How are the restaurants during free dining?

[123SA]

We are going the last week in Sept for 10 days. If free dining is offered, it will be going on while we are there. What are the restaurants like? Should I expect to be seated late? I usual plan on 1 hr for TS meal and 1.5 hrs if it is a character meal. Should I plan on it taking even longer? Thanks

 

[Aimeedyan]

We have waited to be seated at slow times and busy times - we only had to wait twice during free dining out of our 10 table service meals.

I didn't see any connection between free dining = extra waits.

The restaurants are usually pretty full when we dine anywhere popular, and I didn't see a different in crowds either. We may have gotten lucky. Jiko, Kona, Concourse, afternoon tea, Spoodles all weren't packed. PSB, LeCellier, Coral Reef, Chefs, Raglan Road, 50s were all pretty full but they have been full at other times of year, too.

I think 1 hour is pretty short if you're going to eat 3 courses. If you'll just eat 1 course, then an hour is probably okay. We never factor specific times, though, and just go with the flow so I may not be remembering things right.

 

[bookgirl2632]

We went last September during free dining. We had no problems at any TS restaurant. The most we waited after checking in was 10 minutes (Crystal Palace for dinner). But most of the time, we were seated immediately. The restaurants were crowded though, so ADRs are a must.

 

[WAHMto5]

We never had to wait longer then 10 minutes, though ADRs are a MUST!!

 

[bicker]

FWIR, last year the restaurants were "mobbed" during the free dining period.

 

[twinspluscade]

We were there Sept 10-14 last year, so I can only comment on that time. We ate at LTT, CP, Princess Storybook, and Hollywood and Vine Character meal for our TS restaurants. We ate every meal right around 5:00, except at Princess Storybook, our ADR was for 6:20.
None of the places were crowded; in fact two of the nights we got there 20 minutes early and I asked if we could be seated earlier...they seated us with no problem. Both LTT and H and V had quite a few empty tables. All four meals took us about an hour; but all are buffets and/or family style meals.

Kelly

 

[BCV23]

We were at WDW last September. Waits were no different than normal and restaurants were no busier either. In fact, WDW is just not as busy that time of year which is apparently why free dining is offered. Expect less crowded restaurants than Spring Break or Christmas week.

We did have a wait at Le Cellier though....again no different than usual for that place.

I agree that a 3 course meal is usually longer than an hour for our family. We don't plan it that tightly but if I were to do so, I'd allow an hour and a half in the parks and two at resorts (not quite that long usually but if time is important....).

 

[MickeyMaz]

I agree that a 3 course meal is usually longer than an hour for our family. We don't plan it that tightly but if I were to do so, I'd allow an hour and a half in the parks and two at resorts (not quite that long usually but if time is important....).

Not for September specifically but just plan for the worst and you should be allright. We did not have much of a wait for any of our ADR's in early Dec., but the 50's Primetime Rest. meal took about 2.5 hours once we were seated. We were chomping at the bit to get back out to the park, but since we had the ADR scheduled in advance and we needed to use the DDP TS at that time we were stuck.

Please don't think I am picky. Food was good and the waitress(mom) was great, but she could not control the kitchen.