When does lunch end and dinner begin?

[pigltlvr]

I was wondering if anyone knew are the sit down resturants are cheaper at lunch and if so, when does the lunch menu end and dinner begin? I don't want to go pay an obscene amount for us to eat if I don't have to!!! Thanks!

 

[brightspark]

Hi there, I asked this exact same question last week... for the exact same reason. I didn't get many answers... and the answers varied between 2:30 and 4pm. I think dinner starts in a lot of places at around 4pm, so my money is on between 3-3:30 for the end of lunch, but guess that it varies from place to place.

We are planning on doing our sit down, table service meals at lunchtime, and then doing cheaper counter service meals in the evening... and thus keep the price down.

 

[disneyfan55]

In all my past visits (all but the free dining) we have chosen lunch for our sit down meals since, yes, most are somewhat more inexpensive. Since the Dining plan has been available we have only visited once and with the free dining. We always picked Japan and that restaurant is closed for renovaitons now but the lunch and dinner menues were very similar with lunch cheaper. The restaurants timeframes vary. We had a lunch reservation for 3:40 at the Sci Fi on Sept 24 and a dinner at 4:30 for the Concourse Steakhous on the 22nd. Some restaruants seem to flow from one meal to the other while some close. The Concourse was closed at 3:30 when we arrived at the CR. When making reservations, you could check out times with the CM you are talking to.

 

[disneyfan55]

Hi there, I asked this exact same question last week... for the exact same reason. I didn't get many answers... and the answers varied between 2:30 and 4pm. I think dinner starts in a lot of places at around 4pm, so my money is on between 3-3:30 for the end of lunch, but guess that it varies from place to place.

We are planning on doing our sit down, table service meals at lunchtime, and then doing cheaper counter service meals in the evening... and thus keep the price down.

If you plan on many TS meals the dining plan may be worth it. We did an approximate savings for our trip the last week of Sept and the actual costs were somewhere around 1000 for 7 days of meals. We had the free dining but I think it costs 38.99 (check Disney site for sure) for 2007 and it still has the tips and appitizers included. Just a thought.

 

[DVC Grammy]

Many of the TS restaurants have different times. IIRC, the dining link on the Disboards not only shows the menus for each restaurant, but also their hours and the discounts they have.
We generally do TS meals either for late breakfast or lunch. We find that not only are the prices lower (especially with our DDE), but the restaurants are less crowded and hectic,and the service is better. (Maybe we get the staff while they're still fresh? )

 

[pigltlvr]

Thanks for your help!! I leave in a little over a month. Will we be able to walk into there for late lunch or will it be long waits? We aren't staying on Disney property so we didn't get the meal plan!

 

[brightspark]

If you plan on many TS meals the dining plan may be worth it.

Thanks for this thought... Dh and I have debated this a lot, and we're trying it for the last 2 days of our trip when we're in POP. We're staying at OKW for the rest of the time, and generally mean to eat a sandwich tea in the room during our rest time, with maybe some chips later in the evening, if it's a long evening... We are unlikely to have a TS meal everyday as well, because it's just too expensive for us! (Well we'd rather have the money to spend on goodies to take home hee hee)

Seriously, thanks for the thought though, appreciate it.

Many of the TS restaurants have different times. IIRC, the dining link on the Disboards not only shows the menus for each restaurant, but also their hours and the discounts they have.

Ah-ha I didn't know this... I'll go and check it out! Thanks

 

[disneyfan55]

Thanks for your help!! I leave in a little over a month. Will we be able to walk into there for late lunch or will it be long waits? We aren't staying on Disney property so we didn't get the meal plan!

I would make reservations. We were there when the free dining was available and we had a very hard time getting any of the reservations we wanted 3 1/2 months ahead. Many seem to be on the dining plan now and even if not, the restaurants seemed to be booked. A few of our days there were signs in the magic Kingdom that no TS was available.

 

[brightspark]

A few of our days there were signs in the magic Kingdom that no TS was available.

I have never seen anything like this... what time of year were you there? What time of day were you eating?

 

[disneyfan55]

I have never seen anything like this... what time of year were you there? What time of day were you eating?

We were there Sept 22 to 29 this year. Yes, I too, have never seen anything like this. Been to Disney numerous times for 7-12 day periods. It's I guess since the dining plans are available. In June we could NOT make 1 reservation that we wanted - time and place. Most of the restaurants were booked or at least booked for what I consider normal dinner hours. 5-7 pm!! That's how we ended up with the Sci Fi at 3:40 Nothing else was available there that day!! Most of our other reservations were between 8 and 9:30, Yes, 9:30 the only time and day that Ohana's was available that week!! We were a party of 5 and I did check periodically for any cancellations.