September Regrets MNSHP and Food and Wine

[Claki]

First post!

Planning our first trip for third week of September. Now that park hours are out I realize I didn't account for the halloween party, and I really didn't expect Food and Wine to start so soon.

For the most part I was able to stay with my original plan for each day. 3 days at MK, 1 at the other 3, and 1 break day. We aren't doing park hoppers, since the kids will be 3 and 5, I don't want to wear everyone out. And the day I was planning for Epcot is now RED on the calendars because of the festival starting, so I switched Epcot with our AK day. So... will I regret not doing the Food and Wine festival? With one day at Epcot I decided we'd be better off avoiding the crowds and experiencing the regular attractions and food.

And what about the halloween party? Will we regret skipping it? My boys don't stay up late, so that would be a waste, right? And if we did want to watch the fireworks could we see them from the beach at the Poly or somewhere else outside the park? We're staying at POR, so I know we won't be able to see them from there.

I'm really trying to resist the urge to pack in too much. Hate feeling like we're not maximizing our opportunities... I do know our limits though, don't I?

 

[prudence64]

I'd say for the first trip plan for seeing the regular attractions and not worry about packing in the special events. September shouldn't be crowded though so even if a park is in red, it's just relative to the other parks and still shouldn't be too crowded to enjoy.

 

[Simba07]

I definitely would skip the events with kids that young. We did basically the same week with kids close to the same ages. We took advantage of lower crowds (MK on the morning of the party, not Epcot on the start of the festival) and it worked great. We didn't regret skipping them at all.

 

[OasterP]

I'd say you know your kids the best. My son will be four and we are planning on taking him to MNSSHP. It could backfire, because he normally sleeps early but we're not going to be doing a park that day until the 4:00 start, so I'm hoping he relaxes before then.

As for food and wine - I think I'm going the same time as you, and I know my son would hate it (and husband too). I think that day we will go to Epcot for a while, then go back to the condo and then I'm coming back out myself to go to food and wine while my son sleeps!

 

[BadgerGirl84]

Skip them. I don't really get the hype over Food and Wine...it's just expensive small appetizers and desserts you can buy. With it being your first trip, there will be plenty of options for food that is new to you in the regular World Showcase restaurants. I'd definitely skip the party, too. The festivities don't start until after 7 and I'm guessing that's close to bedtime.

We went the week of Veterans Day last year with our 3 month old. It was the last weekend of food and wine and the start of MVMCP. Yes, DH and I would have enjoyed both events, but they didn't make any sense to go to with a baby. Food and Wine on a weekday afternoon would be fine with kids, but I wouldn't want to battle evening or weekend crowds.

 

[bumbershoot]

My boys don't stay up late, so that would be a waste, right?

I would think so. With just one child of stroller age I can see going, and just letting him sleep in the stroller...but if they are older, and you obviously have more than the one I have...it just seems like it would be a waste this time.


As for F&W...I'm no expert, but I personally would think that the crowds are there for specifically the food and the wine. And I would personally think that MY reasons for going...the rides and whatever else...might not be packed like the lines for the food and the wine would be. I could be totally wrong! But that's what I would think. So I would probably go when it works with my schedule, avoid the kiosks, deal with the crowds of people going to and from kiosks, and try to enjoy myself.

Of course, my main reason for hitting Epcot during F&W last October was so I could get those mini giftcards on a wrist plastic chain thing! So much more fun than a normal giftcard, and we do use GCs to help budget for Disney trips.

 

[LindaOwl1]

Skip them both. And avoid Epcot on the weekends during Food & Wine if you can. Lots of local adults there for that so very crowded. I took a bunch of 3-5 year olds to MNSSHP once and none of them even liked it! My granddaughter didn't appreciate it until she was 8.

 

[wiigirl]

Skip them both. And avoid Epcot on the weekends during Food & Wine if you can. Lots of local adults there for that so very crowded. I took a bunch of 3-5 year olds to MNSSHP once and none of them even liked it! My granddaughter didn't appreciate it until she was 8.

 

[Jennasis]

Umm...the festival happens EVERY day. So switching your Epcot and AK day won't help you to avoid the festival. There will still be extra F&W crowds at Epcot as well as the festival offerings. What you can do is avoid weekends at Epcot and probably EMH.

 

[mfulk]

My kids didn't care one way or the other about Food & Wine but they loved MNSSHP. They were 7, 5, 3 and 15 months at the time and we stayed til the end of the party and did the same again 2 months later for the Christmas party. We did sleep in the next day! At home they are sleep by 7 every night but at Disney we discovered that they like to go from rope drop to park closing (or party ending) without afternoon rests. We do go to the waterparks in the afternoons. I know many people say that afternoon breaks and normal bedtimes are essential for a good trip but for our family that didn't turn out to be the case. It took us 2 trips to realize that and we have all enjoyed the last 6 trips a lot more.

