Big Thunder Ranch BBQ... emptiest hours?

[Lights_Out]

Hey everyone! So we decided that we're gonna try BTRBBQ, but it'll just be a party of 2 and we really don't want to be forced into sharing a table... what time for lunch would you say would be the most empty? I'm thinking maybe when they open? But I dunno...

Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

Normally I would say that either eating early or late would give you the best shot at low crowds. In terms of sharing a table, I have frequently been asked if I'd like to share a table, but I've told the CM that my family would prefer not to and they've always been understanding.

 

[Lights_Out]

Thanks for the advice Figment!

 

[pixiewings71]

We tend to go at around 2 pm, we've always said we are fine table sharing (we were at a place today with the same type of set up, we volunteered to share but they didn't need us to) but we've never had to share with anyone. They do ask you when you get there but if you don't want to share then simply say no.

 

[TheSpooph]

We went right at opening in mid-July and it was very empty. About halfway through our meal, I noticed that a single diner was seated at a table by himself. He happily ate his lunch and no one was ever say at his table.

 

[Lights_Out]

Thank you both for replying!
I think I'll go ahead and go for the 11:30 or 12:00 reservation.

 

[ClaraOswald]

Is the food served family style...as in, some stranger would be digging into the same stuff as us and dishing it onto their plates??

 

[julesann]

It is served family style, but only for your party, not for anyone else who might be sharing your table.

 

[BriannaRuth]

I don't think it's all the busy at lunch. We went last week, just showed up at about 12:30 with no reservation, and there were a LOT of empty tables. I'd say about half the tables were empty, maybe more.

 

[ronandannette]

Is the food served family style...as in, some stranger would be digging into the same stuff as us and dishing it onto their plates??

No, totally not. Each party is served separately and at their own pace; in our case either "end" of the table we were at even had different wait-staff. We walked-up at about 4:00 p.m. on a Sunday in late May when the park was a mob-scene. There was no wait although maybe there would have been if we'd insisted on sitting alone. As it was we were 2 parties of 2 at a long picnic table; no problem whatsoever and no expectation to interact with one another. I've been seated closer to others at individual tables-for-two in other restaurants lots of times and frankly I find that more awkward.

 

[Cheshirecatty]

We've only ever eaten at Big Thunder BBQ, in the afternoons---4:00 or 5:00pm, and we've never been seated with anyone(there's usually two of us), and we've never even been asked if we'd like to/be willing to share with another party.

 

[GatorChris]

I've said it elsewhere and I'll say it here: It's really not that bad sharing tables with other Disney Fans. I haven't done it BTMRBBQ, but I've done it at WDW. It makes the experience more memorable when you meet someone new. But that's just me.

 

[figment_jii]

I have to admit that sharing a table is not my thing at all. I have done it at Disney (Biergarten in Epcot) and it's been a mixture of luck. Some familes have been nice, but I also shared a table with a family that was having a fight. It made for a very uncomfortable meal. After that my family decided no more sharing tables if we can help it; it's not worth the risk of having a bad tablemates.

 

[DisneyBiskit]

My partner and I always go for the latest reservation of the evening which is 7:50 pm. Its not busy and we always get a table to ourselves. Then once dinner is over we head over to fantasyland to watch the fireworks!

 

[ImDMous]

I prefer dinner because of the corn and sausage, but when we do dinner we usually try to get one of the first reservations after they switch over from lunch. Eat breakfast, snack during the day then BBQ around 4:30. So much food! There are usually 2 or 3 of us and twice we've been asked to share.