Food & Wine Fest; An unexpected negative effect?

[k5thbeatle]

First when I say "negative" I should explain that my wife and I love the food & wine fest!

But, we have slowly noticed a slightly negative effect that this event is having. We are long time visitors (addicts? ) of WDW. For years the best secret (well, ok not really a true secret) was to visit in Oct./early Nov. It was always the least busiest time we have found.

Now come the F&W fest and we have noticed that this is starting to no longer be such a "dead" time. Sure, it doesn't rival summer peaks or the week of Christmas...yet...but we are starting to develop a small dilemma(especially the last few years) in that we love the F&W fest but also like to go when the crowds are low.

That's all.

 

[DisneyGeek2000]

I don't think that you can blame it all on the F&W Festival....there is Jersey week (teachers convention Thursday-Friday, first week in November), Festival of the Masters, Super Soap weekend, increased number of MNSSHP nights, and I may be missing something....besides, travel in general has increased overall. Oh, yeah - didn't you know that a family of 4 can go to WDW for $1500??? That promotion has been very successful...

 

[maddhatir]

I agree DisneyGeek2000-- DH and i used to LOVE to go to disney in Oct-- the last time we were there in oct- it was way crowded.

now-- we are trying for mid sept-- gave up on the F+W, just going for the smaller crowds.

 

[mickeymousemom]

We are October goers too. The first family trip we took to WDW was the beginning of Oct. right after 9/11. It was dead. Eerie dead. But...we were spoiled. The next year or two wasn't even that bad, but we have noticed the last couple times we've gone that it does seem more crowded. No, not Christmas, July, or Spring Break crowded, but more crowded nonetheless. We were thinking about going at a different time this year, but we can't stay away from the F&W Fest. We LOVE, LOVE,LOVE it! And how cool to be able to use your DP snack credits there. My My My! I guess we'll continue going in October...

 

[RumpleMom]

What are the dates for Food and Wine Fest for 2006?

 

[aterriq]

I thought you were going to say weight gain from all the food and wine.

 

[terribm]

Also, I believe attendace is up in general. With the latest promotions, new attractions, and 50th celebration, there are just more people there all year, not just specific times.

 

[wdwfan1]

When we were there last October, the weekends were very, very crowded. During the week it was much better. And--we did use our snack credits from the free dining plan!

 

[BlindTyldak]

we were there during the F&W two years ago, and we asked about the INSANE crowds, because it had always been dead that time of year. The reason she gave was that reservations had encouraged people to rebook at that time after the hurricanes hit Florida because it was normally slow, yet they were already prepared for higher staffing levels due to the F&W.

We start our vacation November 3rd this year and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's a light hurricane season for this reason (other than the obvious I want everyone to stay safe down there!).

 

[movtarget]

Don't forget that there is an ever increasing percentage of school districts going to year-round plans, which makes vacation time during the traditional "off" seasons more attractive to families who are tracked out, especially with the enticing lower rates and pleasurable weather (except for the occasional hurricane, lol).

Moving Target in NC - 30 days to go

 

[eeyoreiscool]

I don't think the Food and Wine fest is the only thing responsible. Crowds are getting bigger all through the year now. January weekends usually are ligt but this year they weren't (at least at the parks we went to).

 

[Miss Jasmine]

I thought you were going to say weight gain from all the food and wine.

Me, too.

Seriously, I believe that there are no more quiet times at WDW. No matter when we go it seems to be pretty crowded. And we head to the parks at least twice a month.

Travel in general is up, travel to WDW is WAY up.

 

[jann1033]

Me, too.

Seriously, I believe that there are no more quiet times at WDW. No matter when we go it seems to be pretty crowded. And we head to the parks at least twice a month.

.

so how would you compare November to January mid week? what would wait times be for say RNR on an afternoon mid week in NOv? or is it more just epcot that is busier...usually we go in Jan but this time we'd like to go during F&W and the kids want to go to a water park for sure ( iffy when we go usually) Thanks

 

[pamjb]

The dates for 2006 F&W fest are September 29 2006 thru November 12, 2006.

 

[maddhatir]

this years F+W is September 29 through November 12, 2006

--we also were there Oct 2001 right after 9/11- it was very quite, and i think i was spoiled- it was great (i was there Oct 1996 and it was quite also- that is what got us to start loving Oct)

--we again went Oct two years ago and the crowds were larger- it was right after the hurricane and people were rescheduling their vacation to oct-- just in time for us to be there!

