Food & Wine Sickness

[Kay1]

It's been said so many times on these boards: enjoy F & W on weekdays. Maybe it should be a sticky. If you are not local and are here on vacation, you are so very lucky in that respect.

 

[DisneyLover83]

Dh and I were at Epcot on 10/26 and 10/27. On Friday we hit all the food and wine booths during lunch time, with no waits or drunks. Different story on Saturday evening, we went to see Sister Hazel and shop, all the food booths were so busy we walked to the Boardwalk and had hotdogs from the cart, then picked up dessert at Boardwalk bakery. Made it back in just to see the 8pm show, the Florida vs Georgia game had just ended and there were many obnoxious drunks out. There was a large group in red and white shirts and a large group dressed as Where's Waldo character that stood out to us. We gave them a wide walking distance and left right after the 8pm Sister Hazel show. Its a shame Disney lets these people make so many other guests feel uncomfortable.

 

[slaball1]

large group dressed as Where's Waldo character that stood out to us.

We saw them! They were still there that late ? lol

 

[Ms. Belle]

I went the last Saturday of the festival last year and it was a disaster. The lines at the booths were soooo long, we didn't even go to half of them. There were alot of drunks there, however I didn't see anyone puking. I did however see a man and woman making out so heavily at the Night Ranger ETTB concert, that it was absolutely disgusting and embarrassing. I couldn't believe how drunk the woman in particular was. If the guy hadn't been mauling her with his lips, she would have fallen in a heap. She could barely stand up straight. I'll NEVER go on a weekend again. I'm going down next week and I think we are going to F&W on Tuesday.

 

[TSR6]

It's too bad to hear these reports -I'm into having a great time and probably have a drink too many on occasion, but people puking all over the place. Sounds like they're going to need to require a drink punch card to restrict the quantity of drinks you have ....or better yet, they'll install breathalyzer stations at every drink location.

You must be joking?

While we werent there over the weekend, we were in Epcot on Thursday and saw a nasty pool of vomit....ewwww.....a

We also had a group of young guys pass our car at DTD screaming out the windows "Lovin Disney!!!!" (thats what my license plate says) The girl in the back seat leaned forward to say, sorry...he has had one too many beers in Epcot! I hope the driver hadnt been drinking, but chances are he had

A "guest" can puke off of Mission:Space just as easily as F&W.

I go to the F&W festival for about 10 days every year.

There have been times when I have drank way too much – no doubt – but I have never gotten to the point of being sick – it is not that kind of place.

I am surprised that people can afford to get that drunk – the alcohol is way overpriced IMO – and that may be a factor in why people get so drunk.

The food itself is also a bit expensive for the portions – and I suspect many people skip the food and just drink – especially when they are in those large groups.

Then you add that to the heat - and lack of water - maybe there should be water stations – but again they want to sell you water

One way to address this – or at least try and get people to get some food into them is to offer deals with beer and mixed drinks – maybe for $1 or 2 more they get a food item with it or a water.

Also would be nice the staff were trained to not over serve people – but I do not think they are qualified bar staff

I do agree on the Food & Booze deals, It'd be a lot easier to get some more food for a slight "package" discount on the food, however - you may be enticing those that are there for the food to drink more... which apparently this board isn't very drink friendly. lol

Yes, Disney's staff is "responsible vendor" trained, it's a requirement to work food & wine. I was "State of Florida Responsible Vendor" trained when I worked at Disney (not F&W) - however, even if you cut off a customer, that does not stop someone else from buying them drinks.

We enjoy the F&W festival. We try to go every year. We avoid the weekends and have never seen any of the drunks. Frankly, it sounds like it has gotten worse since they started offering beer everywhere. How is beer part of a wine festival?

Beer is fantastic. I would not have gone to F&W if it wasn't for the beer selections. There is NO WHERE else that you can drink so many great tasting beers from around the entire world in one place!

The wife and I were wondering that same thing. Germany had many beer offerings, as well as other locations, for sure; and many pavilions offered after-dinner type drinks that were not wine. Greece had two very nice wines.

