Okay, how bad are the crowds and lines on the first day of the food and wine festival going to be? It's on a friday. I've made our schedule and it happens that I've planned epcot (our fave) for our last full day--which is the first day of the festival. I figured it would be a little busy, but after reading another thread I'm beginning to think maybe it'll be a WHOLE LOT busy!:pI have been to it once, but I don't remember that well. Not to mention, there wasn't free dining at the time. Should I change it? We don't have hoppers, by the way, and this would be our only day at epcot. Thank you!

The crowds due to the F&W Fest will be limited to World Showcase, and will get busier as the day goes on. But there's a lot of fun to SEE in World Showcase (not to mention my favorite newest attraction "Kim Possible" (It's newer than Toy Story, don't make me choose)). So if you're not looking forward to participating in the Food & Wine Festival offerings, I'd go on another day. You're likely to see the topiaries and stuff being set up, so you'll still get some of that fun.

I was going to recommend touringplans.com - but they base their estimates of crowds on wait time for attractions. I DOUBT that wait times will be hugely impacted, because the people there for the fest are there for the fest. So I doubt the attraction wait times will be significantly different (aside from the fact that it's evening EMH, right?), but it will be more crowded around world showcase.

And that's all based on me never being there for opening weekend, but I HAVE been there on OTHER weekends and seen the bump the locals give.

The crowds due to the F&W Fest will be limited to World Showcase, and will get busier as the day goes on. But there's a lot of fun to SEE in World Showcase (not to mention my favorite newest attraction "Kim Possible" (It's newer than Toy Story, don't make me choose)). So if you're not looking forward to participating in the Food & Wine Festival offerings, I'd go on another day. You're likely to see the topiaries and stuff being set up, so you'll still get some of that fun.

I was going to recommend touringplans.com - but they base their estimates of crowds on wait time for attractions. I DOUBT that wait times will be hugely impacted, because the people there for the fest are there for the fest. So I doubt the attraction wait times will be significantly different (aside from the fact that it's evening EMH, right?), but it will be more crowded around world showcase.

And that's all based on me never being there for opening weekend, but I HAVE been there on OTHER weekends and seen the bump the locals give.

Hmm...I'll have to think about it. My husband and I really liked F&W, but my MIL and our 20mo old wouldn't care. I was concerned that the crowds would be bad in all of Epcot all day. I would be concerned about the crowds in WS in the evening, because we want to have dinner at Cape May and walk over and have a decent spot at EPCOT for illuminations. I think we may skip it this year...back to the drawing board! :|

Oh, and I'm pretty sure that the first day of the festival is not EMH (although, I thought fri usually are EMH for epcot.) I think they're that tues and wed--unless it's changed.

Thanks! :)

That's right, there was that one oddity I'd noticed on the schedule with the EMH days. Too bad they're still closing at 8 on Friday!

That's right, there was that one oddity I'd noticed on the schedule with the EMH days. Too bad they're still closing at 8 on Friday!

Yeah, I know. How weird is that! They moved p.m. EMH to two days BEFORE it starts. So, they close at midnight that wed, but close early on the first day of F&W, which is a Fri? Weird. Oh well...

I'm wondering if the early evening is going to make it not such a crowded "party" after all?

I googled F&W crowds to see what I would find, and found a thread and someone asked the same question. One person made a really good point.

-Epcot closes early, so locals probably wouldn't bother
-MK is having mnsshp
-DS is having F!
-AK is having pm EMH

(Cathy, maybe this is why they aren't having EMH at epcot that friday? There is so much going on at the other parks.)

I didn't notice that all these things coincide, but she makes a very good point. So, maybe it won't be so bad. I think we may go ahead and do Epcot that day. We would like to be there for the festival, but I was concerned about crowds--especially since we'll have my MIL and our 20mo old with us. What do you think?

So my question is just the opposite of OP.

Does anyone know what we might expect on the LAST DAY of F&W in terms of crowds?

I believe the last day is a Sunday. Personally, I'd expect it to be super crowded - as most weekends are.

First day of F&W is always a total zoo. Not only does it bring out the locals, but anyone who is on a trip and leaving within a couple of days wants to schedule that a their Epcot day so they won't miss out on it.