Epcot festivals when it’s hot?

[EThomas]

Hi! I’m planning a trip to WDW in the summer (I know it’s going to be awful weather-wise). We’re pretty realistic about our expectations and know it’s going to be a challenge. I’m wondering though how people manage the EPCOT festivals when it’s brutally hot out? I’d really love to try some festival food, but the idea of standing around in the sun to eat sounds miserable. Are there cooler spots around? Do people go in the evening when it’s cooler? Is it even cooler in the evening? Should I just power through? Or would it be better to skip the festival this time and find a restaurant with A/C?

 

[Lilsia]

I go every year for the F&WF and most days it is hot. It just is what it is, you still get hungry even though you are hot. And the good thing about the food booths is that they are smaller portions so it's not like you are feeling stuffed. You can usually find some spot in the shade to eat your food, I wouldn't call them cooler really, just in the shade. I would plan to have my main meal at lunch and go to a restaurant with AC and then try some of the booths in the evening with your heat concerns. Maybe I am not the best person to answer this because the heat does not really bother me. I hate being cold so I have no issues sitting in the sun. I am also not a big eater but I don't think that the heat slows anyone down when it comes to the food booths. They pretty much always seem to be busy when the parks are busy.

 

[EThomas]

Thanks Lilsia! I might be overthinking it. I like the idea of making our big meal in a restaurant with AC, and then doing booths later…

 

[loves to dive]

I go every year and yes it's hot and yes it will rain. There are usually some shady spots dotted all around the park, not always right close to a booth but there. I tend to eat 80% of my lunch/supper at the booths (I have an AP so hop over there in the afternoon) so the heat doesn't bother me. It is a good idea to have alternate plans though because a thunder storm can close the booths. I usually go back to my room from park one around noonish and swim or rest then hop over to Epcot around 3. Since I'm usually eating my lunch or lupper (lunch/supper) at the booths, I'll grab a snack at park one to tide me over. I don't eat huge meals so snacking at the booths is perfect for me. There are plenty of shops all around WS to duck into to escape the heat and you can also hop on a ride or two. Yes, its cooler in the evening but can get a tad crowded then too, especially on the weekends.

 

[iheartglaciers]

Not related to the food, but I find wet cooling towels and a handheld fan to help a lot! Usually I'll do some booths right when they open in the morning, take a midday resort/pool break, and then come back in the evening when the sun isn't as strong. But you can also take breaks in the park (watch the indoor films like Pixar Shorts or the China film, go into stores, bring your booth food to Connections Cafe to eat in the AC, etc.).

 

[_19disnA]

Disney in general in June/July/August is less enjoyable due to the heat/humidity. Walking MILES at a park on those paved surfaces is not my idea of fun in the Summer. The Epcot festivals won't change the weather and it will be not only be hot but crowded as well. No amount of fans/cooling towels/hydration/large hats/etc........will make your experience any better. Even if you live in South, I doubt you do your most strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day. I prefer the other months of the year as a better time to visit Disney.

 

[Wayland10]

We really enjoy Food and Wine in the evenings. Even in August! We do lunch in AC, pool time, then back for the food booths and stroll the World Showcase.

 

[Best Aunt]

For me, weather wasn't an issue. I just wasn't a fan of eating at the festivals. Let's say you're already holding a bottle of water. You go to a booth and order food. Now you're trying to put away your wallet (if you didn't pay with a Magic Band) and hold your drink and hold your food and your silverware and a napkin, without a tray. Then you start walking around, while holding your food and your drink and your silverware and your napkin, trying to find a table. I could never find an empty table, so I ended up asking strangers if I could join them at their tables. The food portions seemed small for the money, compared to what you would get at a quick service restaurant. In the future, I might get a dessert if I could eat it while walking around, but I wouldn't eat at the festival in place of a meal.

I realize many, many people disagree with my perspective.

