Which Night for Food and Wine?

[jsmla]

DH and I will be at WDW October 15-18 and would like to attend the Food and Wine Festival. We're going to MNSSHP with friends on the 18th which leaves Thursday, Friday or Saturday for Epcot. Thursday is Evening Extra Magic Hours and I've read that Friday and Saturday are VERY busy during F & W. We will not be in the park before 4:00 PM or so, DH is not a theme park guy and we'll be spending our mornings poolside.

easywdw.com recommends Thursday
touringplans.com gives a slight edge to Friday and Saturday

We are eligible for EMH but Thursday is our drive day and we usually don't go to the parks then. I'm considering leaving home Wednesday after DH gets off work to cut down on the 10 hour slog the next day.

So, which evening would you go with?

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

We learned years ago that it's best to do F&W during a weekday. If you can only go during the evening I suggest Thursday night. Friday and Saturday nights get crazy with the local college kids.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

I totally agree with the above.........Friday and Saturday nights often have the drunks out, young and older.

Weekdays and evenings are much nicer.

AKK

 

[GreatLakes]

Thursday would be my choice as well.

 

[Hopefully]

Definitely Thursday by a long shot. Friday and Saturday are not particularly pleasant. I would go with your plan to leave on Wednesday after work. And if you only have 1 day I would go earlier than 4 and watch the Disney food blog for when menus and reviews are posted so you have an idea of which booths you would like to sample.
It is great fun.

 

[Quellman]

Don't forget that the F&W kiosks will not be open during evening EMH. So you can do your dining before hand and riding after.

 

[jsmla]

Thanks for the advice! It does seem like Thursday will be our best bet. 4:00 PM is realistically as early as we'd make it to the parks, Thursday is our drive day. DH isn't much of a ride (or really Disney) kind of guy. He does enjoy Food and Wine though. Maybe if he enjoys the festival enough I'll have a sneaky go on Soarin'

Do any of the alcohol vendors stay open for EMH? Beer really ups his Disney tolerance level