Food and Wine crowds?

[angedeaile]

I need some help here with a subject I am very unfamiliar about...The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

My father decided to surprise the family with a lovely trip to WDW September 2013. He is counting it as a Christmas gift, as he just told us last week. lol.

Here is the problem- When he booked, he picked the weekend that FWF is suppose to start. Sept 26th-30th. I have never been to WDW during this time, nor have I ever attended FWF. So, my questions-

How bad is this? I would assume that Epcot would be swamped, but how are the other parks? Are they super busy as well?

Also, since we are there, we would like to peak in and check FWF out. What day would you recommend? I read that Friday is the soft opening. Anyone ever go to that before or is that not open to the public?

I just dread the crowds, as we have a fairly large group going and a little one. Attending will be 4 adults, a 16 year old, and a 16 month old. So, not exactly a two party group of adults who are up for crowds and boozin.

I am trying to convince the group to go a few days earlier and make it a week long trip, but figure, if I get some advice from you guys, I might be able to sell the idea more...if you recommend it anyways.

[faline]

Weekends tend to get quite busy at the Festival - I would suspect opening weekend even more so. Weekdays - especially when it first opens around 11 isn't bad at all.

Doesn't really impact the other parks.

[AgentC]

I have gone to Food & Wine a lot. I went to the opening weekend this year. I love Food & Wine and I am not a big lover of crowds so I try to go when it is the least likely to be crazy.

F&W usually opens on a Friday. There will be soft openings Wed-Thursday. Soft openings are open to the public but every booth may not be opened.

If you are going the opening weekend I would recommend going on the Friday during the day. World Showcase and the F&W booths open at 11. I have found it be quite enjoyable to good on a Friday between 11 and 4 or 5. The park gets much more crowded after 5 or on Saturday and Sunday because F&W is a big draw for locals.

Most of the congestion during the busy times is at the World Showcase. Future World is not affected as much.

I really haven't seen a big affect on the other parks due to Food & Wine. I have also found the first weekend does not tend to be as crowded as later weekends.

However if you can convince everyone to come earlier in the week, overall the parks should be quieter simply because week days tend to be quieter than weekends.

I am sure you will have a great time.

[Goofeygal]

The weekends tend to get very busy, also evenings are much busier then during the day. I have been 3 times for the F&W festival. The other parks don't seem to get awhole lot busier.