When to do Food and Wine (Opening day or Saturday)?

[GP443]

Due to my vacation dates, I only have two options for visiting EPCOT’s “Food and Wine Festival”. Either August 30 (Thursday), the day it first starts, or September 1 (Saturday). Friday is a Magic Kingdom day, so really don’t want to go on Friday. Which day would be best? I fear the crowds on opening day, but first weekend it’s open could be bad too.

Thank you for your input!

 

[PSUGuy]

We avoid Saturdays but we're there in late Oct and we've never attended opening day but I'd choose that day since it's a week day. Hopefully someone with actual recent experience on the first few days will chime in.

Bill From PA

 

[soccermom54]

I would go on Thursday even though it is the 1st day. EPCOT will be packed with locals on the weekend, especially the 1st weekend of F & W.

 

[Brocktoon]

Opening day will be packed with bloggers, but it'll still be better than any Saturday. Being a Thursday it may not be all that bad

 

[Hopefully]

Thursday. We always avoid Saturday

 

[luvmarypoppins]

My last Saturday food and wine observation was 50 people in line for a waffle with fruit topping. Avoid the weekend crowds if possible.

 

[kastoney]

Definitely do the first day vice a Saturday and try to go at lunch instead of evening and it should be less crowded

 

[suprgrlx]

Definitely do the first day vice a Saturday and try to go at lunch instead of evening and it should be less crowded

Do you think lunch will be less crowded than evening? We're planning that as our Epcot day and either doing Garden Grill for lunch or supper, and wanted to do F&W for the other, but I'm back and forth on which will be worse. I figured since it was a weekday opening day, that your big crowd would mostly be bloggers, etc and that they'd want to get in ASAP and that evening might be slightly better?

 

[kaytieeldr]

Yes, lunch should be less busy than evening, especially if you start right at 11.

 

[Davkind76]

Do you think lunch will be less crowded than evening? We're planning that as our Epcot day and either doing Garden Grill for lunch or supper, and wanted to do F&W for the other, but I'm back and forth on which will be worse. I figured since it was a weekday opening day, that your big crowd would mostly be bloggers, etc and that they'd want to get in ASAP and that evening might be slightly better?

I’ve gone the last few years on the opening day… Lunch has very little people and it starts to get crowded in the evening

 

[Aimeedyan]

I always hear about the mad crowds on a weekend but I have not found it to be a blanket assumption.

Saturday late morning/lunch has never been insane for us. We visited 4-5 Saturdays last year. By 5pm, it WAS uncomfortable navigating the crowds but we still rarely waited in much line. But it wasn't as enjoyable due to the amount of people.

Sunday nights have quickly become our favorite time - I can't even count how many Sundays we went last year. Getting there around 4pm and staying until close, it was almost always pleasant with short lines.

In your case, I would hit it Saturday around 11 when it opens. That Thursday, which is your other option, is also a MORNING EMH day at epcot and I do think the crowds will be heavier due to that. Plus it messes up your schedule

 

[crabbygal902]

I agree with the advice given that Thursday is likely the better pick although there will be crowds for both. One thing that helps us deal with crowds is to avoid congestion pockets. If you’re in an area that is should to shoulder and has long food lines, look across the lake and you may be surprised to see that other countries aren’t as nutty. Get on a FriendShip and zig zag as needed.

 

[kastoney]

Do you think lunch will be less crowded than evening? We're planning that as our Epcot day and either doing Garden Grill for lunch or supper, and wanted to do F&W for the other, but I'm back and forth on which will be worse. I figured since it was a weekday opening day, that your big crowd would mostly be bloggers, etc and that they'd want to get in ASAP and that evening might be slightly better?

We did opening day lunch a few years ago and crowds weren't bad at all. We didn't stick around until evening, but I'd venture lunch is the better bet.

 

[NYIrunDisney]

Saturdays at Food and Wine aren't alot of fun. It tends to be busy, but moreso, I've noticed you get alot of the college kids in their "drinking team shirts" on Saturdays, and it really turns into a spectacle.