Was F&W a bust this year attendance-wise?

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

It seems like the vast majority of the posts have mentioned "low-crowds" no matter what day of the week they went. Some have mentioned it being "kinda crowded but very manageable" during some weekends but that's about it.

 

[RichmondTiggerFan]

I was in Epcot last Saturday evening and it was wall-to-wall almost the whole way across World Showcase.

 

[mystery222184]

Yea I would say the opposite. I've been here a week now and the only non-busy days were those everyone expected for Epcot (Monday and Thursday come to mind). Saturday was absolutely insane.

 

[cakebaker]

It was packed wall to wall when we were there in late September. Weekdays, early in the afternoon was better, but crowds were never light.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Interesting.

I hope others can give their accounts of crowd levels, too.

Just reading a lot of posts about it these last few weeks I was thinking..."what happened here?"...this was supposed to be a really popular festival?

 

[aacvacation]

It was so crowded we were actually stuck at one point. It was like one of those nightmarish photos you see of people shoulder to shoulder in the Magic Kingdom, I was floored. We tried one thing and then gave up and left (which took forever!) Worth noting this was also on a Saturday...

 

[Disneynutinlondon]

I was there Oct 3rd to 18th and I would say EPCOT was a no go for us every weekend as WS was totally rammed. The only time we would visit was on the early afternoon. It's come to the point now where we've said we will never go during F&W again as the crowds and behaviour that goes along with the copious drinking just spoils it in our opinion

 

[Ellwood970]

I was there Wednesday October 29 it was very manageable. It was extra magic hours so we spent all day in world showcase and rode the rides later. During the day the crowds were lite. The food offerings were good the wine offerings were limited. The lumberjack show was fun but loud. They appear out of place.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

It was so crowded we were actually stuck at one point. It was like one of those nightmarish photos you see of people shoulder to shoulder in the Magic Kingdom, I was floored. We tried one thing and then gave up and left (which took forever!) Worth noting this was also on a Saturday...

@aacvacation

Just curious...what was the "one thing" that you tried before you left?

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I was there Wednesday October 29 it was very manageable. It was extra magic hours so we spent all day in world showcase and rode the rides later. During the day the crowds were lite.

This is typical of the vast majority of the reports that I have read coming out of F&W 2014. No matter what day or time it seemed like it was all "lite, lite, lite" or "very manageable". I was surprised enough to start this thread. Many of the people responding to this thread are painting a different picture.

I'd love to be able to see the official numbers!

 

[aacvacation]

@aacvacation

Just curious...what was the "one thing" that you tried before you left?

The Teriyaki Gyoza Bun at the Japan kiosk.

We had spent our morning at Animal Kingdom and refrained from eating because we had a lengthy "must-try" list for the festival. (BAD IDEA. We were too hungry for crowds.) Both sides of the entrance to the WS were complete walls of people. We were convinced if we just got inside the mass, there would be a break somewhere. We started at the "end" because the majority of the items we wanted were at the later kiosks. There wasn't a break until Japan, but it was a big break, and only like 20 or so people were in line for food there. We didn't have anything marked off there that we wanted to eat so we asked what was good, they told us the bun. We thought it was delicious but were so hungry we probably would've eaten it if it was peeled off of someone's shoe LOL.

 

[barney4liz]

I've been on two Saturdays and a Friday this year. One Saturday evening in September I was just passing through and it was quite crowded and rowdy. We were there yesterday afternoon and evening (Friday, Halloween) and it was great! Got to try everything we wanted. Went back today to eat lunch at Rose and Crown and shop a bit. R&C was great, Festival was slammed, I was glad we weren't there for the Fest today!

 

[Luckybee]

This is typical of the vast majority of the reports that I have read coming out of F&W 2014. No matter what day or time it seemed like it was all "lite, lite, lite" or "very manageable". I was surprised enough to start this thread. Many of the people responding to this thread are painting a different picture.

I'd love to be able to see the official numbers!

I think you'll find that the daytime/weekday crowds are often considered manageable vs the nighttime/weekend crowds. I don't think that has changed from previous years.

 

[OKW Lover]

We found the crowd levels to be pretty much the same as prior years. The weekend crowds especially were pretty busy as the day went on.

 

[DebbieB]

I think you'll find that the daytime/weekday crowds are often considered manageable vs the nighttime/weekend crowds. I don't think that has changed from previous years.

I agree, I was there Oct 18 to 23. I got there on Saturday October 18 and went to Epcot, the WS was wall to wall people. The food lines were probably 15 to 20 people deep. I went back Sunday night and it was more manageable, maybe 5 people in line. I haven't been to F & W for 4 or 5 years, they seemed to have the lines better managed this year. They had 4 cashiers at many of the booths and another person directing the food orders.

The other parks were a little more crowded than I expected but manageable. I stayed at BWV, I typically did a park in the morning/afternoon, took a break and then headed to F & W in the evenings. I followed my rule of doing MK on party days. Did not do MNSSHP.

Sunday - MK
Monday - DHS
Tuesday - AK
Wednesday - Epcot
Thursday - MK

 

[mare1203]

We were there in late September on a Friday night and it was dead, HOWEVER, it had also been steadily raining from about 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. before finally tapering off, so that's not a fair assessment of a typical Friday night. I'd say crowds are about the same as previous years. The other times we have gone, the crowds have matched what you would expect. Weekdays and early afternoon are less crowded, while weekends and evenings are much busier. Saturdays are always the worst, crowd-wise.

 

[maxiesmom]

It wasn't slow last week, that is for sure! We went Tuesday and Wednesday, and I changed my mind about going on Friday. The lines were so long and the World Showcase was so busy on those two days, I didn't want to see it on Friday! It was very very very busy!

 

[BlackPearl695]

We will be attending on Saturday the 8th, the day of the W&D 1/2. Typically, what can we expect for crowds that day? I'm guessing VERY crowded since it will also be the last weekend. Didn't want to skip it though...we've never been.

 

[PCFriar80]

Interesting.

I hope others can give their accounts of crowd levels, too.

Just reading a lot of posts about it these last few weeks I was thinking..."what happened here?"...this was supposed to be a really popular festival?

Just got back [10/23 - 10/31] and have been going for 13 years at the same time and did not see any noticeable difference in crowd volume from previous years. Weather was perfect. I think the absence of Off Kilter and Mo Rockin at prime time helps alleviate bottlenecks in those respective countries and the crowds seem to move better. One interesting thing which happened on Wednesday, 10/29 at the 8:00 Dennis DeYoung concert was a firework misfiring at the end of the set in the middle of Come Sail Away. It was quick, but even startled some of the band members. I have it taped as well and it's very loud. I was wondering if anyone else was at the particular show?

 

[Luckybee]

We were there in late September on a Friday night and it was dead, HOWEVER, it had also been steadily raining from about 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. before finally tapering off, so that's not a fair assessment of a typical Friday night. I'd say crowds are about the same as previous years. The other times we have gone, the crowds have matched what you would expect. Weekdays and early afternoon are less crowded, while weekends and evenings are much busier. Saturdays are always the worst, crowd-wise.

It sounds like you were there one of the same days as us. I'm going to have fond memories of my Tilapia literally floating in its dish....lol