Epcot After Hours Tasting - New event

[Cmdr_Crimson]

So you are saying after the fireworks you can stay in park? Not eating at a table service either.

Pretty much until CM's start blocking paths or walkways stating sections or areas are closed..I did this at an 8pm AK closing and walked around the darkened paths from Asia to Africa and back by the Tree of Life area.

 

[Dwarful]

To me, this is a bit disappointing. I am starting to feel like every time I turn around I am getting nickeled and dimed to death. I will wait to give final judgment until I hear what others have said after experiencing it. But for most nights we opt to do the late seating at our favorite sit downs and then a relaxing walk out of the parks.

 

[coachwnh]

I just booked too!! What night? I bet you did pick the tequila one didn't you? As soon as I clicked on Tutta's for the wine flights I started think takillya

Yes we did. Will be there May 24

 

[EpcoTim]

So you are saying after the fireworks you can stay in park? Not eating at a table service either.

Not speaking for the other guy, but what I've noticed is that you can stay, but only to enjoy the atmosphere. The last few times I've closed Epcot they had every booze booth, stand and hut wrapped up tight 5 minutes before close. And this was with some pretty heavy crowds. Needless to say there were quite a few disappointed people walking out, not to mention a few monorail and boatloads full of cash.

 

[fbb]

It's about time I have been saying this for years! Come 9pm everyone seems to pack Rose & Crown for a last drink and it gets so busy that you dont even want to be in there since you cant sit chill and relax.

Interested to see how they will transition at Rose and Crown.

 

[WDW1974]

In fairness, I do this everywhere we go, not just the parks. (And being in Epcot from ~8a-11p is nothing...try 3:45a-2a in Tokyo DisneySea with jetlag!) I figure I can only physically do this type of thing for so many years, so why not make the most of it? If that makes me strange, eh...there are worse things than being strange!

Well, to be fair, the average guest absolutely can not stay at TDS for the hours you did. You were shooting photos for the DPB, which meant you got to go into an empty park and stay to shoot after hours.

But do I think a simple 8-11 day at ANY theme park is insane? Yes. Pretty much. But we all enjoy the parks in different ways and I say more power to you if you can do those hours. I probably could have on the 20s side of 30 too. But in my 40s? No way. I did 7:45 to 10 on my first TDL day ever and it was a bit too much.

Just so we're clear, I assume you know I don't just mean EMH nights. On any given 9 pm closing night, day guests can stay in Epcot until around 11 pm.

Yes. But Disney isn't exactly thrilled with people lounging about when the parks are closed either. I've been one of the last people out (and the very last out of DL once) and I don't blame the CMs. They want the park cleared. Many want to go home. Closed is closed. EPCOT you can get away with it a bit more because of the IG entryway and the restaurants. I still wouldn't be in the park beyond an hour past RoE (so that's almost 10:15) when the park closes at 9. I don't feel I am being fair to the folks who work there and want to call it a day just because there may be two families still dining at Chefs de France. If everyone decided to stay, then they'd have quite the problem.

 

[MrPromey]

I feel like someone at Disney has determined that alcohol is a cost effective alternative to new or updated attractions at Epcot. I guess it makes good business sense with the high markups but world showcase is already starting to feel like a bar crawl by mid afternoon these days which is downright uncomfortable when you are there with young children.

A few weeks ago I saw a guy with a beer (Yep, he took the beer with him. Nope, he didn't spill any) actually climb a good way up the front of the pyramid in Mexico after getting above that base level to the steps.* He got reprimanded by a cast member and came down after his friends got a few good photos and I suppose no harm, no foul but more and more, I'm noticing WS becoming less and less family friendly.

Food and Wine as a limited time event was fun, then more and more permanent alcohol stations began popping up, then they somehow managed to turn flower and garden into a drinking event, too.

I'm not a prude. I enjoy a drink, too but the atmosphere in this part of the park has changed while the other part has been neglected.

It just makes me sad because Epcot was once my favorite park in Disney. Now it is probably my least.

*Yeah, it was the beginning of spring break, I'll grant that but when numerous people are wandering around the park tipsy before 3pm and Disney is happy to fuel that behavior, I'd say it is time to pack up those activity stations for kids and stop pretending they want children there.

