Table Services, Good Idea?

[neonderlyn]

We will have 4 full days in Disney with park hopper tickets. We will be visiting when park hours are short 10am-8pm most likely. Is having a TS meal everyday going to be a waste of time and cut into too much of our park time?

Right now I have planned:

-Goofys Kitchen for dinner
-Rainforst Cafe for lunch
-Ariel Grotto for lunch
-Blue Bayou for dinner

Should I rethink my plan and do more QS instead or will that much time taken out of the trip on eating not seem so bad?

 

[Tyggress]

I don't think TS meals are a waste of time, and with 4 days, you'll still get a lot done. However; if it were me, I would rethink WHICH TS meals I do to maximize my time.
For example, heading OUT of the parks takes longer than eating in the parks. So I would switch Goofy's Kitchen to an early morning breakfast and get it out of the way before the parks even open.
Same with Ariel's Grotto...you can do the breakfast and get in the park before opening with a reservation, Have breakfast and then start enjoying the parks.
Rainforest I would do for a dinner towards the end of one of your days and then call it a day at that point.
BB I would say leave at dinner one night.

Just my thoughts.

 

[ParkHopper1]

One or even two day...sure. But with 4 days a good sit down table service meal is a great break and chance to relax and recharge. The dining options are just as much a part of the experience as the attractions to make a great trip.

Plus I think I would puke if I ate nothing but counter service meals for four days!

 

[figment_jii]

I generally allow about 60 to 75 minutes for a TS meal (once at the restaurant, so it does not include travel time). For my family, we like having the break, even on short days.

 

[ImDMous]

I agree with Tyggress, I wouldn't want to walk to DTD in the middle of the day, I would rather stay in the parks. Depending on your kids ages, if they can have a snack and then wait until after the park for dinner at Rainforest, I would do that. Same with Goofy's Kitchen, too much travel time unless you are done for the day.

 

[figment_jii]

Adding on to the comments about RFC, I really like, but I've found that it can be one of the slower places to dine at DLR. Depending on when you go, even with a reservation, the wait time for a table at dinner can be considerable (e.g., 30-45 minutes). So you might slate it for a very late dinner (after the park closes) to maximize your time in the park.

 

[whitneyebz]

I think one a day is fine. We only did one TS meal on our 3 day trip and I'm glad we did it that way because we really don't like meals cutting into park time. I think lunch is a good time to do it because then you get a midday break and can avoid some of the afternoon crowds. We do like to ride as many rides as possible...that's why we're there. Food for us is secondary. And I won't do breakfast in the park because we can get free breakfast at the hotel (we didn't stay onsite) and I hate overspending on food! But it really is nice to take a break for a TS meal once a day!

 

[gottalovepluto]

A TS a day can provide some nice down time so I vote one a day will be fine. And I also agree RFC can be SLOW, I would suggest changing that into a late dinner if possible. It looks awesome after dark when all the torches are lit!

 

[guynhawaii]

Aloha,
Everyone has a different view point. This is how I plan for TS at DLR as my family does RD early in the AM to maximize the short rides, have lunch, take a break from the parks and return later in the evening.
1. Generally do TS at lunch starting from 1130 to 1200. That is high tide of visitors. Get out of the sun/heat and crowd. Relax, enjoy lunch and return to the hotel for a swim/nap.
2. Do CS for dinner. Thus not rushed to meet a reservation. Family might be tired and a longer nap is better than waking everyone up to rush to make a reservation.
3. With the new changes to Fantasmic Dinner Package, have switched lunch at BB to dinner at 630 for second showing of Fantasmic. Enjoy a relaxing dinner, fireworks, fantasmic and rides. Wait for a waterfront table while the family enjoys the atmosphere of New Orleans Square.
Recommend TS for BB, BTMR BQUE, Carnation Café and Café Orleans. Ask for a rail table for Café Orleans and enjoy the view.
If you have an AP, I believe RFC offers a discount for lunch only. You might want to check. For RFC, recommend to ask for the aquarium up stairs or any of the booths with the gorillas.
Good Luck!

 

[RemainSeatedPlease]

I think one a day is fine, but as others have said, I might change the times you've chosen. For example I would do BB for lunch instead of dinner. I also prefer to stay in the parks during the day to maximize time. Going out to Rainforest Cafe in the middle of the day seems like it would take too long. I would change Rainforest Cafe to an evening reservation when you leave the park for the day, or just cut it out of the schedule altogether. It's a nice restaurant, but you can find it in other locations as well, so I forgo it on my Disney trips.

 

[tarheelalum]

Table service meals are a nice break after being on your feet for hours but I would not leave the park for a meal. That would be too much of a hassle during a busy day.

 

[SplashMo]

We will have 4 full days in Disney with park hopper tickets. We will be visiting when park hours are short 10am-8pm most likely. Is having a TS meal everyday going to be a waste of time and cut into too much of our park time?

Right now I have planned:

-Goofys Kitchen for dinner
-Rainforst Cafe for lunch
-Ariel Grotto for lunch
-Blue Bayou for dinner

Should I rethink my plan and do more QS instead or will that much time taken out of the trip on eating not seem so bad?

For your choices:

Rainforst Cafe for lunch
I might pick something in the park for this one...

 

[Halloweenqueen]

We like TS for late lunch. The crowds are starting to grow around that time. Afterwards we head back to our room for some down time. We return later in the afternoon and take advantage of the evening entertainment. The CS locations have great outdoor spaces that are particularly pretty at night.

Lunch is generally less expensive as well.

 

[l4dyj8]

Agree with many of the above.
It's nice to take a break but outside the park will eat up time. Dining outside the park only works for some and if the place is worth it. And that's a matter of personal opinion. Are there children with you? We did goofy's kitchen midday and it felt far and took too long. 2 kids in the group anxiously waiting to get to the park.

But we take breaks all the time with our 4 year old. Back to the room. TS in the park. And she's fine. So it depends on the child and the group.