Tony the Tigger
Well-Known Member
Life is what you make it.
So is WDW.
You want to make it miserable, I can't help you.
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EPCOT during Food & Wine but don't care about it
- Thread starter Tk0021
- Start date
Life is what you make it.
So is WDW.
You want to make it miserable, I can't help you.
C'mon he's not making it miserable. He dislikes Food and Whine. So do I. It's like Deansgate on a Saturday night. Try and enjoy the majesty of Reflections of China with drunks who won't shut up. Or the beauty of Impressions de France to walk out to see someone throwing up.
It gets earlier and earlier that now it's unavoidable in our window. And that is annoying. To say the least. All because they've let the parks business plan and appeal collapse.
DisneyPrincess5
Well-Known Member
If you're going to go to Epcot on Labor Day weekend during F&W with children, I'd follow @marni1971 advice: go to World Showcase early and then move out.
Everyone's entitled to their opinions and judgement on their experiences during Food and Wine. My personal experience says that gerenally speaking, the stories aren't exaggerated. It does get very crowded very quickly on weekends like when you're looking to go and everyone is different when they're drinking. Some are controlled and enjoy themselves, and some are not. It's the nots that can really change the energy in WS. We have seen some pretty unappealing stuff which is why we have chosen to not return then. Just our preference.
Whatever you chose, enjoy your trip!
Everyone's entitled to their opinions and judgement on their experiences during Food and Wine. My personal experience says that gerenally speaking, the stories aren't exaggerated. It does get very crowded very quickly on weekends like when you're looking to go and everyone is different when they're drinking. Some are controlled and enjoy themselves, and some are not. It's the nots that can really change the energy in WS. We have seen some pretty unappealing stuff which is why we have chosen to not return then. Just our preference.
Whatever you chose, enjoy your trip!
Tony the Tigger
Well-Known Member
Like I said, life is what you make it. So don't go on weekends.
If something "happens" try not to make a huge deal out of it. It's perspective and how you handle things. Roll with it.
We have had weekday only annual passes probably the better part of the last 6 to 8 years.
There have been zero incidents at food and wine or flower and garden, and we go to both always and often.
Much more annoying are the obnoxious people using flash photography or even just using cell phones on dark rides. But I don't sit here and say it ruined my day or my trip.
Much more annoying and more frequent are strollers nipping at my heels, or people walking in the middle of the walkway and then suddenly stopping as if no one is behind them. We may grumble for half a second, then make fun of them and move on.
Much more disruptive are the husband and wife who have separated, each with their own children, who are yelling to each other across the park while we are trapped in line at Flametree barbecue, as if I care to hear what anyone is ordering. But you didn't read about that in my trip report. And a month from now I probably won't remember it.
Life is what you make it. Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative.
Don't go on a weekend if that bothers you. Go on a Tuesday afternoon at 2 PM when the only thing to complain about is the heat.
But novice vacationing drinkers are going to mix all different sugary frozen alcoholic drinks with beer with wine with bubble tea and whether they meant to or not, they're going to get sick.
Tip for all: eat more. Mix less. Yes, even the thimble sized drinks that cost $9 each.
We hit EPCOT during the food and wine every fall when we do our Halloween trip... If you don't want your kids exposed to drunks then avoid it from mid afternoon on. No we don't see people flopping down on the sidewalk drunk, but you do find quite a few bumping into you that you hope aren't going to be driving when they leave. Of course the worst part is the apparently larger crowds, and I say apparently because I'm not sure they really have larger crowds or if it just seems like it because of the large number of kiosks that pop up and have people standing in queues around them.
On the up side you do get some old music acts usually from the 80's doing a free show during food and wine time... of course they are sadly they often seem like acts that are on their last legs before they are relegated to the state fair circuit.
On the up side you do get some old music acts usually from the 80's doing a free show during food and wine time... of course they are sadly they often seem like acts that are on their last legs before they are relegated to the state fair circuit.
jaklgreen
Well-Known Member
I have been going for the F&WF for years. I love trying new foods and do a bunch of the seminars. I go for around 2 weeks each trip and spend about 80% of my time at Epcot. During the weekdays and earlier in the day is the best time to go with families. Later in the evenings are much busier and I do not recommend going on the weekends at all. I have seen so many people trying to push a stroller through the mass of humanity during the busiest time and always think, "what the heck are these parents thinking". That being said, do not skip Epcot. It is a great park and a favorite of not only my hubby and I but our kids too. So go on a weekday and head to world showcase as soon as it opens at 11am and you should be fine. I would also like to say that I do not doubt that others have seen bad behavior but I, personally, have not witnessed such offending antics as those described by others here. I have seen groups of people just taking up most of the walkway talking and having fun, and yes they are drunk but not obnoxious. And I have more of the mindset at Tony the Tigger has. I don't look for that kind of behavior so unless someone does that right in front of me, I probably will not notice.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
It's why I believe alcohol should never be at a Disney park. I get it...they do it for money and the responsible people like to have a beer or wine with dinner. Unfortunately, in a crowded family park, a couple drunks can really impact a lot of people that have no choice but to be around them. I've seen it first hand and have spent A LOT of time at EPCOT.