[Edited to fix typos I made on my phone in the wee hours of the morning when originally writing this.]

 

[marni1971]

Fleece even more more money out of guests for a privilege that used to be free....

No shame.

 

[Fe Maiden]

And what are we "winding down" from? An overrated, long in the tooth nighttime show, brand new countries to explore from 1988, or a FW that is anything but forward looking.

Yet I'm sure people will be falling over themselves to pay for the privilege.

Why doesn't Disney start a tithing program so people can just send them money even when they're not at WDW?
Don't ever forget, you love Disney and Disney loves you!

 

[PhilharMagician]

It should be noted that, at present, any day guest can stay in Epcot until ~11pm and not do any rides. I can't think of the last time I left that park after Illuminations before 11pm.

So don't buy into this if staying late is your rationale. Just stay late for free.

11:00 PM is pushing it. CM's are corralling guests out usually by 10:30. While your point is noted, everything is shuttered pretty much as the first shot fires for Illuminations with the exception of MG. So there is no ability for someone to have an evening snack or cocktail and relax as the crowds disperse.

 

[articos]

Menus, as of the moment:

La Cava -
Tequila Flight
Sampler Plate: Ceviche Acapulqueño, Tostada de Tinga, Pork Tlacoyo

Spice Road -
Mediterranean Wine Flight
Tingis Sampler: Lamb Slider, Harissa Chicken Roll, Moroccan Merguez Sausage
Chocolate Pyramid

Tutto Gusto -
Italian Wine Flight
Gusto Plate Sampler: Assorted Cold Cuts, Cheese & Vegetables

Have not seen the Rose & Crown menu yet.

This is considered a hard ticket event for now. I suspect if enough guests without reservations decide they would like to stay, once it gets going for a few weeks they will be accommodated if there is space. Or possibly not.

 

[lostpro9het]

We snagged a Spice Road ressie for September just in case the reviews come back positive. If they don't then we'll ditch the ADR. IMO, the SR offing sounds really good!

 

[durangojim]

Site doesn't make it clear if you can bring children with you to an event or not. I'd prefer not to but for some getting sitter might not be an option. Also I wonder if you already have to be in Epcot by 9:00 or if they would still let you in after the park closes if you have a reservation (say at 9:10). Overall I think this is a great idea!

 

[Club Cooloholic]

Site doesn't make it clear if you can bring children with you to an event or not. I'd prefer not to but for some getting sitter might not be an option. Also I wonder if you already have to be in Epcot by 9:00 or if they would still let you in after the park closes if you have a reservation (say at 9:10). Overall I think this is a great idea!

The kids club at Beach Club is open till 12AM..so probably would be the option to take. If it's an infant...not sure but probably not the place to bring one anyway

 

[The Mom]

The article on the main page states that children are charged the same as adults, so they are allowed. So you'd be paying $35 for a non-alcoholic beverage and an appetizer(s) that they may or may not eat.

 

[dizknee24]

35 is steep for this. I know a few of my friends would like to stay, but they do not drink. So this would be unappealing i think. maybe a cheaper price with no alcohol will be put in place soon. Oh, and I think the hours should be extended to midnight.

 

[tissandtully]

Its quite a cover charge. $35 is a lot.... kinda like a PI ticket.

Or people could just walk to Jellyrolls and pay $12.

 

[JoeT63]

Have not seen the Rose & Crown menu yet.

Haggis. And for many of the posters on this thread, bitter pills. Sheesh if you don't like it, don't sign up for it.

Lighten up, Francis.

 

[Cody5242]

@WDW1974 they are creating a hard ticket for just AP holders at AK? Any idea if it's going to be any good?

 

[71jason]

35 is steep for this. I know a few of my friends would like to stay, but they do not drink. So this would be unappealing i think.

It's clearly intended for drinkers (note the $35 charge for kids--a polite way of saying grown-ups only please). And it's not that steep, at least La Cava. A flight runs right around $25. So $10 for an appetizer selection and and a heightened level of service/calm.

I mean, yeah, prices in WS are steep in general. But this is not out of line with what they normally get.