What time to make ADR's so they don't clash with shows/parades?

[05focus]

I know at a regular local restaurant you can get in and out within an hour.
I'm sure with Disney this isn't the case.

So, how early should I make an ADR's time from a show I want to see?


Example: ADR at Brown Derby at 6:30 PM when Fantasmic is at 8PM.
Would 6:30 PM be too late to where I wouldn't be able to see the show?
I was told 3 hours ahead of a show I want to see, but that seems a bit spread out, I'm going in September so it won't be AS busy.


Any advice?

 

[vicki_c]

For your Fantasmic example - absolutely too late.

For an 8 PM Fantasmic, I would be eating my TS meal at about 5:30 with the plan on being done by 7 and head straight to the theatre. That's 2.5 hours and I don't think scheduling this particular meal for 3 hours ahead of time would be that out of line.

Normally, I allow 1.5 hours for TS meals, for planning purposes. Most will not take quite that long, but some can. And if you have to wait much before being seated, longer. Then you would have to add time to get to wherever you are going (parade route for example) and the amount of time you want to get a good place to watch and wait.

 

[CastlesandDreams]

I plan my ADRs for around 3 hours before a show or parade.

I also plan 1.5 hours for the meal and you should scout out a seat for parade/show at least an hour before. And I leave the extra half hour just in case.

 

[figment_jii]

The average rule of thumb is to allow about 90 minutes for a TS meal. It can be as fast as 60 minutes (usually not much less), or exceed 2 hours (more commonly at Signatures and less common at in-park restaurants). So as the other posters have said, plan your ADRs for about 3 hours before the show.