Epcot Saturday pm during F&W--exactly how bad will it be?

[Rach3975]

I know the usual advice is to avoid Epcot on weekends during F&W. But our next trip is very short--2 full days, arrival afternoon, and departure morning. We won't have hoppers, and it will only be 2 adults. We want a full day at MK and are leaning toward our second full day being AK. But that would mean doing Epcot on Saturday from 2 pm (if we don't have travel delays) to close. So how bad will it be? "Avoid at all costs," or just "focus on a few priorities and you'll be fine"?

Epcot will be open until 10 and AK until 8, which is another point in favor of Epcot. It will also be the last day of EEMH and EMH at all parks except Epcot--maybe that will push some people into the other parks for one last shot at the extended hours?

We were at Epcot last year on a very busy Monday during F&W--according to Touring Plans, actual crowds were a 9. But we rope dropped and left around 4 pm, so I don't know how the experience of arriving early afternoon would differ. To help me picture it, would WS be a lot more crowded on an average/moderate Saturday than on a busy Monday due to locals there only for F&W? Thanks!

 

[marsh0013]

I've gone into Epcot on Saturdays during food and wine a couple times, but earlier in the day and it got mad house level in world showcase very quickly. By noon it was nuts. I've never been later than that.
Sunday at Epcot will still be crowded, but we've had better luck later in the day/night on Sundays.

I think the main issue with Saturday's is locals so I'm not sure EEMH and EMH at other parks will make any difference. Tough call though since it's just a short trip. I know I'd do AK for the partial arrival day then Epcot on Sunday. Park hoppers would really help but I know you said you won't have them. However, if you go in knowing it's nuts and you pack your patience, I'm sure Saturday will be doable for Epcot.

Edit to add: will your focus at Epcot be world showcase and food booths, or are you not interested in that and just going for future world attractions?

 

[CMNJ]

Future world will be quite busy but manageable. Works Showcase on the other hand will be a mad house. Like crazy crowded everywhere with long lines to get drinks/food at the booths. I was literally shocked at how empty Epcot felt on our Easter trip compared to F&W.

 

[Farro]

We were there on a Saturday night in October, but back in 2014. Technically we got off monorail from MK and wanted to walk back through the park to Beach Club just to see how crowded it was.

So yeah, it's crowded! We did stop for a glass of wine and had some laughs with other guests. But just walking, especially the Canada and England area, was a bottleneck at times.

Just be patient and have fun! You'll probably end up having a good time with some strangers.

 

[LilyWDW]

World Showcase will be packed. Lines will be long at the kiosks and crowds in general will be heavy.

Future World won't be as bad.

 

[FredQc]

Also, if you arrive by car, expect some traffic jam at the parking entrance. For attractions, select carefully your FastPass, so the crowd won't be an issue for those three attractions.

 

[Rach3975]

I was literally shocked at how empty Epcot felt on our Easter trip compared to F&W.

I think that was what I needed to hear. Easter crowds are probably comparable to how our level 9 day in Epcot was. Thanks for all the replies! I think we're going to stick with the "smart" plan of doing AK Saturday afternoon and Epcot on Monday. If we really feel like we need more time at AK, our backup plan will be to upgrade to hoppers and spend the first half of Monday in AK.

 

[CMNJ]

I think you will have a much better time at Epcot on a Monday than Saturday afternoon/evening during F&W

To put it in perspective the boat ride in Mexico requires them to to have extra ropes set up in the pavilion to keep the line in order and allow traffic to flow in and out of the pavilion. The right hand side of the pavilion (the ramp leading down into the main area) as well as sometimes the upper area will be a line to get into the Tequila Bar. It gets so busy inside the Mexican pavilion during F&W weekends that it is hard to enjoy it unless you are eating at the sit down restaurant.

 

[Mambo Junkie]

We did a Saturday last year. Very crowded. Future world was ebb and flow; if you see a line for Figment, come back in a few and it will have eased up a bit. If you are not using park transportation I would Uber or Lyft to the transportation center and use the monorail. We ended up parking in an area I didn't know even existed, had to walk through metal barriers and food trucks to get to the entrance. Also waited on the highway to get into Epcot parking lot, I guess over an hour at least.

 

[Rach3975]

To put it in perspective the boat ride in Mexico requires them to to have extra ropes set up in the pavilion to keep the line in order and allow traffic to flow in and out of the pavilion. The right hand side of the pavilion (the ramp leading down into the main area) as well as sometimes the upper area will be a line to get into the Tequila Bar. It gets so busy inside the Mexican pavilion during F&W weekends that it is hard to enjoy it unless you are eating at the sit down restaurant.

I can't even picture how many people that must be! We were in the Mexican pavilion around 11:30 am on our level 9 day, so there were some extra ropes for the boats but it moved quickly. 20 minutes, maybe? I don't remember any lines for the bar or restaurant that early.

 

[CMNJ]

The restaurant doesn’t usually have too crazy of a line (they have a small waiting area if I recall correctly once you check in) but the Tequila Bar is small and extremely popular especially during F&W. The first time I saw the line I was shocked.

 

[gharter]

Last October, we arrived at BWV at 4 pm on a Saturday. We have APs, so thought we'd go to EPCOT and get a drink before going to supper. It was a zoo (no actually worse). The most drunk people I have seen wondering around anywhere. The lines to every kiosk were way too long to wait. We left and went to Abracadabar.

 

[TikiBabe]

Was there last year and it was insane busy. As the night goes on more intoxicated people unaware of their surroundings increases. It's something we avoid now.

 

[gharter]

Was there last year and it was insane busy. As the night goes on more intoxicated people unaware of their surroundings increases. It's something we avoid now.

Absolutely, we will go to Future World which isn't too bad later in the day, but will not set foot back in World Showcase on a weekend again.

 

[DisMommyTX]

Good call. F&W Saturday afternoon was worse than the 4th of July. We have really high crowd tolerance, but that was approaching the 'avoid at all costs' level. Just not fun.

 

[OfCourseTheresAlwaysMyWay]

Don’t do it. I was there on a Saturday night during F&W in 2017. I’m from NYC and am great in/fine with crowds.

It was insufferable. Like a constant, messy bachelorette party full of the absolute worst people in the world taking over Epcot.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

Is Sunday equally as bad? What should I expect for the Sunday 9/1? That's where I have it put now. With the extra hours at the other parks now, I'm thinking though of trying to piece Epcot together over several afternoons/evenings instead of trying to dedicate a day there.

 

[GeneralTso]

That's in the "never again" category for us. It is bananas. Insanely crowded with throngs of really drunk people. I felt trapped in a bad frat party. Drunk girls, drunk guys, lots of loud yelling and a general gross atmosphere. If that's your thing, think--spring break with a rowdy college crew--then go for it. For us, we love F&W, any night other than Saturday is better, and during the day is great too.

 

[Funfire240]

We went one time - but it was the night after the Wine and Dine 10k so that may have made it worse. We got there about 5 on the bus but the parking lot was full even with cars parked in the grass areas and the sign stating the lot was closed. We stayed in Future World because of a TT FP and it really wasn't bad. We took one look towards WS and you could just see the wall to wall sea of people so we didn't even attempt.

 

[stinkpickle]

Last year, we went to a F&W Saturday night with perfect weather in October just to see how crowded it actually gets. WS was shoulder-to-shoulder. We managed to get a table at Rose & Crown, and the people-watching was fantastic.