Soft Opening for Food and Wine?

[MOM POPPINS]

We are thinking about going the last week of September. Will they have soft opening for food and wine. Thanks in advance.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Gee, I hope so. We'll also be there that week/weekend.

 

[MOM POPPINS]

I just checked allears and it says F and W starts the 30th. of September, I sure hope that is the case. We will go on that day since Saturday, October 1st. will be even busier I would think???

 

[erionm]

I just checked allears and it says F and W starts the 30th. of September, I sure hope that is the case. We will go on that day since Saturday, October 1st. will be even busier I would think???

Yes, F&W starts 9/30/2011 and runs until 11/13/2011. F&W begins at 11am when the World Showcase opens. If you get there at 11am, you can get a lot done before it gets crowded.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/pa...s/epcot-international-food-and-wine-festival/

 

[MOM POPPINS]

Thanks for the link I was just looking for it on the website. Sounds like we are going to book the last week in September! Thanks!

 

[erionm]

At some point, Disney will add a link to a pdf version of the Festival Guide. The Festival Guide will list all of the food & drinks available at the various kiosks (no prices) plus all of the seminars and demonstrations that will be going on.

 

[DenLo]

Before that happens this link is usually updated, but now still shows the 2010 schedule. http://www.foodwinefest.com/

 

[dgaston]

The soft opening is generally the Thursday before the official Friday opening.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I just checked allears and it says F and W starts the 30th. of September, I sure hope that is the case. We will go on that day since Saturday, October 1st. will be even busier I would think???

Last year we were there the first weekend of the F&W and Saturday eve was PACKED! We went in the IG, got as far as Canada, and turned around and went back to our hotel.
To the PP who mentioned getting there right at 11:00, that's what we always do (except that one Saturday) and it works great!

 

[RobPickles]

A few years ago we went down for the F&W and we didn't even realize there was a "soft opening". We arrived that Thursday morning and went to Epcot and there was a very small crowd - nothing like i was expecting. We looked at each other and were like...This is awesome! Then a few days later it was jam packed and crazy crowded! LOL! Well at least we had a few nice quiet days there!

 

[pilferk]

We are thinking about going the last week of September. Will they have soft opening for food and wine. Thanks in advance.

Maybe.

We were there in 2009, around the same time (we left on the 26th) and they started the soft opening right around the 24th/25th. Not EVERY booth was open, but most were for at least limited hours.

This year we're there in mid-October. Can't wait.

 

[shoes99]

We are checking into the BCV on 9/28, so hoping for a soft opening too.

 

[crazybones27]

We were there this past Sept/Oct for opening day. I had read they were going to do a soft opening on that Thursday. We went on the first day which was a Friday at around 12-12:30 and ate our way around the whole showcase. I don't remember What time we got through it but by the time we got back to Mexico it was waaaaaay more packed then we realized. I definitely suggest getting an early start on whatever day you go! Have a great time! We will definitely be doing F&W again!

 

[n2mm]

Yes, we too was there for the beginning of F&W (also for the end) 2010. Yes there as a 1 day soft openning. We were walking around WS that evening and noticed everything was opened. We mentioned it to someone and was told it's a soft opening for cast members, but it's opened for everyone. So they really don't announce it to the public, but the public can participate. I guess it's so the CMs can enjoy before the openning day. But let me say, on openning weekend....wow.....we will never do that again. We could not get into the BCV to park that evening to eat. Only bc guest and folks with confirmed ADRs were allowed to park. We had planned to eat at B&C that evening and was turned away. We then tired to park behind Hess and walk over and that lot was full and folks were turned away. We drove to a food court and had dinner there.