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

[DisneyLoverMomof6]

What is/are Trentas?

The 30-ounce iced drinks. The Venti iced drinks are 26 oz.

 

[Neeky78]

Largest size of a drink at Starbucks.

Ohhh. Thanks. I don't think we get that size here in Australia?

 

[jessiegirl1982]

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?

I loved the food. It was one of our best meals and we are going back again (dinner) Maybe people don't like it because of the Norwegian twist? ...and I am the only princess of the family at 34 (my son is only 3 and kinda has a crush on Elsa though!).

 

[ean]

The 30-ounce iced drinks. The Venti iced drinks are 26 oz.

Well, Trenta means 30 in Italian, so it makes sense. Anyway, I need one of those, right now!

 

[Sharongal74]

We are in the same dilemma. Factoring in the GCs, it would be $60 to stay at CBR vs moving to POP. I can't decide what to do. It will be myself, my mom and DD14. We are only at the resort to sleep, so the construction doesn't worry me. We only really wanted to do a couple of TS, so having QSDP doesn't bother me.
It's the buses that have me worried the most since I've never been to CBR. What is it you like about CBR's transportation? It stresses me out since it's such a bigger resort. I've noticed there aren't ques for the buses so does everyone naturally "line-up" or is it a free for all when a bus pulls up? I know it's Disney, but it's still the real world with real people. If 5 people are waiting for a bus to MK and an empty bus pulls up, no problem. But if 20 people are waiting for a bus that can fit 5 people, it may be a problem. I love having my Disney spirit in my Disney bubble, but after a few days of missing buses because of people getting on the bus before me when I was waiting longer will break that spirit and burst my bubble. Ugh. Way too many factors.

I did not rope drop while there last year. But we never had an issue getting on a bus. people seemed line up in the order they got there when the bus came. But I don't thinkI ever stood with more then 15 people. Plus less people and Barbados bus stop would be closed and I wonder if they will close the martinque one and have preferred martinque use centertown or if centertown will be closed and they use martinque. In a few weeks we should hear how all that will work.

 

[KimBean]

Good Morning All, I am hoping someone can help. If I get an All Star Music Suite for 4 adults and 1 child but only 2 of the party is arriving on check in day and the remaining on day 2. Does Disney allow this? I am trying to save money for a group of 5 comparing Free dining and a potential Room only discount. We both already have individual reservations at CBR for our respective checkin dates but am building a comparison to see if sharing and free dining might save us some money. Thanks all.

I don't think they would care that not all of you got there the same day. With online check in not sure how they would even know. And I'm sure many families even that are all there together don't all go stand in line to check in.

 

[IMALOVNDISNEY]

[QUOTE
This line caught my attention. Many are saying Disney is going to miss out on money if they only offer QSDP at the mods. That MAY be true, but I doubt it will hurt their bottom line all that much. There will still be people eating in their restaurants. However, what they will accomplish is exactly what we see here. They have found a way to get at least a few more (possibly quite a few) into their deluxe resorts for the first time. Free dining allowed people who normally never ate at Disney restaurants a taste of that. Now many people can't imagine a trip to WDW without eating at the TS restaurants; they are as much a part of their vacation as the parks. Now Disney is getting some to taste what it's like to stay at a deluxe resort, and it may be harder for them to go back to their old way of doing things.[/QUOTE]

I can't agree more with you on this. I have been saying the same exact thing for so long. Disney knows exactly what they're doing. Marketing at it's best.
"Free dining allowed people who normally never ate at Disney restaurants a taste of that. Now many people can't imagine a trip to WDW without eating at the TS restaurants; they are as much a part of their vacation as the parks". The first time we ate at Ohana's was with free dining. And now Ohana's is a must every trip. The last free dining we did we ate at Boma's,...guess what....We'll be eating there again in December.
Free dining has giving us the opportunity to try new places that we otherwise wouldn't have even thought of....Some great....some weren't. but, part of the experience just the same.
So, Disney has done their jobs well...Even if we don't get Free dining, we'll still be eating at both locations.[/QUOTE]

 

[Cheri Of All Trades]

Can I have some of that hope stuff for the full dining plan for mods?

As awesome as that would be, I can't see why Disney would have any incentive to do so. CBR is under extensive construction so there are less Mod rooms to fill. From what I've read in the past, families would move from Value to Mod with FD because it was nearly equivalent to get DDP at a Mod instead of upgrading the QSDP at a Value. With less rooms, Disney needs to keep more people in Values, as well as entice people to jump to Deluxe.

 

[staceycrouton]

Ok, going to have an anxiety attack if I don't hear if our dates are include soon! Arghhhhh!!! We are currently booked at POR 8/14-8/24 so I am praying for the Disney Visa offer to include our dates.

 

[Neeky78]

I don't think they would care that not all of you got there the same day. With online check in not sure how they would even know. And I'm sure many families even that are all there together don't all go stand in line to check in.

So what's to stop someone from saying they have more in the room than they do and use their invisible guests' dining credits?
We are 3 in a room that can sleep 5. Not that I would do it, but if I created 2 fake profiles of kids I don't have, wouldn't we then get free dining credits to the value of 5 people?

