Best time for table service meals

[peck88]

What is the best time of day to spend at a table service meal? This is our 1st Disney experience and we can't wait! I have a husband, 13year old, 11 year old and a 6 year old and I gotta say that they do not want to take time out to dine ( I welcome the rest & good food.) So... do we make reservations at the end of the day or middle of the day and have more time in the park after we eat? I have a few reservations already made but I want to know what has worked for others. And are we going to have to wait much to get seated? I have read a few threads about reservations at 5;30 but not getting seated for 45 minutes after. If these people have to wait it could get ugly!

 

[kellymarch]

I'm trying to book earlier in the evening around 5ish so that even if we have to wait, nobody will be starving. When are you going? I'm there March 6-12, so I know things will be busy-ish & there'll probably be a bit of a wait, although hopefully nothing too long.

 

[THE WIGGLES]

My family loves to keep moving also so we make reservations around 7. If you are on the dining plan this will allow you enough time to digest your counter service lunch and perhaps even a snack. No one ever goes hungry. We generally go to one park for the day, head back to the room to unwind/relax, then tackle another park at night such as Epcot. A little later reservation allows you to stay in the 1st park until late in the afternoon(or at least until after the parade) and gives you plenty of time to head out again.

 

[peck88]

We will be there from May 29th-June 2nd. We have hopper tickets so we can move around but since its all new we weren't sure how much hoppin' we would do. I tried to make reservations in the same park we would be in that day but really have no idea how much time we'll be spending in the parks. I'm thinking our 1st day which is at Animal Kingdom won"t be as long. ???
We are eating in Epcot that night which is near our hotel(Port Orleans Riverside). How crazy is it to move around there? Here is our sched so far ;
Sun: Animal Kingdom, dining Teppan Edo @ 7:20
Mon: Hollywood Studios, dining @ 50's Prime Time @7:40
Tues:Breakfast @ Chef Mickey's 7:40a.m. then to Magic Kingdom
Wed: Epcot , dinner @ Coral Reef @4:15
Thurs: ????
Any suggestions? So far I have been able to move times around a bit but I know as it gets closer......

 

[thebwit]

We will be there from May 29th-June 2nd. We have hopper tickets so we can move around but since its all new we weren't sure how much hoppin' we would do. I tried to make reservations in the same park we would be in that day but really have no idea how much time we'll be spending in the parks. I'm thinking our 1st day which is at Animal Kingdom won"t be as long. ???
We are eating in Epcot that night which is near our hotel(Port Orleans Riverside). How crazy is it to move around there? Here is our sched so far ;
Sun: Animal Kingdom, dining Teppan Edo @ 7:20
Mon: Hollywood Studios, dining @ 50's Prime Time @7:40
Tues:Breakfast @ Chef Mickey's 7:40a.m. then to Magic Kingdom
Wed: Epcot , dinner @ Coral Reef @4:15
Thurs: ????
Any suggestions? So far I have been able to move times around a bit but I know as it gets closer......

Try not to park hop just for food. Keep in mind that travel from one place to the next could take up to an hour. Last trip we allowed ourselves 45 minutes and that still wasn't enough due to problems with the transportation.