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

[AutumnA]

Just copied this from a comment on Disneytouristblog's Free Dining article. It was dated this morning. Are we thinking this is reliable? Any TAs around to confirm or deny?

"Just got an email from my travel agent confirming that they got communication from Disney where it states that FD will be released next Monday 24th. They already have the dates of the promo.
It is worth mentioning that it is an official travel agent from Disney."

I am a TA with an Earmarked agency and I have seen nothing of the sort ...

 

[Kindermouse]

If I'm able to get FD, I won't be upgrading to DDP. It's getting too expensive and I don't want to have to have such a structured day. Now that we need to book our FP+ it's enough with that being structured.

If I don't get FD, I have a back up plan with a good room discount and the Canadian Ticket offer. I will be able to get some free food from the Starbucks locations since I earn at least $25 a month in Gift Cards from Swagbucks. I already have enough to redeem $25 each month until I go to WDW. The rest I will pay for.

I'm happy with either plan.

I turn my SB into target then into disney usually. Thats where our spending money comes from and I usually use a 50 GC to take the sting off of the party tix-last year I brought my niece and nephew with us to the DL party so we went from our usual 2 tix to 4 tix-it did sting alright . using the free GC's helped me feel little better about the 320 dollar extra (and that was with my AP discount ) I dont know how you big families do it.

 

[meaganmg]

Also hoping for FD with the regular dining plan for mods...a bit anxious! Other than stalking this thread I've been killing time on Etsy and it's getting out of control.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Love SB's I use them for many things towards our family's extra fun. (movies, out to eat, Walmart,Amazon, (Christmas)or saving for Disney stuff)

 

[ShinyRedGloss]

My thought is that many people will opt to stay cheaper and upgrade to DDP rather than stay at a mod if only QSDP is offered to mods.
My plan is to stay cheaper and not even upgrade if DDP is not offered at mods.
Of course Disney will still be raking in the dough but I suspect not nearly as much as they want if they don't offer DDP to mods.

I am with you on this. I'll just take the free food and pay out of pocket for our table service that or for get the plan and hold for a room only

 

[Lesley Wake]

Did people see this website designed to help track dining plan credits: http://www.sweetgoldendreams.com/magical-food-track#starthere

Here is the original thread: https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...for-free-with-the-magical-food-track.3598584/

 

[akayf]

My TA is either going to love me or hate me for being such an overplanner. We already have 6 night package(hoppers and regular dining) booked at POFQ. When we booked a few months agao, we knew that this resort is usually excluded from promos and planned moving to another resort for free dining if the price was right.

The TA emailed today about the rumors and wanted to know what we wanted to do if they were true. I made a detailed list explaining what our resort/room preferences were and ranked them. I just sent her my list. She has 7 possible options! I'm really hoping we can move to the Contemporary or Poly. Even though it's a little more than the package we already booked at FQ, with free dining, a deluxe resort is finally within our budget!

 

[squirrel]

I turn my SB into target then into disney usually. Thats where our spending money comes from and I usually use a 50 GC to take the sting off of the party tix-last year I brought my niece and nephew with us to the DL party so we went from our usual 2 tix to 4 tix-it did sting alright . using the free GC's helped me feel little better about the 320 dollar extra (and that was with my AP discount ) I dont know how you big families do it.

I'm in Canada. We don't get Target, Walmart or a bunch of great GC's to choose from.

 

[RJstanis]

I'm with your son. I thought Talking Mickey was super creepy.

The Kylo Ren story reminded me of our first JTA experience which was at Disneyland. My son was 3 or 4 and was fortunate enough to get picked from the audience. He was easily the smallest kid up there. He loved star wars and Darth Vader, so when Vader told him "Join me and discover the power of the dark side..." and put his non light saber hand out, my son put down his light saber and went to grab his hand before the Jedi was like "No, no, no" It was very cute.

 

[RJstanis]

I didn't quote it but I saw someone post something about Ohana Breakfast. It's easily our favorite character meal and we do it every year we go. Great atmosphere, interaction, food is pretty good and obviously plentiful, and just relaxing. We love it.

 

[menotyou21]

I book on my own so I'm not sure how you pay things off with a TA. We did use the Disney GCs purchased at Target to pay off the trip on the Disney website.

