F&W around Halloween-good or bad?

[RCharnay]

We are wanting to attend Food and Wine for the first time next year. It will be DH and me and Mom and Mom's best friend. I'm preparing to book a 2 BDR at 11 months out. We are dreaming of a wonderfully adult experience (at WDW-duly noted.) Are we better off going towards the beginning of October before the Halloween parties begin? Or should we wait until the first week of November? Or does it make any difference at all? Do the crowds for F&W fluctuate? I have read about the weekends but we will be doing Sun-Thurs stay.
What should I take into consideration when I plan for next year's Food and Wine?

 

[bobbiwoz]

I don't think it makes a difference. When we went for Halloween activities with the family, DGC, we didn't go to Epcot at all, so we didn't add to the number of children in Epcot. This year the weather has continued to be lovely, when we went for Halloween 2 years ago, the weather there was much chillier and rainy. We like to go to the F&W in the beginning of October, it's just our preference.

The MNSSHP actually begin in September, so you would get a chance to enjoy that too! All the adults in our family love them!

Bobbi

 

[Inkmahm]

We are wanting to attend Food and Wine for the first time next year. It will be DH and me and Mom and Mom's best friend. I'm preparing to book a 2 BDR at 11 months out. We are dreaming of a wonderfully adult experience (at WDW-duly noted.) Are we better off going towards the beginning of October before the Halloween parties begin? Or should we wait until the first week of November? Or does it make any difference at all? Do the crowds for F&W fluctuate? I have read about the weekends but we will be doing Sun-Thurs stay.
What should I take into consideration when I plan for next year's Food and Wine?

We did F&W Oct 22-27 this year. Last year we did it a weekend earlier. I think it normally would be a little less hot later in the month but this year, it was still quite warm when we were there.

Most of the F&W activities are on the weekend so you'll be missing quite a bit if you are going Sun-Thurs. If all you want to do is "eat around the world" then that is perfect because the booths are less crowded on weekdays.

 

[CarolMN]

Avoid Columbus Day if you can - that's busier than other times in October.

 

[DisneyWalker44]

They just announced the 2010 dates for F&G. They started earlier, and finished 2 weeks earlier than last year. I have *no* idea if they would do something like that for F&W, but if you want to be ultra paranoid, I wouldn't plan a trip for the beginning or end of traditional F&W season until they announce dates.

 

[tjkraz]

We were at Epcot last week (last week of October) Saturday, Monday and Thursday. Weekend crowds were crazy huge in the WS. During the week it wasn't busy at all.

 

[RCharnay]

That's lots of good information. So to be safe, I want to go for the middle of run just in case they move it a week or two either way. I hate to miss all the cool activities (the wine tastings sound like so much fun) but I think less crowds (and fewer points) will be best for this first trip with Mom. She still has a lot of energy but the thought of being pushed around by crowds makes her uneasy. And we'll stay away from Columbus day.

MNSSHP sounds like a hoot. Maybe the next year we'll add that on. I'm hoping F&W will become a regular event for hubby and me. We just might have to add on points at BCV!

 

[DenLo]

They just announced the 2010 dates for F&G. They started earlier, and finished 2 weeks earlier than last year. I have *no* idea if they would do something like that for F&W, but if you want to be ultra paranoid, I wouldn't plan a trip for the beginning or end of traditional F&W season until they announce dates.

I can't find the dates for the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine. Can anyone provide a link to the announcement?

BTW, the Halloween parties begin in late September around the same time as the Food and Wine Festival begins.

 

[sssteele]

I e-mailed Disney about the F&W dates for 2010, and the reply stated that they had not yet been determined, but in the All-Ears weekly electronic newsletter, it stated a few weeks ago that they would be the same weeks as this year - last week of Sept. through the first week on Nov. I hope this is accurate, as I will be making BCV reservations in a few weeks for Oct 24th through Oct.29th.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I e-mailed Disney about the F&W dates for 2010, and the reply stated that they had not yet been determined, weeks for Oct

That is really strange that they told you that. In the Festival guide, published by Disney, they say that the Food and Wine Festival dates for 2010 are 9/24-11/7. But somewhere in that guide in really tiny print are probably the words "subject to change without notice". But we're planning to go the end of October too. I'd be soo disappointed if they push it back a few weeks.

 

[DenLo]

I e-mailed Disney about the F&W dates for 2010, and the reply stated that they had not yet been determined, but in the All-Ears weekly electronic newsletter, it stated a few weeks ago that they would be the same weeks as this year - last week of Sept. through the first week on Nov. I hope this is accurate, as I will be making BCV reservations in a few weeks for Oct 24th through Oct.29th.

That is really strange that they told you that. In the Festival guide, published by Disney, they say that the Food and Wine Festival dates for 2010 are 9/24-11/7. But somewhere in that guide in really tiny print are probably the words "subject to change without notice". But we're planning to go the end of October too. I'd be soo disappointed if they push it back a few weeks.

Well it sounds like you are both saying the same dates. So I plan to be positive about this schedule and know we'll be okay with the last week of September 2010. And both of you will be fine for the end of October.

 

[TDC Nala]

I can't find the dates for the 2010 Epcot Food and Wine. Can anyone provide a link to the announcement?

BTW, the Halloween parties begin in late September around the same time as the Food and Wine Festival begins.

The prior post was regarding the Flower & Garden festival, not the Food & Wine festival.

The dates for the 2010 Food and Wine Festival were printed in the Festival Guidebook for the 2009 Festival. They are September 24 - November 7, which is in keeping with the length and dates of prior festivals.

The first Mickey's Halloween party in 2009 was on September 4 - they start right after Labor Day.

 

[vellamint]

We did F&W Oct 22-27 this year. Last year we did it a weekend earlier. I think it normally would be a little less hot later in the month but this year, it was still quite warm when we were there.

Most of the F&W activities are on the weekend so you'll be missing quite a bit if you are going Sun-Thurs. If all you want to do is "eat around the world" then that is perfect because the booths are less crowded on weekdays.

Sorry ... I realize that this is an older thread but was wondering if someone could fill me in on the difference between weekdays and weekends for Food and Wine. I can make our ADRs in a few weeks and am trying to plan out which days we should be where. We are going from a Wednesday to a Sunday and I thought that Wednesday would be the least crowded but if we are going to miss out on things I will need to change that.

Thanks!!

 

[ToddyLu]

We were there last year 10/28-11/06. I was able to make all my ADRs. Like the PP the crowds were noticeably larger on weekends, not so much during the week. We also went to MNSSHP on 10/29 and 10/31. Even though 10/31 was sold out it did not seem nearly as crowded as 10/29..DH even agreed with me on that. I remember coming out of Les Chefs in France and the line waiting was huge. I would do F&W Wed and Thurs of your trip. If you want TS dinner in Epcot those weekends you will have to have ADRs.