How crowded are CS places during free dining?

[crusoe2]

We've booked the free dining deal for our trip next year. We're going end of May/first of June (will be there over the Memorial Day weekend). Anyhow, we're currently booked at POR with the regular dining plan but that's really more table service dining that we usually like to do. Two or three table service meals is about the most we normally do in a week. I'm considering changing our ressie to a value resort and getting the quick service dining plan. Then just pay OOP for the few table service meals we'll eat. By my calculations, we'll come out quite a bit ahead that way and spend much less time in restaurants. But I'm wondering - how packed and chaotic are the counter service places going to be? Either way we go, we'll be eating some cs meals. Any tips on how to avoid the crowds? We usually try to eat at off times and that has worked well for us. I'm wondering if it will make much difference during free dining tho. TIA

 

[Sandisw]

I don't know about the crowds during free dinging, but I can tell you that we eat a lot of CS meals.

We typically eat a light snack for breakfast (muffin, bagel, etc.) and then do an early lunch, around 11:30 am before the places get crowded.

This allows us to then eat an early dinner, around 4:30 pm. We then finish the day up with a snack later on if we need to.

We have found that these times really help to avoid crowds.

 

[jlk806]

We've always done the regular DP during FD, and ive never had a problem with the crowds at the CS restaurant. With that said, I go the first week of September the parks are not that crowded, and this is the first year that value resorts are only offered the free QS plan. So it may be different now, Ill find out tomorrow when I go! Also, Memorial Day is typically a much busier time at the world, so I think no matter what it is likely to be crowded everywhere.

 

[Ellielovesdisney]

I always think they are crowded, at least in the MK. Not sure is free dining makes much of a difference.

 

[RMulieri]

They are PACKED..We get around this by eating lunch really early l( like right when the restaurant opens between 1030-1100) and IF we are doing a CS dinner we eat around 4pm.

 

[2Tiggies]

I have only been when it's been extremely busy so not sure about September, but it suits us to get a light breakfast, a noon snack and get our CS lunch after 2 pm. We also try and avoid getting a meal between 5 and 7 pm if at all possible.

 

[Nadjalu]

All restaurants will be crowded during free dining....

That said, you can avoid the crowds by going at off times.

Lunch time crowds start around 11:45am and start to thin by 2pm.
Dinner crowds start at 5:30 and run to 7:30ish.

So if you plan around those times you should not experience heavy crowds while eating.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Earlier this month when I was at WDW just as free dining started while at the parks we would always eat lunch at 11:00 AM, so there was no issues there and I didn't notice a difference at the various resort counter service locations. Now back on August 20th before we checked into the Boardwalk we had lunch at Earl of Sandwich and it was the busiest counter service locations we saw during our trip, however the line moved very fast.

 

[crusoe2]

Thanks for all the info and tips. I think we have decided to stick with our reservation at Riverside and the regular dining plan. But of course, half those meal credits are still at counter service restaurants so it's good to get some tips on how to deal with the inevitable crowds. Sounds like our usual strategy of eating at off times should still work pretty well. Now we've just got to decide on table service restaurants. We've never had the option to eat at so many different ones on one trip. Decisions, decisions.

 

[Cuchman]

I don't know about the crowds during free dinging, but I can tell you that we eat a lot of CS meals.

We typically eat a light snack for breakfast (muffin, bagel, etc.) and then do an early lunch, around 11:30 am before the places get crowded.

This allows us to then eat an early dinner, around 4:30 pm. We then finish the day up with a snack later on if we need to.

We have found that these times really help to avoid crowds.

Your plan sounds pretty much exactly like what we do. I mean, there are variations based on ride times, fast passes, shows and such, but this is essentially how our normal days work.

Next trip (Sept.) will be completely unfamiliar territory, though, because of the free dining. We have a heathly smattering of table service ADRs, so I hope we can make it work!

 

[MommyRobin]

Depends on your definition of crowded. We were there for the first week of FD this year in August. The restaurants definitely had people in them (most of the time - Wolfgang Puck Express was pretty much empty when we went one day @ 4:30) but we never had a problem finding a place to sit. Line-ups were quite short as well. I'd say better than what I encounter during dinner time @ McDonald's at home.

 

[MommyRobin]

Oh, and I wanted to add that you made a good decision keeping your reg DP. Even if you went to a value and paid the extra for the DP upgrade, you'd likely be saving a ton of money. I couldn't get over the price of the TS (had we been paying for them)! I don't think that I'll ever go without a DP, we enjoyed our TS too much, more so than I thought we would.

 

[SPAM]

I have never been in a CS that wasn't packed. I just plan on standing in line and fighting my way to a table regardless. If you want to go when it is less crowded go before the meal time rush.

 

[Missytara]

Especially when it is raining.

We were at DHS and it was coming down pretty good. We wandered to every counter service and table service place to no avail around 1:00 pm.

We finally walked back to the bus and went back to SSR, and ate at the Turf Club. Plenty of spots.