Christmas or Food & Wine

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imthewalrus79

Active Member
I have the choice to go to Walt Disney World either during the Food and Wine Festival or just after the Christmas season starts throughout the resort. But I'm having trouble deciding. For anyone who has been to WDW during both, which would you choose?
 
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Tuvalu

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Last year the MK, DHS and AK were decorated for Christmas the first week of November while the Food and Wine Festival was still going on, so it if you go that week you may get to do both!

But if I were to pick one or the other, I would choose Christmas. I love visiting the different resorts to see the lovely trees and beautiful decorations, and the parks just seem so joyful and festive.

Food & Wine really draws big crowds (especially on weekends) and it gets very congested trying to walk around World Showcase. The lines for the food booths are long and it is difficult to find a place to enjoy the food or drink you've purchased.
 
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Mickey5150

Well-Known Member
I go to WDW every year for the F&W so that's where my vote is. The lines are only an issue on weekends and that's a good thing, if the lines were always short ID leave WDW bankrupt and a lot larger. I've been to WDW during Christmastime and although the decorations are nice I wouldn't trade them for a trip during F&W.
 
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Disney4family

Disney4family

Well-Known Member
We did both the MNSSHP/Food&Wine events and the MVMCP event. Honestly, we had more fun with the Halloween party than the Christmas party, but we weren't too impressed with the Food&Wine event due to the massive crowds (which seemed to have increased its drinking level, too).
 
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sxeensweet

sxeensweet

Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
We love both times equally as much and rotate between those 2 times each trip. We go mid-late Oct/beginning of Nov. or we go the first several weeks of December. We always do MNSSHP and MVMCP as well. Also there is still plenty to see and do during Christmastime unlike one one poster said. All they took away was the Osborne Lights which we loved but there is still so much to see and do at that time even without the Osborne Lights like all the gingerbread displays at several deluxe resorts, Castle Lights at MK, MVMCP, Candlelight Processional at Epcot (starts after Thanksgiving), Holidays around the World at Epcot (starts after Thanksgiving) etc etc. You can't go wrong with either time and Christmastime is absolutely magical! :inlove::D
 
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KikoKea

KikoKea

Well-Known Member
I'd choose Christmas because of the decorations in the parks and the resorts. We like to resort hop and see the special touches and music, like the gingerbread house, the trees, the lights, etc.

As for F&W, we really don't get much out of it. We don't drink alcohol, so no thrill there. And, very few of the small sample plates have appealed to us. If you are a gourmet cook, you might like the cooking shows, but I've heard many fill up fast so are hard to see.
 
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lemon meringue

Well-Known Member
We enjoy both. If you're staying at a Disney resort, I'd pick Christmas. The decorations are wonderful and you will definitely feel the Spirit of Christmas everywhere you go. If you're traveling with children, I'd also pick Christmas. There isn't much about F&W that stands out for a child. However, if it's an adult only trip and you plan on spending multiple days at World Showcase and an important focus of your trip is sampling good food and drink then you will probably appreciate F&W. It's especially nice if you can stay at an Epcot area resort and walk in and out as you please.
 
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sxeensweet

sxeensweet

Love a little Disney every day!! ;)
JustInTime said:
Ever heard about Lights of Winter? Mainstreet Arches? And sure, Osborne lights are gone because of an expansion...but there are no replacement plants anywhere around the resort. That's the problem. Disney tends to take away and not replace.
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Yes I've heard of those and they have been gone for quite a few years now and frankly no big loss in my opinion. Osborne Lights we will greatly miss but the others not so much, and still believe there is plenty to see and do around Christmastime at WDW.
It's a magical time and our fave time to still visit and second fave is for food and wine and Halloween. :cat:
 
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epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
Mickey5150 said:
I go to WDW every year for the F&W so that's where my vote is. The lines are only an issue on weekends and that's a good thing, if the lines were always short ID leave WDW bankrupt and a lot larger. I've been to WDW during Christmastime and although the decorations are nice I wouldn't trade them for a trip during F&W.
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JustInTime said:
Due to the cuts, skip Christmas until they start adding more stuff back. If they ever do.
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I'm just the opposite. I think the Christmas decorations alone are worth the trip and we often go just to resort hop to see all the different ways the resorts are decorated. It is a very special time to enjoy WDW before the holiday crowds arrive.
As for F&W, we quit going several years ago with no intention of ever going back. We still sometimes go in the fall but avoid Epcot during that time.
For us, the two don't even compare. Not even close.
 
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JustInTime

JustInTime

Well-Known Member
sxeensweet said:
Yes I've heard of those and they have been gone for quite a few years now and frankly no big loss in my opinion. Osborne Lights we will greatly miss but the others not so much, and still believe there is plenty to see and do around Christmastime at WDW.
It's a magical time and our fave time to still visit and second fave is for food and wine and Halloween. :cat:
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The lights of winter were on par if not better than Osborne lights. They were a huge loss. I'm sure there will be lots but for me, I have difficulty not thinking about it and will take a few years before doing Christmas again
 
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epcotisbest

epcotisbest

Well-Known Member
JustInTime said:
The lights of winter were on par if not better than Osborne lights. They were a huge loss. I'm sure there will be lots but for me, I have difficulty not thinking about it and will take a few years before doing Christmas again
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Wow. Yes, Lights of Winter was a lovely display, but comparing some 30,000 lights to more than 5,000,000? Enjoy your memories.
 
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JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
I've enjoyed both times but would recommend you experience Christmas. The F & W festival isnt felt property wide, the lines can be extremely long for a small amount of food and some years it wasnt worth it. This year I thought the food was of better quality and worth the waits. While the decorations are everywhere and the holiday festivities are experienced everywhere you go. Theres just something special about WDW at Christmas, where you will always remember "that" year at Disney.
 
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Rogue21

Rogue21

Well-Known Member
That's a tough choice! But, as others have mentioned, if you go at the end of F&W and the beginning of the Christmas season, you can experience both. Just avoid weekends at F&W.

Personally, I love the F&W Fest. Totally enjoy the classes and tastings. Love the kiosks and trying different dishes from around the world. And yes, I indulge in the wine/beer part too.

I also love the Holidays at WDW. The resorts are beautifully decorated and it is well worth hopping around them just for that. MVMCP is fun to do if you've never been. The parade is a highlight, especially the toy soldiers.

You really can't go wrong with either time. ;)
 
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