Frankly, I do not know why 10/20 was so tame compared to 10/27 regarding the number of "drunks" who were sick, as we chalked it up to being close to the end of the festival and the nice weather brought people out. It was also much more crowded on 10/27 compared to 10/20.

The only reason we even ventured into the World Showcase area, admittedly, was because after riding some of the rides, I had a craving for the fish-n-chips in England. We only got about 1/4 of the way there when I thought it was just too crowded and too "adult" for my kids, so we turned around and left (and I am still craving the fish-n-chips).

I was there & drinking on 10/20!

Two years ago at the F&W we saw a lot of the same thing going on. I think Disney's bartenders have to be trained on when to shut someone off. It's that simple. At any other alcohol serving establishment they are, but heavens forbid Disney say no to a paying guest! LOL

They are... It's standard for any position that handles/serves alcohol.

We were there last week and while I saw people who were quite "happy" last week, no one was obnoxious and I didnt worry about my kids.

This is absolutely pure speculation on my part, but I'm guessing that a number of people have a few drinks before they ever get to Epcot to "get the party started" so to speak. This was a common practice before heading out to bars way back when I was in college, and I've read more than a few trip reports where people mention having drinks before going to the parks (or even smuggling some in with them).

THIS ^^^^

Shoot, I drank at Boardwalk before walking over to F&W!

 

[k5thbeatle]

Having been going to the F&W festival for some years now we learned early on to avoid week-ends for the crowds. Let me also say that we go to enjoy both the food and the alcohol at F&W festival.

I'd see a thread like this about excessive drunks and think it was mostly exaggerated. "C'mon this doesn't happen, I've never seen that kind of thing!" Sure it's louder and people are drinking and maybe a rare occasional individual who had overindulged could be spotted, but definitely the exception than the rule. Probably just people who don't drink at all exaggerating claims or that one rare occasion where maybe someone did over do it a bit? That is what I always thought.

Fast forward to the last couple years and even I now admit that the drinking is getting borderline out of control on week-ends. Not somewhere very family oriented at all. And yes people getting sick and/or obnoxious. Never thought I'd say this as, like I stated, I thought it was a lot of exaggeration but in last few years I've seen this escalating to where it may be problematic.

But as others have already mentioned if the $$$ are coming in will they make changes?

 

[kbelle8995]

People do drink heavily before the football game and then try to sneak alcohol into the stadium (which is a dry stadium) I've also seen them get caught and dragged out of said stadium. Why can't they do that Disney if a person over indulges.

I enjoy an alcohol beverage myself from time to time. I avoid intoxicated groups of people at football games now I have to avoid F&W festival on the weekends because I dont' want to have to deal with it.

Maybe I don't get the whole drinking to the point of getting sick. Because when I did have one too many, it was just one big headache. Why use Epcot as an open cash bar? The cover charge to get in alone is high.

 

[Satchmo128]

We were in Epcot last year on the last Saturday of F&WF and we decided never again. So many people....it reeked of alcohol everywhere....
Not our scene, to say the least.

 

[mr.bungle]

People are too sensitive.

 

[Grumpy92]

Have to agree. We were there Oct 26 and 27th and it was packed. Alot of people with too much alcohol consumed. It wasn't even enjoyable to walk around. Needless to say we left Saturday for MK and it was just as packed. Main St was a bottleneck and they had to open a back stage path to exit.

 

[mattsdragon]

we were there on the 20th and were shocked at some of the bahavior, and that takes some doing as we have both had our share of rowdy port calls. Never doing F&W on a weekend again.


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[HeyIt'sMe]

We try to avoid F&WF on the weekends. Last week we went to EPCOT on Thursday (10/25) and it was great. We did return Sunday (10/28) for lunch at Teppan Edo and it was amazing how much more crowded WS was. Luckily, in all our trips to the F&WF we've never encountered any drunk or sick people.

