Food and wine festival

**Tmntrans** · 03-08-2009, 01:13 PM

My family and I are going to WDW Oct 18 thru Oct 23. I used Len's crowd calendar as a basis to book our vacation but now realize that is the time of Food and Wine Festival (so says the DVC member I'm renting points from) Are the crowds really bad around that time or is just Epcot busy??
I go alot but never ever during busy times of the year.

**Disney05** · 03-08-2009, 05:47 PM

We went this past October, the second week. It was the busiest we've ever seen it. All the parks were crowded.

**lobaugo** · 03-08-2009, 09:00 PM

I went last year during that time and Epcot on the weekend is a ZOO and thats putting it lightly because all of the locals come in on the weekends to experience it. I highly suggest checking out the Food and Wine Festival, but try to avoid the weekends.

**Tmntrans** · 03-08-2009, 09:45 PM

OK..I've never been. What do I expect to do at this festival ??

**mini-V** · 03-09-2009, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by Tmntrans

OK..I've never been. What do I expect to do at this festival ??

Basically there are numerous kiosks of food and wine from various parts of the world/US. More nations are represented than usual. Each kiosk offers sample size portions of foods from that region. Each sample costs between $3.00-$4.00 each. Last year, we ate ourselves around World Showcase on several occasions. From our experience last year, the weekends are far busier than the weekdays. We also treated ourselves to Party for the Senses, a hard-ticket event held on several weekends during the festival. For this event, you want to go hungry since it's an all you can eat feeding fest for several hours.

**Tmntrans** · 03-09-2009, 11:09 PM

Thanks MiniV...Did you get my pm about January when I missed your email????

**M5ward** · 03-10-2009, 09:01 PM

We went the third week in October in 2008. Wasn't too bad during the week, but the World is always crowded on the weekends. We love Food and Wine Festival...good food and good drink! We're going back the last week in October this year.

**ImaMouser** · 03-15-2009, 07:15 PM

Something to keep in mind when visiting in October; more and more school systems are having Fall breaks so that means more families visiting in this "off" season. I've been twice to WDW in October. The crowds were good but the latest trip in October was more crowded than the earlier.

As far as the festival itself, if you want to taste the food and wine be sure to take some extra money as each taste and sip costs a little bit.

**mini-V** · 03-15-2009, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by Tmntrans

Thanks MiniV...Did you get my pm about January when I missed your email????

Yeah. Sorry we missed each other.

**Coby'smama** · 04-22-2009, 02:08 PM

Festival sounds neat - we are planning to go last week in September/first couple of days of Oct. Love the advice to avoid the weekends. We are two over 50 couples who still want to believe they're in their 30's! This should be a cool, relaxing time - different than any other Disney visit. I also want to try Jellyrolls - any other "must" suggestions? We did LeCellier and Narcoose's last time and loved them.

**Disnyfan83** · 04-22-2009, 03:07 PM

The Food & Wine festival is my favorite event at WDW!!! We will be heading down for opening week of the festival - we will also be hitting the Halloween party, the Everest challenge and WDW radio's evening at the Adventurers Club!! it's going to be a fantastic trip!!

Hit the Food & Wine Festival Monday or Tuesday -- it will seem completely dead compared to the weekend!!

Maybe we will see you all as we eat and drink around the world!

**M5ward** · 04-22-2009, 03:52 PM

Coby'smama - We are an over 60s couple who usually take one of our kids and their family with us to the World. Food and Wine Festival is wonderful, with lots of different foods and beverages to sample. We have also gone to Jellyrolls several times and it is awesome. You are going to have such a good time.

**Tmntrans** · 04-22-2009, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Disnyfan83

The Food & Wine festival is my favorite event at WDW!!! We will be heading down for opening week of the festival - we will also be hitting the Halloween party, the Everest challenge and WDW radio's evening at the Adventurers Club!! it's going to be a fantastic trip!!

Hit the Food & Wine Festival Monday or Tuesday -- it will seem completely dead compared to the weekend!!

Maybe we will see you all as we eat and drink around the world!

Wow I bet you and your husband could share some stories. Maybe we'll cross up and meet. I hope this time down I can catch one of Lou's events. I missed by 1 or 2 days several times and look forward to checking them out. Although I have to some research and finds whats what and when.

**Coby'smama** · 04-23-2009, 09:48 PM

M5ward - Thanks!!!! Now we are trying to decide between the Dolphin and Yacht and Beach Club. Dolphin &/or Swan has great fall deals and it's cheaper - Yacht and Beach Club has the Dining Plan free - but is still about $600 more. With all the food at the festival, not sure if we can eat that much and if it would be worth it - plus I understand that all the charges at the festival add up. True? We've stayed at the Dolphin before and loved it. Boardwalk we did in '07.

An extra special thanks to you - one South Jersey Disney fan to another!

**Disnyfan83** · 04-27-2009, 12:03 PM

I love, love love the Swan & Dolphin!!! You get all the perks of an Epcot Disney Resort, without the high price!!!

Having stayed at both - I enjoy the more intimate feel of the Swan, since it is much smaller than the Dolphin. And those "Heavenly Beds!!" Talk about a good night's sleep!!

Last time we were down for the Food & Wine Festival, we canceled several of our reservations because we were having too much fun (and too much food!) eating and drinking around the World!!

So, the free dining isn't as much of an incentive for us this Fall. Hopefully, they will come out with another promotion as well during that time.