Kind of silly question. 1:00pm lunch time.

[NicholeB630]

I know most places prob are busiest around 12:00 being peak lunch. But is it common for around 1:00 to be a little less busy? We're kinda stuck eating at tak & yeti qs in Sept on out AK day it's just the only place near where we will be inbetween out plans. But I read it's hot and there's not a lot of shaded area. But I'm afraid walking to flame tree will take to long and if it's busy it will really take long.

 

[RafikiTiki21]

I think its hit or miss as to whether that is considered late and less crowded-- with the many variations in families, touring styles, FP and ADRs plans, etc that the "usual" meal times/schedule are so varied for everyone. Also keep in mind that people may linger in their seats there under cover if a rain comes through, throwing off usual meal times.

This is one of those pieces you can't plan too much, just try to go with it and hope for seating and shade when its time for your meal. Its yummy, BTW!

 

[NicholeB630]

I think its hit or miss as to whether that is considered late and less crowded-- with the many variations in families, touring styles, FP and ADRs plans, etc that the "usual" meal times/schedule are so varied for everyone. Also keep in mind that people may linger in their seats there under cover if a rain comes through, throwing off usual meal times.

This is one of those pieces you can't plan too much, just try to go with it and hope for seating and shade when its time for your meal. Its yummy, BTW!

So yak and yeti you think we should just try and hope we get lucky with the seats? The menu looks good.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think that QS is hit or miss in terms of specific seating preferences unless you go very early or very late in a meal period. We tend to eat when we are hungry and just roll with the seats available. WHen we think we will need a cool break, out of the sun, and with minimal waits, we book a TS meal. I don't like to do this often for lunch so we, like RafikiTiki2, just hope for the best.

 

[Lisa F]

1pm is still pretty peak for lunch. The 2-4pm time period is a bit quieter. Not everyone eats lunch right at noon, 1 is still right in there. In fact I think right at noon is probably easier than 1pm to be honest. This is my experience as well in the resort town in which I live when I try to go out and get lunch during tourist season. If I get there right at noon things haven't gone nutso yet but around 1pm is crazy.

 

[Nancyg56]

1pm is still pretty peak for lunch. The 2-4pm time period is a bit quieter. Not everyone eats lunch right at noon, 1 is still right in there.

And you know that is when I all of a sudden find myself starving! Every darn day. You would think I would know how to manage that on vacation. But no.

 

[Lisa F]

And you know that is when I all of a sudden find myself starving! Every darn day. You would think I would know how to manage that on vacation. But no.

lol, I added more info saying basically the same. most people are not hitting up lunch exactly at noon, I think it takes a good 15-30 minutes for it to get crazy. Most people are not dropping everything and rushing for lunch right at noon... it's around the time they start thinking about it. If you want to miss the crowd I'd go RIGHT at noon because I think it is worse a half hour later and up until around 2pm at least, maybe 2:30.

I live in a summer resort town bursting at the seams with tourists and noticed it was very similar at WDW. But I also found going in too much of an "off time" has impacts on freshness and availability of items... maybe not between L&D but late dinner at QS is not for me.

 

[Nancyg56]

lol, I added more info saying basically the same. most people are not hitting up lunch exactly at noon, I think it takes a good 15-30 minutes for it to get crazy. Most people are not dropping everything and rushing for lunch right at noon... it's around the time they start thinking about it. If you want to miss the crowd I'd go RIGHT at noon because I think it is worse a half hour later and up until around 2pm at least, maybe 2:30.

I live in a summer resort town bursting at the seams with tourists and noticed it was very similar at WDW. But I also found going in too much of an "off time" has impacts on freshness and availability of items... maybe not between L&D but late dinner at QS is not for me.

Not for me either. I made that mistake last December, and it was a doozy! First, not all QS stay open as late as the park hours, so that was my first mistake. THE second was going to Cosmic Rays so hungry my traveling companions were ready to mutiny and toss me in a moat. There was food, but it was not fresh.

 

[Lisa F]

Not for me either. I made that mistake last December, and it was a doozy! First, not all QS stay open as late as the park hours, so that was my first mistake. THE second was going to Cosmic Rays so hungry my traveling companions were ready to mutiny and toss me in a moat. There was food, but it was not fresh.

