Friday Sept. 29th at Epcot...Crazy Crowds?

[scanne]

Friday Sept. 29th is the first day of the F&WF. Do you think we should avoid Epcot on this day? Our flight gets in at 1:10pm and from there we're taking DME to our resort. We were going to head to Epcot and have dinner at Coral Reef and maybe head into WS, but now I'm thinking that the 29th is also evening EMH's and the first day of the F&WF - we're crazy!!!

My next plan is to go right to the MK after checking in (we're staying at the GF so it's very close). We'd get to stay in the MK until 6pm b/c it's a MNSSHP night. I was going to try and get dinner at COncourse Steakhouse, 'Ohana or the GF Cafe for that night, then go back to our room and hang out/go to sleep early.

Third plan is to go to MGM, grab dinner there if I can get any ressie for MM or 50's PTC then head back to the GF around 9pm - no Fantasmic.

What would you do?!?!?

 

[flortlebap]

I wouldn't say it would have much effect on crowd levels. We went the first day in 2004, and were suprised at just how empty it was! But that was our first visit off-peak!

We're going on the second day according to our itinerary. We're not worried about that either

 

[flortlebap]

Oops forgot to answer your other questions.

Your decision might be made for you as to where to go - you'll probably struggle to get into Prime Time, most places are fully booked for September because of free dining. Just ring WDW Dine and see what they have available, they should sort your plans out for you!

 

[magicmouse2]

We wil be at Epcot too on 29th - Coral reef dinner 7pm. We will be at MGM through the day so hopefully crowds will disperse by early evening.

 

[QueenT]

We will be there too, I am planning on eating around the world for dinner. Our flight arrives at 2:30pm, I am hoping to be in Epcot by about 5pm. Not really planning to go on any rides, just WS. So I guess I can live with crowds if they are there.

 

[Nienor]

I plan on being there too on 9/29. Le Cellier at 8:10.

I was hoping it won't be that bad cause alot of people are going to be at the Magic Kingdom for MNSSHP that night. (did I get the abbreviation right?)

 

[scanne]

Here is what we've (DH and I) have decided. We're going to go to MGM after checking in at our hotel, then I was really lucky and got a 7:40pm ADR at Cape May Cafe, then we'll walk through Epcot after dinner - Epcot has evening EMH's - and this way we'll be able to take the monorail back to our hotel.

 

[BamaBaloo]

We'll be there that evening.....early dinner at Le Cellier at 6:10 PM.

 

[momimouse27]

I never thought about this before either til the OP brought it up. The 29th is our last day and we were going to spend it at Epcot...hope its not too crowded!
On a happier note, I just redid all my ADR's last week(screwed up my plans) and in one phone call, I got every one and except for two ressies I got to pick the times. I even got Ohana and had not planned for it before. So it musn't be too bad (...hoping....)

 

[Maria395712]

scannes
I see you are from nj are you flying SWA out of philly at 10 30 that day I leave on the 27 at 6:30 am saw that flt but like to ge there in am. I can't decide on the halloween party or epcot that night but think I will go to the MK party I loved it so much and go to epct sat and sun and back to te party on mon
maria
deptford glocester county

 

[TLHB70]

We will be in MGM that day. I can tell you that MM is hard to book right now (for dinner anyway). I have booked dinner for 5:30 but I started worrying that it may be too late to make it to Fantasmic in time. I have been trying to change it to 5 PM for about two months now and everytime I call they tell me that there are no openings.

 

[kldmom2000]

We'll be arriving @ the YC from MCO around 1:30"ish"pm. After a dip in Stormalong Bay and getting settled into our room, we planned on walking on over to Epcot for the evening. It's an EMH night there and the F & W festival starts so I imagine it might be a bit crowded, but MNSSHP is also happening that night at MK so hopefully that'll draw some of the crowd that way?

We did have a reservation for Garden Grill @ 5:30pm, but now my 6 yr old DD informed me she's terrified of Pluto and doesn't want to eat there.....

 

[strmtroopr96]

We will be at Le Cellier on 9/29 also. Our ressies are at 7:45 pm. See you all there!

 

[bettybeth]

It's also a MNSSHP night at MK and that's where we'll be!

 

[Leota]

If I'm in WDW during Food & Wine Fest, I'm there daily. It's my favorite time to go to WDW & my favorite time to be in Epcot. Crowds or no crowds.

 

[The Mick]

The crowds on September 29th should be managable. It will be Saturday 30th that will be much tougher. Florida resident kids will be in school on that Friday, but that Saturday will be their first chance as a family to go to F&WF...that will be the most crowded day. The 29th should be OK though.

 

[momimouse27]

We'll be arriving @ the YC from MCO around 1:30"ish"pm. After a dip in Stormalong Bay and getting settled into our room, we planned on walking on over to Epcot for the evening. It's an EMH night there and the F & W festival starts so I imagine it might be a bit crowded, but MNSSHP is also happening that night at MK so hopefully that'll draw some of the crowd that way?

We did have a reservation for Garden Grill @ 5:30pm, but now my 6 yr old DD informed me she's terrified of Pluto and doesn't want to eat there.....

When I made my ressie for that day, the CM thought I meant dinner and not lunch and said Garden Grill was booked for that evening. But we got to pick our time for lunch...go figure!