******Official 2017 Free Dining Plan Watch, Wait, and Dream

[Elsaalltheway]

Woo. Lots of hoops can't say I totally get it but don't have time to look at it right now. Maybe I'll just do the cards.

We are doing it, there are three of us. We are adding just over 3k for the room, park tickets, and MNSSHP. We have already started to buy cards from target to add. We have a huge pile going and hope to be done updating in a month or two.

 

[Cbtexan04]

We are doing it, there are three of us. We are adding just over 3k for the room, park tickets, and MNSSHP. We have already started to buy cards from target to add. We have a huge pile going and hope to be done updating in a month or two.

Do the tickets for MNSSHP count towards earnings in DVA?

 

[Cbtexan04]

Anyone know if POP is typically included in the FD promotions? From what I can tell, it was offered last year. That's likely our resort of choice if it's available.

 

[Disneylover99]

Anyone know if POP is typically included in the FD promotions? From what I can tell, it was offered last year. That's likely our resort of choice if it's available.

Yes. It's popular.

 

[vanjust14]

Anyone know if POP is typically included in the FD promotions? From what I can tell, it was offered last year. That's likely our resort of choice if it's available.

Yes, it is. However, the standard rooms go first.

 

[Nutbean]

But it makes me wonder if FD at CBR will only be offered on the Pirate rooms, the most expensive rooms with double beds. It makes the GC value less valuable.

Especially if only free QS dining at mods.

Still waiting to see what happens but looking more and more likely we'll be cancelling at CBR (and giving up gift cards) to stay at a value and upgrading to regular dining plan. Just the two of us and we've had no problem getting a King bed in September in the past.

 

[Lesley Wake]

But it makes me wonder if FD at CBR will only be offered on the Pirate rooms, the most expensive rooms with double beds. It makes the GC value less valuable.

That would make somewhat sense. It definitely looks like they are trying to phase out FD. Just keep limiting and limiting it so people don't care about it as much anymore. Watch, next year it will be QSDP at Deluxes and Moderates, and only one meal at Values. Then it will be only breakfast at Values. I mean, I guess I don't blame them. They are a corporation whose main goal is to make money; if people are going to come to WDW anyways, then why give so many discounts (and I have stock in them, so as long as they continue to make money, my 401k is happy).

For this year, they can severely limit the number and types of rooms available. Try to push people into the Pirate rooms. People who have the GC and don't want to stay value or deluxe may just be stuck with what they already have.

 

[Rusty2rules]

We actually have 18 of us going! 10 kids ....8 adults! Wish us luck! lol ..... We are staying from 9/1 - 9/9 at Caribbean Beach Resort. We have 6 park days that include the hopper and water park package ..... any helpful tips is always greatly appreciated!

Oh yeah, I completely missed the advice part. There are others on this thread who have way more experience with this than I do. With that said, here's my two cents. I don't know how old the kids are. It's going to be hot and muggy when you go. CBR has a great pool and is a nice resort. I would try to plan some afternoon breaks. Have lunch at the park, go back to the resort for a couple of hours, take advantage of that nice resort, and head back to the park for late afternoon/evening activities. Be flexible with your plans, especially with that many people. If you've got a rigid plan and it doesn't go according to plan, you're all going to be miserable. That doesn't mean don't have some kind of plan, just be flexible. Hopefully you've got your ADRs made. Make your FP reservations at 60 days (those last two are where the "have a plan" comes into play).

Most importantly...have a blast!

 

[Cbtexan04]

If you don't mind a value, I wouldn't even upgrade to TS. I would use the money I saved from not upgrading and just buy a couple of TS meals oop. Then you've still got your two quick service meals per day to use as well. Tons of food.

Upgrading from QS to regular dining is ~$43/day for us. Assuming we're there for a week, the total cost is $301. Conversely, if we want to do 3 table service meals out of pocket, it would be roughly $25/pp, so $75 per table service for our family, totaling 225. Because we would do more than 3 table service meals in our trip, it made sense for us to upgrade to the table service than pay out of pocket.

 

[JackieO]

Are we allowed to post what it says? I have it translated. Sorry I am new to this

Copy and paste it to Google translate

 

[anorman]

lol it is Newfoundland. I don't expect spring until late May. We go in December my kids are tad ticked they will prob be in pants haha...but anything will be warmer then here in Dec

We had a lovely day here in Mount Pearl at 10 degrees. Went to Bowring Park for a stroll. It was packed!