If the TA does things correctly, you can pay off a trip booked with a TA using your Disney Vacation Account, assuming you've loaded your DVA with discounted gift cards, you would save the 5%.

 

[menotyou21]

You are guaranteed connecting rooms when it's just two adults and three or more children (between ages 3-17). This type of reservation can only be booked by phone since it will be booked as two rooms under one reservation number.

I don't mean to be negative or against this post....but unfortunately this is incorrect. Getting connecting rooms is a big deal for families and I don't want anyone going into a 2 room situation with the wrong anticipation.

Disney will not guarantee connecting rooms for any family. They will admit that a party with 2 booked rooms and only 1 adult will most likely receive connecting rooms. Any party with 2 adults is absolutely not guaranteed a connecting room. I've asked multiple TAs, CMs, and Disney experts this question in the past week. Additionally, I personally did not receive connecting rooms in 2014 at BC, we had a reservation for 2 rooms w/ 2A and 6C.

I wish everyone the best in their quest for connecting rooms, as I will be in the same situation this year.

 

[Disneylover99]

Now, I've heard talk about the boats taking a long time to get to HS from BC. Are they reasonable? I'm thinking especially on days we want to get there early in the morning. Will they be backed up and I'll have to wait for a second one to come along? I like that WL has the boat to MK, but a bus as well. I wish BC had that same option.

And that walk in August is exactly what I'm afraid of!

But in all fairness, we don't spend a ton of time at HS so it's not really that big of an issue. Just my mind racing and having to consider every possible pro and con to each!

I really do detest waiting for those boats. And then the stops at the Boardwalk and the Swan and Dolphin...... I'm just not very patient.

But I think it's still faster then walking. I don't know what it's like early in the morning though. So I'm not sure if there are back-ups. If the boats are closed due to bad weather, they do start to run buses from the BC.

 

[Party.Of.4-NY>>>FL]

We are thinking about doing a GG breakfast this trip. My concern with a PPO is will we be too full from breakfast to enjoy Soarin', TT, and Mission Space? I don't want full tummies becoming empty. What do you think?

I hear you on that one! Perhaps if any in your party are known to have a sensitive stomach or prone to motion sickness just eat foods they are familiar with and all will be fine. IMHO Soarin' is a really smooth ride and we didn't experience any discomfort riding it rightness after breakfast. PPO breakfasts are a great way to start off a day in the parks. They essentially have an extra Fast Pass or two built right in to them! Just keep a close eye on park hours as Disney has been known to change them at the last minute (I'm looking at you Magic Kingdom!) If a 9am opening gets changed to an 8am opening, an 8am ADR becomes useless for this strategy. In fact you'll be eating breakfast during a prime touring time when the park is still almost empty. Enjoy your trip!

 

[LovingDisney2012]

I am obsessed with their glazed donut. Of all the decadent things there I crave this.

I haven't had the donut yet. Everytime I stop at a Joffrey's kiosk, I am laser focused on coffee

 

[LovingDisney2012]

Last year this company had a sweet deal on their app I think it was like 30% off purchase. They also had coffee for $1 at all locations at WDW on National Coffee Day (which I never heard of). Hoping to see what they offer this year!

If you have a vacation package, the discount card that comes in you travel docs. is good for 20% off at Joffrey's. I used that before their coffee became a snack credit.

 

[Sadiemae76]

I was literally having this exact conversation with DH in the last hour! We too are missing 2 home games for Disney! Neither of us are fans, but we have season tix to the Bills. Going to be selling more than expected this season too!

We are from WNY!! South of Buffalo

 

[Disneylover99]

I didn't quote it but I saw someone post something about Ohana Breakfast. It's easily our favorite character meal and we do it every year we go. Great atmosphere, interaction, food is pretty good and obviously plentiful, and just relaxing. We love it.

I've seen lots of love for Ohana breakfast on this thread. I booked it for my husband's birthday, but wasn't excited about it. Now I'm warming up to the idea.

 

[JackieO]

And a venti is one credit. So get one and share.

Share Starbucks?!?!

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

I saw some posts about the food at Akershus not being so great. I have 2 boys (4 and 5.5) so I feel like I'm running out of time to eat at a princess meal before they totally throw a fit! Haha we're also going close to my birthday so I figured I could use that to negotiate with my husband! However, if the food isn't so great I don't know if it will be worth it so a 36 year old can take pictures with princesses! Thoughts?