Big Lunch Or Big Dinner?

[lugnut33]

So, what do you do when you go to WDW, do you eat a big lunch (sit down) and a smaller dinner, or a small lunch and a big dinner (sit down)?

In the past, when we have had the Dis. Dining Plan, we always had the quick service meal at around 11 (so we didn't eat breakfast) and then the big sit down meal at around 5:30 pm. It worked good for us.

But this August, without the DDP, I'm thinking about a big meal at lunch and small meal at dinner. Mostly because the lunch menu is cheaper. Plus, we plan on leaving the parks at around 1 and coming back several hours later and we wouldn't have to worry about getting some place on time for our reservation.

What's your opinion on the best time to have your sit-down meal? (oh, we are a family that loves to sit and dine together since it's difficult for us to do during the year due to work)

 

[photobob]

We do our big meal for lunch for the reasons you mentioned. It's a bit cheaper and we usually do a snack bfast in the room. We usually have a counter service dinner or a sandwich in the room. Lunch ADR's are much easier to get as well. We like cruising the parks during the time most are having dinner.

 

[fall08CP]

We would do parks in the morning, return to the resort and do CS lunch around 1-2, then go back to the parks and do a TS at a deluxe resort around 8.

 

[tiger4me2]

We prefer our "big" meals at lunch gives us time to walk it off

 

[TBDave]

We do TS for both lunch and dinner. Just because you're doing TS, doesn't mean it has to be a "big" meal (or an expensive one). We usually just order a sandwich or salad for lunch. Sometimes, for every two people, we'll order just one appetizer and one sandwich, then share them. Half an appetizer and half a sandwich makes a pretty good lunch.

For example, four people at the Sci-Fi Dine-In:

Onion Rings - $5.99
Spinach & Artichoke Dip - $6.99
Reuben Sandwich - $10.99
Turkey Sandwich - $10.99
Total Price = $34.96 ($8.47 per person)

We do the "big" meals at dinner time. We like to get stuffed on buffets and family-style dinners. Then we lounge around until the parades and fireworks.

 

[winterman]

We need to eat a good breakfast before we head out for the day, so we usually eat a light lunch and a 'big' dinner. One exception to that is that we always eat lunch at Liberty Tree Tavern.

 

[minnierocks]

We eat breakfast in our room, take snacks in a bag...eat a big lunch between 1:30 and 2:30. It's cheaper and it gives us a nice break in the middle of the day. Then we do some more touring and if we get hungry, grab something light for dinner or head back to the resort and eat there. It works out great for our eating habits and is a little easier on our wallets!

 

[Tiggr924]

For us it varies on what we are doing that day, where are the morning extra hours or the evening extra hours. We like to either do a light breakfast, a CS lunch at the park before we go back to the hotel, and then I big dinner later around 7-8 or so (especially if there are no evening hours or they are at the AK). Or we will do a big breakfast, eat something light at the hotel for lunch or get sandwiches from DTD, and then eat around the world getting snacks from multiple places. I understand your concerns with having a cheaper lunch. Some of the buffets for dinner are a little cheaper than other dinners.

 

[acourtwdw]

We do a big breakfast (usually a buffet) around 8am. Lunch is CS or a snack. Dinner is TS around 8pm. Since it adults only, we don't have to eat too early. We usually eat dinner late at home, so eating late at WDW is no biggie.

 

[baileybelle]

We have 5 adults. Not on the DPP. We usually have a really small breakfast: cinnemon rolls, donuts, or even splitting a couple of adult breakfasts. We like to hit the parks and big rides at opening. Big rides and big breakfasts don't sit well with us.

Lunch is when we do our TS meals. Usually around 12 noon. By then we are starving and need an air-conditioned, relaxing break. We also do some of our favorite CS's at lunch: CHH, Sunshine Seasons, Pizzafari.

Dinner is CS or just snacking around the parks.

No set rules. We're on vacation!!!

 

[ransom]

Depending on the day, our mood, and our plans, we may have light, medium, or heavy meals for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner!

Most days, though, we have a light breakfast, a moderate lunch, and a heavy dinner.

On a 14-day trip, we might have two sit-down breakfasts, four sit-down lunches, and 10 or 11 sit-down dinners.

 

[CamColt]

We vary what we do depending on what the plan of the day is.

If we have a big breakfast (buffet), we will usually just have CS for a late lunch early dinner. If we are going to be at, say Epcot, all day we might do just a sit down lunch for a break (usually walk over to ESPN on that day). If we are taking a midday pool break and will be showering before heading out for the night we do a nice sit down dinner.

 

[Katiebell]

Also, you might want to look at the menus for the TS where you plan to eat -- the mushroom filet at Le Cellier is 25.99 at lunch vs 34.99 at dinner! But some of the lunch items are not available on the dinner menus, and vice versa.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

We usually do lunch but I do schedule one or two breakfasts. We aren't big morning people. Well my daughter and I are but DH and DS.....let's just say it can get ugly! DH does it for vacations and doesn't complain but DS is a royal PIA in the morning. I do the breakfast so we can get into the park early. DH does like this. It's nice to walk through without the crowd and get great pictures!

We do lunch because we will eat in the condo something quick (cereal, oatmeal), head out and then rest and relax with a nice lunch. We get full and usually have something light for dinner. It helps with our wallets too but mostly we just like to have the break without having to leave the park.

 

[bellajen]

We aren't big breakfast people so we'll just tend to grab something and be on our way. Lunch we usually do snacks or CS or maybe order some appetizers somewhere but we don't generally make an ADR. Since we're just 2 adults we like to eat a late dinner at a TS restaurant.