Epcot's food and wine fest. crowds

[helenm29]

For all of you lucky people out there who have already been, how hard is it to get around Epcot while the Food and Wine festival is going on? the World showcase is my favorite place to be but I worry about getting around with the kids and still having fun there with the crowds. Do you HAVE to stop at the venues? are there drinks available for the kids? I've noticed that there are a lot of alchoholic drinks along with wines available. Thanks ahead of time! YO HO!

 

[Bill From PA]

We were there for the last full week of F&W 2002 which also was the dreaded Jersey Week AND Super Soap Weekend. With all that, crowds were less than we're used to seeing in our usual first week in March trips. I don't recall Epcot being unusually full, in fact I'd call the crowd level for all parks for that week 'Moderate'. There are food stands situated around WS similar to that you'd find in a church bazaar or Fireman's Carnival. They don't interfer with foot traffic and you can ignore them if you like, but we saved major $$ that year by 'Grazing Around the World' for our meals instead of using tableservice restaurants. Not sure about kiddie drinks other that what WS usually has, it was just the two of us and our 20 something oldest daughter then so we concentrated on fermented and distilled liquids. Enjoy!

Bill From PA

 

[CNMooner]

We were there last year during F&W/Jersey Week and strayed from our spreadsheet touring plan one Saturday evening. This was the last Saturday of the festival and it was PACKED. I mean NUTS. But we were there three other times that trip and it wasn't too crowded. In fact, if you hit it during the day, it is rather empty.

 

[smeagol]

We were also there last year on the last week of F&W. As CNMooner said, the Saturday of that week was crazy. In retrospect, I shouldn't have been surprised. It was the last week of F&W, Soap Stars weekend at MGM, Festival of the Masters at DTD, Veterans Day weekend, AND Jersey week, all rolled into one.

Earlier in the week it had been fine at all of the parks, so don't be discouraged.

Also, in answer to some of your other questions, no, you don't have to stop at any of the booths, you are free to stroll past them. I don't remember any kids drinks at the F&W booths, but all of the regular counter service places are still in operation, so you can get something "kid friendly" at one of those.

Hope this helps.

 

[CarolA]

My experience is that the weekends are fairly crowded I plan my touring to do Food & Wine during the week. When I have gone on the weekends I have noticed a LOT of locals which probably explains the crowd levels.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

We did "Nosh Around the World" with Mr. Disney (Bob) and Mr. D's K Man (Kevin) last October. We all met up right at 11 AM and worked our way counter clockwise. I don't think we had to wait in line for anything, but we were just doing the food stands. It was a lot of fun! I didn't notice any crowds, so I imagine the shops and other things in the pavilions weren't too bad. This was a Monday or Tuesday - not on the weekend.

I don't recall any special drinks for kids, but I am sure there were some non-alcoholic offerings. DS wasn't really in the mood to nosh, but he tasted a couple of my things. We got him some ginger ice cream, but it had chunks of ginger in it so he gave it to DH. He would have liked it more if it was smooth.

 

[helenm29]

THANKS for all of the feedback! I appreciate how quick you all got back to me with the info...you guys are awesome! We are going the 10th through 22nd of October so I'm hoping it's not too bad. I don't think that there's anything else going on at that time? we are so excited...we're gonna try and get Food for the Senses too! I have the phone number programmed into all my phones! thanks again! YO HO!

 

[LoriMistress]

If you go the first two weeks of November it's not crowded at all. Expecially if you go on a Monday. The park is pratically dead.