Which festival do you prefer? F&G or F&W?

[snikki]

I just got back from a great trip with DD16 and am now in the midst of thinking about and starting to preplan for a trip with DH. Thinking 2025 for F&G.

My last two trips I've been in early November with DD and never really had a chance to truly eat around the world since DD isn't the biggest fan of waiting in the booth lines. When DH and I go we really want to devote time to Epcot and the booths and that experience.

I'm leaning towards F&G due to a few things: pretty flowers and landscaping, no Christmas music and Christmas taking over the parks (I LOVE Christmas but I miss hearing regular music in the parks!), nice weather if we go end of April/beginning of May, they seem to have great booths.

DH kinda wants to go to F&W (honestly as long as there is beer, liquor and booths he will be fine - we ate around the world before during a non festival time) but I don't want to go in November again due to all of the Christmas theming, September is tricky with hurricanes and October is very Halloween and not my most favorite holiday. I'm actually planning an October trip in the next few years with DD since she's a huge Halloween fan and wants to do MNSSHP. I guess I just want OG Disney parks. LOL

Which festival do you prefer?

 

[Mango7100]

F & G hands down. There’s plenty of food booths to eat and drink around (it seems like just as many as Food and Wine but I don’t know what the exact number comparison) plus the beautiful flowers and topiaries.

 

[bullcat_02]

F & G for the flowers. I haven't been since they added food booths to the festival.

 

[Debbie Jean]

Living in the north, I love going to F&G… all the gorgeous flowers are such a welcome relief from a long cold winter! Add in food booths, wonderful weather and what’s not to love?

 

[IndyToThere]

After having been in early May for F&G this past year, my vote is for F&G. Why? Smaller crowds.

When you have to wait in long lines for most of the booths for F&W, it kind of defeats the point of trying lots of small things and just makes for a frustrating experience. Add to that, not having anywhere to eat (oh goodie, another trash can for a table!) and having to eventually eat at a sit down restaurant because you couldn't get to enough booths before getting hangry.

 

[maleficent55]

After having been in early May for F&G this past year, my vote is for F&G. Why? Smaller crowds.

When you have to wait in long lines for most of the booths for F&W, it kind of defeats the point of trying lots of small things and just makes for a frustrating experience. Add to that, not having anywhere to eat (oh goodie, another trash can for a table!) and having to eventually eat at a sit down restaurant because you couldn't get to enough booths before getting hangry.

But aren’t the spring break crowds insane? We had to move our November trip to April so we will be in Epcot two different days in April, one of which will be Easter sunday
I’m mentally preparing for massive crowds

 

[Debbie Jean]

But aren’t the spring break crowds insane? We had to move our November trip to April so we will be in Epcot two different days in April, one of which will be Easter sunday
I’m mentally preparing for massive crowds

I go every year. Between holidays and spring breakers March and April are insane. Gird your loins! Lol

This year I’m doing a cruise in April so not going to F&G until June. Hoping the crowds may be a bit less.

 

[Genie+]

#1 Flower and Garden.
#2 Art Festival
#3 Food and Wine

 

[snikki]

But aren’t the spring break crowds insane? We had to move our November trip to April so we will be in Epcot two different days in April, one of which will be Easter sunday
I’m mentally preparing for massive crowds

We would avoid Easter and most of March. In 2025 Easter is April 20. We would most definitely go at least the week after- 26th or later. Or possibly early May depending on DDs college schedule/move out date. She starts college Fall 2024 and this all depends on if she goes away and how far, etc. Her graduating and going off to college is why we’re waiting until late 2024 or early 2025.

Also everyone always says how crazy jersey week is and we’ve been twice and it’s busy but nothing that’s not manageable.

 

[sponica]

But aren’t the spring break crowds insane? We had to move our November trip to April so we will be in Epcot two different days in April, one of which will be Easter sunday
I’m mentally preparing for massive crowds

Epcot is also just weird now because it gets way more traffic since they opened ratatouille and guardians. But yeah the weeks around Easter are particularly crowded. I've been on 3 different F&G trips, I liked early May the best as all the spring breaks had ended.


