Epcot during Food and Wine Festival?

[bigbabyblues]

We have Oct 1 planned as our full day (with an afternoon break) in Epcot, but it's the 1st day of the F&W Festival. Is this a bad idea? We won't be doing any of the F&W events, but I had wanted to sample some of the food booths.

The only problem is that we have a PS for Princess Storybook Breakfast that morning, and it's full for the other days of our trip, and I really don't want to cancel that.

What else can we do? I had thought about doing the breakfast and spending the morning at Epcot, then going somewhere else in the afternoon, but the only other day we'd have to come back to Epcot would be Saturday, and it's the 2nd day of F&W Festival.

This is our tentative plan:
Sunday-arrive, Epcot in the evening with PS for dinner
Monday-MGM, Fantasmic dinner package
Tuesday-MK with PS at Crystal Palace
Wed-AK with PS Donald's and 1900 PF Dinner
Thurs-MK/EE with PS at Cindy's for dinner
Fri-Epcot, PS for Princess bkst
Saturday-???? open as of now, PS at MGM for dinner
Sunday-water park/MNSSHP

Sorry this got so long, any suggestions welcome! I'm not opposed to park hopping after our nap/break unless it interferes wtih our PS. Thanks!

 

[disneyvoice]

I've never been there for the FIRST day of the F & W Festival but we were there last year during the last week of November and I don't remember any increase in the crowd level that I would attribute to the F & W Festival. For the most part, the folks in the booths were basically hanging around waiting for a cutomer! I would imagine that there would probably be an increase in the local crowds during the first weekend, but Oct. 1 falls on a Friday so it might not be too bad. Also, my guess is that the local folks who want to get there specifically for the F & W Festival probably have specific events booked and will be there primarily for visiting the booths, not seeing the attractions. Hope it works out for you!

 

[DBMagic]

We weren't there for the first day either but we were there in October. I do not remember any difference in crowds. IMHO the F&W festival is not that big of a deal when it comes to attracting more guests to Epcot.

 

[chyam]

The weekends ARE a bit more crowded at the Food and Wine Festival since alot of locals do attend then also depending on who is playing (concert) that day, but all in all it is not a mob scene! The evenings to me seem to be a little more crowded but still not bad.

 

[bigbabyblues]

Thanks, I feel better now! I think we'll stick with our original plan and see what happens.

 

[KFISCHER]

Crowds not the problem.
Just about every stand had "opening day" glitches with their machines to charge back to your room.

So they could only take cash.

Keep in mind if you go

 

[sillysully]

We're going at the same time, except Mon-Mon and were wondering the same thing. BTW, we have almost the exact same itinerary inc. we'll be at CP for b'fast on Tues. and MNSSHP on Sun! Only difference, we're probably doing BB on Sat. w/HDDR that night. Have a great trip; hope our plans work out.