Originally Posted By Bolna Since a lot of info on the Food & Wine Festival was released recently, I started to look at my plans for my trip for October. And when I checked the park hours, I was really surprised to see Epcot open until 10pm on Saturday. I checked and it seems that this is the case for all Saturdays from October 8th to November 12th - so for the duration of the Food & Wine Festival. I am not an expert on October opening hours, but I always had the impression that Epcot closing at 9pm (and 9:30pm during December) was absolute standard? I think it is a good idea to have more time to explore the festival, especially since October already suffers from so many early closings at the MK due to the Halloween parties.
Originally Posted By Disneymom443 I think it's a good idea, but I tend to stay away from Epcot during the F&W Fes. on the weekends. I only go durring the week days. To many people on the weekend.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros This is a really good idea. I recently booked dinner reservations at Le Cellier, which doesn't open for dinner until around 5:30(?). Even with calling the moment the phones opened, they couldn't get us in until 7:45. While that's a perfectly fine time to eat (especially coming from the west coast, so our bodies will still think it's early), it will almost certainly run into Illuminations. Pushing back closing time gives them a lot more flexibility when booking the sit-down restuarants, which is especially important during a festival devoted to the stuff in them. This definitely seems like a smart move to me. Also, having spent more time at DLR, it's strange to me how Epcot's hours are always 9-9. Out here, the park hours vary with the seasons and weekends, as guest demand changes through the year. I've always wondered why WDW didn't take this same approach.
Originally Posted By SeventyOne IIRC, they did this last year, but more at the last minute. F&W still has a huge following among Orlando locals, even those who typically balk at being called "Disney fans."
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer WHAT?! Longer hours in EPCOT!? A miracle. Wish they could do this all the time.
Originally Posted By Bolna SeventyOne, that is interesting to know that they already experimented with this last year. I am really glad that they put the longer hours in the schedule well ahead of time this year, makes planning much easier. And if Disney kind of makes you plan you dining reservation months ahead it really is annoying if one of the factors one takes into account for those reservations changes at the last minute... And if the F&W Festival is so popular among locals, maybe they could extend the hours on Friday as well? Epcot with the restaurants really is a perfect park to stay open for longer than 9pm...
Originally Posted By TDLFAN I remember the days when EPCOT Center used to be opened until 10pm.. EVERYDAY.
Originally Posted By PotNoodle ^^^ And without staggered Future World and World Showcase openings/closings.
Originally Posted By Bob Paris 1 Yeah, I actually came here to say something similar. I never got the chance to visit in those days but for me, I just always assumed you could be in the MK or Epcot until midnight, enjoying the ambience. This, to ME says a lot about the reduced quality at WDW. Oh and I HATED the whole staggered opening crap. Open your damned park or don't!
Originally Posted By EPCOT Explorer Want to see WS open up at 9? Put a new pavilion back there to draw crowds in.