Just get ready for Disney to expand the festival even more days and months. Heck, they'll probably make it all year. It's a huge money maker for a park that is in desperate need of real innovation, TLC, and experiences. Sadly, the bean counters see it as a nice stop gap before they actually have to build anything Disney quality in a park that's been dying for 10+ years. What's cheaper, a case of beer/wine or a new experience in Wonders of Life?
And don't start getting all over me about the almighty alcohol and how you can handle it. Drink as much as you want. I think all drugs should be legal. I'm not a conservative bible beater on social issues. I just think at a Disney park, alcohol is completely unnecessary and it's only because of about 5% of people that can't handle it. The close quarters make those few ruin it for everyone and shape the opinion I have about no alcohol in a family park. I know it will never happen, because well, money.
Just get ready for Disney to expand the festival even more days and months. Heck, they'll probably make it all year. It's a huge money maker for a park that is in desperate need of real innovation, TLC, and experiences. Sadly, the bean counters see it as a nice stop gap before they actually have to build anything Disney quality in a park that's been dying for 10+ years. What's cheaper, a case of beer/wine or a new experience in Wonders of Life?
And don't start getting all over me about the almighty alcohol and how you can handle it. Drink as much as you want. I think all drugs should be legal. I'm not a conservative bible beater on social issues. I just think at a Disney park, alcohol is completely unnecessary and it's only because of about 5% of people that can't handle it. The close quarters make those few ruin it for everyone and shape the opinion I have about no alcohol in a family park. I know it will never happen, because well, money.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
It really depends on your definition of exaggerated and your tolerance for these people. I guarantee you I can find several annoying drunks on any given night during the Food and Wine Festival. You might not be bothered by them, but it bothers me. It might bother someone else even more. Depending on the level of their drunkenness, they cause quite a disturbance, particularly during Illuminations and waiting for food outside. If nothing else, a lot of them are super loud and obnoxious.
I agree that people exaggerate, so I will leave it up to the OP to decide if it's right for him. I just don't want to minimize that these people are out in full force and make their presence known. Alcohol is a very large part of the Festival and there are people taking full advantage of it.
If you're used to bumping into people at bars and saying "sorry bro" and "my bad bro" a lot, you might not find it annoying at all. If you're with your kids and trying to have a good time, you might be pretty surprised how "Un-Disney" it can feel.
During the day, you're fine regardless. This is a night time phenomenon.
We don't. That would be hell. What I've seen is midweek.
You enjoy it. We don't. It's ruined what used to be placid evenings around the lagoon.
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Otterhead
Well-Known Member
People like to exaggerate the drunkeness of guests at Food & Wine; while there's plenty of alcohol available, the small portions, long lines to get it, and the cost of each serving makes it an expensive and not very pleasant place to get drunk in. I've seen about as many clearly drunk people at F&W as I have seen just hanging around the France pavilion in the off-season after a wine tasting or stumbling out of the Biergarten after dinner -- that is to say, not that many, and it's never been an issue.
Now, loud, crowded, and annoying -- absolutely. With the huge crowds and long lines it's definitely more of a party atmosphere than usual, and there's many large groups that do F&W, so just like dealing with massive groups of cheerleaders, you'll deal with massive groups of people checking off their food passports and eating bites.
Now, loud, crowded, and annoying -- absolutely. With the huge crowds and long lines it's definitely more of a party atmosphere than usual, and there's many large groups that do F&W, so just like dealing with massive groups of cheerleaders, you'll deal with massive groups of people checking off their food passports and eating bites.
Thanks,
It sounds like most people say don't go on the weekends and we are only going for four days( arriving Friday and leaving Tuesday) and I am assuming we should treat Monday like a weekend day since it's the holiday. So I am leining towards not going. We are not planning on getting the park hopper ticket so if we are limited to only being there during the day and leaving before evening, then to me, it would feel like wasting a very precious day.
I have 5 and 3 year old girls and I don't think we should expose them to that type of environment, especially if we don't have to.
Of course if my wife wants to go to EPCOT we will be there with bells on.
People like to underplay the drunkness of guests at Food and Whine. Works both ways.
Otterhead
Well-Known Member
With all of my love for EPCOT, if you're not doing park hoppers and only have 4 days straddling a weekend, I think your two girls will get more out of seeing the Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood. There's individual attractions at EPCOT they'd likely enjoy -- Soarin', Frozen, Imagination, Spaceship Earth -- but with the heavy crowds it's less appealing. For what it's worth, in all the times I've attended Food & Wine, the only things I've seen that weren't 'family friendly' were homemade t-shirts worn by tour groups.... and kids behaving badly.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
This sums it up very well. With EPCOT being the most kid "unfriendly" park in my view and the challenges of the Food and Wine Festival, I'd agree.
