lucky enough to go quite often and am glad when it is over because the rowdies seem to go away too.

For some it doesn't take too much alcohol to be tipsy in Epcot.

 

[huey578]

Just got done talking with a friend and told him we were going to WDW during the F&W fest. I was somewhat surprised at his response. Never again would he take his family during this event as the park was full of drunks! His point was especially on the week-ends where (according to him) all these young kids (young but old enough to drink legally) are there, probably locals, who overindulge and get out of control...cursing and loud obnoxious behavior. He said it just about ruined his trip.

I've been to the FW fest 4 years in a row and haven't seen any of that. We usually stay til closing time.

 

[DVCconvert]

I've been to the F&W fest for the last 5 years. The VAST majority of people are there for the food with 'drinks' as an aside. Sure some might get a little tipsy, an even smaller number might act less than stellar--but in general there is no way anyone could call the event a 'drunk fest' (every been to Octoberfest? I have, and this is soooo much tamer, there's no comparison).

Go, eat and drink (moderately ) and you'll have a wonderful time!

 

[k5thbeatle]

Interesting replies. I would not say that I have NEVER seen anyone overdoing it (as some have) but I guess not enough to where it caused us or other guests a problem. The one time that comes to mind was from last year when a group of about 3-4 people in probably their early 20's were being somewhat obnoxious over by the Ireland booth. I believe from what I overheard that two fellows were about to fight over a young lady. It was obvious to all that they had way too much to drink. But this incident was over in less than a minute as they were escorted quietly out and no actual fight occurred although there was some rough language.

In defense of my friend, he still has small children, age 9, 11, & 13 if I remember correctly, so he may be more aware of this kind of thing than I am and the effect it may have on his kids. I don't know that though, it is just my guess?

Again with most posters I have not really been too concerned with anything that goes on although I did mention the one incident that we saw firsthand last year. But not enough to keep us away.

 

[klwdisney]

I've been a few times during the F&W Festival and am going back in a few weeks. I have NEVER seen out of control drunken behavior like that!! Must've been a fluke!

 

[cleo]

I've been to F&W many, many times and never seen drunken behavior (any more so than on any average day), especially not 'a park full of drunks'. That said, I'm certain there ARE drunk people during that time, as there are on any given day of the week. I would think 'new drinkers' would be more likely to get drunk somewhere much cheaper than Disney.

Having been on the boards here for many years I wonder if more drunken behavior is due to the increasing popularity of Drink Around The World.

 

[Mrs.D]

We've never noticed a problem at the Food and Wine Fest. We did, however, stop at the "Beer Festival" at Universal City Walk (which was one of the weekends during the Food and Wine Fest) and THAT was a different story!

 

[henrylovespooh]

I've never seen a drunken scene while at F&W festival. I second someone else's comment that it would be quite expensive to get drunk there.

Can't wait to go back next month and do it all over again!

 

[webray]

LOL, we have been going to food and wine fest since the beginning. Several weekends/days, whatever we can fit in each year.

Only once did we see someone so drunk, a woman, she couldn't even stand up. We saw her, satdown with our food and she was gone. I think the disney people swept her away quickly. Never saw any obnoxious behavior before or after that..lol. It really isn't a go to get drunk event. Costs way to much money for that, even just drinking your way around the world..it isn't cheap.

 

[Amyality]

just what you need, a bunch of stroller pushing, scooter riding, close talking, stop dead in the middle of the path, parade seat stealing drunks...as if going to wdw wasn't torture enough

(seriously i wondered about this myself)

You are too funny! This totally made me smile, though I'm kind of in that group!
I guess I'm a slighly saucy stroller pusher (hey, ya don't have to drive!!! )

Seriously, we take kids there and though I do consider it a more adult time at EPCOT I never saw anything inappropriate. But, as you gathered we are on the laid back side.

