Epcot's F & W Festival.....how are crowds?

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Hi! We are planning to go to DisneyWorld mid-October this year. I've never been at this time of year, but just happened to notice that the F&W fesival is going on during that time. What does this do to crowds? We had picked October because we thought it would be less crowded. We won't be spending much time in Epcot, but I'm sure the extra people will be in other parks, too.

We arrive on a Sunday, and leave the following Saturday.

I just want to be prepared for what to expect.

TIA

 

[flyinglizard]

If you are not familiar with the Food & Wine Festival, you are in for a real treat this October! Besides the wide variety of food offerings, there are concerts at the American Pavilion that feature rock & soul acts. One of our very favorite times to visit the park!

Crowds are usually not too bad during the week, but they swell on the weekends. Don't be concerned! Keep in mind though, October is hurricane season...

 

[eeyoreiscool]

The two weekends that we went were fairly busy but the weekday wasn't that bad. You get the local residents on the weekend so that is generally why it is busier.

 

[TeenaS]

October use to be a nice low crowds month but since Food & Wine became so popular, not anymore. If you are coming because you want low crowds, then there are really only two months to visit: January and September; and the first and second week in December are pretty good too.

I work at the Yacht & Beach Club and we are pretty jammed the entire six weeks of Food & Wine. It is a wonderful event. So much to do. You really need to go on the internet and find out all there is to do at the Food & Wine Festival.

Epcot World Showcase will be jammed from about 4 PM to closing pretty much every night and almost unwalkable on the weekends. My guestroom is booked two years in advance for every weekend during Food & Wine.

As far as other parks and crowds, like I said, October has become one of the most popular times to visit WDW because of the weather and Food & Wine and the other parks are crowded as well. The crowds are manageable but nothing like October use to be ten-twelve years ago.

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

In all reality, we will not participate in the F&W Festival. We've got 4 kids (too young to leave in childcare), and I know that wouldn't interest them. So, we'll plan our times in Epcot to be first thing in the morning. We'll see Illuminations during the week, but expect big crowds for that.

I sure hope the other parks aren't too bad The UG has basically all October days down as level 2 crowds. Of course, this is using the '05 book, but I am kind of worried now, after reading some comments about the crowd level.

Please tell me the crowds are nothing like summer or spring break, right? We've always gone the first week in March, right before the big spring break rush. I sure hope the crowds are comparable to that. It wasn't empty, by any means, but the crowds were manageable.

Thanks, again, for the wake up call. At least we'll be mentally prepared to deal with more people. I had toyed with the end of September, but the UG had those dates as "8's". Plus, my kids want to go to the Halloween Party. We do have a plus that we are going the week after the Columbus Day weekend...at least I hope that's a plus.

 

[rkmassa]

The UG online has it at mostly 5's with an occasional 6 and 7 here and there during the month. Definitely not summer crowds by any means.

 

[Ginamarie]

I don't think the F&W festival has much of an effect on crowds except during the weekends. We noticed Epcot to be a good deal more crowded on Saturdays and Sundays while the F&W festival is going on. Actually, in my experience with October/November crowds, it isn't bad at all... especially not to the level of springbreak or winter break levels!

The Halloween party is a lot of fun, and you're kids will probably really enjoy that

 

[dsneygirl]

We were there Oct 14-21 last year and the weekends were quite busy, the weekdays were pretty quiet. We never had a full bus at our resort and there was always lots of room at the pool.

 

[auwoo]

Me, DW, DD, DS were at the Food and Wine FEstival this past Oct. It was great all around. The crowds were not bad, which holds true most of the time in the World Showcase. There were lines for the wine tastings and the food areas but the line moves quicker than a fast food line as all the food is ready and waiting to be served. The weather was a little warm, definately shorts and t-shirts weather but by evening it was perfect. There was not a food I tried I didn't love and the wine tastings were great. Don't think twice about going, plan it up and come next fall go, go ,go


auwoo