Dining when it's hot outside... what do you do?

[SDSorority]

What dining approach do you take when it's HOT outside (much like today...). Like... do make sure you do a TS in the middle of the day to get out of the heat, or is it too hot for you to have a big meal so you just do CS? I'm just trying to anticipate what we'll want to do.... in September.

 

[wdwnut61]

We've gone to Disney in July for the past 3 years. i do not do well with the heat but it was the only time we could go.

How I survived was making rope drop then having a TS ADR for lunch. By noon time I was more than ready for sitting in air conditioning. We had a nice relaxing meal then we would head back to the resort for swimming. In my case a nap in more air conditioning

It wasn't that we had a huge meal at lunch but with a TS meal you can relax and have more time to cool down. In the summer months the heat just zaps all your energy so this really helped.

In MK we loved CP for lunch, in HS we always booked Sci Fi cool and dark.

 

[Nadjalu]

If park hours allow we take a break in the mid afternoon, 1-2ish and head back to the resort. Then we head back out about 4-5 for dinner then on to finish the park.

This way you are out of the heat for lunch, have a long break either in the pool or room (ah the air conditioning), then to dinner where there is air and back to the hot sun....lol

 

[quirty30]

I'll tell you one thing you DON'T do - don't make reservations for Rose & Crown. We had never dined there before and didn't realize just how large their outdoor seating area was. Visited a few weeks ago and they refused to seat us inside. Wouldn't even let us wait to sit inside past our ADR time - told us we could either sit outside or leave. Never again.

And to address the overall question, I absolutely don't want to eat a heavy midday meal at the parks. Fortunately, all the parks have indoor, air conditioned QS places we like (well except maybe for AK.) At MK we like Columbia Harbor House, at Epcot we eat at Sunshine Seasons, at at DHS we opt for ABC Commissary. All offer a nice respite from the heat and some lighter meal choices. We save our appetites for a nicer TS dinner, usually following a dip in the pool after leaving the parks sometime after lunch.

 

[pixarmom]

How I survived was making rope drop then having a TS ADR for lunch. By noon time I was more than ready for sitting in air conditioning. We had a nice relaxing meal then we would head back to the resort for swimming. In my case a nap in more air conditioning

It wasn't that we had a huge meal at lunch but with a TS meal you can relax and have more time to cool down. In the summer months the heat just zaps all your energy so this really helped.

Absolutely! We are typically at WDW between December and March, but we had APs last year, and added a July trip. This is exactly what we did - rope drop, TS lunch, break at the resort for swimming and then TS dinner in the parks (usually Epcot - we stayed at BC.) If you aren't on the dining plan, TS does not have to be a heavy meal. It can be just as light (or even lighter) than a counter service meal. We often ordered salads or appetizers instead of entrees and our two youngest boys ordered kids' meals. TS guarantees an inside, air-conditioned spot to sit and eat without waiting in a line, juggling trays with three kids and sitting in the heat. It was definitely the way to go in the hot summer months!

 

[720L]

Most of Disney's CS restaurants have indoor seating.

 

[dzorn]

Our TS is usually during lunch. A nice long sit in cold AC in the middle of the day is great.

Denise in MI

 

[SDSorority]

Thanks for your thoughts everybody! DH was WAY overheated yesterday and didn't really want dinner (and we're in Ohio! ...granted it was 110 outside with the heat index... but still!). We had a long talk about how we should tackle dining in September. We DON'T have the DDP, and we're planning on eating breakfast in the room (so we can hit RD each day), bringing along a sandwich and some fruit/snacks for one of the meals (like PB and J or something) and a TS meal at some point as well. I'm thinking mid-day TS might be the way to go... IF I CAN STILL GET RESSIES WITH FREE DINING GOING ON. Wish me luck We might do resort TS rather than park TS. I bet we'll have better luck.

 

[wdwnut61]

Good luck I hope you get the ADR's you want

 

[Simba's Mom]

We've gone to Disney in July for the past 3 years. i do not do well with the heat but it was the only time we could go.

How I survived was making rope drop then having a TS ADR for lunch. By noon time I was more than ready for sitting in air conditioning. We had a nice relaxing meal then we would head back to the resort for swimming. In my case a nap in more air conditioning

It wasn't that we had a huge meal at lunch but with a TS meal you can relax and have more time to cool down. In the summer months the heat just zaps all your energy so this really helped.

