Holiday dining advice

[andee515]

I was wondering if I could get some advice... We have been to Disney numerous times, but never over Christmas. We will be there from Dec 24 to Jan 4. As a family of 5 table service meals are getting a little crazy, for the most part, so I was hoping to do mostly counter service. I haven't used mobile ordering, but definitely plan to, but I am concerned that eating at counter services, may not even be feasible do to crowds. Finding seating is nearly impossible in off times... What has been your experience with restaurants during the holidays?

 

[gharter]

Mobile ordering will be your friend. That will save you a lot of long lines. Also trying to eat more during off times, either earlier or later. Peak times, lunch around noon and dinner at 5-6 tend to be very busy.

 

[SinCityMMAFan]

Mobile ordering helps a great deal AT MOST restaurants. I have encountered longer lines at mobile ordering for a few restaurants. One being Casey's. Also like the PP stated eating during those off-times helps a lot with crowds. For example I would suggest eating an early lunch 11:00AM or late lunch 2:30PM to avoid that lunch crowd.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

We were there over Christmas week two years ago. Lines for QS were literally out the door and pouring into the park pathways. Mobile ordering may be your friend, but finding a table will be incredibly difficult. Personally, I would make ADR's. It guarantees you some food and a seat.

 

[djc9699]

We were there over Christmas week two years ago. Lines for QS were literally out the door and pouring into the park pathways. Mobile ordering may be your friend, but finding a table will be incredibly difficult. Personally, I would make ADR's. It guarantees you some food and a seat.

This. Exactly why we got the deluxe plan during Christmas and are doing a late breakfast/early lunch and a dinner ADR every day of our trip. Christmas time dining is no joke. The two days last Christmas that we didn't have an early ADR we were at the QS when it opened for lunch. First through the door.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Should you feel like a "Christmasy" meal QS-style grab a turkey and cranberry sandwich from the Earl of Sandwich at Disney Springs. Many people rave about how good it is.

 

[Disneylover99]

This. Exactly why we got the deluxe plan during Christmas and are doing a late breakfast/early lunch and a dinner ADR every day of our trip. Christmas time dining is no joke. The two days last Christmas that we didn't have an early ADR we were at the QS when it opened for lunch. First through the door.

Counter service can be enjoyable over the holidays, if you follow this advice. Also, counter service lunch locations often open a half hour or so earlier during the holidays. Check the times guides and be prepared.

 

[FSU Girl]

Friends of ours went over Christmas last year and had to wait almost an hour to get into the quick service restaurants and they were just two and found seating difficult to find. It's going to be crazy busy when you are there. I would book at least a couple ADRs on Christmas, NYE to cut down on some of the craziness. I'd also look at the Quick Services not in big pathways like the entrance to the parks where everyone is filing past, off the beaten path should help a little. Have a fun trip!

 

[NYCgrrl]

I really can't speak on how crowded QS eateries are in general but can say that all the restaurants are busy on Christmas Day and NYE. There were longer than normal lines (but not too bad IMO) at Harambe's stand alone fruit and pretzel stand at AK on Christmas Day for lunch. We had an early dinner ADR for HBD and the check in line went out the door, past the awning, so you know what it was like in the dining room. Had no ADR for Christmas Eve (what was I thinking?!) yet readily found a dinner ressie Dinner @ FF on Christmas Eve which was pretty civilized (we only eat fish on CE) although we'd considered eating at Yorkshire County Fish Shop, the QS fish and chips at Epcot's. We wound up canceling a dining reservation on NYE at Epcot and ate room service instead negating all the crowds.

Probably the busiest parks last year on NYE were Epcot where the largest amt of good tasting QS are located for my thunk, and MK, where we rarely eat. Check the historical crowd rating records over at TP to see if this is a correct assesment.
The first QS I would check at Epcot would probably be Katsuri Grill which is sort of hidden away and has some pretty decent food for the price as well as a lovely setting.

 

[bkfamilyof5]

Do the restaurants only have room for ADRs or do they leave some room for walk ins? I have adrs for most of our meals Christmas week but just realized I only have a BOG lunch booked on our second MK day (12/26) and nothing else that day. Do you think it’s possible to get into GF cafe or Kona or another of the monorail resort restaurants for dinner if MK is too crazy? Traveling with 5 kids so obviously we’ll need to eat!

