Waiting time at most restaurants
 

if you arrive around five but after that usually 45-hour wait. If you have a large party like grandchildren and parents forget about it. Anybody have any tips.

Any group over 4 is a pain to get seated

Go at four.

Some of the restaurants will take reservations, like Bonefish Grill. I believe Olive Garden and Red Lobster have "Call Ahead" seating.

At the Country Clubs, we just go to the bar and have a drink, while we wait for our table.

Go out to eat in July. :p

Those 45 hour waits can be tiring!

Agree that best to go early or call for reservations. But best advise is wait till the snow birds leave and all the places lower the prices and announce their dinner and drink deals!

Army Guy

Would it work to go at 7:30PM, assuming that most villagers had already eaten?

Most of the time, No, especially if entertainment is going on, as most "camp-out" and stay for it. If going late you need to look after 8 or 8:30.

Army Guy

wait time
 

We were there for a preview tour over Labor Day weekend and had no problems anywhere - we are going back the week between Christmas and NE - is this a warning that it will be different! We are trying to "experience" during the different times so we know what to expect when we move.... house in GA goes on the market this week or next - hope it is "here we come" soon!!!
Thanks

The difference is
 

Summer months, approx. 35,000 people and growing.
Winter months, approx. 85,000 people and growing. (Some of these extras are in line in front of you, some are behind you.)

We eat our main meal between 2 and 4:30 and usually have no trouble getting a table. Also if there are seats open at the bar we don't have any trouble eating there. The bar menu's are the same as the main menu in many places. Also not hard to find your server for another drink ;)

Yes it will be different. Hope your house sells quickly!

renrod your figures are villagers only. You also have to add residents guest, renters and their guest and people living adjacent to the villages all competing for seating

It will probably be fairly "quiet and calm" between Christmas and New Year. However, as of January 1, the population will explode. Until you spend an extended amount of time here during the "season", you will not know what to expect. And it gets busier every year. I've lived here for 5 years and it's nothing now like it was the first year. The grocery stores will be insane on the 1st and 2nd of January because all the renters will be buying their groceries to stock up their rental units. Coming to visit for a week here and there does not give you the full picture.