MNSSHP and Food and Wine

[Kara315]

Trying to decide when to go to Disney this year. To either see the Christmas Décor, or Halloween. For Halloween, I would love to do the MNSSHP, i'm worried about the times we go overlapping with the Food and Wine which I don't have much interest in but would still like to visit Epcot, would it be crazy crowded everyday? We will be there during the week, not weekend. I would go in September, but worried about it being a peak hurricane season. Which is the better time to go? Temps don't bother me too much, so Sept being hotter isn't much of an issue, just Hurricane season vs Food and Wine crowd.

 

[Missyrose]

F&W won't affect Future World too much. And during the week (on non-EMH days), you'd still be able to have a fun afternoon in the World Showcase too. The crowds get heavier in the World Showcase each evening and the crowds can be unbearable in the WS in the late-afternoon and evenings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

But I wouldn't avoid October simply because of F&W, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Epcot without being bothered by it (and you may even like to get a few samples from the kiosks!)

 

[ZoZo]

F&W won't affect Future World too much. And during the week (on non-EMH days), you'd still be able to have a fun afternoon in the World Showcase too. The crowds get heavier in the World Showcase each evening and the crowds can be unbearable in the WS in the late-afternoon and evenings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

But I wouldn't avoid October simply because of F&W, there are plenty of ways to enjoy Epcot without being bothered by it (and you may even like to get a few samples from the kiosks!)

I agree, don't avoid October because of F&W. Since you're planning to avoid the weekends at F&W, you shouldn't have an issue with crowds. We've been several times in October and as long as you know to avoid the weekends, you should have a great time!

Regarding going in either September or October, it's important to realize that both months fall during peak hurricane season. (In fact, I was at WDW during Hurricane Wilma in October 2005, and ended up having a marvelous time!) The chances of a hurricane happening exactly when you're going is pretty darn small. The only way to really avoid it completely is to go during the six months of the year that it's not hurricane season!

You're much more likely to get some seasonal rain either September or October; afternoon thundershowers are pretty much the norm in the fall. So if you don't mind the heat, September is actually a great time to go, with really low crowd levels. October is great, too, but with slightly higher crowds than September.

 

[DisneyHardin]

Just go to Epcot on a weekday and you won't have any problems. We have gone the first week of Oct that last three years and although we do enjoy the Festival, we don't enjoy crowds. We make sure we hit WS right at 11 when it opens and only went during the week.

 

[Ametista]

FWIW we enjoyed MVMCP far more than we did MNSSHP. And for our October trip (when we did MNSSHP) we avoided Epcot because of F&W, largely because of the reports of drunks. Just our choice, I did not want to have to avoid a large section of the park. I love Christmas decorations and, being from Colorado, I thought the "snow" on Main Street was a kick. It really was magical, even better than I thought it would be. We went the week before Thanksgiving and the weather was still pretty warm.

 

[aVASTGrl]

As long as you avoid Epcot on the weekends, you'll be fine, and October is such a great time of year to go! I've been for both holidays and while Christmas is pretty great, MNSSHP was far and away my favourite Disney experience, although I may be biased since Halloween is my favourite holiday!

Are you avoiding F&W because of the drunk crowds? Because it's a really great and tasty event, even if you don't drink! Like others have said, if you go during the week, you won't see much of a crowd difference

 

[herb102211]

We face the same decision every year, too, whether to go at Christmas or Halloween!

The Food & Wine Festival generally starts the last weekend of September and runs through Veterans Day Weekend in November. With that said, it’s possible to pair up the Food & Wine Festival with MNSSHP or MVMCP (as the first MVMCP of the season is usually the Friday before Veteran’s Day).

Epcot gets much busier on the weekends during F&WF but during the week you should be fine.

I would really base your trip off of what holiday season you would rather be there for- Christmas or Halloween.

We’ve been to WDW several times in September and it does rain more then, than it has on our October, November or December trips. Hurricane season technically lasts until the end of November, but it seems September is one of the rainier months.

If I were going for the Halloween season, I would much rather go in October instead of September. I wouldn’t let the F&WF crowds dictate the trip.

 

[figment_jii]

I concur with the PPs...October is my favorite time of year to go to WDW because of MNSSHP and F&W. As long as you avoid Epcot (primarily WS) from Friday early-evening through Sunday, you aren't going to really see much impact of F&W. Friday evening through Sunday tend to have higher crowds in WS (especially near the front half of WS), but FW isn't impacted as much, so you could still enjoy Epcot on the weekend. My family tends to go to F&W on the weekdays at lunch (shortest line, least crowds) and do two MNSSHP when we are there!

Other than Epcot, I don't think F&W really impacts DHS or AK crowds. MNSSHP has some effects on MK crowds, but F&W does not.

In terms of the weather, it's hard to say what you'll get in October. I've been there in October when the weather was great (cool, dry) and miserable (hot, humid) all in the span of a week. Overall, I have to say that December weather was generally better (generally cool/cold and dry), but I've also been there when December was cold. Sigh...weather is unpredictable...

 

[Figment_Fan]

Went for the first time this past October, over a weekend. It wasn't that bad. DD was off on a Monday and we went on a Friday, and came back Monday night. Able to pull the whole thing off without missing school. A little crowded, but nothing out of the ordinary. MNSSHP was great. And, I was in a padded Mr. Incredible costume in 78 degree heat. With a huge smile on my face.

On the flight home DD and DW were already discussing how to do it again next year. And, I am not going to argue.
DD ate escargot three days in a row. We tried as much as we could and NEED to go back to try other food.
We had free dining and barely used it because we were so full from snacking. We did use all of the snack credits. I will note, we did mostly beer not wine. Don't avoid October or the weekends. It was manageable. Saw some who overindulged a little, but they were more humorous than a problem. Saw on young 20 something pretending to fly around like Iron Man with his friends laughing and recording the show. The recording will be to remind him as he probably doesn't remember doing it.