 

[Disneylover99]

Do the restaurants only have room for ADRs or do they leave some room for walk ins? I have adrs for most of our meals Christmas week but just realized I only have a BOG lunch booked on our second MK day (12/26) and nothing else that day. Do you think it’s possible to get into GF cafe or Kona or another of the monorail resort restaurants for dinner if MK is too crazy? Traveling with 5 kids so obviously we’ll need to eat!

I would just book something the day before. There will be cancellations, or go on the website day of and see which ADR’s are available. I don’t recommend just heading to a monorail resort restaurant Christmas week with five kids in tow with the hopes of getting a walk in.

 

[bkfamilyof5]

I would just book something the day before. There will be cancellations, or go on the website day of and see which ADR’s are available. I don’t recommend just heading to a monorail resort restaurant Christmas week with five kids in tow with the hopes of getting a walk in.

I’ll definitely keep looking. Just trying to figure out if they do save some room for walk-ins. We are staying at the GF so will be going to/by the resorts anyway. Are there resort restaurants that don’t take reservations? Unfortunately we are a party of 10 so getting adrs isn’t super easy.

 

[Disneylover99]

I’ll definitely keep looking. Just trying to figure out if they do save some room for walk-ins. We are staying at the GF so will be going to/by the resorts anyway. Are there resort restaurants that don’t take reservations? Unfortunately we are a party of 10 so getting adrs isn’t super easy.

I think all DW TS restaurants take reservations. A party of 10 is tricky though, even during non crowded times. I mean, if you’re at the GF anyways, it couldn’t hurt to ask, especially if you wanted to eat mid afternoon, or late at night. You might want to consider heading to DS. The Polite Pig or Wolfgang Puck Express are counter service, but once you order, they deliver the food to your table.

 

[bkfamilyof5]

I think all DW TS restaurants take reservations. A party of 10 is tricky though, even during non crowded times. I mean, if you’re at the GF anyways, it couldn’t hurt to ask, especially if you wanted to eat mid afternoon, or late at night. You might want to consider heading to DS. The Polite Pig or Wolfgang Puck Express are counter service, but once you order, they deliver the food to your table.

Thanks. Trying to avoid schlepping to DS, I’m really not a fan.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Don't forget there is Capt. Cook's, the hybrid QS at Poly.
You'll probably have to wait to be seated at a place like Kona Cafe w/o a reservation but they take your cell phone number and call you when a table is ready. You'd have a great opportunity view the holiday lobby decor. You can also check this site's December and January Dining Reservation forum for cancellations and of course there is TP' reservation finder.

 

[Hopefully]

I’ll definitely keep looking. Just trying to figure out if they do save some room for walk-ins. We are staying at the GF so will be going to/by the resorts anyway. Are there resort restaurants that don’t take reservations? Unfortunately we are a party of 10 so getting adrs isn’t super easy.

No. Disney does NOT save room for walk ups. If there is room you could book it
Break your party into 2 smaller groups and try for 2 ADRs. Stalk the web site for cancellations, especially at the 30 day mark and the day before. People do cancel. Set up a Touring Plans reservation finder.
Good Luck. This is the busiest week of the year. I can’t imagine how you can walk up and be seated without ADRs.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

We were there just before Christmas last year and the QS spots were overflowing. We did see a lot of TS ADRs open up last minute from people fine tuning plans and trying to avoid the no show fees...but we're also a party of 4, which is usually easier to book. Still, I would look to the app for last minute booking since it may be better than the nightmare of trying to find a qs table.

 

[TwinkleKS]

We always do the dining plan Christmas week. It makes it so much easier. We limit to two ADRs a day ... that is more than enough food and we can grab a snack if someone thinks they are starving. From what I have observed QS is crazy ... my main issue is not being able to find a place to sit. I want to sit for at least a few minutes to enjoy my meal. If you don't have an ADR, always look at the app right then and there may be something open nearby ... that is the closest you will get to "walk up". If you are paying out of pocket and worried about the cost of the sit down meals, avoid the buffets, drink water, and you can come up with options at some of the restaurants that aren't too bad per person. We never take food with us into the parks, but we do usually have granola bars or something like that at the hotel so that those that wake up hangry can have a quick bite to eat if we have a later ADR for that day.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I was wondering if I could get some advice... We have been to Disney numerous times, but never over Christmas. We will be there from Dec 24 to Jan 4. As a family of 5 table service meals are getting a little crazy, for the most part, so I was hoping to do mostly counter service. I haven't used mobile ordering, but definitely plan to, but I am concerned that eating at counter services, may not even be feasible do to crowds. Finding seating is nearly impossible in off times... What has been your experience with restaurants during the holidays?

