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

[Just Love Disney]

There were earlier posts stating the day after was cheaper than the weekend.

Thanks! I have been trying to keep up with the board but somehow missed that discussion

 

[KimBean]

AHHHHH!!! I can hardly stand the anticipation!!! I've never looked so forward to a MONDAY arriving before!!!

Yeah, I'm getting the nervous jitters. Like everything I know is flying out of my head.

 

[crewsn]

Does anyone know if airfare is historically outrageous on either the day after Thanksgiving (Friday) or the day after that (Saturday)? Or are the really high costs typically on Sunday to end the holiday weekend? Thanks

Last year we went the weekend after Thanksgiving based on how free dining fell. We typically fly, but airfare prices were just too high to make it worth it that weekend. I looked and looked and could never really find a good deal. The only day that was "cheaper" to fly on was the actual day of Thanksgiving.

This year if free dining comes out we are going to avoid arriving on that weekend just for that reason (if it is offered to start on that weekend). Flying is a lot easier for us and we were priced out last trip.

 

[mnmhouston]

Hello all Disney fans. I am new but have been monitoring the boards for the free dining. First time to Disney with the family wife and an 8 n 4 year old. We are looking to go Sept 29 - October 5. If October is blacked out would we still get FD if we check in on the 29th and have it until the 5th? And just want to check to make sure there has not been ant new revelations since black posted a week or so ago. And thank you for all the information that has been supplied by you fine folks!!

Welcome! You are a brave soul to be on the boards for your first trip!! Lots of priceless info, but can be very overwhelming! Stick with us, we'll help you through to a magical trip

 

[Srbright]

Take for instance, POFQ. We've been numerous times in September when there weren't any rooms showing available. Empty parking lots, empty room(visible from outside). Even had to make adjustments before based on availability PER promotions, ie bounceback, FD, etc... I know you guys here on the DIS like to argue but it's how it works. If you honestly think that all of the resorts are full year round, well, that's your opinion.

Not the same. Not offering them for use is not the same as holding them back for a promotion.

Hotels take rooms out of service all the time, especially in low seasons. If they have a room available they aren't going to save it for a promotion where they will make less money. They will simply take it out of service so it isn't available to anyone. Less housekeeping staff, front desk staff, restaurant staff, fewer busses...etc.

Stacy

 

[draybook]

No, we know all the resorts are NOT completely full year-round; that's why we have a free dining discount.

However, if there are no rooms in Disney's inventory today, they won't magically appear come Monday morning so they can sell them with a discount. Now, it could be the rooms they've allocated/given to other vendors (Orbitz, etc) are out there and those rooms go unsold. I don't know when Disney takes them back or the other vendors give them back, but those could be the "empty" rooms you are seeing. We also know that around this time, many people are holding more than one reservation in hopes of getting FD. My guess is (and it's just a guess), there are also some TAs out there who are booking rooms to have for their clients.

None of us are saying Disney's rooms are always sold out. We ARE saying that Disney is NOT holding back inventory for this or any other promotion. If you don't agree, that's fine. We're all entitled to our opinion.

Fair enough, but it's not vendor rooms I'm seeing. I didn't just start going to WDW last month. I know how it works.

 

[SG131]

Yeah, I'm getting the nervous jitters. Like everything I know is flying out of my head.

My nervous jitters are through the roof because I have to rely on my TA to change my reservation and I might be just a little bit of a control freak!

 

[Joe Ryan]

If you check in on the 29th, and the end date for FD is the 30th as is the current rumor, you will get FD for your entire stay. It goes by your check in date. Check in before FD ends and it extends through your entire stay.

Thank you very much!!! I know I have read it on the boards, but just wanted to be sure from seasoned posters....lol

 

[Metsno1fan]

Hi, long time lurker but I had a question and figured this was the best place to ask.