As @Otterhead stated, this is only if you're not doing Park Hoppers, which I view as a mistake. Park Hopping is pretty advantageous is many, many ways. I'd at least get over to EPCOT during the morning/afternoon to ride Spaceship Earth, Frozen, Soarin', and even absolutely The American Adventure (even with younger kids if they can be relatively quiet for 25 minutes). It's the best show on property in my view.
Again, the issues are only a night problem. Daytime will be just fine at EPCOT.
jaklgreen
Well-Known Member
I have to disagree with you about Epcot not being kid friendly. Our kids love Epcot and have since they were little. We like it so much better then DHS. I would agree with you about having park hoppers and go to Epcot in the morning, do future world first then right at 11 go do the stuff in World Showcase and then go to another park in the afternoon/evening. The issue with taking little kids during busy times to World showcase is more that it is so crowded that it is very hard to walk around, let alone push a stroller through there. World showcase does not turn into spring break with a bunch of out of control college kids. Its more groups of people standing around in groups talking loudly. Yes you can get the occasional person that goes overboard but its not really something that you should worry about "exposing your kids to". IMO
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
I just meant of the 4 parks, it's the most "unfriendly" as I put in quotes because I consider all the parks to be kid friendly. It's just EPCOT is the least kid friendly today. It got a little better with Frozen, but EPCOT might be the most guest unfriendly park today.
jaklgreen
Well-Known Member
Maybe it just depends on the kids. We always enjoyed, and spent much more time, at Epcot then we did at DHS. Little kids are not going on R&RC or ToT. The great movie ride scares the crap out of kids. There really is not that much for kids to do at DHS, just a few shows and Disney junior, if your kids are very young. I think the issue is with kids now have their faces in a screen and need to be entertained constantly. We never gave our kids electronics growing up and they were fascinated by the seas with Nemo, and by Living with the Land, and the countries around World Showcase. I don't know how many times we had to ride Living with the Land with them. LOL Even now as teenagers they still love going on it. They loved all of the street performers around the countries. So I completely disagree with you about Epcot. If you are a person that needs to be entertained by thrill rides then I can see where you are coming from. But if you can find joy and wonder and entertainment in all of the little details that most people overlook for the "big thrill" then Epcot is definitely the park for you.
Tony the Tigger
Well-Known Member
There are so many things to be annoyed about at WDW (and elsewhere) if you choose to be annoyed.
Drunk people are no worse than screaming kids, slow walkers, center-of-attention people etc.
Getting bumped into by any of them still equals getting bumped into.
People can get drunk at Epcot all day any day with or without a festival.
Nobody has any entitlement to an annoyance-free visit, and it would be impossible to create that. Sometimes in life you're going to have to see things you don't like, and so are your kids, yes even at Disney World.
I believe the OP said they are going Labor Day weekend(?) I think most of us here know that is not one of the busier weekends and no, don't treat Monday like part of the weekend. Monday is probably a great day to go. Do World Showcase early, and then head over to Future World for the evening, where there isn't much "wild drunk behavior" going on.
The exception would be if it is the first day or one of the first days of F&W.
We went a few days after it started last year, on a weekday, and lines were short, and no drunk people bothered us. Nor did we even notice any.
It's not a drunken free-for-all. If you're noticing so many drunk people, you're looking for them. Pay more attention to the attractions.
Drunk people are no worse than screaming kids, slow walkers, center-of-attention people etc.
Getting bumped into by any of them still equals getting bumped into.
People can get drunk at Epcot all day any day with or without a festival.
Nobody has any entitlement to an annoyance-free visit, and it would be impossible to create that. Sometimes in life you're going to have to see things you don't like, and so are your kids, yes even at Disney World.
I believe the OP said they are going Labor Day weekend(?) I think most of us here know that is not one of the busier weekends and no, don't treat Monday like part of the weekend. Monday is probably a great day to go. Do World Showcase early, and then head over to Future World for the evening, where there isn't much "wild drunk behavior" going on.
The exception would be if it is the first day or one of the first days of F&W.
We went a few days after it started last year, on a weekday, and lines were short, and no drunk people bothered us. Nor did we even notice any.
It's not a drunken free-for-all. If you're noticing so many drunk people, you're looking for them. Pay more attention to the attractions.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
DHS and EPCOT might sort of be a tie. DHS has Toy Story, Little Mermaid, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars too, which is a thrill for many kids. Candidly, both parks are in absolutely terrible shape.
Reggie Colorado
New Member
You could plan your day so you spend your time in the World Showcase during the day and then spend the evening in Future World away from the Food and Wine crowd. The World Showcase (except for Frozen) does not open until 11 am, so you could visit part of Future World from opening to 11 am, walk through World Showcase from 11 am to late afternoon, and then visit the rest of Future World in the evening. Future World was considerably less crowded in the evening than earlier in the day when we were there (except Test Track was always busy).