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Food & Wine Festival - Drunkytown?
- Thread starter Wikkler
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Friends were at Epcot last night (Saturday, October 12) for Food & Wine Festival (F&WF). They are WDW rookies and I warned them to stay away from Epcot on the weekends. Not believing me ("It's Disney. How bad can it be?" was the quote), they went anyway.
They have two small children and were staying at the Beach Club. After spending the morning at the Magic Kingdom, they went back to their resort to relax at Stormalong Bay and thought it would be fun to stroll over to the World Showcase (WS) for a "relaxing evening in the countries".
It was a disaster.
Beyond the sheer masses making it extremely difficult to maneuver, their daughters (ages 3 and 5) were trampled several times by adults that were too drunk to walk straight. They aroma of stale beer and putrid food reminded them of their worst days in college. The free use of profanity was overwhelming.
To their credit, CMs were trying to control the crowds but were largely ignored (or worse) by intoxicated adults, several who seemed to ready to fight over the slightest suggestion to tone it down.
They were so turned off by the "experience" (I wonder if Disney will start issuing FP+ for the new "Get drunk and assaulted" experience at Epcot) they just had to call me this morning. Their daughters left in tears. Right now, they never want to bring their children back to WDW.
If Disney was serious about providing family entertainment (you know, the group they target in all their advertising campaigns) they'd get rid of the "wine" portion of F&WF. Especially on weekends, it has deteriorated into such a drunkfest that it's actually dangerous.
Of course, making Epcot spirits-free on weekends would hurt revenue and, as we've come to expect from the current corporate Disney regime, it's always money first.
Shame on you Disney, just shame on you.
The complete conversation about this topic from Spirited News IV
Glasgow
Well-Known Member
This is so sad to me, that the public always needs to be regulated in some way or another for almost everything. I've always wanted to go to F&W but all of these related threads don't bode well for us. Here's to hoping that the conditions can be improved and we all get to enjoy this event in the spirit in which it was originally intended.
Foolish Mortal
Well-Known Member
Go early during the week. Judge the crowd to decide how long you stay.
Tom Morrow
Well-Known Member
I think its overrated anyway. Pay 5 bucks for two bites of food...
Food and booze + stupid guests + sun stroked tourists = such a mess
We avoid it like the plague now. Loud, rude, obnoxious, dirty, low standards.... that could be the event and some of the hoardes it attracts. Its a travesty they allow one of the most beautiful parts of park ever built become home to this. Cluttered stalls, ugly prefab buildings, narrow crowded walkways! even more restricted RoE viewing areas.... it's hell. So much for the culture of a Chinese Circlevision film to walk out into the zoo of showcase during pub crawl time. I realise there are those who can enjoy responsibly, but they seem in the minority. Or it's the other minority that are partly to blame for ruining it for everyone else.
But here's the crunch. It makes $$$ so it'll be milked for all its worth. Shame on park management. Shame on TDO. They used to have an island for doing this.
We avoid it like the plague now. Loud, rude, obnoxious, dirty, low standards.... that could be the event and some of the hoardes it attracts. Its a travesty they allow one of the most beautiful parts of park ever built become home to this. Cluttered stalls, ugly prefab buildings, narrow crowded walkways! even more restricted RoE viewing areas.... it's hell. So much for the culture of a Chinese Circlevision film to walk out into the zoo of showcase during pub crawl time. I realise there are those who can enjoy responsibly, but they seem in the minority. Or it's the other minority that are partly to blame for ruining it for everyone else.
But here's the crunch. It makes $$$ so it'll be milked for all its worth. Shame on park management. Shame on TDO. They used to have an island for doing this.
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Figments Friend
Well-Known Member
Spot on....i was just about to say that.
Perhaps this Event needs to be moved out of the Park and into DTD/DS instead?
It would likely attract even more people since gate admission will not be necessary, but then again, being a gated Event probably has appeal to the bottom line.
I think F+W has run it*s course.
Radok Block
Well-Known Member
I've been shooting to run the F&W Half Marathon one day and at this point, I'll save my money.
As evidenced by the decision to add booths to the F&G Festival this year....
Considering Erin Youngs chose fit to include the "success of Food and Wine" in her pre written ramblings at Epcots 30th shows exactly where the problem lies and to hell with the park.
Well, the supplies used to clean up "protein spills" are cheaper than new rides/attractions/etc.....
janoimagine
Well-Known Member
My wife and I love F&W mid-October. I get what people are saying on here that they don't like the behavior of people who attend. To me that is not Disney's fault, it's the fault of the who can't stop and has to take it to the extreme of being so intoxicated they are no longer able to stand, this isn't limited to F&W .. I also saw this numerous times this year at the F&G festival. Disney needs to better police the festival's and stop overserving people, they have the manpower and ability to do so.
The other issue is the cost ... yes, it's way overpriced. To charge $5 for a taster of Lindelmans (even though it is a decent Chardonay) that I can get a whole bottle for at my local grocery store for $7 is insane, that being said they need to invest some of what are clearly record profits from the festival back into show upgrades and new attractions for what is turning into a rapidly declining experience for one of its flagship parks.
unkadug
Follower of "Saget"The Cult
You certainly cannot do that and maintain your profit margins AND still keep your yearly incentive bonus.
Clamman73
Well-Known Member
I was wondering where the push came from to have it go all the way into second week of November. Can they just give people a break who just want to wander around Showcase in a peaceful manner. There's still alcoholic choices without the booths. Shut down F&W Oct. 30th.
alissafalco
Well-Known Member
Oh no, I'm getting really bummed by reading all this! I will be there this Thursday -Sunday for the first time. Well, if it's that bad this will also be my last time too.
MattC
Well-Known Member
I don't understand how everyone is getting so drunk with WDW drink prices what they are.I thought our economy was still in the tank. Maybe F&W should become a hard ticket event on week-ends to control the crowds.
People will still spend money on things like alcohol even if they can't afford them. Really sad actually. Equally sad are the folks who feel like drinking=good time and fun cannot be had unless alcohol is involved. I like adult beverages, but don't need them to have fun.
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