F&W in the rain?

[budafam]

We're headed for F&W on October 31st and there's a chance for rain right now. Do they move the booths indoors? or how does that work? What about the Eat to the Beat concert? Do they still perform in the rain?

 

[DonaldTDuck]

No. The booths are large structures with cooking facilities and refrigerators not to mention cash register/computers. It's just a little rain. That changes very little at WDW.

 

[SCDisneyMom]

We did the F&W Festival last Tuesday in the rain. The only thing that changed was the crowds...they were nonexistent. We didn't wait in lines at any of the booths. It was great!

 

[redzinner]

The food kiosks will close if it is a torrential rain with gusty winds. They remain open during scattered showers and light rain.

I don't know the procedure for Eat to the Beat concerts.

 

[Cinderumbrella]

We went a rainy night last year, and everything stayed open (including the Eat to the Beat).

Let me tell you, eating in a poncho is NOT fun. But the lines are virtually nonexistent!

We are hoping for much dryer weather this year!

 

[princesswendy720]

I'm going this weekend and there is nothing but rain forecasted! I'm hoping it will keep crowds away but kind of sad I have to tour in the rain!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) I love the parks in the rain.
. . . put on poncho
. . . hide head, arms, hands under the plastic
. . . run or walk quickly to next ride/attraction
2) But, not F&W
. . . put on poncho
. . . hide head, arms,hands under plastic
. . . pull out arms and hands to get and hold food
. . . stand in rain to order food
. . . stand in rain to hold and eat food
. . . put soda or wine on table while eating and add rain water
. . . have food and drinks watered down by rain

 

[Kay1]

We tried it once and never again. Standing in line for food in the rain, trying to keep the food dry, and so on. I would just skip it or try to hit the booths between showers.

I hope you have a great time just the same.

 

[jnfr2424]

We went a rainy night last year, and everything stayed open (including the Eat to the Beat).

Let me tell you, eating in a poncho is NOT fun. But the lines are virtually nonexistent!

We are hoping for much dryer weather this year!

I agree! We were caught in the bad Columbus Day weather and trying to sample food in the rain was horrible the water was getting into everything and just disrupted everything!

 

[Hopefully]

The booths are way too big, and there are way too many to move indoors. If it is light rain you will be fine. If it is torrential rain, that will be a problem. It is always a risk during hurricane season.
The Food & Wine fest was originally conceived to bring in guests during the slower hurricane season. Its popularity has changed that dynamic, but the weather is the same - a risk.
Good Luck

 

[cwbagne]

Saturday, October 8th, 2011 ... it rained all day!! Never stopped. Came down side-ways most of the day because of the wind. The food booths remained open and Billy Ocean did his set that evening. The crowd was lighter, but we found it difficult to enjoy. Yes, we did ponchos and crocks, but we were soaked and just got tired of the whole thing. Much more enjoyable on a sunny day.

 

[EvilQueenT]

i was there on oct 8th as well and i will say as a having lived in florida for more than 20 years that all day kind of rain isn't normal for us here (unless there is a hurricane churning in the gulf of course) but we too stuck it out and did our lunch and dinner utilizing the f&w booths and they were most certainly open in the rain. we noticed there were a lot of people who had done more wine than food and seemed to be having a great time so it seemed like people were just making the best of it. a 20-30% chance of rain is completely normal for Fl but it usually rains for a short period of time then stops so don't panic just because you see a chance of rain. watch the hourly outlook and plan around that.