 

[NoelGypsy]

I am going to the Food and Wine Festival for the first time this year, but i have done the "Drinking Around the World" tour. It was a ball. I was not "bombed" or "fall down drunk" but I was feeling no pain. We were singing Disney songs, people were singing along with us, and even a CM came up to us who was riding one of those stand-up riding things (I have no idea what they are called) and he said we were so much fun! He said he would not let us ride the Stand-Up machine in a funny-sarcastic tone or we would be in trouble (getting a DWI in epcot) LOL... it was hilarious!!! We started at Mexico, and ended for dinner at the Rose and Crown. Then after dinner we walked to Jellyrolls. It was such a good time!!!
I guess it just depends on the people you are with also. The people that were with me were there to have a good time and whether we got drunk or not didn't matter... the goal was to have a great time!!!
It is VERY expensive to "Drink Around the World", but it is a BLAST!!! And I highly recommend it

 

[julfre]

I've been 3 times and the first time I went on a Friday and by 8pm there were quite a few drunks. Loud and obnoxious and not what I would want children exposed too, but not fighting or trouble making drunks. I was quite surprised because I never actually considered that people would get drunk at Epcot. ($$ and it is disney and they don't usually allow anything out of control) After that I avoided the F&W after 7pm on Fri and Sat and have never seen anyone drunk since. I say go and enjoy without worry, but avoid Fri and Sat nights.

 

[minijeanie]

never,ever encountered any problems with people over drinking while at F&W festival...

actually, I have never seen anyone drunk at wdw in all my 10 plus times there. come on are some of you thinking that 2 drinks are too much??

now that my kids are teens, I do have a few drinks on vacation, when they were much smaller, never had anything heavier than a diet coke. Don't know why that is but I do know that I enjoy drinking around the world....never got drunk but did have a darn good time

 

[PrincessKitty]

DH and I have been to the Food and Wine Festival 3 times--for a long weekend in 2003 and for two long weekends in 2004. The only falling-down-drunk we saw was a guy who had fallen out of his wheelchair--DH (a big, strong physical therapist) stopped and helped him back in.

When we were there last December (not during the F & W fest) we did see a group that was very drunk (the second time we saw them, the one with the Vikings-horn hat had fallen flat on his/her--I forget--face).

 

[Skroops]

drunks at the F&W, but I was "feeling no pain" last April when a good freind and I drank our way around the world. At the end of our "tour" we were singing and dancing (yes, just the two of us gals) with the piano player at the pub at Rose and Crown. I think people enjoyed us, but it could have been slightly fuzzy memory. I know I had an amazing time! Completely sober, I would do that again. Sing and dance to the piano man. Life is short. Some people drink on vacation, us included. Rest assured, I will be a pushing a stoller with a buzz. I will, however be a considerate guest. I'm never loud or obnoxious, I'll just have a fantastic grin.

 

[jann1033]

You are too funny! This totally made me smile, though I'm kind of in that group!
I guess I'm a slighly saucy stroller pusher (hey, ya don't have to drive!!! )

Seriously, we take kids there and though I do consider it a more adult time at EPCOT I never saw anything inappropriate. But, as you gathered we are on the laid back side.

hey i have nothing against any in the aformentioned group just think it' s is funny so many others do ( well if a drunk barfed on me i would mind that)

 

[Baloo]

I have been to the F&WFest every year but never on the weekend or the VERY first weekend.Until 2003... we were there the very first day (a Friday I believe) and we HATED it!! That evening there were tons of people there and ALOT of them were several sheets to the wind.

I'd never had a problem before and was sorta shocked at it all,sort of like a big frat party going on. It wasn't fun especially since we had my DS who was 10 at the time with us.
Way more rowdy than our usual Liquors Around the Lake day.

So we learned our lesson and don't go the first day and we try and avoid weekends altogether.

 

[Bracho]

I was almost killed by a drunk driver a few years ago when I was hit head on while I was sitting at a read light and he hit me going 85 mph... drunk as a skunk so I don't deal with drunks well at all. I have been to several F&W and while I have seen people really enjoying themselves, I can't say I have seen first hand a total drunk although I am sure it happens. I enjoy wine and a brandy every now and then but I don't allow myself to get to the point that I lose all self respect or control...

I get very aggressive when dealing with a drunk. I am very happy I haven't had to deal with adults that over due a good thing and in front of children... getting to the point that they are ready to almost fight when in Epcot, not good at all. After what happened to me I wouldn't be a very nice person.