How early to arrive at the Epcot theater for the F & G concert series?

[Destinyz12]

I will be at Disney World during the F&G festival this spring and on one particular day there is a band playing that I really want to see during the 'Garden Rocks' series. How early should I arrive at the theater to get a decent seat and which time slot is usually the least crowded? (There's 5:30, 6:45 & 8:00 pm times each day) Also, can food & drinks be brought to the seats?

 

[jaysmom4285]

Yes, you can bring food and drinks in. We've never found those concerts to be so crowded that we couldn't find a seat for any of the time slots if we got there somewhat early, like half an hour. It isn't nearly as crowded as something like the Candlelight Processional.

 

[skyblue17]

If it's like Eat to the Beat (I assume it is), you can arrive at any time prior to the 5:30 performance to get a seat. After the 5:30 performance, the entire theater is emptied and then re-filled. You can go back in, of course, but a line might have formed while the first show is happening. The band I saw at Eat to the Beat had a pretty long line (down past Italy) after the first show but I still was in the front rows of the second section after leaving the first set and joining the line. There's a lot of room in there and pretty much all of the seats are good, even if not all close. Just don't sit behind a tree!

 

[jina]

I just looked a the schedule and see Rick Springfield is coming 4/15 and 16 - I really want to see him but it completely messes with all sorts of plans I've already booked and the fact that we will be leaving the EP resorts that day for a few days at BLT which were supposed to be MK focused (the idea was to minimize our time in transportation). I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to move things around. How long is each set? 45 minutes or so? And are Sundays much busier than Mondays re: locals? We'd be targeting the 5:30 show.

The concert is on 4/15 and 4/16. We are doing a resort split stay, moving from BCV to BLT on 4/15 so I was hoping to be done with EP by midday on 4/15 so we could focus on MK while at BLT. Sigh.

Here is what I have right now:

Sun 4/15 HS in morning, hop to BLT to check in, 4pm, Hoop De Doo Dinner
Mon 4/16 MK day, HEA Dessert
Tues 4/17 sleep in AM, CRT lunch (I will not even attempt to move this)

If we did the concert 4/15, we'd have:
Sun 4/15, concert until 6:15-6:30 - would we have time (and energy) to then go to HEA dessert, bypassing the break I had scheduled before to check in and hang out at BLT? HEA dessert is at 7:45pm.
Mon 4/16 Hoop Dee Doo 4pm
Tues 4/17 CRT lunch 1pm

If we did the concert 4/16, we'd have:
Sun 4/15 Hoop Dee Doo 4pm
Mon 4/16 MK during the day, hop to EP for concert, then back to BLT
Tues 4/17 CRT lunch 1pm

One other option
Sun 4/15 HEA dessert (have time to check in and relax at BLT after morning/afternoon at HS)
Mon 4/16 MK during day, hop to EP for concert, spend evening in EP, then back to BLT
Tues 4/17 1pm CRT lunch, Hoop Dee Doo at 6:15pm (too much food in one day?)

For CRT, does everyone have to order or can DH and I split an entree?

TIA!

 

[MrKnight]

I just looked a the schedule and see Rick Springfield is coming 4/15 and 16 - I really want to see him but it completely messes with all sorts of plans I've already booked and the fact that we will be leaving the EP resorts that day for a few days at BLT which were supposed to be MK focused (the idea was to minimize our time in transportation). I'm trying to figure out if it's possible to move things around. How long is each set? 45 minutes or so? And are Sundays much busier than Mondays re: locals? We'd be targeting the 5:30 show.

The concert is on 4/15 and 4/16. We are doing a resort split stay, moving from BCV to BLT on 4/15 so I was hoping to be done with EP by midday on 4/15 so we could focus on MK while at BLT. Sigh.

Here is what I have right now:

Sun 4/15 HS in morning, hop to BLT to check in, 4pm, Hoop De Doo Dinner
Mon 4/16 MK day, HEA Dessert
Tues 4/17 sleep in AM, CRT lunch (I will not even attempt to move this)

If we did the concert 4/15, we'd have:
Sun 4/15, concert until 6:15-6:30 - would we have time (and energy) to then go to HEA dessert, bypassing the break I had scheduled before to check in and hang out at BLT? HEA dessert is at 7:45pm.
Mon 4/16 Hoop Dee Doo 4pm
Tues 4/17 CRT lunch 1pm

If we did the concert 4/16, we'd have:
Sun 4/15 Hoop Dee Doo 4pm
Mon 4/16 MK during the day, hop to EP for concert, then back to BLT
Tues 4/17 CRT lunch 1pm

One other option
Sun 4/15 HEA dessert (have time to check in and relax at BLT after morning/afternoon at HS)
Mon 4/16 MK during day, hop to EP for concert, spend evening in EP, then back to BLT
Tues 4/17 1pm CRT lunch, Hoop Dee Doo at 6:15pm (too much food in one day?)

For CRT, does everyone have to order or can DH and I split an entree?

TIA!

IMHO considering that the concert is a late afternoon/early evening event it would be best to try to end your day at EC, you could book a dinner ADR after the concert at a WC restaurant and maybe even watch Illuminations.. I believe that trying to squeeze in another park or anything else outside of EC or EC resort area after the concert is going to be challenging and your time at EC is going to feel very rushed and IMO stressful, you may not even be able to fully enjoy the concert thinking that you have to immediately leave the park afterwards to be somewhere else..

 

[skyblue17]

The sets are about half an hour. I went for Hanson at Eat to the Beat and they played six or seven songs per set. I went to all three sets (they have a lot of songs, so even though there were some repeats, there was also some more songs mixed in) and it felt more like a long concert with breaks than a mini set. They want to leave enough time to empty everyone out and re-fill the theater, plus allow a little down time for the performers. (I imagine Rick will have a line).

My suggestion would be to aim to be there for the second set and if you're early, get in line. That will help you get a better seat, and you'll still be able to hear the concert while you wait. Plus, that way you aren't rushing over to Epcot from MK, if you're aiming to be there by say, 6pm or so. This also gives you a chance to go to the last set if you want to! Maybe take the bus to Boardwalk from MK and go through the World Showcase entrance?

Another option is I am pretty sure they do have dinner packages and reserved seating for these. Either way, I would do it on the 16th, since you really won't have to rush from MK, especially if you are doing an evening there the night before, and you can probably bus/monorail back to BLT.

 

[jina]

Good to know about the set lists. Thanks! I would love to go to multiple sets but doubt DD8 would be up for it so 1 set should be fine for me to get my fix. I think I will focus on the 16th as you recommend and move other things around. MK mysteriously closes at 6pm on the 17th so that limited when I could do HEA but upon further thinking, Hoop Dee Doo is probably a better use of time on the 17th anyway since MK will be closed. Hopefully I can move HEA dessert from the 16th to the 15th.

I was hoping not to have to head back to EP once we were at BLT but DD8 will enjoy taking the monorail to EP. Now I have to re-think some FP's - whether to do FP+ that day at MK (current thinking) or save them for EP that evening. I have a few more weeks before the 60-day FP+ go date.