F&W crowds on weekends

[EmilyS90]

So all the info I've read tells me that weekends are a bad time to go to Epcot Food and Wine due to locals picking those days to come out. However, as much as I tried to schedule our trip during the week, the hotel and room we wanted (for a good price) was only available Thursday Oct 8th thru Monday the 12th.

At the moment, we plan on being at Epcot Thursday, Friday, and Sunday evening (we have ADRs there on two of those days). We haven't bought tickets yet, but we're doing 3 or 4 day park hoppers, I'm pretty sure. And we'll be staying at BWV so we'll be close to Epcot.

What can I expect and is it really THAT bad? How should we plan for it?

 

[holden]

I guess it depends on the weekend you go. We usually go in the beginning of November (Jersey Week) but avoid weekends at FWF. Popular booths can have very long waits even during the week. I've waited in line to order for 20 minutes and then another 10-15 to receive my food. That was for the booth in America that has the lobster.

I have also waited in other lines that are short - 5 minutes or less to order and 5 or less for food. It's hard to predict crowds, but Friday and Saturday should be pretty crowded. Thursday should be your least crowded day.

I'd plan to eat and drink your way around the world on Thursday.

 

[SnowChaser]

I'm glad OP asked this. We're going Thurs-Sun, so not much flexibility.

We'll aim for Thursday. However, that happens to be an EMH day at Epcot. I've read that makes F&W just as crowds as a weekend. Anyone here have experience or speculation on that?

 

[staceyrhood]

Weekends are VERY VERY busy for F&W, if you can go early it is much better. We are locals and try to get there right at 11:00 when World Showcase opens (if we go on a weekend) and leave by 2:00 or so. It gets super crowded in the afternoon and evenings.

 

[DebbieB]

I arrived on Oct 18 last year, which was a Saturday. It was a madhouse that night. Sunday wasn't bad, neither were the weekdays. I was staying at BWV and went almost every night.

 

[maryandtyson]

Are you a group of adults or are there children in your party? You mentioned that you have ADRs planned too.

1. Adults will have an easier time. There is a lot of inappropriate drinking and carousing, young adults acting in a way I don't want my kids seeing.
2. On weekends it was very hard to stay together in our group of 4. When the Eat to the Beat concerts let out, it is CRAZY! I was very worried I would lose my 10 year old in the crush. My DH actually held onto our 12 year old and we never do that otherwise. It was a little scary.
3. I would not plan ADRs. It's fun to wander around to the booths to eat. It would be stressful trying to make ADRs. Unless, and this may be your plan, you F&W for lunch and ADR for dinner. That could work out.

All that said, we love F&W and it is doable, just plan plenty of time to get around.

 

[alvernon90]

Thursday Oct 8th thru Monday the 12th

That is Columbus Day weekend, so everything that people say about weekend crowds will be even worse. After reading about Columbus Day weekend crowds our family changed our plans to avoid WDW entirely and go to Universal instead. Even if we were staying at WDW we would avoid Epcot over that weekend.

 

[EmilyS90]

That is Columbus Day weekend, so everything that people say about weekend crowds will be even worse. After reading about Columbus Day weekend crowds our family changed our plans to avoid WDW entirely and go to Universal instead. Even if we were staying at WDW we would avoid Epcot over that weekend.

Ugh, yeah I forgot all about that. We definitely can't change our dates (I'm planning it over my college's very short fall break). So I guess we'll try to make the most of Thursday and maybe try to hit WS again earlier in the day during the weekend.

 

[DisneyFive]

...like others have said, your best bet is to get to the food kiosks as early as possible, like lunchtime. Staying there in the evening on a weekend night is pretty packed

Dan

 

[Disnsyncey]

Since you have ADRs (I am hoping dinner?) at Epcot, I would really do the F&W booths in the afternoon and then ADR dinner, that way your lines will be short(er) and you will be sitting in dinner when the lines are long.....we had a Le Cellier dinner on the Saturday of the 2nd F&W weekend and we didn't have terrible lines in the afternoon.....

 

[EmilyS90]

Since you have ADRs (I am hoping dinner?) at Epcot, I would really do the F&W booths in the afternoon and then ADR dinner, that way your lines will be short(er) and you will be sitting in dinner when the lines are long.....we had a Le Cellier dinner on the Saturday of the 2nd F&W weekend and we didn't have terrible lines in the afternoon.....

Yup, they're for dinner. So that will make things easier. We'll definitely try to get there at opening now.

 

[PSUGuy]

We avoid WS on a Saturday but Fri and Sun are bearable, weekdays are best.

Bill From PA

 

[PSUGuy]

Double Post.

Bill From PA

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

Weekdays are definitely better forF&W, but they are still busy. If you have to go on a weekend night, Friday or Sunday would be my pick.

 

[Wosmama6]

we might do epcot on sunday evening (arrival day) and just stay away from world showcase and stick to nemo stuff. i'm guessing the lines will be okay?

 

[mkymouse4ever]

We have always found the earlier you go the better. Fri and Sat nites are crowded and the crowd gets a bit unruly with alot of alcohol.
Of course, that could of just been our experience?

 

[LilyWDW]

Friday night and all day Saturday will be the heaviest in general for weekends at Food and Wine. With it being Columbus Day weekend though, I would expect Sunday to also be busy because a number of people will have Monday off. The 8th may also be a bit busy in the evening as that is the last day of the Gartner Symposium at the Swan/Dolphin (the full dates are Oct 4-8 this year). The attendees will often head to Epcot in the evenings during that time.

Edit: Oh and I have never seen anyone get out of hand no matter the time or day I have been at Food and Wine. Maybe a bit tipsy, but not like bar or club behavior.

 

[V2000]

I know it will be busy but I'd rather go then not at all. If you want to go, do it! Just make a plan and accept that it will be crowded. Start early and then move to future world in the evening. Book fast pass. I also read that it may help to do the World Showcase backwards to help out with crowds. So if you begin at 11am start in Canada and proceed that way.

Check out the menu! See what booths are a must for your visit.
http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2014-...val-marketplace-booths-menus-and-food-photos/

Choose to wait for these areas and skip the others. You can also have your partner wait in another booth line for you while you are waiting in another.

You can do it! Have fun