HUGE CROWDS at Epcot F&W Fest

[Wendy1953]

We're going to the POS this coming Saturday, and it will probably be jammed.....weekends are a lot more crowded at this timeof the year! It's Disney and we'll have a great time!

 

[gymborocks]

We were there very early in October this year during the day and night and it was very quiet! (We went on a weekday.) Your picture shocked me! We waited in no lines for food at the booths during the day, and very short ones (or none at all) in the evening.

 

[The Mick]

We were at EPCOT on Sunday, October 15 and it was less crowded than that. It was quite busy, but didn't feel packed, and we were able to do everything that we wanted within 6 hours with little or no wait. (We used a FP for Soarin'.)

Saturdays always seem really crazy for F&W, but Sundays can be less busy (it's hit or miss on weekends 'cause the locals like me come out).

We were there on the 15th as well. It wasn't that bad...until the Beach Boys 5:45 show started.

Then the American Pavilion was CRAZY. Just as crazy as that first photo. There was a massive, massive logjam right at that spot in the pic, outside of the stage. I could not believe how many people were there for the Beach Boys.

People were lining up for seats at 1:30 for a 5:45 show!!!! The line stretched back from the American Pavilion to the AFRICAN OUTPOST. It was insane.

But aside from that, it wasn't that bad, and the lines at the food/wine tents were not outrageous. Overall, it was a great time at F&W, like always.

 

[marsha123]

we were there sat. the 21st it really was packed. we went to animal first and it was not that bad. got the smart idea to go to epcot kids wanted to go back to the pool. i should have . after that concert it was crazy .july crazy

 

[cybrkitn]

Weekends are not good.

I was there Oct 14, Arrived at a wine tasting 45 minutes in advance and saw that there was NO way I was getting in. I just left Epcot and went to the pool

Now that Monday I went back to the wine tastings. Got in line 30 minutes are so in advance and I was VERY near the front. WHen that one ended after about 30 minutes I hoofed it outside got in the END of the line for the next one which had just started seating and got in it too!

So my advice is to plan your Epcot visits for weekdays during Food & Wine.

That's good to hear! We leave tomorrow and have Epcot planned for Thursday and 1/2 day on Friday.

 

[Foladar]

We'll be at Epcot tomorrow . I am guessing it will be nothing at all like the pic posted by OP. IF it is we will focus on having a lovely day in FW, and seeing WS the next time we visit.

We went two and a half days to Epcot, and Disney in general for 8 days and the weekends seemed to be this bad, as we were there too on that Saturday - WOW! Most was at F&W though, Soarin was only 60ish min wait, but 45 min on the next Monday. Test Track, though, was 90 mins on Sat and 50 on Monday.

 

[pygmymom]

Just got back and we were at Epcot on Friday, Oct 20. Got there before it opened and managed to get a lot in before our ADR at San Angel Inn at 11:30. WS wasn't too bad until mid-afternoon. Saw people lining up for Three Dog Night over two hours before concert time. By early evening, crowds had swelled in WS (it was also evening EMH). Lots of lines for food. Hard to tell where to enter, pay and pick up.

If you can, go early and go during the week. Hit WS right at 11. With that plan you should be fine.

 

[Jenny]

for next year, i'll try to get more weekdays at epcot during f&w fest & i'll also look more at the concert schedule since it sounds like that greatly affects the crowds.

i have the contours & chubby checker during our weekend, that area of the WS shouldn't be as crowded as 3 dog night or the beach boys, right?

 

[DebbieB]

I was there Sunday night (Oct 22) and last night (Tuesday), didn't think it was too bad.

 

[FluffyPumpkin78]

We went Wed OCt 11 (night before MNSSHP) and it wasnt crowded at all. Most of the booths we walked up to, and those with lines only had 2 or 3 people in front of us.

 

[FlaNative]

We were there on the 15th as well. It wasn't that bad...until the Beach Boys 5:45 show started.
Then the American Pavilion was CRAZY. Just as crazy as that first photo. There was a massive, massive logjam right at that spot in the pic, outside of the stage. I could not believe how many people were there for the Beach Boys.
People were lining up for seats at 1:30 for a 5:45 show!!!! The line stretched back from the American Pavilion to the AFRICAN OUTPOST. It was insane.
But aside from that, it wasn't that bad, and the lines at the food/wine tents were not outrageous. Overall, it was a great time at F&W, like always.

Hey, are you talking about me? Yes you are, I was part of that Beach Boy crowd on 10-15.

Short version of trip report I'll write later: Get there early!!! Arrived parking lot 9:00. Had to park way east of main entrance, it was not even full to the entrance yet. Entered 9:17. Rode Spaceship Earth, Mission Space, and Test Track by 11:30. NO lines, walk right in. Thought the whole day would be uncrowded. How wrong I was.

Thank you UOFG for recommending: "next get a Soarin Fastpass". Got one for 12:30. Saw HISTA and then walked all around the WS by 12:30. Very light crowds. Back at Soarin the line was TWO HOURS long and idiots were lining up still. Almost felt guilty walking past them with the Fastpass, got right in. At 12:30 the Fastpasses they were giving out for Soarin were for 6:30 or 7, BTW. Back at WS the crowds started to build around 2 and kept building. I thought they would level off but it got more crowded all day. Thought some would thin out by 7 or 8 but everyone stayed for Illuminations. Watched from north end of lake.

For those who love staying onsite and waiting for Disney busses and do not rent a car: Illuminations starts at 9. Ends about 9:15? I had a long walk to my car, then drove to (oh the horrors, oh the humanity, oh to pay half of what a Florida resident can get on a "deal" at a budget WDW room ) my (barely) off property room south of 192. For those who were still in line for the bus or monorail, I was IN my motel room at 9:37. Were you?

 

[helenm29]

We were at the F & W fest. all last week and the weekend. If you got there early during the weekdays you were alright...not too big of lines it seemed. But the WEEKEND was Un-Believeable! the crowds were HUGE! I did speak to a few people while in line for goodies and most of them were from somewhere in Florida! the locals it seems like to go on the weekends. Even though it was busy and crowded we still had a good time and tasted lots of goodies from all over the world! Helen

 

[tlinus]

We were at Epcot last Wednesday the 18th, the park was not too bad at all. I was surprised....