Why Everyone Should Be In Magic Kingdom on August 29th

The fall and Halloween season is a WONDERFUL time to visit Disney World.

Mickey pumpkin wreath in Magic Kingdom

This time of the year brings some of the BEST snacks to Disney World, and ALL the pumpkin and apple flavors (and WE LOVE IT). It also brings Halloween decorations to Magic Kingdom, as well as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Even the weather starts getting a little less oppressive once fall rolls around. However, there’s one thing coming this fall that you’ll want to be aware of — and it’s why you’ll want to be in Magic Kingdom on August 29th.

So what’s happening on August 29th? Well, that’s the first day of the EPCOT Food & Wine Festival. That means HUGE crowds are going to be in EPCOT on that day, and you’ll probably want to avoid them by choosing a different park!

The 2023 EPCOT Food & Wine Festival

This also means that because almost EVERYONE will be going to EPCOT, you might have an opportunity to enjoy smaller crowds at the other parks. This means shorter wait times for rides, which is always nice, right? So avoiding EPCOT on that one day could make your Disney World trip WAY better.

EPCOT Food and Wine Crowds (2023)

We’ve also got another word of warning. If you visit EPCOT on any day after that, you might also want to avoid weekends and evenings. Why? Those are also typically the most crowded days for EPCOT during the festival. The weekends can bring in a lot of local folks, and evenings are when the festival crowds really pick up.

Food spread at EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 2023

So when is the best time to visit EPCOT for the festival? You’ll want to be at EPCOT when it opens (or use Early Theme Park Entry if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel). Mornings are typically quieter. Then you can leave EPCOT once things pick up later in the afternoon. Booths typically open at 11AM.

EPCOT Food and Wine Festival 2023

Knowing WHEN to visit EPCOT during this time could give you a much better experience. All other times? Head to Magic Kingdom or another park to avoid the worst of the crowds. You’ll also want to have a game plan when you visit: Be sure to grab a copy of the DFB Food & Wine Festival Guide here.

Stay tuned to DFB for more.

Why We’re Anxious About the EPCOT Food and Wine Festival This Year

IT'S WINE & DINE TIME!

Food & Wine Festival can be a bummer. You stand in line waiting for what looks like the perfect treat, and it's a bust. But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE EPCOT Food & Wine Festival experience.

If you're planning a day or a week at the festival, we've got every performance, activity, and tasty nosh detailed out so you can make the most of your time and money. Listen, it's a tough job eating and documenting the nearly 200 bites and sips, but we do it all for YOU!