Beaches and Cream wait time during free dining?

[Amusement]

I just book our ADRs for our December trip and got everything we wanted although not always at the best time.

We want to go to Beaches and Cream for lunch on our last full day there. I know it's walk up and I'm wondering how bad the wait gets during free dining. My son really wants to eat there so we are saving a set of TS credits for it. I don't want to lose those credits since its our last day and it would be hard to book something else to replace that meal.

Anyone know what time they open for lunch and what the wait times tend to be during free dining?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Amusement]

bump

 

[njprincess601]

i don't have an answer but i'm curious as well.. except we're going in May, not during free dining, at least not yet.

 

[DebbieB]

I don't know if alot of people would use a table service credit for it so it may not be as busy as other places.

 

[BlakeNJ]

I have never waited less than 45 minutes. Our last visit in March, we waited almost 1 1/2 hours. During lunch, you are also getting traffic from the pool that is right there. I would plan 2 hours for wait time and dining. The food is good but my suggestion would be to put your name in, grab dinner at Hurricane Hannas near the pool then sit for ice cream at B&C. Ice cream is the main draw here. Depending how many are in your party, I suggest ordering the kitchen sink! They give you bowls so you aren't all digging around the same bowl. It's fun for the kids and makes for some great pictures! I also think it's cheaper than each ordering sundaes.

 

[MouseMomx2]

I would use those TS credits for a different meal and then pay out of pocket for a Beaches & Cream meal. The burgers and sundaes are not that expensive and this way you wouldn't have to worry about wasting any credits if, for some reason, you don't end up eating there on that last day.

 

[Shenanigoat]

I've had an easier time getting a counter seat there, both as single and with one other person. That might be an option for you, but they do get very busy.

 

[Karlzmom]

I just book our ADRs for our December trip and got everything we wanted although not always at the best time.

We want to go to Beaches and Cream for lunch on our last full day there. I know it's walk up and I'm wondering how bad the wait gets during free dining. My son really wants to eat there so we are saving a set of TS credits for it. I don't want to lose those credits since its our last day and it would be hard to book something else to replace that meal.

Anyone know what time they open for lunch and what the wait times tend to be during free dining?

Thanks for your help!

We have never been to B&C during free dining, but the waits can be pretty brutal during the "off season". We had an hour + wait at the begining of December last year.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

For B&C there is no difference in the crowds. Unless you get there when it opens there will be a long wait to be seated. (And even if you get there when it opens there may be a long wait.)

 

[Amusement]

Thank you everyone for the input. It gives us enough info to figure out what we want to do. I know it's not the best use of a TS credit, but we ended up with free dining so it's still a better deal than paying out of pocket.

If we decide to go, we will probably plan on getting there when they open and then wander back to EPCOT for the rest of the day.

My son has been asking if we could go there since he saw a picture of the Fudge Mudslide, hehe.

 

[BriarRosie]

Thank you everyone for the input. It gives us enough info to figure out what we want to do. I know it's not the best use of a TS credit, but we ended up with free dining so it's still a better deal than paying out of pocket.

If we decide to go, we will probably plan on getting there when they open and then wander back to EPCOT for the rest of the day.

My son has been asking if we could go there since he saw a picture of the Fudge Mudslide, hehe.

Beaches and Cream opens at 11am for lunch.

 

[skier_pete]

What are you people talking about....Beaches and Cream is not a TS restaurant! It's a CS restauarant! There's no using a "TS credit" at Beaches and Cream.

Good thread though, I was considering stopping for lunch on our next trip, but if we have to wait an hour, forget it.

SkierPete

 

[Amusement]

What are you people talking about....Beaches and Cream is not a TS restaurant! It's a CS restauarant! There's no using a "TS credit" at Beaches and Cream.

Good thread though, I was considering stopping for lunch on our next trip, but if we have to wait an hour, forget it.

SkierPete

Beaches and Cream is listed as a TS on the official Disney Dining Plan Brochure.
http://adisneyworld.disney.go.com/m...09 Disney Dining Plan - Walt Disney World.pdf

The entrees more on the level of a CS, but the sundaes are more costly so it's a TS.

 

[NuttyDisneyMom]

I would use those TS credits for a different meal and then pay out of pocket for a Beaches & Cream meal. The burgers and sundaes are not that expensive and this way you wouldn't have to worry about wasting any credits if, for some reason, you don't end up eating there on that last day.

Ditto this post!

 

[carmie3377]

Glad I found this thread, but it is so disappointing to read. I really wanted to try Beaches and Cream but there is no way I'm waiting that long for it.

 

[Jeanieblue114]

So you can get one of those no way jose sundaes as your dessert on the dining plan here? Those things are like 9 bucks!
Or are you limited in your dessert choices when using the dining plan?

(didn't mean to hijack...but there were some random comments on B&C and I wanted to clarify)

btw, It seems to be crowded a lot regardless of free dining...especially when EPCOT is closing in the evening.

 

[jlovesee]

Don't be scared away from Beaches and Cream! I have been there three times, once in late January, and twice in November (with once being only 2 days at Thanksgiving!) and the longest wait I have ever had was 10-15 minutes!

BTW the ice cream is wonderful!

Jennifer

 

[Amusement]

So you can get one of those no way jose sundaes as your dessert on the dining plan here? Those things are like 9 bucks!
Or are you limited in your dessert choices when using the dining plan?

(didn't mean to hijack...but there were some random comments on B&C and I wanted to clarify)

btw, It seems to be crowded a lot regardless of free dining...especially when EPCOT is closing in the evening.

That's my understanding. The desserts are more expensive so it takes a TS credit. It is still $5-$10 less than the average cost of a TS meal (but more than the average CS meal) which is why most people opt to pay oop, but you can get any of the desserts (except the kitchen sink) as part of a TS meal.

Here's a thread from this summer about it: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2200983

 

[bangzoom6877]

If I were you I would just arrive when they open for lunch. I believe that will at least minimize your wait.

Another option, so you don't have to make an ADR and then cancel it if you do get into Beaches and Cream, is to plan on a back-up for lunch to use your last TS credit. Across the lake is the Boardwalk. At the Boardwalk, there are 2 restaurants that each take 1 TS credit for a meal there. They are ESPN Club and Big River Grille and Brewery. These restaurants, although TS, do not take ADRs either. So if the wait is really too long for you at Beaches and Cream, you could always try to head to one of those as another option, without wasting that last TS credit. I know they are not the same as Beaches and Cream, but at least you wouldn't waste the credit.

Yet another option, since you mentioned going into Epcot right after, is to call the dining number if the wait at Beaches and Cream is too long, and see if you can get into one of the World Showcase TS restaurants for lunch. If you decide to call the dining line, you could also ask about Captain's Grille at the Yacht Club resort, which also serves lunch and is 1 TS credit on the DDP.

 

[MouseMomx2]

If I were you I would just arrive when they open for lunch. I believe that will at least minimize your wait.

It will IF you are among the first round of guests being seated. If there are enough people waiting and the restaurant fills before you get to the front of the line then you'll have to wait until everybody finishes their meals before a table opens up.

If this is a must-do I'd get there 20 minutes before opening time and wait at the podium.