Anyone else frustrated with F&W?

[spot28]

Maybe I’m getting old but through the years we’ve been to several food and wine and so enjoyed the experience it seemed so relaxing, no worries about the stress of ride wait times, ADRs,fast passes, etc and just ate and enjoyed ourselves in a leisurely fashion With some partaking of alcohol but keeping it classy. Now it’s like bourbon street or some spring break type location people getting absolutely hammered, loud obnoxious raucous groups sometimes in a EV convoy with no apparent need other than they’re inebriated. The matching shirts used to be funny but now it’s just embarrassing it’s supposed to be a somewhat family friendly event and people wearing shirts about how they drink like a beast, “under the influence” etc. We saw 2 sheriff officers on one occasion in France on Friday to deal with the unruly which I have never seen any Disney park. My husband and I both agree probably this is our last food and wine for a while, the lines were crazy and just the crowd clientele is not what I would expect a Disney park, just wondering if we’re the only one…

 

[Disney.Dreamin.Dee]

Went in late August and going again on the last day.
I've also been several times in the past.
Never found anyone misbehaving or at least I never paid attention enough to notice.
The lines were not long at all when I went.
What I'm frustrated with this year was that they started it in July but half the booths didn't start until October.
I didn't find as many items on the menus that sounded interesting to me.
In particular it lacked alcoholic beverages that sounded good.
I will say every dessert item I tried was amazing.

I do think that if you go in the month of October you're more likely to find longer lines because this time of year used to be the best kept secret until social media gave it away.

 

[kanerf]

Ain't people great?

 

[Matt'sMom]

I'm sorry you had a less than lovely experience at Food & Wine Fest this year. We are local APs who visit EPCOT once or twice a week. I've only run into one 'drinking around the world' group that seemed a bit loud and perhaps too buzzed. It happens, but not nearly as often as one might expect.

As for Food & Wine...
We have really been enjoying many of the booths, and have sampled a lot of very good food and drink. Most days it has not disappointed at all. With very few exceptions, the portions have been generous and the food has been fresh and beautifully presented. Crowds can be a challenge sometimes, and we have had a few unpleasant moments in the parks due to rude guest behavior. But in general it has been a lot of fun grazing at EPCOT F&W, and checking off the menu items that we've tried in the festival guide book.

 

[Claire82013]

This was the case for my first food and wine. I went with a friend for our 21st birthdays (like 4 months after they actually happened), and we saw two grown men get in a fist fight, lots of dangerously drunk people, etc. I think the shirts are cute, though, if you’re planning on just getting tipsy. The under the influence shirt is a little more ironic if you’re being dragged out of the park by the mouse… maybe because I don’t have kids and I know Disney does security checks for weapons, I’m not that put off my the drunk fights. Definitely not a good look, but I love food too much to miss out.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

Maybe I’m getting old but through the years we’ve been to several food and wine and so enjoyed the experience it seemed so relaxing, no worries about the stress of ride wait times, ADRs,fast passes, etc and just ate and enjoyed ourselves in a leisurely fashion With some partaking of alcohol but keeping it classy. Now it’s like bourbon street or some spring break type location people getting absolutely hammered, loud obnoxious raucous groups sometimes in a EV convoy with no apparent need other than they’re inebriated. The matching shirts used to be funny but now it’s just embarrassing it’s supposed to be a somewhat family friendly event and people wearing shirts about how they drink like a beast, “under the influence” etc. We saw 2 sheriff officers on one occasion in France on Friday to deal with the unruly which I have never seen any Disney park. My husband and I both agree probably this is our last food and wine for a while, the lines were crazy and just the crowd clientele is not what I would expect a Disney park, just wondering if we’re the only one…

Agree with you 100%. We've avoided F&W for many years now, as for us, it's the least "Disney" feeling event they run anywhere. But since we know what we've experienced and what we've seen there, we just avoid it by choice and focus more on the other festivals. The Art Festival and Garden Festival don't feel nearly as alcohol-driven as F&W. For those who like it - enjoy! My wife and I not being there just opens up a little bit of space for others!

 

[PurplePigment]

The sheer amount of "you only go to Epcot to get super drunk" I've heard makes my heart hurt a little. Even from Cast Members.

Potential worst Epcot memory: seeing some CMs happily tell some guys they just talked about all the drinking with and sold more beer to very close to park closing "good luck driving home".

 

[lions1995]

We spent two days at Epcot two weeks ago. Luckily we did not come across anyone like this. But whenever there is alcohol, there will be people who don’t know how to control themselves.

 

[bsmcneil]

groups sometimes in a EV convoy with no apparent need other than they’re inebriated.

You make some good points (I was surprised when I went just how many "drinking around the world" shirts there were; but, you have no idea why someone might be in an ECV and if you could stop yourself from making comments like the above, it would be awesome. Seriously. Whatever judgments you make internally aren't necessarily accurate and there's just no sense in doing things like this. If anyone would like to question me (a 30s-ish/younger guy who likely "seems" like they should be able to walk easily), I'm more than happy to show you the scars on my hips from surgeries and the weirdly thin ankles from muscular dystrophy.

 

[DWillowBay]

I've seen it for myself, so I know that it's true that some people go just to drink too....far too....much. But, heck, that is one EXPENSIVE drunk they've got on. Disney drinks are not cheap and if all you want is to get your drunk on....there's far cheaper ways to do that! Disney pricing keeps me sober!!

