Food & Wine Festival - Drunkytown?

[Dubman]

10/13/12.. About 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon.. We left at this point and the amount of people still coming in was incredible! It was actually not bad before this, so my advise would be to sample what you would like right after the kiosks open up.. Plan on leaving by 3:30-4:00 if you have kiddos with you..

 

[AndyGator]

Ugh. Getting into La Cava is going to be tough.

 

[merry68]

Yep, those pics @Dubman posted are what we have encountered as the day goes on.

By evening time, WS is a mess.

With the event of the CMs getting hurt by an intoxicated guest, I really wish Disney would crack down on the serving. I do not mind folks drinking if they are responsible, however we do not drink at all and do not appreciate seeing people almost falling down drunk.

We are headed down in a few days, and will only spend part of a day at Epcot, before the crowds really get cranked up in the late afternoon and evening.

 

[Finiamh123]

I was just there Sep27-Oct8. The key is to get your F&W stuff in early then go to another park. I usually hit a few shortly after Showcase opening then might have come back for others around 3 at the latest. Any later and you are asking for drunky trouble. If you are there for Illuminations hang out in Future World as long as you can but do not go near the drunky mother ship of Germany. ;-)

 

[epcotisbest]

We quit going to F&W a few years ago. Now go a few weeks before it starts. Low, low crowd levels the first couple of weeks in Sept.

 

[jaklgreen]

We have been to just about every F&W festival since its conception. I can honestly say, we have never seen behavior like many are describing. We did see people who indulged too much (dancing, singing) and funny as all get out, but never saw anyone getting sick in the bushes or garbage cans (we DID see that at MK though)

This will be my 5th year in a row going for the F&WF. I spend most of the week at Epcot and do a lot of the seminars. Friday and Sat nights when the locals are out are the busiest. I have seen drunk people being loud and having a good time. But I have never seen anyone throw up or be rowdy. It does cost a lot of money but maybe they only do this once a year with their group of friends. It really is not that busy during the week. I love the F&WF and hope to go every year until I am old and gray.

 

[Soarin' Over Pgh]

F&W is great fun Monday through Friday afternoon. After that, avoid WS with extreme prejudice. Simple as that.

Also, it has been said a few times already, but I'll say it again. Disney brought this on itself. They closed the only outlet for adults to let loose, down. Adults visit WDW, they visit without kids, and they visit to have a good time. Disney eliminated the ONLY place on property for adults to cut loose. What did they expect? Epcot has become a de-facto Pleasure Island.

Agreed. We went to Epcot (first time!) on a Friday, then again the following Saturday during flower and garden show and that Saturday really turned us off the park entirely. So many drunk people. At noon. Every where. Again, if I want to deal with that, there's no need to spend hundreds of dollars on airfare, hundreds more in park tickets and even more on a hotel. We could have stayed here. It seemed like the whole front of the park was a desolate, empty, confusing to navigate (with those new maps, man, they suck) and the entire WS was a gift shop and a bar with flowers.

Yeah no thanks. Wdw needs real night life. Or, they need to market Epcot has a nightclub and treat it accordingly.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

This will be my 5th year in a row going for the F&WF. I spend most of the week at Epcot and do a lot of the seminars. Friday and Sat nights when the locals are out are the busiest. I have seen drunk people being loud and having a good time. But I have never seen anyone throw up or be rowdy. It does cost a lot of money but maybe they only do this once a year with their group of friends. It really is not that busy during the week. I love the F&WF and hope to go every year until I am old and gray.

Exactly like our experiences. Plus, you can only buy 2 drinks at a time, at any of the kiosks. It was my understanding, that if a customer seemed inebriated, CMs wouldnt serve them. We did see this happen in Germany, 2 yrs ago. The gentleman just said "OK" and walked away. It's not Disney's fault, it's some lacking self control. But in all honesty, I've never seen rude/obnoxious people, just people singing and dancing, and it was funny. I'm with you @jaklgreen I intend to go every year! We LOVE food and wine

 

[xdan0920]

Exactly like our experiences. Plus, you can only buy 2 drinks at a time, at any of the kiosks. It was my understanding, that if a customer seemed inebriated, CMs wouldnt serve them. We did see this happen in Germany, 2 yrs ago. The gentleman just said "OK" and walked away. It's not Disney's fault, it's some lacking self control. But in all honesty, I've never seen rude/obnoxious people, just people singing and dancing, and it was funny. I'm with you @jaklgreen I intend to go every year! We LOVE food and wine

I've seen plenty of rude/obnoxious. But it's not exclusively tied to the F&W festival. I have been 3 times in the past 4 years, and I love it. But like we all are saying, you HAVE to avoid WS on Friday and Saturday afternoons/evenings. I have yet to see anyone throwing up in bushes or passed out on benches, but I have seen crushing crowds, and ridiculous lines.

 

[HDS]

Where did he get the pipe from anyway?

"Hill entered a backstage area in Innoventions East and was approached by CM Michael Connelly. Hill punched Connelly which caused a large gash on his forehead and he was treated at Celebration Hospital.

After that, Hill came in contact with CM Timothy Beltley in backstage tunnels. Hill attempted to take a cargo work cart, Beltley tried to stop him, and Hill punched him in the face. Beltley was also treated at Celebration Hospital.

