Epcot on a Sat in Oct. Bad idea?

[staceync09]

How crowded is Epcot Future World in October during Food and Wine? I was planning to go to Epcot on 10/18. Be there before they open - See the Living Seas, Imagination and the Land and then spending time in Innovations. Leaving for mid-day and then going back for Mexico for dinner and maybe a few rides if the waits are not terrible. We will have a second full day there so we can do the big stuff and the world then. I have read conflicting information. Am I kidding myself? Should be try HS instead? Thoughts?

 

[Mac4life30]

Epcot on a Sat during food and wine is BAD! However you dont seem to be doing anything F/W related. You plan to spend your morning in FW then go back for dinner in Mexico. Given that I would say that you should be ok.

 

[agavegirl1]

This plan should work fine since you will be avoiding the most crowded time and only entering WS for your dinner ADR.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Welcome to the dis, stacey.

YOu might check Josh's early thoughts on Oct here.

http://www.easywdw.com/news/preliminary-october-2014-disney-world-crowd-calendar

 

[Mac4life30]

Im curious what tools does Josh ( or anyone for that matter) use to determine crowd levels months in advance?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Forget about World Showcase, you should be good in Future World though. Don't even try Mexico without a reservation. Even then, it'll be messy in there with the crowds trying to get in the tequila bar.

You can't use any crowd predictor for Food & Wine that measures average attraction wait times. The crowds in the World Showcase on a Saturday in October will not be there for the attractions.

 

[figment_jii]

I agree with the PPs; for the most part I think you'll be fine. The warnings against going to Epcot on Saturdays during F&W are mostly aimed at folks who want to go to the F&W Festival and enjoy the food booths. Those tend to be very busy on the weekends. The ride lines in FW are less impacted (though I'm sure the thrill rides see some effect). As long as you're mostly focused on FW, I think you'll be okay.

In terms of dinner, make sure you have an ADR. Also, just be prepared for a very congested walkway from FW to the Mexican pavilion. There will be lots of folks in WS by dinner time. Still it's not like it's going to be gridlock and you can't move (at least I've never experienced that).

 

[GovieMom]

n/m - read your post wrong.

 

[staceync09]

Thanks everyone! Interestingly I posted my plan for the week on easywdw and everyone said there is no way I should do Epcot on Sat in Oct even though we are going to stay in FW. I have even looked at switching weeks but unless we go way out then there is no "approved" way to do that as our first park on a fall trip.

There is a lot of conflicting advice that site and touring plans -- which has left me utterly confused. If it was just me I would not care but with two little ones and a hubby going for the first time I want them to love Disney as much as I do.

Thanks again for your advice!!

 

[Disneylover99]

Thanks everyone! Interestingly I posted my plan for the week on easywdw and everyone said there is no way I should do Epcot on Sat in Oct even though we are going to stay in FW. I have even looked at switching weeks but unless we go way out then there is no "approved" way to do that as our first park on a fall trip.

There is a lot of conflicting advice that site and touring plans -- which has left me utterly confused. If it was just me I would not care but with two little ones and a hubby going for the first time I want them to love Disney as much as I do.

Thanks again for your advice!!

We did Epcot on a Saturday (Columbus day weekend). FW was fine (not too busy) and visiting the countries around WS was also not too busy. The regular counter service restaurants around WS were not busy either. But the F&W kiosks?? Those lines were crazy, busy!!!! So if you don't care about the F&W kiosks then I would say go for it!

 

[nfggirl5454]

I've gone to F&W on a Saturday in October for the last four or five years, since the weekends are what works for us. We usually start circulating around the world showcase shortly after it opens, and it's not that busy until mid-afternoon. The evenings definitely get crowded, which you may want to avoid with little ones -- for what it's worth though, we haven't felt it was an inappropriate environment for my nephew, who's been when he was eight months old, one year old, and two years old If you have your heart set on Mexico but you really want to avoid the crowds, maybe have lunch there and then go elsewhere after a mid-day break? If you have hoppers, you could hit up another park, or you could do DTD, or just relax at the resort a bit. Or you could just stick with your original plan!

 

[staceync09]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the advice!