 

[btk2333]

Maybe I’m getting old but through the years we’ve been to several food and wine and so enjoyed the experience it seemed so relaxing, no worries about the stress of ride wait times, ADRs,fast passes, etc and just ate and enjoyed ourselves in a leisurely fashion With some partaking of alcohol but keeping it classy. Now it’s like bourbon street or some spring break type location people getting absolutely hammered, loud obnoxious raucous groups sometimes in a EV convoy with no apparent need other than they’re inebriated. The matching shirts used to be funny but now it’s just embarrassing it’s supposed to be a somewhat family friendly event and people wearing shirts about how they drink like a beast, “under the influence” etc. We saw 2 sheriff officers on one occasion in France on Friday to deal with the unruly which I have never seen any Disney park. My husband and I both agree probably this is our last food and wine for a while, the lines were crazy and just the crowd clientele is not what I would expect a Disney park, just wondering if we’re the only one…

Is it really any different than it’s been in the past? I feel like I’ve been reading posts like this every fall for a decade?

I’ll be there myself in 16 days but I bet it’s pretty much the same as it’s always been which has always been a fun environment for me with or without kids

 

[Marthasor]

The best part of F&W this year for us was completely bypassing WS (which was completely packed) and waiting a mere 60 minutes to get into the lounge at Space 220. We gave up on F&W years ago. I can remember being there over a decade ago and you could actually walk through WS and, pretty easily, get through the lines to sample the food. I get it - it got popular, they added more booths and a ton of alcohol - I'm sure WDW is raking it in. It's just not our scene.

 

[spot28]

You make some good points (I was surprised when I went just how many "drinking around the world" shirts there were; but, you have no idea why someone might be in an ECV and if you could stop yourself from making comments like the above, it would be awesome. Seriously. Whatever judgments you make internally aren't necessarily accurate and there's just no sense in doing things like this. If anyone would like to question me (a 30s-ish/younger guy who likely "seems" like they should be able to walk easily), I'm more than happy to show you the scars on my hips from surgeries and the weirdly thin ankles from muscular dystrophy.

No, I would never say that if I hadn’t seen them (a group of several very young people) honk at people and then all jump off their Evs to run over to a cart or ride etc, they were very mobile I assure you! Bless you though and all you’ve been through, I am a likewise very compassionate person.

 

[spot28]

Is it really any different than it’s been in the past? I feel like I’ve been reading posts like this every fall for a decade?

I’ll be there myself in 16 days but I bet it’s pretty much the same as it’s always been which has always been a fun environment for me with or without kids

Yeah, maybe m just getting old…I hadn’t felt like this until this time, just seemed more prevalent, maybe because Friday night?

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

I went a few weeks ago and couldn't handle it.

The heat combined with the obnoxious drunks, in conjunction with the overall lack of places to actually sit and eat... I ended up eating at the Boardwalk area resorts on my EPCOT days.

Nice and quiet and I was able to actually sit down and enjoy my food.

I really don't think Walt would be pleased with the current state of EPCOT.

 

[PurplePigment]

I really don't think Walt would be pleased with the current state of EPCOT.

I went on a backstage tour thing once kinda sorta a little recently; it went over how Epcot was supposed to be a fully functioning city with multiple levels and all that. They put a lot of emphasis on how it was the guy's final request and last dream to see it through.

Then they had to try and bridge the gap between that and what they ended up with (we'd already gotten one "but you're just here to drink around the world!" joke from the guide) to play it off as if they'd gotten pretty close and Walt would be happy with the result. It was both sad and hilarious.

(Not that that's an only now thing. Now is worse, but they never really got close.)

 

[CBMom01]

My only F&W in 2015 was absolutely rammed with people, many of whom appeared to be having a booze fest. Maybe some of the current complaining is causing y’all to look at prior trips through rose colored glasses?

 

[2vets]

The best way to enjoy F&W (as someone who is also apparently “old”) is to do the booths just as they open - or shortly thereafter. Get outta the area before 3. And for the love of all that’s holy, avoid weekends.

I think the first year I experienced F&W was 2001 - not long after the twin towers, so the parks were admittedly empty, but even the next 5 years were night and day compared with now. I haven’t seen much bad behavior, but it’s just a lot more pleasant early/midweek.

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

I haven’t seen much bad behavior, but it’s just a lot more pleasant early/midweek.

I ran into an overabundance of bad behavior a few weeks ago. I was also stupid enough to go on the weekend.

I used DAS for Frozen, and had a large group of drunks shouting that I was cutting the line. It was both humiliating and embarrassing, considering that I was also solo.

 

[teeeera]

In 2018, I went to Epcot for the first time in a long time and I was so confused. I didn't really know about F&W festival at the time, but I kept asking my husband if there was a concert that night or something. There were groups of people dressed like they were going to a club standing in the middle of the walkways drinking. Groups of women in stilettos, people roaming around with that "trying to hookup" look. You know what I mean I realize now it was just a Saturday night during F&W, but it was so weird at the time. I was expecting just a regular theme park experience, dressed in my park clothes with my kids lol. I felt like I was in the twilight zone. Now we just go during the week. There are still people drinking, but it's nothing like the weekend.