MNSSHP and EPCOT F&W fest

[ImagineMeDisney]

What are the crowds like for these events?

I usually travel in September, but I'd prefer to go in October. What is the Food and Wine festival like, how much extra cash will I need to bring with me to EPCOT that day? Is it worth waiting an extra month?


As for MNSSHP, is it mostly for kids, or are there some brave adults that go to MK for the celebration? My DH's birthday is ON Halloween, and this will be his first trip to WDW, so I thought I might surprise him with MNSSHP (if it's worth it..)

any tips would be helpful!

 

[nativetxn]

Welcome to the DIS. I'm going to bump this back to page one for you so that some of our veterans can offer advice.

Katholyn

 

[suez live]

There are lots of great threads that go into detail on this, but in our opinions, it is the very best time of year. The crowds are typically light (although some reports of very heavy early in October), the weather is usually nice, and the resort costs are in “value” season.

As for $$, it depends on how fully you want to experience the F&WF. The first year, there was nothing over $3. That has increased over the years but it is still very reasonable. One day we typically devote to spending all day working from one side to the other, trying everything and relaxing as we go. As locals with APs, this is the only way to go. If, however, you have limited time, simply relaxing and people watching may not be the best use of your hours. Overall, with sharing food and wine, we typically run about $50 a person. Although more than you might spend at a nicer restaurant, this encompasses both lunch and dinner.

Hope this helps!

 

[wdwcindy]

Both events are wonderful. We (4 adults) went to both events last year.

We didn't attend any of the special big dinner food events at F&W but took full advantage of the small booths around world showcase. It was great fun eating our way around the world for $2 to $5 per portion. There are small portions of ethnic foods and also small servings of wine and beer As the days get closer there will be info on booth offerings and prices or you can search for last years info (maybe on allearsnet.com?).

MNSSHP is also great for adults. We all wore halloween t-shirts and trick-or-treated all around the park with all the kids. One of the best parts was all the characters that were out that you don't usually see like snow white and all seven dwarfs. We stayed right til the bitter end!!! It was great fun!!!

We had so much fun last year that we are going back again Oct 8 thru 15!

wdwcindy

 

[suez live]

Sorry! As for MNSSHP, they limit the number of tickets sold (unlike, apparently, the Halloween events at Universal which are nightmares—crowd wise) so at capacity, the crowds are the same each night. I heard rumor that they increased the numbers close to Halloween, but we’ve never noticed the difference.

wdwcindy is right on the money in terms of fun—everybody trick-or-treats so it is a great time for all! Not that quantities matter (tell that to a 10 year old), after years of taking home enough candy to feed the neighborhood and to run the all the teeth of a small elementary school, three years ago the CMs were a bit on the “stingy” side. Last year, however, it was much more like the past.

If you like Halloween—and I gather your husband who shares a birthday must love rather than despise the season—it is great at most every level. (Not quite as great as the short-lived Mickey’s Halloween Treat was at Disneyland, but still great!)

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

We LOVE, LOVE, LOVE going in October!

You'll see everyone from babies to grandparents at MHSSHP. Some people dress up, some wear Halloween t-shirts, and some go all out with some great costumes. It's SO much fun. It's amazing how fast 5 hours can go by when you are at the party. We try to go more than once during the week. The storytelling is fun, you can get tons of candy going Trick or Treating, the parades and kid dance parties are great, the whole atmosphere is spooky in a way only Disney could do it! And you get to ride all the rides too.

At F&WF we've just sampled some of the food at the booths - we've never done any of the sit-down meals. World Showcase does get pretty congested though - last year DH thought it was pretty bad and even said we should not go during F&WF time anymore. When I told him it went through all of October and 1/2 of November and if we want to go to MNSSHP we have to go during F&WF time that changed his mind!

The weather in October is absolutely gorgeous. Warm and sunny - and not too much rain. Last year in the 8 days we were there it only rained for 20 minutes one evening.

We've been to WDW in September and while the crowd level is much lower than it is in October (at least I think so) the weather in September is too hot, humid and stormy.

Have fun!

Debbie