 

[KelleyK75]

Last time we went and the kids were 3 & 1, and we did the MNSSHP, and the kids loved it. The oldest is now 6 and he still talks about the parade, dancing with Woodie and Jessie at the Halloween Party, and trick or treating in the park. It does start late, so if you think your kids would be too tired, it's probably best not to spend the extra money on it, but if you can do it on a rest day, and maybe let them nap in the afternoon, I definitely think it's worth it. We had a blast and I would go again in a heartbeat.

 

[Claki]

Thank you for the reassurance everyone! For now I'm going with my original plan, except switching my Epcot day to avoid the first Saturday of the festival.

Umm...the festival happens EVERY day. So switching your Epcot and AK day won't help you to avoid the festival. There will still be extra F&W crowds at Epcot as well as the festival offerings. What you can do is avoid weekends at Epcot and probably EMH.

Actually, the festival starts on sixth day of our trip, so it will help. Thanks!

 

[Lightshield]

We are trying to decide which weekend we want to go so we can hit both MNSSHP and Food and Wine... but I can't find the September hours? Disney's site only goes through August. Where did you find them?

 

[Jennasis]

Thank you for the reassurance everyone! For now I'm going with my original plan, except switching my Epcot day to avoid the first Saturday of the festival.

Actually, the festival starts on sixth day of our trip, so it will help. Thanks!

Aha! That makes more sense. I though your trip started on the first day of the festival for some reason. LOL!

 

[Claki]

We are trying to decide which weekend we want to go so we can hit both MNSSHP and Food and Wine... but I can't find the September hours? Disney's site only goes through August. Where did you find them?

They changed the link! I'm on my phone. Try spelling out September instead of abbreviating it in the link from 2013.

 

[cel_disney]

Our family goes JUST to be able to experience those event at the same time.

We don't spend ALOT of time at F&W - we know the menus ahead of time and pick the things we want...mostly I enjoy walking around the park with a tasty adult beverage usually from the Puerto Rico or France booths....(the alcohol is not all wine - there is regional beer and hard alcohol as well if you are interested)

My kids (ages 7 and 3) have enjoyed several parties - the LOVE the Halloween parade and we listen to the sound track from the Halloween party in our car or on their iPods year round...it's definitely one of their favorite things - but they are huge Halloween fans in general! We have many great memories at the Halloween parties....we will not go back to a Christmas party...it was just blah...the party is something you could add on when you are there after you see how they do maybe?

I think you will find PLENTY of time to navigate any park on a weekday in September. (Weekends not so much - we have learned to travel Tuesday to Tuesday and make those weekends pool days!) We have attended Epcot on the opening day of the f&W twice and future world is not usually a problem during that day - but that was before the addition of FP+....I would think that it may be difficult to get FP for TT and Soarin especially in afternoon/evening times with online FP booking...(we would be there at rope drop always so we never had a problem before).

We had a double stroller until our oldest was 6 because its ALOT of walking - and we often would have them do a stroller nap on a food and wine day while we strolled around taking in the sites and sounds and SMELLS with our adult beverages! Early afternoon (nap time) on a weekday is a manageable time to visit F&W....

Will you regret not going? Hard to say - but likely the real answer lies in whether you will be back again and get a chance to experience them some other time....

FYI - I am sure you will have a wonderful time during your trip whether you attend these events or not!

 

[fflmaster]

Skip them both. And avoid Epcot on the weekends during Food & Wine if you can. Lots of local adults there for that so very crowded. I took a bunch of 3-5 year olds to MNSSHP once and none of them even liked it! My granddaughter didn't appreciate it until she was 8.

I have to say I disagree with this statement.

My family has gone the third week in September a few times, and each time we loved the MNSSHP and the food and wine festival.

My boys now 16 have grown up checking off each and every booth in epcot during the food and wine. They were 6 when we first went. This is the highlight of the trip for them.

I would recommend going on the day before officially opening as this is a soft opening and the crowds are very sparse.

As for the MNSSHP, the boys love seeing all the costumes (now they laugh at the people. teenagers).

This year we created a family shirt to for each of us to wear during the party. Each of use was a different villian.

I say enjoy the time, the crowds will be much less in every park. The party is a ton of fun (best parade of the year, in my opinion), and go over to epcot and have some great food.

What is not to like?

 

[TDC Nala]

With very young kids, the Food and Wine Festival is not the place for you unless the adults are particularly interested in partaking. Especially on a Saturday. Drop by on a weekday around 11 if you just want to try the food. They usually put up a playground, but do nothing else specifically for young children.