IFWF Crowd Nightmares.

[Disneyliscious]

I really enjoy this guys videos and was looking at his recent trip to IFWF on opening weekend. The lines are incredible. Absolute nightmares. Is this normal?

We're going in just over 2 weeks and it will be our first IFWF to attend. I had no idea lines to get food samples would be worse than some rides. At one point he shows the line to pay for beer is 30+ minutes, and then once you pay you have to get in a different line to get the beer which is also 30+ minutes. The line for Italy is INSANE. Is this to be expected throughout the whole festival?

 

[Gymbomom]

I think typically the first weekend is SO much bigger than the other days. But, the weekend will run larger crowds in general with locals coming to experience.

So crowd levels from largest to smallest
Opening Weekend
Weekends
Evenings
Weekdays

Best day to plan your time would be during the week

 

[Disneyliscious]

I think typically the first weekend is SO much bigger than the other days. But, the weekend will run larger crowds in general with locals coming to experience.

So crowd levels from largest to smallest
Opening Weekend
Weekends
Evenings
Weekdays

Best day to plan your time would be during the week

Good news. We plan on going on a Tuesday and doing a rope drop to ride the rides then hitting WS soon as it opens.

 

[Brocktoon]

Folks are reporting that the 2015 opening Friday was the most crowded opening day they've ever seen.

But in general it's always recommended to AVOID SATURDAYS! I don't know how many times and how strongly it's stressed that Saturdays at F&W are insanely crowded ... yet people still attempt it. Crowd calendars mean nothing for F&W. Saturday's will bring the largest crowds you may have ever seen on a consistent basis.

If anyone does decide to still venture into F&W on a Saturday, just be prepared for the crowd mayhem. Even when I have a F&W hard ticket event for the afternoon or evening on a Sat I still dread navigating those crowds ...

 

[MrToadsWildRide]

I really enjoy this guys videos

Who is this guy?

 

[wilma-bride]

As already mentioned, weekends are incredibly busy at the IF&WF. And, yes, we have seen lines of up to 30 minutes at some of the more popular booths. Generally, if you go during the week it will be quieter, although epcot is always much busier when the festival is on anyway.

 

[jerseygal]

I think typically the first weekend is SO much bigger than the other days. But, the weekend will run larger crowds in general with locals coming to experience.

So crowd levels from largest to smallest
Opening Weekend
Weekends
Evenings
Weekdays

Best day to plan your time would be during the week

Have read several threads saying that weekends are BUSY! Some can only attend on weekends, but if one has the flexibility, many have advised that weekdays are best. We are taking this advice for our October trip; can't wait!

 

[wdw4rfam]

Have read several threads saying that weekends are BUSY! Some can only attend on weekends, but if one has the flexibility, many have advised that weekdays are best. We are taking this advice for our October trip; can't wait!

We went last year on a weekday and it was still busy. The lines weren't 30 + minutes, but long enough that we ended up not eating at any of them. We went the last week of September, which was also free dining, so maybe that made it worse

 

[Boopuff]

I have an AP and my mission is to get the darn wine glass! Is the wait super duper awful? Should I get there first thing to turn in my passport? And is the line to stamp it really long too? thanks

 

[hiroMYhero]

I have an AP and my mission is to get the darn wine glass! Is the wait super duper awful? Should I get there first thing to turn in my passport? And is the line to stamp it really long too? thanks

The passport lines were really long on Friday and Saturday. Yesterday, the line was reportedly much shorter along with short lines for the food booths.

On Saturday, the food lines were 30-45 minutes long. Sunday's lines looked like they were about a third of what they were on Saturday.

 

[Boopuff]

I'm planning on going weekdays. So hopefully I'll complete my mission glass in hand!

 

[3DisneyFanz]

They said they wanted to curb the drinking this year so maybe this is their plan. Keep the lines so long people either avoid the stations or they sober up during the wait.

 

[Marbel]

I enjoy Tim Tracker too. Those lines are insane.

 

[LetsTalkWDW]

Who is this guy?

Don't know specifically who he is, but here is his youtube channel homepage: TheTimTracker

 

[hiroMYhero]

They said they wanted to curb the drinking this year so maybe this is their plan. Keep the lines so long people either avoid the stations or they sober up during the wait.

The guests in line were drinking while in the food lines. There are many locations other than F&W booths where alcohol can be purchased. The Chase Lounge had a cash bar - so that nice, cool area also had its share of drunk people.

 

[Disney Khi]

I've gone to F&W twice and have never seen lines that long. I don't mean that they don't exist; I just mean they aren't always there. However, we do go during the week and go early in the day. Once I was there on the soft opening day, so that probably helped. The other time was in October. I still had to wait maybe five minutes at some booths but nothing close to thirty.

 

[Miskey]

I have an AP and my mission is to get the darn wine glass! Is the wait super duper awful? Should I get there first thing to turn in my passport? And is the line to stamp it really long too? thanks

Saw one on ebay, which I just don't get as a seller or a buyer. First of all, it just seems like a lot of trouble to get one to just sell for not really much money, and secondly, not getting it yourself would, for me, take away from the specialness of it

 

[LENNON500]

Locals go on the weekends to enjoy food and wine, which is why it's so much more crowded. If you can go during the week, you'll be much better off

 

[elgerber]

I have an AP and my mission is to get the darn wine glass! Is the wait super duper awful? Should I get there first thing to turn in my passport? And is the line to stamp it really long too? thanks

I really wanted one too, until I noticed it's a port wine glass, so I probably wouldn't actually use it :-(

 

[LilyWDW]

Those lines are pretty normal for a weekend and then even longer due to it being opening weekend. So it was the perfect storm. This is not normal for a weekday as the festival goes along. I have never waited more then maybe 10 minutes at a booth from getting in line to pay to having my food. I normally plan on getting to the World Showcase as soon as it opens and starting to snack right away. I also go multiple days so that if it gets too busy, it doesn't matter as I will have more time later to get what I want.