Can you expand on what you mean by having to order first thing in the morning if you want your food ready? The last Disney trip I had was 2018 to Florida, and we used mobile order all the time. I'd offer, walk up 20 minutes later, say I'm here, and then in 10 minutes I'd have food. Can you please provide more detail on how the system is apparently not functioning right now??? Because what you describe IS concerning.
I'm probably not the best person to explain the current dining situation since my last trip was over the summer, and a lot has reopened since my last trip. The parks have really been pushing MO since reopening, so there are many more guests using it since you were last at the parks. This thread has a good overview of what it's been like since I was last there and covers the situation over Labor Day weekend.
The food situation at DCA is rough | The DIS Disney Discussion Forums - DISboards.com
The more recent reports over Fall Break/Columbus Day week were spread over many threads, and it seemed the situation hadn't improved much, and in some guest experiences, had actually gotten worse.
I don't want to scare you, since different people have had vastly different experiences, and this is why I say the MO experience is unreliable. If you're flexible and not picky about what you eat, there are still MOs available within reasonable windows on busy days. However, what many have experienced is:
- Checking the next available MO at a preferred QS, and the soonest available is 45 min-2 hrs later;
- Finding long lines when they arrive at QS standby walk up lines, since there are less CMs or registers open;
- Alternatively, finding standby walk up lines faster, while MO guests stand around waiting since the app says their food is not ready yet;
- Arriving at their MO QS time and after clicking I'm Here, waiting 30+ min. for orders to be ready;
- Long lines for churro and other snack carts, due to the long lines at QS and lack of reasonable MO window availability;
- The variability of a QS restaurant being MO Only, walk up only or taking MO and walk ups; and
- TS no longer taking walk ups since the list can fill up quickly.
The reports for the upcoming Nov 12-14 Veterans Day/Dapper Days weekend should be a more telling example of what the Christmas holidays will be like for QS and MO. That'll be a way for you to see what people with more recent experience are saying and set your expectations accordingly. Who knows, maybe they'll have improved staffing and the overall food situation in the parks by then.
The best advice I could give is know what you want to eat and the approximate time you'd like to have your meals, and place all your MOs in the morning, especially on weekends and holidays. Eating at off hours will help, as well. If there's a TS you'd really like to have, sign up for dining alerts through third-party services or check the app frequently 1-2 days before to pick up cancellations. If you aren't able to secure TS reservations, have a backup plan to be at those locations 5 min. before they open to get on the walk up list, or be nearby if the walk up list is offered in the app.
Best case scenario, the food situation improves at the parks before the holidays and this will all be a distant memory.
