F & W: Why Crescent Lake Resorts?

[Epcot Forever Forever]

Does no one understand the question? It's not about why people like these resorts. It's about why staying here during F & W is still more popular than other times of the year.

I can answer that. Because the points are manageable, the crowds are manageable, and the weather is usually manageable all at the same time.

The trifecta.

As others have noted, they’re making the points less manageable, but I think there’s a lot of people who’ve been doing the same trip for a long time and don’t want to change (see crowds and weather)

 

[DonMacGregor]

I can answer that. Because the points are manageable, the crowds are manageable, and the weather is usually manageable all at the same time.

The trifecta.

As others have noted, they’re making the points less manageable, but I think there’s a lot of people who’ve been doing the same trip for a long time and don’t want to change (see crowds and weather)

I agree. F&W is still the "flagship" festival (it's the first one they mimicked at DCA), and the one that most amateur "gourmands" associate with. No flowers, no gardens, no arts, just the original focus of unique food and wine (and beer). Couple that with the slightly cooler temps, reasonable point charts, and the overlap with Halloween festivities, and you get a perfect storm.

 

[RoseGold]

I get that. So why is Sept-Nov still the most popular time of year for BWV and BCV?

Pretty obvious to me. It's the chart and the weather. I never thought it was the food booths or whatever.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

I'm not sure of the actual numbers - but I would contend the other major festivals - Holiday, Arts, Garden - are also quite popular and the resorts are just as popular during those time periods. Our favorites are Holiday and Arts, and the EPCOT resorts seem just as popular at that time of year. Actually, at this point, it's tougher to find a time period EPCOT isn't holding something they call a festival!! That's how popular the food and drink options/changes have been over the years.

 

[robinb]

I prefer F&W to the other festivals. I also like to go in September because the crowds are lower, the weather is nice and the point charts are the lowest.

 

[gmi3804]

I used to like F & W a lot more than I do now. It feels just like any other of the endless Epcot festivals now. They've really taken all the fun out of it, pulling all the unique things except for the food booths.

 

[sethschroeder]

I get that. So why is Sept-Nov still the most popular time of year for BWV and BCV?

It is for all resorts though during that time.

Just that they both are being bought resale specifically to stay there. You don't get that with something like POLY which doesn't have the same premium on the points.

 

[Nursemanit]

The festivals are there to make money for Disney - the crowds are there due to weather (Oct - Nov) and point charts in September. The crowds make the festival not the other way around.

 

[DVCjj]

Crescent Lake Resorts?
As a BCV owner:
Location. Location. Location.
Skyliner. Skyliner. Skyliner

 

[Sammie]

Does no one understand the question? It's not about why people like these resorts. It's about why staying here during F & W is still more popular than other times of the year.

Weather.

 

[zavandor]

Also, I think F&W is the most popular because it comes after the summer. Unless you're forced to go during the summer because of kids' school or activities, why visit when there could be hurricanes, it's crowded, hot and humid as hell? And after 4 months of conditions unsutable for life, finally October and November can be pleasant, so the addiction to Disney kicks in and people want to go back.
Add the lower point charts (no more) and lower crowds (no more) and an habit formed. And habits, like addictions, are difficult to shake off.

 

[AdamsMum]

Does no one understand the question? It's not about why people like these resorts. It's about why staying here during F & W is still more popular than other times of the year.

Maybe you're right, we don't understand the question because you're talking to people who love the Food and Wine Festival, also the Festival of the Holidays and Epcot in general. I think the point is that Epcot lovers year round like the crescent lake resorts for the walk home at the end of the night. Not having to wait in line for buses, monorail or parking trams is, for me anyway, priceless and I bought there for that precise reason. Magic Kingdom is really one day for me unless I have young children along, but I usually finish my day at Epcot for the dining options regardless of where I've been during the day.