 

[PalmettoPath]

We go ever summer to Walt Disney World (along with March and December). Heat is heat. It often gets just as hot where we live in the Toronto area in the summer, so it's just a matter of common sense and ensuring to hydrate and slip into AC spots and shade. For us it's not so much the heat in the summer, it's the almost daily late afternoon/early evening chance of thunderstorms. That is what has a far more dramatic impact on our plans. So over the years we've learned to pretty much not plan anything concrete that could be weather affected from approx. 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Other than that, we love going in the summer -- or any time of year

 

[Mamabun]

It's hot for sure, but we enjoy the festivals in the summer. We skip breakfast and try to do festival food right when it opens 10am/11am - it's a bit cooler and much less crowded with shorter food lines at that time. Lots of ways to make this work, but this works for us.

 

[Harmacist]

I was at the F&G festival in June last year and they had the little event center between Canada and UK open with some booths in there serving food. It wasn't open for F&W and F&G this year, but I wish it was. It was a fairly large open space that was nice and cool. It was a nice place to cool down while still hitting booths.

But do not skip the festival, you can just hit booths into between indoor rides/experiences.

 

[k5xs]

Hi! I’m planning a trip to WDW in the summer (I know it’s going to be awful weather-wise). We’re pretty realistic about our expectations and know it’s going to be a challenge. I’m wondering though how people manage the EPCOT festivals when it’s brutally hot out? I’d really love to try some festival food, but the idea of standing around in the sun to eat sounds miserable. Are there cooler spots around? Do people go in the evening when it’s cooler? Is it even cooler in the evening? Should I just power through? Or would it be better to skip the festival this time and find a restaurant with A/C?

We eat someplace cool during the day (the new Connections Eatery is terrific as is Sunshine Seasons in The Land), and we do the festival in the evenings when it's cooler.

Neither of us are big eaters, but we LOVE the F&W Festival.

 

[IndyToThere]

We did F&W during mid-Oct last year when we had 90 for a high every day during our week. The lines at the booths due to the crowds for fall break really diminished the enjoyment of the festival. Heat is one thing, but standing in line at every booth just drains your energy. Eventually, we all just stopped caring about the festival booths and wanted to end at a sit-down restaurant. Not to mention, there's no where to sit and enjoy your food when the crowds are high (hello using a trash can for a table - yuck).

To contrast with, we did first week of May last month during the Flower & Garden festival. Similar weather (upper 80s/90 for a high that week). The heat and sun were there, but the booths didn't have the lines like October did, so our energy level stayed up for the day and we were able to enjoy it a lot more.

In short, the heat is one thing, but the crowd / line waiting will mostly affect your enjoyment factor.

 

[Moliphino]

I'd hit the booths right when they open at 11, the lines are more manageable then. Duck out when it's unbearably crowded and hot.

 

[MICKIMINI]

We either go early in the morning, take a long afternoon pool break and go back OR just sleep in, drink coffee on the balcony and go in late in the afternoon. We were there a few weeks ago and it was just brutal during mid day. October/November is our favorite time when the sun is not quite as bad.

I agree with OP's that removal of most of the seating at EPCOT is ridiculous! There are a few benches near the DVC booth in Canada that are shady and cool.

Enjoy!

 

[OppR2nist]

Another aspect that heat can make worse is the drinks. The drinks are delicious, but the heat makes you drink faster, and potentially catch a stronger buzz/ get sick. You definitely want to drink more water and pace yourself if you're enjoying frosty adult beverages.

 

[Figmentv]

Another aspect that heat can make worse is the drinks. The drinks are delicious, but the heat makes you drink faster, and potentially catch a stronger buzz/ get sick. You definitely want to drink more water and pace yourself if you're enjoying frosty adult beverages.

We’re headed to WDW this Wednesday and I’ve warned my recently turned 21 yo granddaughter and her friend to drink 2 glasses of water for every 1 alcoholic beverage. Hopefully they listened

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Stay hydrated with water. I also recommend getting a popcorn bucket and doing the refills as well every so often that way there is always a snack handy.


Cooling towels are also a must.


Have a plan of attack for food booths.


Bring your own utensils. Makes you l fie a little easier (they even sell sets there too with figment)