 

[Cheri Of All Trades]

So what's to stop someone from saying they have more in the room than they so and use their invisible guests' dining credits?
We are 3 in a room that can sleep 5. Not that I would do it, but if I created 2 fake profiles of kids I don't have, wouldn't we then get free dining credits to the value of 5 people?

Yeah, you can do that if you want to buy extra PH tickets for the phantom kids.

 

[ean]

So what's to stop someone from saying they have more in the room than they so and use their invisible guests' dining credits?
We are 3 in a room that can sleep 5. Not that I would do it, but if I created 2 fake profiles of kids I don't have, wouldn't we then get free dining credits to the value of 5 people?

But you have to pay park tickets for those "fake" 2 guys over there.

 

[Stacie Rinehimer]

We are in the same dilemma. Factoring in the GCs, it would be $60 to stay at CBR vs moving to POP. I can't decide what to do. It will be myself, my mom and DD14. We are only at the resort to sleep, so the construction doesn't worry me. We only really wanted to do a couple of TS, so having QSDP doesn't bother me.
It's the buses that have me worried the most since I've never been to CBR. What is it you like about CBR's transportation? It stresses me out since it's such a bigger resort. I've noticed there aren't ques for the buses so does everyone naturally "line-up" or is it a free for all when a bus pulls up? I know it's Disney, but it's still the real world with real people. If 5 people are waiting for a bus to MK and an empty bus pulls up, no problem. But if 20 people are waiting for a bus that can fit 5 people, it may be a problem. I love having my Disney spirit in my Disney bubble, but after a few days of missing buses because of people getting on the bus before me when I was waiting longer will break that spirit and burst my bubble. Ugh. Way too many factors.

We liked the waiting area for buses. It's a covered bus stop with benches. I wish I could find a picture to post for you. There was never a large amount of people. If there was 20 people, some were going to DS- some to all different parks. Yes, the bus stops in each village to pick up. We stayed in Jamaica last trip, which was last stop to pick up for parks BUT first to drop off on our way "home". We had standard view and our room was right by the bus stop. Was super sweet after a long day! The walk to the pool was no far- we LOVED the view on our way. We also went the week right after Labor Day so crowds were super LOW. I was pregnant at the time but my husband and son rode EE 5x in a row no wait, same with space mountain. It's why we're going back in September this trip.
I just remember when we stayed at ASMo we waited and waited for buses and it was the last resort of the AS's to drop off. CBR to me just seemed to flow better.
I talked all this over with my husband yesterday and that was one thing he remembered was bussing. He's not so Disney like I (shame on him). My plan is to try and snag FD at CBR and I when I have more time to really plan and think through exactly what I want to do is when I will make the choice to upgrade or not!

 

[Dismomof2boys]

Ok, going to have an anxiety attack if I don't hear if our dates are include soon! Arghhhhh!!! We are currently booked at POR 8/14-8/24 so I am praying for the Disney Visa offer to include our dates.

I hear ya - we are booked from Aug 13-25. If no FD then our family of 4 adults will have to spend an additional $2500 for food. We booked 13 Table Service restaurants already - at least we can upgrade from QS to Regular plan for a little over $1000.

 

[Dismomof2boys]

I hear ya - we are booked from Aug 13-25. If no FD then our family of 4 adults will have to spend an additional $2500 for food. We booked 13 Table Service restaurants already - at least we can upgrade from QS to Regular plan for a little over $1000.

Forgot to mention that we are at POR too!

 

[Confederate Scott]

Ohhh. Thanks. I don't think we get that size here in Australia?

Not sure about that. I don't think they show this size on their menu but you can ask for it.

 

[Neeky78]

Yeah, you can do that if you want to buy extra PH tickets for the phantom kids.

True. Forgot about that part!
I imagine some people do that for friends/family staying off site/in room only. A 4 day park hopper ticket divided by 14 nights works out to be very cheap eating!!

 

[metacove]

We are getting so close!

While we wait... Does anyone have an opinion on the resorts I've narrowed down to. I have 4 people going on my trip (DD6). We are going for nine nights. This will be 3 of the 4 peoples first visit to Disney.

I have narrowed my options down to the following:
Beach Club
POR Royal Room
POR Preferred Room
POFQ Garden View (no free dining)
AOA Suite

For you Disney veterans... Which would you choose if cost wasn't a factor ? I'm so torn. The location of Beach Club looks fantastic. The charm and simplicity of POFQ is intriguing. The room size, 2 bathrooms and Disney Flair at AOA would sure be nice. POR kinda comes in last in my mind and I'm not completely sure why (Mostly the bus woes and size complaints I've heard).

So many decisions. I'm sure I'd enjoy them all having never been to Disney. I do have all my ADR's booked and we are pretty set there (BOG, CRT, Aker, 1900, Boma, Ohana, Beaches and Cream, Via Napoli, Yak)

 

[cshell624]

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.

I know, all this talk about Ohana for breakfast has me trying to figure out if I can work it into our plans. My oldest has recently become a huge Stitch fan so I know she would love it.

 

[ThistleMae]

Well if the rumors are true about POR and QS at mods, then boo, today is not a happy Friday. Just found out I have sesamoiditis as well and am not allowed on my feet (my DH is thrilled to be the primary caregiver to our 13 week old puppy now). Trying to see the silver linings today so at least I can be excited that I get to go to Disney again, even if it is going to cost me both my arms and legs

Never heard of that...what is it?