Cosmic Rays in september (I think it was even a party night but i don't remember now) was my mistake too, only half of the pods were closed and what was left was not good. only upside, we had the place to ourselves pretty much. I have also read less than stellar things about the ribs at flame tree bbq later in the day.o

 

[DJFan88]

They do have a good shaded area and I don't remember getting a seat a problem and we eat around then in busy August. QS people move in and out of seats quickly, so maybe some members can grab or wait to grab seating while others order- that did take a bit.

 

[Nancyg56]

They do have a good shaded area and I don't remember getting a seat a problem and we eat around then in busy August. QS people move in and out of seats quickly, so maybe some members can grab or wait to grab seating while others order- that did take a bit.

If it is busy, this is not okay. Personally I do not have an issue, but I have seen reports that CM's will not allow people to save tables and will make you wait until the entire party is ready to sit down.

 

[DJFan88]

If it is busy, this is not okay. Personally I do not have an issue, but I have seen reports that CM's will not allow people to save tables and will make you wait until the entire party is ready to sit down.

Ok. When we were there, there was none of that, nor do I remember an issue getting a spot. CMS at most QS are too busy to police, IMO. Although I have heard those reports, I have yet to witness this, go during a very busy time, eat whenever we are hungry (typical lunch times), and never remember having problems sitting.
So to amend for that-- stand there with your stuff and grab a spot when someone clears out.

 

[Nancyg56]

Ok. When we were there, there was none of that, nor do I remember an issue getting a spot. CMS at most QS are too busy to police, IMO. Although I have heard those reports, I have yet to witness this, go during a very busy time, eat whenever we are hungry (typical lunch times), and never remember having problems sitting.
So to amend for that-- stand there with your stuff and grab a spot when someone clears out.

It happens at Pecos Bill. That place is notorious for folks holding spots while others holding trays wander around without a place to sit. I have heard that Cosmic Rays is another that has to assign CM's at times to manage guests.

I agree that it is not a hard and fast rule, but I think that people should at least be aware that on busy times they may not be able to scout ahead for tables. SOme folks get angry if they read something here and then they find that DIsney is nto on the same page.

 

[Lisa F]

It happens at Pecos Bill. That place is notorious for folks holding spots while others holding trays wander around without a place to sit. I have heard that Cosmic Rays is another that has to assign CM's at times to manage guests.

I agree that it is not a hard and fast rule, but I think that people should at least be aware that on busy times they may not be able to scout ahead for tables. SOme folks get angry if they read something here and then they find that DIsney is nto on the same page.

I'm guessing they more do this during busy times of year but it is not worth the staff during less busy times. I have never seen this happening personally but tend to travel during off times.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm guessing they more do this during busy times of year but it is not worth the staff during less busy times. I have never seen this happening personally but tend to travel during off times.

During busy times at bust QS restaurants. I also travel during slower seasons but lately my slow seasons are not so slow

 

[Lisa F]

During busy times at bust QS restaurants. I also travel during slower seasons but lately my slow seasons are not so slow

I noticed that in 2014. I thought for sure september would be slow - I even picked my dates based on 7 month availability at BLT. I could not believe how crowded it was.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I noticed that in 2014. I thought for sure september would be slow - I even picked my dates based on 7 month availability at BLT. I could not believe how crowded it was.

Free dining has become a game changer in the fall. We won't go back in the fall as long as FD is offered. Much more crowded than it used to be at that time.

 

[Lisa F]

Free dining has become a game changer in the fall. We won't go back in the fall as long as FD is offered. Much more crowded than it used to be at that time.

That's true too, and it makes ADRs nearly impossible as well. That said, although there were a ton more people around - between fastpasses and knowing the parks pretty well, we never waited more than 15 minutes for anything. But it did turn me off to QS pretty much permanently, I can't think of a single meal that was above adequate - but many that were irritating and annoying for various reasons.

 

[DisneyHardin]

We often each lunch at peak times and usually, even when the restaurant seems really busy, they are so efficient that you move quickly. The main thing that slows it down is when you get behind people who didn't think to spend the 10 minutes they were waiting in line actually deciding what to order.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

Tuesday - July 25th I ate lunch at Cosmic Rays at 1:30pm. The place was still a zoo.

Half hour in line to order, 20 minutes to get my food and then finding a table was pretty useless. I ate the green beans and mashed potatoes standing up holding my tray until someone moved from one of the standing tables right near me and I grabbed it so I could actually use a fork on the chicken.

I noticed at least 5 groups of people taking up table space without having food in the tiny area where I was at. Disappointing considering how busy it was that particular day.