Epcot Food and Wine.....on the first day?

[NickMaio]

So we are thinking of going to Epcots F&W on the first day, Thursday.

Doea anyone know what the crowds are like on the first day?

Thanks

 

[DisneyGigi]

So we are thinking of going to Epcots F&W on the first day, Thursday.

Doea anyone know what the crowds are like on the first day?

Thanks

Usually pretty busy because of the bloggers and such -but I would say it will be a bit lower than usual this year because of Star Wars opening the same day. At least I hope!

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I've gone on the first day the last 3 years.
Its a lot of people wandering around and a lot of people in the food lines but they move quickly and efficiently for the most part.
And once you get away from the kiosks there's room to breath.

 

[crawale]

So we are thinking of going to Epcots F&W on the first day, Thursday.

Doea anyone know what the crowds are like on the first day?

Thanks

Certainly on any evening during the F&W the crowds are horrible.

 

[NickMaio]

Thanks. We have never been to EFW

 

[NickMaio]

I would think The first Friday would be much Worse than Thur (weekday)

That was also our thought.

 

[OneofThree]

So we are thinking of going to Epcots F&W on the first day, Thursday.

Doea anyone know what the crowds are like on the first day?

Thanks

Depends on the time of day. It's a complete cluster in the late afternoon/early evening due to locals.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Depends on the time of day. It's a complete cluster in the late afternoon/early evening due to locals.

Honestly I don't think the time of day matters lol.
I've gone early afternoon and its a cluster.

 

[NickMaio]

Sooooooo
Its a cluster on any day for the food and wine?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Sooooooo
Its a cluster on any day for the food and wine?

Pretty much. Its very popular.
But I haven't had any terrible experiences or anything.
Its just a mass of people near the food kiosks. Its not like brawls are breaking out or anything though.
Its pretty organized and relaxed just a lot of people.

 

[OneofThree]

Sooooooo
Its a cluster on any day for the food and wine?

There's an enormous difference in early afternoon and evening, particular at the beginning of the festival when crowds are at their lowest for the year. It can get ugly at night (in more ways than one).

 

[NickMaio]

We will be going with our two year old.....should we avoid the boozefest at night?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

We will be going with our two year old.....should we avoid the boozefest at night?

I really have not seen anything that would negatively impact a toddler at F&W.

 

[OneofThree]

We will be going with our two year old.....should we avoid the boozefest at night?

Well, that depends. It is, as you say, a total "boozefest" at night, but the worst sort of incidents are the exception and not the rule. People walking around wasted (mostly locals and employees) is the rule, however. If that bothers you. . .

 

[HoldenC]

In my experience the first day, being a weekday, is usually not an unpleasant experience. I try to avoid the first and proceedings weekends at all costs. My suggestion regardless of your action plan is to buy a Disney gift card and pre-load a set amount to use at the kiosks. This works great for me, as a local, because I can use it all during the festival until my allotment runs out. Then I know I'm done with the festival for the year The drunkytown narrative tirelessly told over and over again on this forum is grossly exaggerated, generally. As with an location that offers copious amounts of alcohol there are bound to be some scoundrels. If your two year old doesn't handle large crowds well, I would recommend avoid the park in the evening hours.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

In my experience the first day, being a weekday, is usually not an unpleasant experience. I try to avoid the first and proceedings weekends at all costs. My suggestion regardless of your action plan is to buy a Disney gift card and pre-load a set amount to use at the kiosks. This works great for me, as a local, because I can use it all during the festival until my allotment runs out. Then I know I'm done with the festival for the year The drunkytown narrative tirelessly told over and over again on this forum is grossly exaggerated, generally. As with an location that offers copious amounts of alcohol there are bound to be some scoundrels. If your two year old doesn't handle large crowds well, I would recommend avoid the park in the evening hours.

If they happen to have a dining plan then I would not suggest buying a gift card but otherwise yes I'd suggest either a gift card or if onside using their magic band and charging back to their room reservation.

 

[DryerLintFan]

We will be going with our two year old.....should we avoid the boozefest at night?

We were there a couple nights last year in September with a three and a four year old and had no cause for concern. There was a noticeably larger crowd as the day wore on, and we did see one drunk guy say something inappropriate to one of the princesses, but it wasn't something the kids would have understood. There was nothing that would have caused me to worry about a toddler.