Food and Wine Festival 1st Weekend too crowded?

[Mouse Skywalker]

Greetings Everyone: I may be in Orlando for a conference Sept 24-26 at the Contemporary. I was thinking of bringing my wife down, and having an adult weekend at Disney. I was wondering about going to the Food and Wine Festival. Will it be too crowded to move? Anyone have any thoughts or experience?

 

[oybolshoi]

Weekends at F&W are typically more busy than during the week because there are a lot more locals showing up to enjoy the Festival, especially in the evenings. Additionally, the "free dining" promotion will still be in effect, so I would take that into consideration.

Will it be busy? More likely than not.

Will it still be tasty good times? Definitely!

 

[LadyOmega]

We've been during the 1st weekend of F/W and didn't find it crowded at all - one of the lower levels of crowding we've encountered actually. The restaurants were a bit hard to get ADR's for, but even that wasn't really that bad - we ended up with everything we wanted with a little perseverence.

 

[webray]

1st weekend, well most weekends at food and wine are very crowded.
I think this years will be especially crowded because of that Bocuse thing going on at the world showplace pavillion.

We are still thinking of heading up anyway, lol.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The first weekend of F&WF is a madhouse.
. . . long lines
. . . slow service
. . . inexperienced CM's
. . . sometimes varying food quality
2) Give them a few days to level out.

 

[engle]

But I wouldn't let that deter me from going....skip F&W and have an adults weekend anyway!!! You know you don't get enough!! Plan a couples massage and find a place for dinner out of the parks!

 

[2BusyPlanning]

We went on the very first day last year. It was our last full day at WDW, and I didn't want to miss out. It was very crowded and extremly hot that day. The lines weren't too long for the lunch hours. We snacked at about 4 of the places we went there to try. I enjoyed it very much!

 

[GazerBeam]

I haven't been there on the opening weekend, so I can't comment on that. I will say that it is projected to be a relatively low attendance weekend (according to the unofficial guide crowd calendar, but that doesn't predict wait times at the F&W events). I was there on the second weekend (columbus day sunday, and it was a race day) and it was fine.

I'd go for it. Expect crowds, and be prepared to deal with that, if they don't materialize it is a bonus. Hit world showcase as soon as it opens at 11 and work your way around the booths. If the lines get too long during the lunch hour(s), enjoy the attractions in WS, and finish your snacking after 2.

Also, I think free dining wraps up on the 20th this year, so that won't be an impact (though there might be a few that check in on 9/20 still there that weekend)

(We're arriving on 9/27, and will probably brave epcot that evening).

GB