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Is the Food & Wine event an obstruction at Epcot?
- Thread starter jkl2000
- Start date
mateomouse
Member
I go almost ever year, and I don't see that much of a change in the size of the lines. It does become very tight in World Showcase, mostly from Mexico to China, and them from International Gateway to Canada, just because thats where everyone starts.
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hsisthebest
Well-Known Member
I've been twice during F&W. Early in the day it is not much of a factor (World Showcase opens later then Future World) But nights, especially weekends can get very busy with locals coming for the event. The crowds in World showcase can get somewhat rowdy, but never to the point of being dangerous. But generally, if F&W is crowded, then Future World lines will be a little shorter, especially the young kid rides.
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RandomPrincess
Keep Moving Forward
We choose to do the F&W at lunch time during the week - booths open at 11:00. Evenings and weekends can get very crowded in WS and that's when more drunks are out.
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RonAnnArbor
Well-Known Member
I go to F&W every year now, and it has become the most busy event of the year at Epcot -- but it is true that the lines for the attractions in World Showcase are shorter -- people are there to eat and drink (on weekends, the emphasis is on "drink", especially when the 50-60 busses from local colleges role in with the frat boys) and the attractions themselves are minimal in wait. There is NO difference in Future World -- I don't think Epcot is at all the place to avoid during the F&W festival, but you might want to stick with Future World only unless you want to join in the festivities. 11:00 is a great time to visit World Showcase during F&W festival -- crowds are manageable and not unruly yet. @Trotsky above -- I have certainly never felt that it has become dangerous, even on the rowdiest days, but it is DOES become very very sloppy drunk, especially late afternoons on Saturdays and Sundays...certainly not the place to be if you are not comfortable around drunk crowds of people (no different than at most college football games)
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Disvillain63
Well-Known Member
^^^Totally agree! We went last year on the last weekend of F&W. The vendors were extremely crowded and busy but the pavilions and their attractions were fairly empty. If you want to do the festival then go during the week.
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KLeigh
Well-Known Member
Plan your time at Epcot to be during the week and you will be fine. I was there for F&W this past November on a weekday and the crowds weren't much bigger than you'd find at MK. I personally didn't encounter any rowdy or drunk crowds (we were there all day).
Get to WS right when it opens and hit your favorite spots first if you're worried about lines. With most people getting in line for the food kiosks, we never had to wait longer than 15-20 minutes max for anything.
If you have a chance, take a look at the menus as they become available later this summer - you might see something you'd like to try! My DH is a picky eater and he was really happy with the new dishes he tried.
Get to WS right when it opens and hit your favorite spots first if you're worried about lines. With most people getting in line for the food kiosks, we never had to wait longer than 15-20 minutes max for anything.
If you have a chance, take a look at the menus as they become available later this summer - you might see something you'd like to try! My DH is a picky eater and he was really happy with the new dishes he tried.
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RandomPrincess
Keep Moving Forward
We aren't big drinkers either but the food is great. They are also a great use is snack points in most cases if you are in the dining plan. We like to get one thing to try at each booth and share it. It's like one bite each for or family.
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DisneyDebNJ
Well-Known Member
We have only missed two years of the Food and Wine Festival since its conception, and have never dealt with situations that I would consider remotely dangerous as @Trotsky described. Our experiences mirror @RonAnnArbor, Friday - Saturday is crowded, in WS. We do one of the other parks during the weekends. We have encountered some funny people (obviously a bit tipsy) dancing in either the United Kingdom or Canada pavillions. It really is alot of fun, especially if you're a foodie.
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GeoDonJac34
Well-Known Member
Love the F&W festival, but like others we definitely avoid the place on weekends. Just too crowded.
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Master Gracey 5
Active Member
I went several years ago and will be back for the first week of F&W this year. While some days it can be busy, weekdays are definitely fine. I've been during New Years and THAT was wall to wall - F&W is no worse than a busy non-holiday where you can move around but there might be a few crowds to navigate around the pavillions.
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WellFedDave
Well-Known Member
Avoid Friday and Saturdays. Sunday was actually pretty low attendance, especially at night. Especially at that time of year, www.touringplans.com is gospel. Even if you don't use their touring plans (we don't); use their crowd calendar. It was spot on.
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Do you use other touring plans, or just your own plans? I'll probably use their touring plans with a few modifications (but not too many).
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WellFedDave
Well-Known Member
Combo of both. If you can find a park that's a 2-3 on touringplans.com scale, then theres no need to follow a touring plan. If you have a smart phone, I'd also leverage touringplans.com's app called Lines. It's up to the minute information on ride wait times and will display changing crowd patterns should the parks see an uptick in attendance.
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