In MK we loved CP for lunch, in HS we always booked Sci Fi cool and dark.

That's just what I'd do also. And I often found myself looking for an entree salad instead of a hot and heavy meal.

 

[SDSorority]

Good luck I hope you get the ADR's you want

I did!!!! 100% success! I'm really surprised- maybe free dining hasn't ruined my trip afterall

 

[wdwnut61]

Good for you that's great

 

[vinotinto]

We usually schedule a TS for lunch to get out of the heat. We've done that in September and June. My exception to that is Tangierine Cafe, which I usually try to do once/vacation.

I do have a suggestion that may seem obvious, but I have not always followed it. Order something light for lunch. When it's hot, even after you've cooled down, a heavier dish - even if it sounds delicious - is going to feel blah. My fave lunches have been salad and fish, and I don't think it was because the other food wasn't good, but because it's just not what my body needed.

 

[Eeyore98]

Fortunately, all the parks have indoor, air conditioned QS places we like (well except maybe for AK.)

Can't speak to whether you'd like their food or not, but Pizzafari at AK has air-conditioned indoor seating. We like their Italian sandwich, and the side that comes with it is your choice between carrot sticks or potato chips.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

We schedule 3 meals a day. Now we don't always eat a full meal, but we do take the time to sit and get something. I highly recommend, starting with something small and a non-carbonated drink. We eat lightly at first, sit and relax. As you cool off it will be easier to then eat the meal.

We have gotten one appetizer for 5 people. Just so we could sit, relax and cool down. Then it is much easier to eat. We also try to sit for a bit after the meal instead of getting up quickly and back into the heat.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[carolfrompa]

We were just there last week and we had a few late breakfasts scheduled...around 10:30-10:40. They were great. We would hit rope drop and get a ton accomplished. Then, have a nice relaxing breakfast late in the morning, head back out after our meal for a few more attractions before heading back to the resort. We didn't need lunch because the late breakfast filled everyone up for the afternoon. We would have a QS meal at the resort around 5 or so, and then head back to the parks in the evening. It worked like a charm!

 

[NorweJenNY]

A lot of people like to take a break midday to go back to their resort. We've learned to do different midday breaks as to avoid too much of the hot sun when we're there in the heat.

We make lunch time our midday break and our main meal in a TS restaurant for the day. We relax and aren't rushed... we may get an appetizer and/or dessert in addition to the main course. We find that TS restaurants are generally a bit calmer than CS, so TS helps us relax in this sense too. And having full stomachs when we're done makes us want to keep relaxing, so we typically head to a calm indoor (air conditioned) show immediately after lunch... like the Hall of Presidents in MK (we often eat at Liberty Tree, so this is a convenient location), the American Adventure at Epcot, the Nemo Musical at AK, etc. That all makes a good long midday break without leaving the parks.

 

[roxysmum123]

I love, love, love having a scheduled break in the middle of the day in the form of a TS reservation. 1. I love food. 2. I love air conditioning. 3. I love eating food somewhere that has air conditioning.

That being said, heed my warning. Do NOT book a lunch reservation at Chefs De France. I did this last trip in May because they have an awesome Prix Fixe meal where for one price you get an app, main and dessert (I think it was about 23$ which isn't bad considering all the food you get). Do not get me wrong, the food was AWESOME and I'd go back any day of the week but french cooking is very heavy on butter, cream and cheese and eating that in the middle of a smoking hot day does not make for a happy tummy. Try to book at places with lighter fare for lunches, or buffets where you can make your choices as far as serving sizes and the cost is lower than if you were to go at dinner.

 

[NorweJenNY]

Do NOT book a lunch reservation at Chefs De France. I did this last trip in May because they have an awesome Prix Fixe meal where for one price you get an app, main and dessert (I think it was about 23$ which isn't bad considering all the food you get). Do not get me wrong, the food was AWESOME and I'd go back any day of the week but french cooking is very heavy on butter, cream and cheese and eating that in the middle of a smoking hot day does not make for a happy tummy. Try to book at places with lighter fare for lunches, or buffets where you can make your choices as far as serving sizes and the cost is lower than if you were to go at dinner.

This wouldn't stop me! YUM!

 

[roxysmum123]

This wouldn't stop me! YUM!

Delicious, yes. Feeling like you are going to puke for the next 5 hours, not worth it. Go for dinner when it's cool out.