Epcot weekend crowds during Food & Wine?

[Aggiegrl]

Which is busier, Friday night or Saturday night? We plan on eating dinner in Epcot, strolling around, and maybe doing Spaceship Earth or Maelstrom. We will do F&W booths earlier in the week.

 

[Robo]

Which is busier, Friday night or Saturday night? We plan on eating dinner in Epcot, strolling around, and maybe doing Spaceship Earth or Maelstrom. We will do F&W booths earlier in the week.

Saturday can be busier, as locals would have the entire day off from work/school.

 

[Belleandtinker]

Busy! After our first weekend morning at EPCOT, we rethought the whole F&W.

We knew it would be busy at night, but "wow" it was busy from the start. Too busy for us and an 8 year old. After day, we stayed away on the weekend and made ADR for our other evening at EPCOT. The food was great, but the lines made the food less desirable for us. Again with had a kid.

 

[DVCMikey]

It seemed to me to be busier during the daytime than at night. It was so packed, people waiting in lines etc.

It seemed easier to get food and move around at night.

 

[annej]

We went on a Saturday night last October to have dinner only and we were astounded by the mayhem. Even my college age dd and her bff were appalled at the behavior we saw. Not to mention it truly being hard to walk it was so packed. We ate dinner, went to mousegears and went back to the BWI. The other nights we were in Epcot were not bad at all. And we had a great time at the booths.

 

[herb102211]

We've been on Friday and Saturday nights before and I think Saturdays were a lot busier. During the day wasn't too bad, but the crowds definitely pick up towards the evening.

 

[Aggiegrl]

How about Sunday? Lower than Friday or higher?

Thanks for your opinions!

 

[IWRBIE]

Saturday night by far.

 

[Brocktoon]

If I had to rank crowd level 1 to 4, with 4 being the highest:

Friday afternoon (til ~ 4 PM): 2
Friday evening (after 4 PM): 4
Saturday early (til ~ noon - 1 PM): 3
Saturday after 1 PM: 5 !! (yes off the charts)
Sunday afternoon (til ~ 3- 4PM): 3
Sunday evening (after 4 PM): 1 to 2

 

[MichaelaF]

I'd definitely avoid Friday or Saturday. Sunday is better. We thought even the weekday crowds were insane last year. It's not so bad in Future World, but World Showcase is nuts.

 

[JRawkSteady]

I agree. Both Fri & Sat are horrendous when it comes to crowds...unless you eat an early dinner on Friday (no later than 5:30PM) and get out of World Showcase.

 

[PFopma]

We went two years ago and spent a Saturday at Epcot (not doing Food & Wine). It was crazy - crowds so bad that my nephew could not walk back to meet me after picking up some food in Japan for lunch. We had a dinner res for Rose and Crowd and still had to wait a bit to be seated. The lines for the food stands were bad day and night from what we observed. We also had to wait at least an hour to go through security to get into the park. We are going back to F&W this year and staying away from Epcot on Friday and Saturday!

 

[mm1971]

Of the 3 nights, Sunday is the bette option. If I only had those choices, I would do:

Sunday
Friday
Saturday

In that order based on our experience. I'm planning a nice, quiet Tuesday this year.

 

[GigiDisneyfreak]

Is the first weekend of F&W worse than the rest or the same?

 

[POLY1985]

We were there last October. We spent all day Thursday in Epcot - did the rides in the morning and then F&W as soon as it opened and stayed until around 8. It got somewhat crowded as the day progressed. On Saturday, we did DHS in the morning and then took the boat to Epcot planning on going on Maelstrom. WOW! I have never seen in so crowded! What was pleasant on Thursday was just wall to wall people on Saturday. I am thinking it was around 2:00PM. The lines for the stands were crazy. Maelstrom had a long wait so we ended up just walking through World Showcase. We headed out and were able to hit Spaceship Earth on the way out.
I enjoyed F&W but I would probably not go back due to the crowds. I love strolling around Epcot and taking my time, not fighting crowds.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

When i went last year I spent every day in Epcot (early October), weekends were worst, but come 2pm it got quite long lines for food, Greece always had a long line even during the morning, but others were good from 11 to 2pm. They other problem you run into as it gets later though is a lot more boisterous people as they drink more, it can get a little loud and rambunctious later on.

 

[Dawn Dis]

I just looked at touring plans crowd calendar for Sept. 20 which is the 1 st day of Epcot f&w and the crowd level is still at a 1. We have reservations at Akershus for lunch that day and DHS Hollywood and vine for Sunday. We will have a 4yr old and 7yrold with us...May switch days. Any thoughts please?

turning into a Disney fanatic

 

[jm106]

UGH, I have a Saturday as our second Ep day doing F&W while kids go to sandcastle club for a while. Trying to come up with a new plan now or new park

 

[Dawn Dis]

Can anyone tell me their thoughts
On Epcot F&w crowds on a Sunday vs a Saturday?

turning into a Disney fanatic

 

[OKWJan]

Saturdays are insane....I think half of Miami come up for the weekend. Friday night and Saturday you get a lot of large groups of "Drink around the Worlders" (150 was the biggest group I ever saw), especially Saturday. Heavy drinking often leads to some rowdy, often obnoxious behaviors...I wouldn't recommend either night for kids. Days are not so bad behavior wise (they are just getting started). Sunday is better and calmer.

If you go on a Saturday...be prepared for LONG lines and rowdy people.