The Epcot food and wine festival... a wonderful experience for all the variety of food in sampler type servings. Eat your way around the world showcase. Enjoy wonderful dishes from around the world. Coupled with the atmosphere of Epcot, its something not to be missed.
But with everything good, there's always the possibility of something bad creeping in. Once Disney realized the profit potential of beer, wine, and hard liquor, it was only a matter of time until they have exploited, encouraged, and promoted drinking your way around world showcase... and the result has been unchecked ever since. Friday & Saturday evenings at the "Beer & Wine Drunk Festival" is to be avoided if you wish to enjoy a family atmosphere. While the vast majority drink responsibility, there's always the element of those that don't. They get drunk, they get rude, and they use foul language and become obnoxious drunks ... and its anything but a family atmosphere. And while Disney portrays the illusion of maintaining control, they in fact draw a blind eye to the drunk issue unless a there's a major altercation. Why? Alcohol is big bucks.
Control & monitoring by the sellers of alcohol at the numerous kiosk locations is virtually non-existent. It's all stream lined to provide fast service, one person to takes their money, others to pass out the alcoholic drinks, and no one to monitor consumption as they travel "around the world" drinking to an excess. From personal experience... There a noticeable lack of managers and security out and about to control situations... in fact, almost completely non-existent.
Disney even has logos, shirts, and drink passports (to get stamped) to encourage over consumption.
So enjoy the food & the festival... but beware of Friday & Saturday evenings at Epcot.
But with everything good, there's always the possibility of something bad creeping in. Once Disney realized the profit potential of beer, wine, and hard liquor, it was only a matter of time until they have exploited, encouraged, and promoted drinking your way around world showcase... and the result has been unchecked ever since. Friday & Saturday evenings at the "Beer & Wine Drunk Festival" is to be avoided if you wish to enjoy a family atmosphere. While the vast majority drink responsibility, there's always the element of those that don't. They get drunk, they get rude, and they use foul language and become obnoxious drunks ... and its anything but a family atmosphere. And while Disney portrays the illusion of maintaining control, they in fact draw a blind eye to the drunk issue unless a there's a major altercation. Why? Alcohol is big bucks.
Control & monitoring by the sellers of alcohol at the numerous kiosk locations is virtually non-existent. It's all stream lined to provide fast service, one person to takes their money, others to pass out the alcoholic drinks, and no one to monitor consumption as they travel "around the world" drinking to an excess. From personal experience... There a noticeable lack of managers and security out and about to control situations... in fact, almost completely non-existent.
Disney even has logos, shirts, and drink passports (to get stamped) to encourage over consumption.
So enjoy the food & the festival... but beware of Friday & Saturday evenings at Epcot.
For several years, beer, wine, and alcohol has spread from Epcot to Studios and Animal Kingdom. Generally starting at table service restaurants than to counter service restaurants and kiosks. The "Holy Grail" of parks Magic Kingdom, was untouched by alcohol... then it was slowly introduced to table service restaurants and continues to spread... family atmosphere is eroding away little by little. And if the lack of management and security diligence to monitor and control drinking that exists at Epcot continues to the other parks, and especially Magic Kingdom, the pristine family atmosphere will certainly be tarnished.
