Most Popular Dinner Time??

[southjerseymom]

Does anyone have any experience as to what is the most popular time to eat in the World? Am I right in assuming that the early hours...say 5 o'clock to 7 pm are the busiest? Is that when WDW restaurants have the least availability or is it just busy at all hours because people take what they can get.
Reason I am asking is I am hoping for a cancellation for CM during our next visit (no luck when I keep trying). My kiddles are ok with dining around 7:30 to 8:00 - but after that we may be pushing it. What do you think....do I have a chance for an 8pm or is it just always busy??? TIA

 

[latexscooter]

In my experience the restaurants are their busiest from 6-7:45 or so. I usually try to go to dinner about 5:30 because it's not too early for us and I've noticed that by the time we leave places are packed and long lines are waiting. It's also a good time for us because a 5:30 reservation usually means we'll be eating by 6:00 which is when we eat dinner at home.

 

[ReggieB]

I've noticed at the resort restaurants, they usually start to get busy at 6:30pm. We've eaten around 6pm at some places and they are pretty quite for that half hour. We had a 6:40pm for Kona Cafe, and it was really busy at that point. Amazing how much difference that 30 minutes can make. I think at the park restaurants it starts a little earlier, as the previous poster mentioned. As for later times a friend never makes ADR's, as they are happy to eat around 9pm, so don't usually have any problems.

Keep trying with you reservation for CM's. It does help that you can be a bit flexible.