How does Epcot Food & Wine compare to Swan/Dolphin Food & Wine Classic?

[Skippy's Pal]

All I have is a general sense that the Epcot festival is very crowded, positions and variety are shrinking, and value for the dollar isn't what it used to be -- vs. a general sense that Swan/Dolphin's festival is less crowded, more sophisticated in its offerings, possible more expensive but a better overall experience for foodies. But I could be totally wrong. Would love to hear comments/comparisons from veterans of each, as we'd like to do one but want to make the best choice.

 

[Tegan pilots a chicken]

I hate EPCOT Food and Wine.

It's crowded. It's attended by thousands of douchebags who wear these idiotic matching shirts with stupid sayings about being drunk. It's seriously nothing more than a glorified frat party for 40 year old frat boys. They ruin the entire day for us when we're there. These people don't belong at EPCOT. I heard one person say they were going to pee in "this lake" (referencing the World Showcase lagoon). And they are unruly and rude and loud on the buses/monorail.

I loathe F&W with every fiber of my being and I honestly hope something like public urination does happen soon because then maybe TDO will pay attention and change it or get rid of it entirely.

What I would do: Mandate that every purchase at F&W be via Magic Band. ZERO exceptions. Jack up the prices further. And there's a four drink MAXIMUM.

 

[tahqa]

Food and Wine Classic last year was very crowded. We did the flat price for AYCE&D and probably got our money's worth, but the lines for food were very long. So much so that we ended up drinking more than eating because the drink booth to food booth ratio was somewhere about 3 - 1.

 

[SSH]

I hate EPCOT Food and Wine.

It's crowded. It's attended by thousands of douchebags who wear these idiotic matching shirts with stupid sayings about being drunk. It's seriously nothing more than a glorified frat party for 40 year old frat boys. They ruin the entire day for us when we're there. These people don't belong at EPCOT. I heard one person say they were going to pee in "this lake" (referencing the World Showcase lagoon). And they are unruly and rude and loud on the buses/monorail.

I loathe F&W with every fiber of my being and I honestly hope something like public urination does happen soon because then maybe TDO will pay attention and change it or get rid of it entirely.

What I would do: Mandate that every purchase at F&W be via Magic Band. ZERO exceptions. Jack up the prices further. And there's a four drink MAXIMUM.

I have zero experience with F&W, never having been. But I've heard people tell similar stories to above. Putting their ridiculous behavior aside for a second...I can't for the life of me understand why people turn it into a frat party when drinks are so darn expensive there! That's probably the worst place to go on a drinking binge...sample a few diff drinks yes. But to get plastered? The cost is painful. Surely, they can get drunk much cheaper in area bars, even at Downtown Disney and CityWalk during happy hour specials?

 

[Tegan pilots a chicken]

I have zero experience with F&W, never having been. But I've heard people tell similar stories to above. Putting their ridiculous behavior aside for a second...I can't for the life of me understand why people turn it into a frat party when drinks are so darn expensive there! That's probably the worst place to go on a drinking binge...sample a few diff drinks yes. But to get plastered? The cost is painful. Surely, they can get drunk much cheaper in area bars, even at Downtown Disney and CityWalk during happy hour specials?

I honestly think some the appeal comes from the irony of being belligerently drunk in a place people aren't supposed to be belligerently drunk. I think some of these people plan their yearly WDW trips around it.

 

[shipley731]

The groups of idiots in matching shirts drinking around the world can be seen on any weekend. It's not limited to F&W.

 

[kesdjmarouse]

It's seriously nothing more than a glorified frat party for 40 year old frat boys.

 

[RandomPrincess]

I hate EPCOT Food and Wine.

It's crowded. It's attended by thousands of douchebags who wear these idiotic matching shirts with stupid sayings about being drunk. It's seriously nothing more than a glorified frat party for 40 year old frat boys. They ruin the entire day for us when we're there. These people don't belong at EPCOT. I heard one person say they were going to pee in "this lake" (referencing the World Showcase lagoon). And they are unruly and rude and loud on the buses/monorail.

I loathe F&W with every fiber of my being and I honestly hope something like public urination does happen soon because then maybe TDO will pay attention and change it or get rid of it entirely.

What I would do: Mandate that every purchase at F&W be via Magic Band. ZERO exceptions. Jack up the prices further. And there's a four drink MAXIMUM.

Don't go in the evening or on weekends. We went last year on Monday afternoon the first week on November and it was lovely. No lines or very short lines and an very family friendly atmosphere. We only saw a few of the F&W matching t-shirt squads and it was too early in the day for them to be drunk yet.

 

[Tegan pilots a chicken]

The groups of idiots in matching shirts drinking around the world can be seen on any weekend. It's not limited to F&W.

I've been to EPCOT at least 100 times in my life and it is NEVER as bad as it is during F&W.

Ugh. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil.