Epcot Food and Wine Festival Oct Weekend 2010

[SweetSpot]

I would love to go to Epcot on Sat. Oct 9 for the F&W festival but in doing research it seems the crowds on weekends are horrible. Does anyone know if it is unbearable and would be a waste of time and money. I would love be able to taste as much as possible since it is only one day but will the crowds make it impossible to get a taste of each booth?

 

[tony67]

A lot will depend on the weather, that is also the three day weekend for some states.

If it is nice out you also get a lot more of the locals that will go for the day.

Last year it was crazy in the afternoon.

Some of the lines were 30 to 40 deep.

I got a friend who was in the area for the weekend for work to go and he was very unhappy after paying for a one day ticket.

If you get there at 11AM and understand that it may be very busy you will be fine.

 

[SweetSpot]

After I picked that weekend I realized it was a 3 day weekend I thought I better change it but then I read the reviews from last year and it seemed the following 2 weekend and people reported they never saw the crowds so bad. I could also go the last weekend of the festival but thought it would be horrible then too. It's a shame I've always wanted to go and working around all schedules in the house this weekend and the last weekend are the only two weekends and I'm thinking it would be a waste of time and money.

Thank you very much for your input.

 

[magerzoo]

The earlier, the better....think early lunch instead of dinner and you should be better off than later in the afternoon or evening! Have lots of fun eatting areound the world!!

 

[SweetSpot]

I'm still reading reviews and it reminds me of how I dreaded July 4th weekend and in the end I've never seen the worlds so empty. We were done everything, some of the longest wait rides 2, 3 or 4 times before 4 in the afternoon. But it seems consistant year after yer with F&W being crazy.

Thank you magerzoo, I will be sure to get in early. I wonder if after 6:00 would be good also.

 

[The_Banking_Scot]

Hi,

Thanks for the tips.

I was planning on going to Epcot on the 10th october ( sunday) and got an ADR at San Angel Inn for lunch and go round the F&W festival for dinner but I think I will go round the F&W for an early lunch and book an ADR for dinner.

will it be quieter during the week ( Mon-Thurdsay?) I am at the Poly all week and can just walk to the TTC and grab the monorail to Epcot.

Regards

TBS

 

[TDC Nala]

I'm still reading reviews and it reminds me of how I dreaded July 4th weekend and in the end I've never seen the worlds so empty. We were done everything, some of the longest wait rides 2, 3 or 4 times before 4 in the afternoon. But it seems consistant year after yer with F&W being crazy.

Thank you magerzoo, I will be sure to get in early. I wonder if after 6:00 would be good also.

The food and wine festival isn't like the 4th of July. The wild card is the locals - the folks who live in the area and may decide to drop by Epcot for some food and wine. Saturday is the biggest day of the week for that. If the weather is good, you'll see more locals.

These crowds aren't really interested in the rides, they're just present to walk around World Showcase and sample food and beverages.

After 6 on a Saturday - that is when it will be the most crowded. You have guests coming in for the Eat to the Beat concerts, to see Illuminations and to attend the Party for the Senses. This is a large event with a capacity of several hundred guests. The Party-goers will be inside the World Showplace from 6:30 until about 8:30 to 9, but they will be adding to the crowds in the Showcase before that, and to the Illuminations crowd.

October 17, 2009, the high temperature dropped below 75. I have never seen the World Showcase that crowded and I have been attending the Festival, generally on weekends as that's when I can go (and I'm not a Florida local), since 2001. The crowds were so thick it was difficult to walk around.

After the October 17 experience last year, if you want to be sure you get something to eat in Epcot on a Saturday, either show up at 11 AM and hit the kiosks quickly or have an ADR somewhere. The lines for the kiosks were, as was previously mentioned, about 30 to 40 people in most cases. The line to buy wine samples in Italy stretched into Germany. Check the weather forecast; you'll have higher crowds with cooler, sunny weather.

 

[magerzoo]

Hi Sweetspot and TBS!

Going after 6pm could possibly be the most crowded, I think due to everyone starting to come for the fireworks in addition to the Wine and food festival.

We have noticed that during the week is less crowded unless it is a holiday and evenings do start to fill up.

Its a fun time no matter what!!

 

[Kteacher]

I've been going that weekend for the past five years. Go early, and start doing the food booths when WS opens at 11.

 

[SweetSpot]

My plan is to get to Epcot when it opens or close to it so I can ride Soarin, it's the only ride I really care to do since it is just me and we were there just 2 months ago. So if I head to the F&W and start hitting booths early and I have a game plan I guess it is possible to get the most out if it from what you all are saying. I've never taken any trip alone and don't know if I will ever have the opportunity to do it again anytime soon so I think I am overthinking it all.

The lines are long, but do they move fairly fast or is it possibly an hour wait for one sample alone?

 

[magerzoo]

Sounds like a good plan!! Soarin' first...get a fastpass too, then you can ride again!!!

Then hit the showcase as soon as it opens....sometimes the lines move fast....sometimes not I particularly remember Italy and France being especially long! But worth it!! Besides, some small crowds are part of the allure!!!

 

[TDC Nala]

The lines are long, but do they move fairly fast or is it possibly an hour wait for one sample alone?

It's going to depend on how crowded that particular day is. There's no way to know that. The weekends are certain to be more crowded than weekdays, but some weekends get more crowded than others and if the ultimate situation is going to be based on unpredictable things like weather, there isn't any way to know for sure until you get there.

 

[tony67]

will it be quieter during the week ( Mon-Thurdsay?) I am at the Poly all week and can just walk to the TTC and grab the monorail to Epcot.

It should be much quieter during the week, it will pick up later in the day like 5PM, but nothing like the weekend can be.

 

[MickeyNicki]

I can honestly tell you that weekends at F&W are a horrific nightmare! The lines are insane, the place gets messy from so many people leaving their plates and glasses just anywhere they see fit and it can get very loud with so many people trying all the beer and wine (if you know what I mean). Sun night thru Fri morning it is not bad at all

We do our very best to keep away from Epcot on Fri afternoon to Sun afternoon but sadly, this year we will arrive the last weekend of F&W and will be forced to deal with the crowds...if it is too insane I will just skip it.

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

Both times we started our day early.....FW first and then got too WS right at 11:00am and started with the food booths.... Both times our experience was fanastic. As the day went on the crowds did increase, but nothing horrible.

By evening it was much more busy , but we had pretty much sampled everything we that we wanted too try so by evening we were just people watching and hitting anything a second time that we really liked.

I had no problems going on a Friday and we plan too attend again on Friday Oct 15th...I can not wait....

Can't say for Saturday, but Fridays work for us...

Michelle

 

[bsbrady]

This is what I was looking for. Going down 10/1-10/9, but I was planning on hitting all the other parks on the weekend and starting our F&W on Monday.