We've been going every year (except 2011) since 2009. I could see how table service meals could be a little crazy. Over the years, we've found the days in which we skip a Table Service in favor of a QS much less stressful. The key during Christmas week is flexibility. You wanna have things scheduled (like FP+'s), but also don't wanna be pulled here, there, and everywhere when it's crazy crowded. Navigating MK at 6pm when you have an ADR at BOG at 6:15pm could be stressful.

As others have mentioned, mobile ordering will be your friend. Disney has rolled it out more and more over the past year or so and it's proven worth-while. It's not a fix-all to the lines. A busy kitchen is still a busy kitchen; but it allows you to explore and keep enjoying your day, then pick up your order at a set time.

Disney has added a lot of awesome QS restaurants the past few years. It's no longer "have a TS ADR or be stuck eating a poor excuse for a burger." And WPE no longer rules the roast when it comes to "Table Service Lite". Many Disney Quick Service restaurants are seriously good. AND, with the added quality, the popular QS restaurants aren't as busy as they once were. Supply and demand.

Will it be crowded? Heck yeah. But dining during off-peak hours will come in handy. Rather than eating lunch at 12pm, wait until 1:30 or 2pm. Rather than eating dinner at 5pm, wait until 7pm or dine earlier at 3:30pm and have "linner". We also don't eat 3 square meals a day at Disney. If we have a big dinner coming up we'll all split a snack to avoid being full or dealing with the crowds.

As others have said, yes, it gets crowded. I don't think it gets as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Again, mobile ordering helps. I don't remember a time waiting LONG for food. I do remember times searching for a table, though. Tables at some restaurants could be REALLY tough to come by. Others are built to absorb big crowds. You just need to know going in or have a good idea.

Quick Tips:

- Stay away from Disney Springs on the weekend. It'll be swamped with people. If you wanna eat at a QS in Disney Springs then save it for mid-week.

- Obviously stick to mobile ordering.

- If you're ordering, then send someone to grab an open table. Don't hover over people, it makes it really uncomfortable. What I like to do is find the person who cleans the tables and follow them. They'll usually lead you to an open table or a soon-to-be-open table.

- Depending on where you stay, you may be able to run out and grab food. Also will depend on what type of ticket you have. We have park hoppers and stay at Beach Club. Some mornings we'll sleep in and my sister and I will run to the France Pavilion and get sandwiches for the family.

- Resort quick services usually absorb crowds the best. Remember, places like Landscape of Flavors at AoA and Contempo Cafe at Contemporary are built to absorb the high occupancy.

- Uber makes it easier to get hotel-to-hotel now.

- Trash cans are your friend. Yuck, right?! But seriously - we learned during Food and Wine that sometimes you need to make due. Put that tray over the trash can and use it as a makeshift tabletop.

- While on the topic ^ International Festival of the Holidays has grown exponentially the past few years. It's now a "F&W Lite" and has tons of quick offerings.

My picks of best QS Restaurants:

Satuli Canteen: Pandora is a top-3 spot in Disney, so it'll be packed. IMO, it has unique offerings (different bowls) and quality food. You get hefty portions... but the lines will be loooonnnggg. Definitely mobile order here.

D-Luxe Burger: Very good burgers. It's a small place with not too many tables. I like that they have the dining room blocked until you order, so people can't really save seats.... but I've seen some people climb over the barricade. It's smaller than usual, and even when there's not a long line, it could still be tough to find a table... but definitely worth the food!

Contempo Cafe: I love it here. Good, fresh food, solid cupcakes, plenty of tables.

Boardwalk Bakery: Sometimes you just need a good sandwich or salad... or pastry. What's nice about BW Bakery, is that while there's no true seating, you can find one of the many high-top tables or a bench on the BoardWalk.

Captain Cooks: Located in Poly. Decent-size dining room and a lot of seats outside.

Polite Pig: Located in Disney Springs. Absolutely delicious BBQ and tons of seating inside and out.

WPE: One of the old staples. A hybrid Table and Quick Service Restaurant.

 

[MulanMom]

Thank you for the advice, PlutoTheDog89. It's been a few years since our last Christmas WDW trip. The information is very helpful!