Suggested Dining Times

[garada3]

Any suggestions for dining times at the DLR?

I know that non-peak times will mean faster service, but what is considered non-peak?

At what point does stopping for lunch no longer affect the "get to the park at rope drop, grab fast passes and ride non-fast pass rides" routine at DLR?

We only have two days in the parks and want to eat at Cafe Orleans and possibly Carnation Cafe. We plan to open and close the parks both days we are there.

Thanks for your input

 

[HydroGuy]

Any suggestions for dining times at the DLR?

I know that non-peak times will mean faster service, but what is considered non-peak?

At what point does stopping for lunch no longer affect the "get to the park at rope drop, grab fast passes and ride non-fast pass rides" routine at DLR?

We only have two days in the parks and want to eat at Cafe Orleans and possibly Carnation Cafe. We plan to open and close the parks both days we are there.

Thanks for your input

The answer is a definite "it depends".

If you are going at a busy time then go to Cafe Orleans when it opens - I think 11:30AM. You can and should make a reservation. Up to 60 days in advance.

Frankly I have never been to Carnation Cafe but would be surprised if that were different.

Some places are better options when the parks are crowded. Plaza Inn is a really good buffeteria and I have never seen it get that crowded even right at noon. We head there if other places fill up.

We try and eat lunch before 11:30 most days and dinner before 5:30 and tha works pretty well for us.

 

[ConnieB]

Both Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe tend to be busy restaurants....so definitely try to make reservations 60 days before you go. Then "peak" or "off peak" dining times won't matter to you. If you call and they don't have any times available, don't despair! Just stop by the restaurant early in the day and ask for availablity.....while we don't go at super busy times (like now to the end of the year, lol).....we've never been told there is nothing all day!

As for lunch interferring with your riding......remember that Fast Pass times aren't set in concrete....you can't go BEFORE your pass time, but unofficially you can go anytime from the earliest time listed on your FP until closing. I say unofficially because there are always exceptions and occasionally you hear about a particularly busy day when they suddenly get picky about FP times....but honestly, I think I've heard of that actually happening only twice! More often I hear about a CM turning someone away, but you go back a few minutes later (remember they rotate CMs in and out of positions VERY quickly) and the next CM doesn't blink an eye, lol. This too happens very rarely....seems the consensus is that it's a CM not used to working the FP line and knowing that they only care that you're not EARLY, doesn't matter about being late, lol. So...eat when you can get a reservation and use the FP when you're ready.

Plan your strategy for the FP.....getting there at rope drop is a great idea to maximum rides. Hit the FP machines for the ones you think will be busiest or that you want to ride the most, lol. Another popular hint is to skip the parades (or only watch them on one of your days) and hit popular rides during parades and fireworks when the majority of the park is crowded along the parade route, or in the hub to watch the fireworks (remember that Fantasyland closes for the fireworks. But if the park is open late after the fireworks, just be nearby when the fireworks end and scoot into line as soon as they open it).

Enjoy!

 

[skiingfast]

If you look at the first post in this thread below, you will see the disney has an official time of when it is easier to eat.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2611281

 

[LavenderPeach]

We try and eat lunch before 11:30 most days and dinner before 5:30 and tha works pretty well for us.

This is what we try to do too.

We always try to make reservations for Carnation Cafe because is is small. We've done walk-up and reservations for CO and both have been fine. Being local, we don't plan 60 days out and have never had any trouble getting the seating time we want when we call for reservations a few days before we go. At CO we went right when they opened ( i thought it was 11am but can't remember for sure) with no reservation and there was only one other group there so it was no problem getting a table.

 

[Funball]

Personally I try and eat after 2pm for a late lunch/dinner and then do a light snack at 7 or 8pm.. because at noon is the lunch time crowd. Lots of park guests tend to eat at that time, that is when it is the most busiest.. and the when it’s dinner time, usually 5pm or for some poeple maybe even 6:30pm that also can be busy time to eat..

 

[ConnieB]

If you look at the first post in this thread below, you will see the disney has an official time of when it is easier to eat.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2611281

Yeah, but everyone that has this coupon is going to be eating early/late to get the discount, lol.

 

[skiingfast]

Yeah, but everyone that has this coupon is going to be eating early/late to get the discount, lol.

True, but they will still be eating with the minority that's why the coupon is out to persaude people to not eat at a time when the dining locations don't go past capacity.