Brown Derby lunch vs dinner at 3:30pm

[100acreHiker]

I've been trying for a couple of weeks to change all of our reservations from a party of 6 to 9 since our family trip has grown (totally happy to do so since it means the whole family is together, but it's also been a challenge this late in the game). We are visiting the first week of December, for 4 days only. I've managed to get most everything we need, but the sticking point is Brown Derby. It's DH's favorite restaurant, and his only request of the whole trip, quite literally, is to eat a HBD wagyu burger. He LOVES it, and my 11 year old LOVES their andouille chicken sandwich, both only on the lunch menu. We will be doing the second half of the day at HS, and I finally managed to score reservations for all 9 of us (two tables of 5 and 4)....at 3:35pm. Lunch is served until 3:25pm, dinner starts at 3:30 and the reservation confirmation arrived stating "dinner service." Last time we ate at HBD, he inquired if they could do the sandwich for dinner and was politely told no (understandably). I don't know if I'll be successful moving the reservation up by 30 min for a party of this size. DH suggests we arrive 30 min early and see if they'd seat us before the menu switches over. I'm not sure we can count on that. Any recommendations? Call the restaurant directly since it's a large party and ask? Just keep searching? Cut our losses and eat elsewhere (right now there are zero reservations at any of the other HS restaurants for 9 people)?

 

[sharonabe]

I've been trying for a couple of weeks to change all of our reservations from a party of 6 to 9 since our family trip has grown (totally happy to do so since it means the whole family is together, but it's also been a challenge this late in the game). We are visiting the first week of December, for 4 days only. I've managed to get most everything we need, but the sticking point is Brown Derby. It's DH's favorite restaurant, and his only request of the whole trip, quite literally, is to eat a HBD wagyu burger. He LOVES it, and my 11 year old LOVES their andouille chicken sandwich, both only on the lunch menu. We will be doing the second half of the day at HS, and I finally managed to score reservations for all 9 of us (two tables of 5 and 4)....at 3:35pm. Lunch is served until 3:25pm, dinner starts at 3:30 and the reservation confirmation arrived stating "dinner service." Last time we ate at HBD, he inquired if they could do the sandwich for dinner and was politely told no (understandably). I don't know if I'll be successful moving the reservation up by 30 min for a party of this size. DH suggests we arrive 30 min early and see if they'd seat us before the menu switches over. I'm not sure we can count on that. Any recommendations? Call the restaurant directly since it's a large party and ask? Just keep searching? Cut our losses and eat elsewhere (right now there are zero reservations at any of the other HS restaurants for 9 people)?

I would say keep trying even up to the day of, as you never know. I would also talk with guest services at your resort (assuming you're at a resort) and see what they can do.

If nothing has turned up by the day before, you'll need to decide if you want to keep it with the chances of not eating what they truly want or cancel it and eat QS. If you cancel, you could try the lounge outside. That is walk-up only. I don't know if they can seat that large of a group. They do have a waygu beef slider on their menu, but not the chicken. However, if you get there before the lunch cut-off at the main restaurant, there have been reports that you can order off the main menu even when eating at the lounge. Some have said they could not, so even that is taking a chance. You should be able to ask that when you ask if they have seating, though, so you're not out anything if you try it.

 

[supersnoop]

I thought HBD went to an all-day dinner menu. Do they actually have lunch items anymore?

 

[100acreHiker]

Currently has a different lunch menu and has for the last few years, though several items are on both.

Thank you for the advice. I'm going to hold on to what we have and hope to move it. Sort of stings that we miss the cut off by 5 or 10 minutes. I normally would shrug my shoulders and move on, but I just want to make this little thing happen for DH--he missed it on our last trip and he's not a huge Disney Dad and this is really his only request!

 

[kayteekt]

If you're unable to modify the reservation before hand, I would stop by the restaurant earlier in the day and see if you can get it moved up. That is, if you'll be at HS that morning/afternoon. We had an ADR for a certain time (group of 9 too), for some reason turns out time wouldn't work out..i just went it and asked and they were happy to help change. Of course, not guaranteed, but we've been to HBD often and never have seen a lunch crowd. Dinner yes. But lunch, no...plus since it's an off time to have lunch, you'd prob have a pretty good shot.

 

[100acreHiker]

That's reassuring, thank you! We arrive at HS around 2, so maybe we will stop by then if I can't move it up.

 

[sharonabe]

I thought HBD went to an all-day dinner menu. Do they actually have lunch items anymore?

It is an all-day menu, but there are a few items they still offer at lunch only along with the full all-day menu.