OP to answer your question, I prefer F&G.

 

[WEDWDW]

Flower & Garden hands down!

I always say that once you see Epcot all "Flowered and Topiaried up" it looks "naked" the rest of the year!

And when they added the Outdoor Kitchens several years ago it kicked it up a notch further.

And Garden Rocks is so much fun.

And F&G is so EXCITING because you are headed into SPRING!

 

[snikki]

Living in the north, I love going to F&G… all the gorgeous flowers are such a welcome relief from a long cold winter! Add in food booths, wonderful weather and what’s not to love?

I’m in NJ!

I think we’re pretty set on F&G. I did F&G in 2008 and 2009 without knowing it was a thing and it was so beautiful.

Glad to see so many enjoy F&G so much. I thought it would sway to F&W being a favorite.

 

[MomOTwins]

We would avoid Easter and most of March. In 2025 Easter is April 20. We would most definitely go at least the week after- 26th or later. Or possibly early May depending on DDs college schedule/move out date. She starts college Fall 2024 and this all depends on if she goes away and how far, etc.

Also everyone always says how crazy jersey week is and we’ve been twice and it’s busy but nothing that’s not manageable.

Then definitely F&G. I enjoy it so much more than F&W because the topiaries are so pretty and really add something to the ambiance. We’ve battled spring break crowds and yeah they are bad, but if your plan is to go in late April and avoid the peak spring crowds it is a no brainer.

 

[set88]

Love this thread! Just got back from doing F&W for the first time... now I'm even more excited to go back this spring and do F&G.

 

[maleficent55]

We would avoid Easter and most of March. In 2025 Easter is April 20. We would most definitely go at least the week after- 26th or later. Or possibly early May depending on DDs college schedule/move out date. She starts college Fall 2024 and this all depends on if she goes away and how far, etc. Her graduating and going off to college is why we’re waiting until late 2024 or early 2025.

Also everyone always says how crazy jersey week is and we’ve been twice and it’s busy but nothing that’s not manageable.

Our dates are set! Ha ha
Gotta roll with what it is. In addition to my daughters time off of school, or any planned time off of work too

April 1st to April 11th it is

Is Epcot ON Easter Sunday ok?

 

[sponica]

Our dates are set! Ha ha
Gotta roll with what it is. In addition to my daughters time off of school, or any planned time off of work too

April 1st to April 11th it is

Is Epcot ON Easter Sunday ok?

I'd much rather be in Epcot on Easter Sunday than in MK.

 

[sponica]

I’m in NJ!

I think we’re pretty set on F&G. I did F&G in 2008 and 2009 without knowing it was a thing and it was so beautiful.

Glad to see so many enjoy F&G so much. I thought it would sway to F&W being a favorite.

I've only been to food and wine once, but we don't travel much that time of year. We're more inclined to travel in that Feb to May time frame, when we're just mentally done with whatever winter has done to us.

 

[HopperFan]

#1 Flower and Garden.
#2 Art Festival
#3 Food and Wine

THIS^

While the Art has been a great addition and at least pre-COVID had some great activities (was a bit disappointed this year) - Flower & Garden is the total package. LOVE all the floral work they do to the park and it has all the great eats/drinks that you can get at F&W.

I used to do F&W every year but I now avoid it. The crush of humanity, the long lines ... it's just not enjoyable at all to me. Last three trips it was there but really tried to avoid World Showcase after mid afternoon.

EDITED TO ADD: Flower & Garden also has the best weather of all the festivals. Art can be cold, F&W can be hot and wet.

 

[DaniPoppins]

We love F&G too! But after all the Spring Break crowds are gone!!

 

[hes122]

This is a tough one for me as I really like both festivals. I might have to give the slight nod to F&W as I prefer their food offerings. I do love the ambiance at Epcot during F&G though.