Jessica Brown was also struck in the left cheek by a three-foot-long piece of PVC pipe that Hll swung at her. She suffered some swelling but was treated on the scene."

 

[barnett]

I've seen drunks at WS on more than one occasion - F&W or not. It's a family resort; it sells itself as a family resort; it caters to families; nothing about WDW says 'keep kids away'. You cannot have it both ways. You can't make a fortune on people getting drunk and have families there. I should not need to leave a park because it's a weekend night. If my plans have me at WS on Friday night it should be my right to enjoy it as much as I might on a Monday night. I paid as much or more than the drunks did to be there. And it is more than the vomit, although that is bad enough. It's the loud foul language, the knocking over little kids, the generally rude behavior. I have spent more than my fair share of time in bars and clubs (even working in one) and I expect that behavior there but not at WDW.

 

[Clamman73]

"Hill entered a backstage area in Innoventions East and was approached by CM Michael Connelly. Hill punched Connelly which caused a large gash on his forehead and he was treated at Celebration Hospital.

After that, Hill came in contact with CM Timothy Beltley in backstage tunnels. Hill attempted to take a cargo work cart, Beltley tried to stop him, and Hill punched him in the face. Beltley was also treated at Celebration Hospital.

Jessica Brown was also struck in the left cheek by a three-foot-long piece of PVC pipe that Hll swung at her. She suffered some swelling but was treated on the scene."

Tasers for all CMs next year!

 

[xdan0920]

I've seen drunks at WS on more than one occasion - F&W or not. It's a family resort; it sells itself as a family resort; it caters to families; nothing about WDW says 'keep kids away'. You cannot have it both ways. You can't make a fortune on people getting drunk and have families there. I should not need to leave a park because it's a weekend night. If my plans have me at WS on Friday night it should be my right to enjoy it as much as I might on a Monday night. I paid as much or more than the drunks did to be there. And it is more than the vomit, although that is bad enough. It's the loud foul language, the knocking over little kids, the generally rude behavior. I have spent more than my fair share of time in bars and clubs (even working in one) and I expect that behavior there but not at WDW.

Well, heres the thing, they can have it both ways, and they do. You know WS will be EXTREMELY crowded on weekend nights, especially during F&W, so the solution is, avoid it.

I don't go to MK on July 4th, I don't go to Epcot on NYE. I know what those places will be like, and I don't delude myself into thinking it won't be.

 

[barnett]

Well, heres the thing, they can have it both ways, and they do. You know WS will be EXTREMELY crowded on weekend nights, especially during F&W, so the solution is, avoid it.

I don't go to MK on July 4th, I don't go to Epcot on NYE. I know what those places will be like, and I don't delude myself into thinking it won't be.

But it should not be that way. I may be living in the land of pixie dust wanting the right thing but reading the stories on this thread are driving my nuts.

 

[xdan0920]

But it should not be that way. I may be living in the land of pixie dust wanting the right thing but reading the stories on this thread are driving my nuts.

I happen to think all these horror stories are a tad over blown. There are low class jerks all over WDW, they are cursing, they are yelling at their kids, they are shoving their way through crowds. And the more crowded a park is, the more of these classless jerks you will have to deal with. Alcohol involved or not.

 

[Pocahontas]

Yes, unfortunately, there are many drunk people during the food and wine festival. It's a shame, too, because of all the children there. It can honestly be scary and some serious incidents can happen and have happened. I think it's fine to enjoy yourself and have a few drinks, but come on... don't get hammered at Disney World, please.

 

[xdan0920]

Yes, unfortunately, there are many drunk people during the food and wine festival. It's a shame, too, because of all the children there. It can honestly be scary and some serious incidents can happen and have happened. I think it's fine to enjoy yourself and have a few drinks, but come on... don't get hammered at Disney World, please.

It's simpler then that. Don't be a piece of trash. $7 three ounce pours of pinot grigio are not the problem.

 

[awoogala]

Well, heres the thing, they can have it both ways, and they do. You know WS will be EXTREMELY crowded on weekend nights, especially during F&W, so the solution is, avoid it.

I don't go to MK on July 4th, I don't go to Epcot on NYE. I know what those places will be like, and I don't delude myself into thinking it won't be.

which is a great idea, but then they close all the other parks at 8pm, ensuring we will all go to EPCOT, since it is the only park open until a later hour. Off season hours are getting shorter and shorter, so WS ends up being your only option at night.

 

[Pocahontas]

It's simpler then that. Don't be a piece of trash. $7 three ounce pours of pinot grigio are not the problem.

Do you honestly think people would act the way they do if it weren't for the alcohol? That's why it's called being under the influence. It's not a fact of being trashy - it's being drunk and not having good judgement. Yes, there are people who are just plain dumb and lacking in common sense. But, most people causing all the ruckus have had a drink or ten.

 

[xdan0920]

which is a great idea, but then they close all the other parks at 8pm, ensuring we will all go to EPCOT, since it is the only park open until a later hour. Off season hours are getting shorter and shorter, so WS ends up being your only option at night.

Parks are usually open later then 8p on weekends. But you're larger point is a good one. WS is becoming the only option for night time entertainment, especially for adults. That's not a good thing.