Food and Wine Festival. How are the Crowds when it first opens?

[DisneyDoc2425]

Our family will be at WDW with the free Quick Service Dining Plan from Sept. 17-23. The Epcot Food and Wine Festival begins on Sept. 19. How are the crowds at the Resorts at this time and what are the crowd levels like at Epcot the first weekend when it opens? Is it doable? Thanks in advance for any responses.

 

[kmb584]

Our family will be at WDW with the free Quick Service Dining Plan from Sept. 17-23. The Epcot Food and Wine Festival begins on Sept. 19. How are the crowds at the Resorts at this time and what are the crowd levels like at Epcot the first weekend when it opens? Is it doable? Thanks in advance for any responses.

It's very busy on opening weekend and every weekend forward. Its appeal draws a lot of locals and the WS can, at times, be shoulder-to-shoulder.

 

[ChernabogHades]

The rest of the parks however will be about as empty as they will be at any other point of the year. At Epcot, World showcase will be crowded for sure, but I find that it really only gets overly crowded later in the evening.. Future world should be fine regardless. Sept is the best time to visit IMO..

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Its appeal draws a lot of locals and the WS can, at times, be shoulder-to-shoulder.

A rare sight, indeed.

 

[Otter49]

The one unknown here is that this is a brand new week for the Festival. It's never started this early before.

That said, I think it's safe to say it'll be very busy with locals, but the crowds used to arriving later may not be in town in the usual numbers this early.

 

[ampersand]

Our family will be at WDW with the free Quick Service Dining Plan from Sept. 17-23. The Epcot Food and Wine Festival begins on Sept. 19. How are the crowds at the Resorts at this time and what are the crowd levels like at Epcot the first weekend when it opens? Is it doable? Thanks in advance for any responses.

I've been told that if you go as soon as it opens on opening day it's much easier than later that afternoon but seeing as how I'm going for my first time the same time as you are, I can't really confirm much. =) sorry.

 

[JennyMP03]

Last year, we went for the soft opening day, which was the day before the official "first day." It was kind of odd in that even some of the Epcot cast members we asked told us it wasn't open until the following day.

But sure enough, we went back to the WS around 11 am, and most of the booths were open and cooking. It was great and there were very few people in any of the lines. We came back to Epcot the next day and it was packed in the WS.

 

[klacey1]

I'm following along because I have the same question! We're there the 16-22nd, with plans to visit F&W the night of the 19th, as soon as WS opens on the 20th, and the night of the 21st. If we don't get to try much on the 19th or 21st, that's okay, since we're planning on spending pretty much from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on the 20th trying different things. And from what I've heard, the day isn't usually not bad at all.
Honestly, we love walking around the WS, crowded or not, so we're going in expecting the worst and know we'll have a great time no matter what!

 

[o0quirkygirl0o]

My best recommendation is to not do FW during the evening. During the day time the lines are much shorter, even during busy times. Also, if you can swing going on a week day instead of during the weekend, things are also lighter.

FW at night is VERY crowded, noisy, and party/bar like in atmosphere.

 

[Dawn Dis]

Anyone have any ideas on how a Sunday evening will be?

 

[Dawn Dis]

Anyone have any ideas on how a Sunday evening will be?

Tia

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You won't have crowds at the resorts. You will at the World Showcase on Friday evenings and Saturdays. This is because the locals come. Nothing to do with the resorts.

If you must go on Friday get there at 11 when they open. Hang around until the crowds start showing up. Then get out. Unless you enjoy the crowds.

Sunday will be more crowded than a weekday but won't be as bad as Friday or Saturday (except maybe for Columbus Day weekend).

 

[kath2me]

will be there 9/18 - 9/24

was planning on epcot 9/19,, than they decided to throw this F & W earlier, so i would imagine that day 19th will be yucky - crowded, we love just strolling around the WS, u think i would be better going over on the 22nd ( Monday ) i can rearrange, it is not a must on the 19,, besides the 19 is my actual birthday, i could just be relaxing somewhere else, Advise ?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

will be there 9/18 - 9/24

was planning on epcot 9/19,, than they decided to throw this F & W earlier, so i would imagine that day 19th will be yucky - crowded, we love just strolling around the WS, u think i would be better going over on the 22nd ( Monday ) i can rearrange, it is not a must on the 19,, besides the 19 is my actual birthday, i could just be relaxing somewhere else, Advise ?

If your goal is to stroll around the Showcase without crowds, on a Friday you would probably be fine up to about 3 PM but after that I'd find somewhere else to go.

 

[Wendybird55]

The past 2 years we went (and last year we were there opening weekend) I found the crowds to be very manageable in the afternoons however as the day went on it got more crowded..I would say around 6pm or so is when it began to get very busy...

 

[kath2me]

thanks i think i'll keep the 19th than, we have diner reservation at yachtsman steak at 6:45 that night, so thats it , we will just leave epcot at 6 , thanks again

 

[V2000]

Hi there.

If you are worried about the crowds go on a weekday. The 23rd would probably be a good choice for you.

 

[Stinky_Pete]

My understanding is that there's typically a "soft opening" on the Thursday prior to the first official opening day. It's advertised as a "cast member opening", but anyone can partake. If I were there that day, I would go.

 

[Jenny18199]

How are the crowds during mid October? I'm thinking Monday/Tuesday Oct 13 or 14??

 

[CutlerP]

My understanding is that there's typically a "soft opening" on the Thursday prior to the first official opening day. It's advertised as a "cast member opening", but anyone can partake. If I were there that day, I would go.

We're going in September (H and I, an empty nest trip), the 18th will be out last day in the parks and we had actually planned on spending that afternoon at Epcot - even before we knew about the soft opening! So excited now...