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Do the tickets for MNSSHP count towards earnings in DVA?

I'm not sure. It will be something I will have to ask about when I make the reservations.

 

[mvirtue]

Looks like free dining could be dropping on April 24. Minimum of 4 nights, maximum of 14, with park hopper and park hopper plus add on. Check in dates: 8/13-9/30, 11/14-11/20, 11/25-11/27, 12/3-12/23.


As always, information is fluid and more detail will hopefully come.

Could you please explain what "with park hopper and park hopper plus add on" means? I haven't been to Disney in a few years.

 

[pigletto]

We booked 8 nights at Bonnet Creek this morning for $1300 which is higher than we usually pay but its a higher rate season and over Labour day weekend. It's going to be another $250 for our first two nights at ASMu (to get the bands, and 60 day fastpass privledges.)
We already have five day tickets that I earned for free with airmiles. We plan to buy one day of water park tickets (not sure which park yet..probably the new Volcano Bay at Universal) and we are going to go to Cocoa Beach one day. I think we plan to budget about $150 a day for food (plus have a stocked kitchen at Bonnet Creek). Some meals offsite, lots of counter service, some Table service.

Add in car and parking and spending, and we still aren't at what free dining was going to cost us, and have way more room for the majority of the trip. I'm happy enough with this plan that even if free dining does end up including the regular plan at the mods, I'm not changing back.

However, I plan to pop in here and see how it's going and wish you all good luck because it's been fun hanging out with you all!!

 

[Rusty2rules]

But it makes me wonder if FD at CBR will only be offered on the Pirate rooms, the most expensive rooms with double beds. It makes the GC value less valuable.

It's all a guessing game at this point. But, yes, I can't imagine there's much incentive to offer it at CBR except for the most expensive rooms. It sounds like CBR is pretty booked up as it is.

 

[Rusty2rules]

Could you please explain what "with park hopper and park hopper plus add on" means? I haven't been to Disney in a few years.

He didn't word it very well. I take it to mean you'll have to add the park hopper plus to the package. That one includes the water parks.

 

[squirrel]

I use Swagbucks in Canada. I just put it in Paypal. Then I can buy what I want with it. Collected over $600 in the last year and every time I hit $25 I add more. Easy.

True, but then you don't save the 300 points each month. You get a discount on all the other Gift Cards if you cash out each month $25 worth.

 

[serene56]

If we do get FD when it is offered and then we have to change the dates of our reservation to one or two less days, does Disney cancel the reservation and then make a new one for the new dates, or the reservation just gets modified?

IF available. FD sells out very quickly. Last year people spent hours on the phones.

 

[Disneylover99]

Especially if only free QS dining at mods.

Still waiting to see what happens but looking more and more likely we'll be cancelling at CBR (and giving up gift cards) to stay at a value and upgrading to regular dining plan. Just the two of us and we've had no problem getting a King bed in September in the past.

If it turns out you can only book a Pirate room, then yes, Pop will definitely be cheaper for just the two of you.

 

[ThistleMae]

lol it is Newfoundland. I don't expect spring until late May. We go in December my kids are tad ticked they will prob be in pants haha...but anything will be warmer then here in Dec

how long does your summer last?

 

[Lesley Wake]

On the target note, in case people were confused about the 5% gift card discount. So, you cannot use the RedCard to get a discount on Target gift cards; I'm not sure about the Visa gift cards, but those may also be excluded. You CAN use the RedCard to get a discount on other people's gift cards, including Disney, AMC, restaurants, etc. Basically, Target doesn't want one person to use their 5% to buy a gift card that can be used in their store.

But does anyone have RedPerks (or maybe Cartwheel perks)? I've seen the notices at check out lines, and it looks like a Target loyalty program, but may be only available in select areas (as of October I think it's in North Carolina, Denver, Houston, St Louis, and San Diego). You get 10 points for every $ and once you get 5,000 points, you get a 5% off shopping day (so basically every $500 you get a 5% off coupon). They used to have it for Target pharmacy rewards, where every 5 prescriptions you refilled, you got a 5% off day. That day could be used in conjunction with the RedCard, so you could get 10% off. And it wasn't for one trip, it was the entire day, so you could go to different Targets, and the entire day would be 10% off. I just wish it was out in my area, because 10% off disney gift cards would be AMAZING!