Food & Wine: How crazy is it?

[GoMegGo]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this post, sorry if it isn't.

I'm planning a long weekend in Orlando to celebrate my mother's birthday. She's a huge Harry Potter fan, so most of our time will be spent at Universal. We are staying off-site and were thinking about doing MSSHP one night but I just realized that it's the first weekend of Food & Wine, which we have always wanted to do.

Will it be crazy busy that first weekend? Most of our party will be staying until Wednesday, with a few leaving Tuesday. Should we try to go Monday or Tuesday to avoid the weekend madness?

 

[budbeerlady]

I would AVOID the weekends. I was shocked how many people were in the world showcase on a Saturday early evening at 5pm. You could hardly walk thru there. We enjoyed it much more during the week.

 

[GoMegGo]

Thanks for the tip! I was thinking the weekend would be nuts, but I would hate not to go since we will already be in the area.

 

[travelloverontario]

We are at Disney from Sept 21- Oct 5 and were planning 3 days at Epcot. One full day before F & W to do the rides, etc and then 2 during F&W to do all the samples with our snack credits. One of these days was to be Saturday, Oct 2...but after reading this, it seems that may be a very bad idea!!!

I'm thinking that if our only real goal that day is to walk around a bit, have some snacks, and maybe hit a few places we missed ...we should be okay?? Please tell me...yes, that would be fine...not too busy at all!!!

We have planned a second F&W day on Tuesday, Oct 4th (the day before we fly out).

 

[jennib5426]

Last year it was packed on Sat nights at F&W. I noticed a lot of adult groups with matching theme shirts, like "Smith group drinking around the world Epcot F&W 2009" It was fun with a lot of people but if you don't like large crowds of drunk adults, go on a weekday..LOL

 

[vettegirl]

I was there last October during the week and the crowds were very light and the weather was perfect!

 

[elgerber]

Yes, the weekends can get insanely crowded!!!! It is a wonderful time though, just try to avoid the weekend.

 

[BriarRosie]

There's a huge difference in crowds on weekends vs. weekdays. Monday and Tuesday will be your best bets. You'll notice a wait of maybe 3 people in front of you instead of 30+.

 

[Boardwalkin]

We have visited during the F&W festival for the last several years. The crowds are much larger on the weekend, but as long as you know this you can plan accordingly. If you are just going to sample around the world the waits are longer, but not unbearable. Instead of a few minutes you may wait 10. One person can only eat so much in a few hours so you should be able to sample as much as you wish. Now if you have the option of weekday vs. weekend definitely go during the week.

 

[vinotinto]

Saturday, Oct 17 2009 was PACKED starting at about noon. The weather was gorgeous and everyone in FL seemed to have simultaneously decided to descend upon F&W. We had been to F&W during the week and it was fine, and we did not realize there would be such a difference between mid-week and the weekend. Lines to order at the booths were really long. F&W was great, though. If you plan to go, get a drink while you wait at the booths.

 

[elgerber]

Saturday, Oct 17 2009 was PACKED starting at about noon. The weather was gorgeous and everyone in FL seemed to have simultaneously decided to descend upon F&W. We had been to F&W during the week and it was fine, and we did not realize there would be such a difference between mid-week and the weekend. Lines to order at the booths were really long. F&W was great, though. If you plan to go, get a drink while you wait at the booths.

Yeah, we were there that day, I have NEVER seen such crowds at Epcot. The booth lines at some booths, I would say were easily 100 people long. We have gone for many years, and been there on the weekends, but I have never seen anything like that day. Luckily we were only there for lunch at Chefs, and then leaving for MK.

 

[trvlgirlmq]

We plan to do Future World on Sunday, Oct 3 then have an ADR for dinner at Chefs de France. We plan to go back on Wednesday, Oct 6 to do World Showcase with lunch ADR at Tutto Italia and Dinner at Rose & Crown. Are we making a mistake on Sunday? If we stick to the front of the park to do rides and attractions only will we still have long waits?