For those with kids, which TS is easier?

[MickeyNicki]

A lunch or a dinner TS? I have only done TS breakfast with younger kids.....trying to change it up a bit.

Does the break in the afternoon recharge the kids? Is ending our day at 6 with a nice TS dinner better?

Kids will be 6 and 12.5

 

[GlendaO]

A lunch or a dinner TS? I have only done TS breakfast with younger kids.....trying to change it up a bit.

Does the break in the afternoon recharge the kids? Is ending our day at 6 with a nice TS dinner better?

Kids will be 6 and 12.5

We tend to prefer lunch. It's a nice way to relax in the middle of the day and it's also not as big of a deal if it's a slower restaurant.

 

[Lovetherodent]

Unless it's a buffet, TS is kind of slow. Ending the day at 6 with a TS dinner might leave you sitting at a table waiting for food with a cranky 6 yo. If you're going to do dinner, take a break in the afternoon. If you want to go all day, then do the TS at lunch. It might serve as a nice rest.

 

[Kimberle]

We have lunch at the parks (CS), go back to the resort for a swim, then change and have an early TS dinner (5-6pm) works best for us.

 

[rainwatter]

We made ADR's several nights for the late lunch/early dinner... somewhere between 4-6. That time worked really well for my 5 year old.

 

[goldenears]

We like using our CS at lunch and doing our TS for dinner. Just don't make it too late

 

[septbaby]

We did both:

8am start at MK, 1pm lunch at Coral Reef...a fantastic plan and break

Arrived at AK at 1pm after spending the morning having a CS breakfast and time in the pool. Stayed at AK to about 5:30 (Nemo ends after park closes) took the bus to AKL for Boma, took little one to playground while we waited for our table. We had an appetite for Boma and loved the meal.

Chef Mickey's was at 11:20am, so sort of brunch time and that worked well too. We had a late start that morning (on purpose after P&P party) and that worked well too.

I think Lunch would be better than a 6pm dinner unless it was something like Boma after AK. Character meals seem like they would get crazy then. That is a really popular family time and I think the chances of sharing the dining room with testy little ones and big ones on their last nerve is really high and not that much fun.

A late lunch, say 3-4pm could work well then you're recharged for fireworks or a show complete with a snack, say something from Main Street Bakery!

Our little one was 6yo. The mid day break nap/pool break wasn't a issue for us and I don't think your 12yo would find it very cool unless that meant he and dad got to bolt for the big rides at that time.

 

[carcam51]

Last year we found that our then 6 and 5 year olds did great at dinner. We had planned earlier dinners around 5pm, but decided this was too early. We did go back to the hotel for a nap in the afternoon which caused us to rush to get to dinner. Next trip we will make ADRs for 7pm if possible.

 

[mmmears]

We go to the parks in the am, have lunch & a swim at the hotel, then shower and a nap or rest time. Then we go out for a nice dinner -- all rested and refreshed. Did this for 2 weeks straight with my DD when she was 2 and 3 and again at 9 yo and it worked great. After dinner we'd hit the parks until we were ready for bed.

Lunches are hard for us, since she is hungry and tired. Waiting a long time to be seated and then waiting for food to arrive is hard on kids when they are hot, tired and hungry.

It worked for us, but I'm sure there are other families that have tried it the other way and liked it, too.

 

[MickeyNicki]

Well I did mix it up a bit with TS breakfasts, lunches and one dinner. My decision was based on which characters they want to see and what foods they would eat because they are pretty picky kids.

I called this morning and here is what I ended up with (BTW all the times and days were wide open so I could be very choosy with the times):

Thurs Jan 22 breakfast at Ohana
Thurs Jan 22 lunch at Pinocchio Haus or Cosmic Rays
Thurs Jan 22 dinner at CP

Friday Jan 23 breakfast at the POP
Friday Jan 23 lunch at Coral Reef
Friday Jan 24 dinner at the POP (or if they are not tired at Epcot)

Sat Jan 24 breakfast at the POP
Sat Jan 24 lunch at Tonys in MK
Sat Jan 24 dinner at the POP (or if they are not tired at HS)

Sun Jan 25 breakfast at Tusker House
lunch at Pizzafari for the kids Flame Tree for DH and I