F&W Strategies? On a Saturday?

[wilkeliza]

Ugh all this talk is scaring me! We won't arrive until late on Nov 11th and we have always wanted to do a F&W. DH's conference starts the 13th so I wanted to go on that Saturday but it's also Dapper Day which means it will probably be the worst Saturday of the whole festival, huh? I just don't know how else to fit it in though.



Thanks, this is good to know!

The 12th is going to be crazy no matter what because it is the last Saturday of Food and Wine. Be prepared for crowds especially as the day goes on but you can still have a wonderful time.

 

[DisMommyTX]

We were at F&W the last weekend of Sept last year. We loved F&W on Friday night. We tried going back Saturday and it was awful. Lines were 3 times as long. Crowds were on par with the 4th of July! We have traveled during every peak time and day, but I would never, ever go back to F&W on a Saturday. I would rearrange to another day if at all possible. If Saturday is your only option, go early, leave early, and hope for rain.

 

[rascooby]

Sorry to jump in here, but I have a question. We are arriving Nov 12th around 4:00. I was thinking about booking a few Fastpasses for Soarin, maybe Nemo and maybe something else and hoping we could get to the park by 7 or 7:30. If we just did a few things in the evening would it be okay or should we just skip it? I was just trying to get a few things out of the way because we only have one full day at Epcot. Magic Kingdom is the only other park open that evening and we already have 2.5 days there. If we left before closing could we beat the drunk people to the buses? Lol.

 

[undertheseas]

If Saturday is your only option, go early, leave early, and hope for rain.

LOL That's true, I'll do a rain dance!

 

[wilkeliza]

Sorry to jump in here, but I have a question. We are arriving Nov 12th around 4:00. I was thinking about booking a few Fastpasses for Soarin, maybe Nemo and maybe something else and hoping we could get to the park by 7 or 7:30. If we just did a few things in the evening would it be okay or should we just skip it? I was just trying to get a few things out of the way because we only have one full day at Epcot. Magic Kingdom is the only other park open that evening and we already have 2.5 days there. If we left before closing could we beat the drunk people to the buses? Lol.

If your intent is not do food and wine you'll be fine. Most of the drinks stay up around World Showcase and don't make it back to the rides.

However if you don't plan on going the 13th or 14th the 12th would be your only chance to try food and stuff.

 

[Aflyingbuttress]

Just a personal tip that I figured out while working 2 Food and Wine festivals.

Get the first friendship boat across the lagoon and start from the back and go around from there. That way you either start in America and work towards Mexico going as follows (America, Germany, Outpost, China, Norway, Mexico) or work towards Canada (America, Japan, Morocco, France, UK, Canada) doing so will give you a pretty easy experience in the first few countries as most people start in Mexico and work around that way.

If you don't want to start in the back then go the Canada route around. For whatever reason most people seem to start in Mexico and go around that way working clockwise around so I suggest Canada and going counter-clockwise.

Excellent tip! I never would have thought of that. Thanks!

 

[tony67]

The 12th is going to be crazy no matter what because it is the last Saturday of Food and Wine. Be prepared for crowds especially as the day goes on but you can still have a wonderful time.

Not only that - but it is three day weekend - Friday is Veterans day and many people will be off

 

[WEDWDW]

For anyone with a Chase Credit/Debit Card,The Chase Lounge is a nice spot to kick back for a while.

I like to sit by one of the windows and people-watch.

 

[Hopefully]

Just to clarify, am I right in assuming that on Saturday the crowd will be in the world showcase for the most part? We can plan to walk the world showcase during the week and then on Saturday focus on Future

world where there won't be as many people? Does that sound like a good strategy?

World Showcase will be incredibly crowded. AS a PP said, on Saturdays there are many groups in matching T shirts "Drinking Around the World" And I agree, it seems as if some start before they even get there. They can be obnoxious.
For the first time in 12 years, we are not going to Epcot on the Saturday we arrive.
It has gotten to the point that we just don't want to be there. Pretty sad as the F & W Festival is the focus of our whole visit.
I wouldn't want a Saturday in World Showcase with a 4 year old.
Good Luck