I gather you aren't impressed with F&W any more, so that's fine. There are many options at WDW. The crescent lake resorts are difficult to book, depending on what room you're looking for, most of the year. Many times of the year you can waste your points on a "Preferred" view at BW, but most of us who own there would rather save points on a standard view or use those points for a coveted Boardwalk view. In the end it comes down to what you love. I love Boardwalk and even if I weren't going to Epcot (as if that would happen) I'd still book there. I also own at BC but those are mostly my sleep around points.

 

[AdamsMum]

Alcohol.

I always thought people wanted to stay at Crescent Lake resorts during Epcot's Food & Wine Festival so that they could easily walk back to their hotel if they had too much Wine.

That too! No driving after the grey goose slushy.

 

[bdphill22]

I believe it is just that the F&W falls during this time of year and F&W is not the cause of the popularity this time of year.

DVC members love the Sept-Dec time of year for many reasons.

First of all the weather is much nicer, especially once you get into Oct.

Secondly, many DVC owners have had their kids become adults and these owners no longer have to follow the school schedule, which means they are free to come easier this time of year when crowds are lower.

All resorts, not just BCV / BWV, are tougher to get into this time of year. BCV / BWV are most popular to the older DVC demographic because Epcot, and the ability to walk to it quickly, is more attractive to this demographic.

F&W just happens to be at that park during that time of year.

 

[Brian Noble]

You might have a faulty premise. Maybe it's not that EP area DVC resorts are especially popular in the fall so much as WDW DVC resorts in general are especially popular in the fall. DVC is working hard to fix that--fall now is only behind P-week through spring break season and the various major holidays in point costs.

But I agree with you that (a) F&W is a shell of its former self and (b) Epcot is now one continuous festival. For your consideration, the Epcot calendar:

Art and Food and Wine
Plants and Food and Wine
Miserably Hot
Food and Wine
Santa and Food and Wine

.,..and Food and Wine is expanding to eat Miserably Hot.

 

[Epcot Forever Forever]

You might have a faulty premise. Maybe it's not that EP area DVC resorts are especially popular in the fall so much as WDW DVC resorts in general are especially popular in the fall. DVC is working hard to fix that--fall now is only behind P-week through spring break season and the various major holidays in point costs.

But I agree with you that (a) F&W is a shell of its former self and (b) Epcot is now one continuous festival. For your consideration, the Epcot calendar:

Art and Food and Wine
Plants and Food and Wine
Miserably Hot
Food and Wine
Santa and Food and Wine

.,..and Food and Wine is expanding to eat Miserably Hot.

There were 36 total days without an Epcot festival in 2022 - less than 10% of the year!

 

[piccolopat]

When we've attended in the past, F&W had more food and a lor more adult beverage options than other festivals like Flower & Garden. F&W is also in the fall which can have a bit lower crowds, better weather and the Halloween decorations depending on when you go. Being able to walk or boat back to your hotel is an advantage at any time but especially during times when people might indulge in a bit more drinking or just want to take a quick afternoon break before finishing out the night enjoying the offerings.

 

[gmi3804]

You might have a faulty premise. Maybe it's not that EP area DVC resorts are especially popular in the fall so much as WDW DVC resorts in general are especially popular in the fall. DVC is working hard to fix that--fall now is only behind P-week through spring break season and the various major holidays in point costs.

But I agree with you that (a) F&W is a shell of its former self and (b) Epcot is now one continuous festival. For your consideration, the Epcot calendar:

Art and Food and Wine
Plants and Food and Wine
Miserably Hot
Food and Wine
Santa and Food and Wine

.,..and Food and Wine is expanding to eat Miserably Hot.

It's surely a popular time to for DVC stays, and in the past F & W has always exacerbated that demand, especially at BCV and BWV. For those who've been to the other festivals and go to F & W expecting some kind of unique festival that's more special than the others are sure to be disappointed. I'm not sure that there's really any difference between any of them anymore (weather notwithstanding) except for the theming of the merchandise.

 

[Brian Noble]

It's possible that Plants and Food and Wine has surpassed the OG in food booth quality as well. The emphasis on fresh ingredients does the former some favors.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

There were 36 total days without an Epcot festival in 2022 - less than 10% of the year!

Those 36 days are a festival in their own right!