--so as i said-- i am switching to sept now-- i know the weather will be HOT and more rain than oct- but we are going to give it a try.

 

[eeyore45]

this years F+W is September 29 through November 12, 2006

--we also were there Oct 2001 right after 9/11- it was very quite, and i think i was spoiled- it was great (i was there Oct 1996 and it was quite also- that is what got us to start loving Oct)

--we again went Oct two years ago and the crowds were larger- it was right after the hurricane and people were rescheduling their vacation to oct-- just in time for us to be there!

--so as i said-- i am switching to sept now-- i know the weather will be HOT and more rain than oct- but we are going to give it a try.

1st - where are the dates published?

2. OK - everyone now is jumping to go that first week from what I read - seriously, I was there last year during Columbus Day weekend, it was insanely crowded - so like everyone else when I talked and chatted around, the week before was pleasant, no crowds... so all of us are now jumping to that week - making sure it will be insanely crowded also....


(according to "Murphy's Law of my planning a WDW trip anyway!!)

 

[Miss Jasmine]

so how would you compare November to January mid week? what would wait times be for say RNR on an afternoon mid week in NOv? or is it more just epcot that is busier...usually we go in Jan but this time we'd like to go during F&W and the kids want to go to a water park for sure ( iffy when we go usually) Thanks

Well for the most part we go on the weekends. During the F & W fest you most definetly want to skip the World Showcase on Saturday night. It is wall-to-wall people. During the week and during the day it's not bad.

I really don't notice that the other parks are more crowded during the F & W fest, but again I have noticed that there seems to not be any more "quiet" times. It's always pretty busy.

 

[maddhatir]

1st - where are the dates published?

2. OK - everyone now is jumping to go that first week from what I read - seriously, I was there last year during Columbus Day weekend, it was insanely crowded - so like everyone else when I talked and chatted around, the week before was pleasant, no crowds... so all of us are now jumping to that week - making sure it will be insanely crowded also....


(according to "Murphy's Law of my planning a WDW trip anyway!!)

the dates are posted right on this site under "events".

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I too went to Disney in Oct. 2001, but it wasn't for the F&W. That was just when I had planned to go there. The parks were alright, not empty by any means, there were alot of Europeans visiting. Instead of finding the Hidden Mickeys, my sister and I were trying to find the Americans. But it was a month after 9/11 and no one was traveling.

But now people feel safer (?) so they are traveling and Disney to most people means safety and family so maybe instead of going to the Caribbean or a cruise they travel down to Disney because a family of 4 can pay $1500 for a week!!!! (heavy sarcasm)

 

[MOMOFMNM]

I too went to Disney in Oct. 2001, but it wasn't for the F&W. That was just when I had planned to go there. The parks were alright, not empty by any means, there were alot of Europeans visiting. Instead of finding the Hidden Mickeys, my sister and I were trying to find the Americans. But it was a month after 9/11 and no one was traveling.

But now people feel safer (?) so they are traveling and Disney to most people means safety and family so maybe instead of going to the Caribbean or a cruise they travel down to Disney because a family of 4 can pay $1500 for a week!!!! (heavy sarcasm)

omg!!!

that last coment was hilarious!! 1500...yeah right...

anyway we were there at the end of Sept, caught MNNSHP AND FWF !!! This was an amazing time to go and with the UOG help and not going to EMH parks, we hardly waited in line at all...it was great!!! I think we waited for 20 min for the safari...
sometimes we were disappointed because my dh and myself LOVE the way DIsney tells the story while you are waiting for the attractions...it is very cool...anyway we missed alot of that stuff because lines were moving soooo fast!!! We actually thought we would have liked a little more time in LINES!!! Isn't that insane?????

I feel like if we go again we may go for the same time frame...

and of course Disney is not going to be quiet anymore...hedonism is at it's highest in this country right now IMO, except maybe for right before the Great Depression...and everyone thinks they are getting a "great deal" with all the promotions, dining plans, DINGS, etc getting emailed to us on a hourly basis...just looking at the stuff makes people impulse buy!!! I am guilty myself!! Throw in free dining or free upgrade or reduced rate and you got a lot of people going who might not have gone! Not to mention all these specials are usually during what we all refer to as "slow" time...intentionally planned that way by the travel industry I am sure.