What's Your Favorite Dinner Strategy?

[Asnell]

How do you prefer to do dinnertime at WDW to maximize riding rides during the typical "down times" without waiting forever to be seated at a restaurant? Eat early/late? Table service vs. quick serve? In the park vs. at the resorts? Reservations or no?

 

[myadventurebook]

If we're doing TS at all, we usually do it for lunch simply because of the price. I've noticed that, more often than not, things that can be ordered at both lunch and dinner go up in price on the dinner menu for seemingly no reason at all. So QS for dinner it is.

Also, if you're going to do a TS meal for dinner, do an early/late seating (4:00, etc) for least amount of wait time. We've never had to wait more than 10 minutes to be seated. (But maybe we're just extremely lucky....)

 

[shocker]

My fav plan is to grab QS across the street before entering F! Theatre, you can eat in there while waiting for the show to start, instead of sitting doing nothing, since you have to line up so early to get a seat.

I also like to eat AYCE buffets and eat less often during park days. The food is cooked and ready so no waiting. If meeting characters is important to you too these can be a great way to meet & pic all while waiting comfortably in your air conditioned chair for them to come to you. Two birds, one stone.

 

[minnie mum]

How do you prefer to do dinnertime at WDW to maximize riding rides during the typical "down times" without waiting forever to be seated at a restaurant? Eat early/late? Table service vs. quick serve? In the park vs. at the resorts? Reservations or no?

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking. What "down times" are you referring to when talking about rides????? If you are just asking about dining without wasting time while the parks are open, then there are lots of options.

If you want a CS meal and want to avoid long lines when ordering, then eat early or late. If you want a TS meal and don't want a wait, then make an ADR. If it is a popular restaurant, be aware that many of them will start to run late with their seating the later you get into the meal period- especially for dinner. So if you are short on time, opt for an early meal.

Again, if you are being time conscious and are planning on more attractions after your meal, don't waste time leaving and returning to a park to eat at a resort.

We usually dine in the parks on evenings where we will be in the park until late. We dine at resorts on nights when we will have left the park relatively early, or on a non park day.

 

[wendybeth75]

We usually eat a little later in the day, around 6 or so. We like to go back to our room between 12-2 to relax and/or nap. We usually have either a late breakfast or early lunch.

 

[MonorailCentral]

We usually eat early for both QS and TS. Well often eat TS out if the park, but don't do it if time is important, and you need to hit as many attractions as possible.

 

[kathy884]

We want to maximize time at the parks. We eat a big breakfast at our condo and bring sandwiches, fruit, and juice boxes (eat lunch while in line). You can tell we go high season. At around 4 or so before the dinner crowds we do a light quick service. At regular dinner time we do a Mickey bar. After the parks close we do drive thru Wendy's dollar menu and compliment that will salad and fruit at our offsite condo. We usually go high season with a party of 10.

 

[FPminusCommando]

Here's something that worked great for myself and extended family on our last trip: Have a wonderful dinner at Be Our Guest, seated in the middle of the main dining hall, consume several bottles of wine, and then hit Space Mountain with a fist full of FastPasses!