 

[ellone]

My BIL & his wife went a month ago for their honeymoon and he said they should just rename it the wine & beer fest. Not because of the drinking, but because the wine & beer are better than the food offerings. Very overpriced food offerings and truthfully not very good at all. We just came back from our trip and we only tried a couple of food items at the festival and I have to agree. The filet in Canada while it had a nice sauce was chewy. For $6 not worth it at all. Sadly the $6 beers are a better value because you pretty much pay that much at a restaurant. And I have to say I wasn't disappointed with any of the beers we tried.

Since it is hot alcohol affect people more. Disney could give away tap water to keep people hydrated. But in a way they don't want to advertise that you can get free tap water at Disney (I'm sure more people would get ice water at CS locations if it was more widely known).

 

[ghtx]

My BIL & his wife went a month ago for their honeymoon and he said they should just rename it the wine & beer fest. Not because of the drinking, but because the wine & beer are better than the food offerings. Very overpriced food offerings and truthfully not very good at all. We just came back from our trip and we only tried a couple of food items at the festival and I have to agree. The filet in Canada while it had a nice sauce was chewy. For $6 not worth it at all. Sadly the $6 beers are a better value because you pretty much pay that much at a restaurant. And I have to say I wasn't disappointed with any of the beers we tried.

Since it is hot alcohol affect people more. Disney could give away tap water to keep people hydrated. But in a way they don't want to advertise that you can get free tap water at Disney (I'm sure more people would get ice water at CS locations if it was more widely known).

Whaaaat? Did you go to the Bizarro version of F&W, where everything is opposite?

In fact, the food selections are delicious and not very overpriced (though portions are small). It is the beer and wine that are way overpriced.

 

[GAN]

Whaaaat? Did you go to the Bizarro version of F&W, where everything is opposite?

In fact, the food selections are delicious and not very overpriced (though portions are small). It is the beer and wine that are way overpriced.

I would have to agree -we've been 4 different years, the food selections have always been excellent. BUT, I can see if you're a meat and potatoes(did I spell that right?) person you may think selection is lacking. I'm somewhat picky and I've tried so many things that I would never otherwise had tried, some things were ok others were fantastic. Four dollars for an appetizer/tapas portion is pretty reasonable where we're from -but that's the Northeast, so someone from a different region might say that is pricey.

 

[LadyBeBop]

How do you think F&W will be tomorrow on Halloween?

I ask, because we're going to WDW next year for our DGD's fifth birthday (DOB 10/31/2008). We might do the Princess Meal at Akershus as her birthday lunch or dinner. But we don't want to do it if we'll be stipping over a boatload of drunks.

It's Halloween. Plus Halloween next year is on a Thursday, and I know a lot of people who start their weekend early.

 

[GAN]

You must be joking?

Yes .... you recognize my sarcasm -Thanks

 

[MapleGirl]

We were there on 10/22 (Monday). Didn't see any drunk people. We had to leave in the mid-afternoon because I got sick on Living with the Land. I was so embarrassed. I think it was a combination of hectic days, lots of food my tummy isn't used to, too much sun and the sickeningly sweet frozen sangria I was sipping on at the time (yes, it had alcohol, I had maybe half of it).

Anyway, it was a nice day. The crowds were there but we didn't see any obnoxious behavior.

 

[princessallegra]

Yes .... you recognize my sarcasm -Thanks

Hahaha totally!

 

[larryz]

We are annual pass holders and decided to head over to Epcot last night with the kids to hit the Future World rides for a few hours (we live close). The reason is that just my wife and I went to the F&W festivities last week and, while crowded, was not unbearable - especially for the rides.

I know it was a Saturday evening, and the tail end of the F&W, but I was a bit surprised by all the people who were "sick" at Epcot, even in the Future World area. At one point, my wife and I noticed that for every person being "sick" a Disney custodian was standing next to them with cleaning supplies at the ready. There was an army of custodians cleaning up "messes" in various locations. I am no stranger to drinking, but had never witnessed so many uncomfortable people at the F&W festival before. Strange.

Perhaps they had all caught a case of the "Stoli-virus."