I have a 7 night reservation at CBR starting 11/10 with a GC. Would I be able to modify the reservation to keep the same number of nights but push the check-in date back to 11/14 so I can get free dining AND keep the GC?

 

[ean]

Disney Free Dining Plan, that fantastic world in which regular people badly wants a Monday morning to arrive ASAP...

 

[Avalon_toon]

Phew, I'm trying to keep up with all the posts and I'm sorry if this was covered already somewhere, but we're currently at a moderate (CBR) with a package that includes base tickets (no PH or PH +) and the regular DDP. Should I change my tickets to Park hopper + right now and also change the dining plan to QS? Does that help expedite making my changes in any way on Monday when FD drops? Would love some thoughts!

I just asked a cast member essentially this question earlier today, they said wait until Monday to make all the changes...

 

[Joe Ryan]

Welcome! You are a brave soul to be on the boards for your first trip!! Lots of priceless info, but can be very overwhelming! Stick with us, we'll help you through to a magical trip

Yeah you are not kidding. Very overwhelming to say the least. Spent 4 hours at a friends house bc they try to go every year or atleast every other, and only went over high level stuff. I went to disney 1 time for my senior class trip and yup I acted like an 8 year old and did my own thing...lol Now, at 36 Im going with the fam. Oh and I will be there for my bday, 4th

Thank you for any guidance!!!

 

[Kudmani]

Need advice from the experts...

Traveling with my mom and 3 kids (12, 9, & 3). I ran the numbers and found that I would save around $650 by booking 2 value rooms (upgrading 1 room to DxDP with myself & 2 youngest) instead of upgrading everyone in a moderate IF the current rumor proves true. My mom and oldest would stay in a value room booked with an AP rate (no tickets needed). I know the additional tips would eat up most of the savings, but it might be fun to try the DxDP at least one trip (would never pay for it as a party of 5). Does anyone have experience splitting DxDP credits? Could we share 4 credits for a QS/TS lunch and then use the additional 5 credits each day for a character/family style dinner? Thoughts on doing this?

 

[lok1sgrl]

We went for breakfast and it was good. Nothing super special but I definitely wouldn't call it bad! Breakfast is a safer bet for restaurants where the food may be iffy, it's hard to screw up bacon and eggs. And the character interactions were wonderful

Second that. We went for a dinner and the princesses -- even Jasmine -- were amazing! Loved, loved it! You'll enjoy it!

 

[lok1sgrl]

Second that. We went for a dinner and the princesses -- even Jasmine -- were amazing! Loved, loved it! You'll enjoy it!

By even Jasmine, meant didn't realize we'd get to see her. Aladdin is on our favorites and that was a HUGE treat! lol

 

[lok1sgrl]

You can turn a QS into 3 snack credits in the same transaction.

Seriously? That's awesome to know. Thank you! For the F&W festival lol

 

[Avalon_toon]

We are hoping to go for two weeks. Does anyone know if North American guests can get a 14 day ticket instead maxing out at a 10 day ticket? If Park Hoppers aren't required, the only reason we would hop is so we could go eat dinner at EPCOT, but if we had a 14 day ticket, we could just go to EPCOT for dinner on days that would have been non-park days otherwise...

 

[krisfan]

If PH is not required.. I can definitely try dxDP.. it costs more than PH for 7 days.. but I want to try 2 credit restaurants..
Any best and must try signature restaurants??

 

[KimBean]

Seriously? That's awesome to know. Thank you! For the F&W festival lol

This doesn't work all the time and when it does has to be the same place. Mainly reports are coming back that some have been able to do it at resorts. This changed this year.

 

[VillainFavs]

This doesn't work all the time and when it does has to be the same place. Mainly reports are coming back that some have been able to do it at resorts. This changed this year.

It typically has to be somewhere that has both QS meals and snack credits. That's why it seems to work well at resort food courts--they serve both and the CMs are used to dealing with both. When you get to places that only have snacks and don't usually deal with QS meals, they don't always know how to do it.