Too early?

[bigcrit]

We are a family of 4 with twin 8 year old girls. We expect to get up very early and eat a lite breakfast then have lunch (counter service) between 11:30 and 12:00. Do you think dinner at 5:00 - 5:30 is too early to eat? We thought we would avoid wait times by eating early. Our thinking is that we will beat the crowds to dinner and back to the parks. Any opinions? I would really appreciate your thoughts and opinions on this. Maybe a little reasoning behind your answers if you would be so kind.

Thanks

 

[disney queen]

no, if that is the usual time you eat at home. we always like to eat early just for the very reason you listed; however, we also eat about that time anyway. enjoy!

 

[Densgirl]

We always choose this time to eat at WDW. First off the restaurants are usually less crowded, the food seems fresher and everyone is less cranky if we eat dinner at our usual "at home" time. This is definitely not to early to eat. It always leaves us with plenty of time to do another park after dinner as well.

 

[bigcrit]

Are the parks less crowded during the later dinner hours? Thanks for replying.

 

[gopherit]

Those times are our usual times, too. We usually do something very similar (lite bfast, early lunch, sit-down dinner) Go for it!

As for when the parks are crowded -- it's a mixed bag. While we DO notice a marked decrease in folks around the resort pools or even water parks at meal time, we have NOT noticed a real decline in folks at dinner time in the main parks! Maybe it's because we are more tired by evening and everything just SEEMS crowded by then, lol... or maybe it's because the crowds in the park tend towards quicker continuous turnover than at the pool (ie, folks constantly coming / going in and out of restaurants and counter service and landing right back into the parks, versus someone coming for a swim, then heading back to the room, showering, and dining, and perhaps not returning pool-side until much later, if even at all!) There are so many dining options in the parks, from snacks to counter service to full dining, that people are always in a state of "about to dine", "dining", or "just done"!

 

[LAWalz23]

We usually eat early and then we can have a snack later if we wish. It is usually less crowded when eating early.

 

[jckdisneybound]

That's what we do. After our midafternoon break, we head back or start the evening off with a nice dinner. All of our dinner PS's are for 5:00 or 5:30.

 

[bigcrit]

That's what we do. After our midafternoon break, we head back or start the evening off with a nice dinner. All of our dinner PS's are for 5:00 or 5:30.

Thay was exactly our plan. We would go to the park early then go back to the hotel around 12 - 1. Hangout, nap, swim or whatever then go to dinner and then a park afterward. Hopefully that will be a good strategy for our trip in May. Thanks everyone for your opinions.

 

[bigcrit]

We usually eat early and then we can have a snack later if we wish. It is usually less crowded when eating early.

LAWalz23 - I noticed you just stayed in the CR. How was it? That's where we are staying in May. Is that a nice resort. We wanted to be close to the MK, thats why we chose the Contemporary.