How long do table service meals REALLY take?

[newserenity]

I keep reading to expect a meal to take 1 1/2 hours. But, really why? Is it that service in Disney is super slow, or the wait is super long... or both?

Is it possible to do a TS meal in an hour? Are there certain restaurants better than others?

Our family typically dines pretty fast. We have 3 little girls that get ansy fast. We aren't scheduling any signature meals and I have accounted for character meals to take 1.5- 2 hours including wait. That makes sense to me.

But, I'm wondering about regular meals, like:

Ohana, Boma, Biergarten, Yak & Yeti, Boatwright's, Rainforest Cafe to name a few.

Can we get through these meals faster if we are determined?

My kids will never make it an hour and a half a meal! The deluxe dining plan is killing my itinerary! It it wasn't for my DH I would have downgraded a month ago to save sanity!

Any tips on the fastest TS meals possible? Is it really necessary to arrive to ADRs 15-20 minutes early? I hate waiting!

I appreciate the help from all the DIS experts! I have learned so much!

 

[momtoejanda]

we always do the DxDP, dont let that stress you.

Any buffet can be as short as you want it to be..get up..get food...eat...leave. Sometimes for these meals when we sit down and the server comes over for the drink order I ask for the check..a buffet on the dining plan wont change for any reason.

What takes a long time are waiting for characters to do their rotation. Depending on the restaurant that could be 1-1 1/2 hours.

Fancier dining is just like being at home. They dont rush you, there are courses...etc..

I really believe that the TS meals take as long as you want them too. We have never been rushed through a meal and when we order something it comes out quick. I would give yourself an hour for the meal though.......


To not stress you on the DxDP, and you really should take the time to enjoy it. What we find that works is grabbing a quick snack in the morning. Anything that counts like a muffin etc... Nice brunch time meal...like a character meal at 10:30-11:00. then we have an early dinner at about 4:30-5 (usually a 2 credit signature or the earliest dinner show) and if needed an evening snack.

 

[rachel09985]

Ohana does take a while. That took us about an hour and a half depending on how many courses of meat you want. Plus they space out the timing of the food. Buffets def will be how you make of it. Our shortest meal was grand Floridian cafe. We were in and out in thirty minutes!! That's a little too quick. There was only two of us though

 

[cbg1027]

There are plenty of TS meals you can do in an hour (or less). If they are just food service, and there are not characters or special entertainment, then you can do them in an hour. (Yak n Yeti, Boma, and Boatwright's)

Characters and super popularity make things take longer - 'Ohana

It's not necessary to arrive 20 minutes before your ADR. I think Disney just says that so people aren't late. It is, however, important to arrive on time or 5 minutes before, because that increases your chances of getting seated closer to your ADR time.

 

[catne]

to speed up your meals at non-buffets, always put in order for appetizer & entree together, and when you order dessert, ask for the check. When we've done non-signature places and had it take an exceptionally long time, it's been pacing of meals (long break between app & entree) and a long wait for the check...actually waiting for the check has always taken the longest.

You do know that Rainforest Cafe is not on the deluxe dining, right?

Do show up at least 10 minutes before ADR...if you show up closer, you can be in line waiting to be checked in when it's your actual ADR time (especially bad at 'Ohana with that scenario. People have been told they are too late, they've been bumped when they were waiting in a long, long line for 20 minutes just to get checked in.)

The other tip to get seated quickly and get in & out quickly is to go to early seatings...lunch at 11:30, dinner at 5:00. If you're going at more popular meal times like straight up noon until about 1:15 or 6:15-7:30 for dinner you'll find most of the restaurants are already backed up and will continue to run slower until after 9:00 PM. So for a 7 PM seating, even checking in at 6:45 you may find yourself waiting until 7:30 to be seated at the popular places.

 

[disneynanacat]

Ours usually take about 45 minutes. At least that was the case one trip where I was keeping track. I remember thinking it was funny that they were all nearly 45min exactly.

 

[sue_gowin]

ya we've noticed about 45-an hour. However, there are some restaurants where the service is a little slower, and of course the busier dining times do tend to get busier and slower.

 

[CathieArms]

When we were there in July '09, we were in and out within an hour from the time we were seated. And, MOST places seated us within a few minutes of our check-in. The exception was Akershus, which caused us to wait at least 30 minutes past our check-in.

I plan 90 minutes for our ADRs so that I'm not irritated if it takes 90 minutes. My actual expectation is about 45-60 minutes, though.

 

[princesscharming]

I hear ya about the kids. As far as the restaurant is concerned, they should be happy to turn the table over faster, when you think about it. (Get another party in there...) Now your server being swamped is another matter. My suggestions:

1. Print off a menu ahead of time. While you're waiting for the parade, ride etc. Have everyone look it over and decide what they want. Then you can actually place your entire order right when you sit down, not just your drinks.

2. When your food is served, mention to the server right then, that you'd like your check ASAP.

Good luck. Brig other distractions for the kids, in case it's super busy when you go.

 

[newserenity]

Thank you for the insight and tips! It is really helpful!

Oh, and yes Catne, I know Rainforest cafe isn't on the plan. But, it is a favorite of mine from my childhood so we are paying OOP.

 

[RMulieri]

MOST times we are out in about an hour..But we budget the 90 mins so i don't find myself "clock watching" because we have to be somewhere.I have hada few non-signature meals take the full 90 mins, but is mainly because during Free dining times, everything seems to run behind and back up.

 

[SmallWorld71]

'Ohana and Biergarten took us well over an hour. BUT, that was because the kids participated in the entertainment, not because we were waiting for food or anything. At 'Ohana there is the parade, hula lessons etc... At Biergarten they went down to the dance floor and danced while the band was playing. So, even though we were there a long time, it wasn't as though the kids were sitting in their chairs the whole time. It was actually very nice for DH and I just to be able to sit.

We have had plenty of meals that were less than an hour, though. But as PP said, I always allow for at least an hour and a half (or more), that way I am not worried about the time.

 

[DisneyRunner2009]

I will give two example of ADR experiences, both took place at EPCOT. The first experience was breakfast in Norway. The ADR time was 8:20am. I wanted to arrive early, as suggested. My family walks fast. I was the first to check in for the day and we were seated first. We were put next to the door where the characters enter the dining room. We were done and reached Test Track before the family of the day did, park opening. That evening my family had a 6:40pm ADR for Les Chefs in France. We weren't doing much so we checked in at 6:00pm. We were seated at our ADR time, so that was a 40 minute wait. Other ADRs through out the trip were minimal waits. Then again, I scheduled some ADRs at opening so as to avoid long waits.

 

[sheila <3 WDW]

Other than character meals I think our longest meal was at Raglan Road. Not because it was slow, but because the entertainment was so good we would stop eating to watch the Irish dancing or the songs. It was our favorite meal and we are doing it again in May! My 3 year old DD was dancing by our table and one of the dancers came over and told her she was a very good dancer.

 

[Cat0727]

45 minutes to an hour for us once we're seated.

 

[singleinthe city]

Just tell your server when you sit down you would like to be out the door in 60 minutes and they will get your food out quickly. The quicker they get you out the door the sooner they can turn the table for a new customer, so the servers definitely have incentive to move things along.

If you find that the kids are getting restless then order desserts that travel well (slice of cake, cookies, fruit cup) and have your server box them up and you can eat them later while waiting for a parade, etc.