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

[CrazzzyforDisney83]

It looks like my arrival date of December 3rd won't qualify for FD, any idea when the RO discounts for that time will come out and any change that date will be included?
I was really hoping for something

We are arriving 12/3 as well. A RO discount would be nice!

 

[lisa12345]

There are so many different ways to rank these three options!
Size of room alone- 1) AoA-565, 2) ASMu- 520, 3) Cabin- 504
Bed options- 1) cabin- queen, bunk beds, full pull out, 2) AoA- queen, full pull out, full pull down Murphy, 3) ASMu- queen, full pull out, sleeper chair, sleeper ottoman (seems like the best room set up with little ones going to bed early would be cabins in the bunk bed because you can close the door and still have the living room to hang out in as well as the private deck. With ASMu and AoA, the kids will most likely be sleeping in the living room.)
Theming- 1) AoA by a long shot, 2) cabins, 3) ASMu (2 & 3 are preference, but figure kids might find idea of sleeping in a cabin/ camping cooler than a music theme)
Resort Activities- 1) cabins (carriage rides, wagon rides, pony rides, chip n Dale Campfire), other two resorts are probably about equal
Price- 1) ASMu, other two are similar depending on dates

Several other factors to consider such as transportation and food options which I can't really offer opinions on, as well as pools- only the cabins have pools slides and hot tub but the other two have better theming, especially AoA. Cabins offer boat transportation to MK but have an internal bus that you have to transfer off of to transfer to another bus to the theme parks. Cabins have 1 bath and a stove and full size fridge, AoA and ASMu have 2 baths, no stove, and a mini fridge. With AoA and ASMu you have neighbors on the other side of the wall, whereas the cabins are separate structures so less worry of neighbors disturbing you/ you disturbing them and you have your own deck outside to hang out on when kids are in bed.

My personal order of preference would be 1) cabins, 2) AoA, 3) ASMu. I just don't really see much benefit to ASMu over the other two except a slightly lower price, and for me, I think the privacy of the cabin, plus the water slides, hot tub, boat to MK, and resort amenities outweigh the theming and 2 baths at AoA, but obviously others may feel differently on that one.

Thank you so much for your thorough reply. That is the same order that I was thinking based on what I could see online, but wanted to check with people who have seen these places first hand.

 

[chinarider]

Let me add one more scenario to your muddling:

Why not just book yourself into the FD package and leave her off completely? Upgrade to the DxDDP. You would then have 3 x no of nights worth of meals to share between you. You wouldn't have to buy her a ticket, but would have one yourself to use as you please. Once you get there, I think you can add her to the reservation. If not, it would just mean she wouldn't be spending the night with you. '

Would this work?

Sounds like a decent idea but I am still confused..... if I add her to the reservation, I think I have to have the "package" for her as well? anyone else have thoughts on this?

 

[tomeaine]

Staying at WWL last year during the reno I would expect Disney to handle the appropriate fencing to mask the major reno at CBR.
The picture above I highly doubt was direct view of all guest..I am sure it someone taking a photo above a wall covering.

 

[FoxC63]

Its an old pic, I don't think they have started the new round of renovations yet. But since they were giving out gift cards to make up for the inconvenience of the upcoming renos I do worry that they are going to be pretty disruptive (since they aren't giving out gift cards to the other resorts undergoing renos.)

Exactly this! Many bloggers have said this much! Good on you for pointing this out.

 

[Halbleib1]

Sounds like a decent idea but I am still confused..... if I add her to the reservation, I think I have to have the "package" for her as well? anyone else have thoughts on this?

Yes everyone in the same room has to have the same package for free dining.

 

[Guda]

Some people have received some great deals on Deluxe resorts with a travel agent that offers a Labour Day sale. They were able to get a Deluxe resort and add dining on and still save more than FD. Can't post the agency but do a search and I'm sure you will find it. Of course it does depend on how many people are going but this may be a good deal for you.

That particular offer states the DDP is not available and cannot be added (screenshot below. Dear Moderators: I was careful not to show the company name.) How then are people able to get dining with this offer?

 

[Magicalcarpetride]

Slightly but... Is it too much to be planning and crunching numbers while listening to Disney music??? Keeps me feeling happy amidst the stress!

oh my goodness! I've been humming disney songs while reading this blog! Glad I'm not the only one.

 

[Mac Graham]

Alright, I'm about to book it. Coronado Springs preferred room for 8/26-9/2. If my modify button works, should I be up at 3/4AM to change it?

 

[black562]

I'm doing this again:

NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE MINIMUM DAYS ARE FOR TICKETS!!!

4 Days!

 

[CrazzzyforDisney83]

Off-topic question: which food court is better? POR or Coronado's?

Loved Coronado's!

 

[VillainFavs]

That particular offer states the DDP is not available and cannot be added (screenshot below. Dear Moderators: I was careful not to show the company name.) How then are people able to get dining with this offer?
View attachment 232666

I have one of these deals booked right now and, no, dining plan is not an option!!! I may be cancelling mine if I can get the WL FD I'm hoping for. But I specifically asked about adding a plan even at full price to my current deal and was told absolutely not allowed.

 

[otg]

Why book it now. Just wait on FD.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Why is everyone booking now?

 

[agassizsmile]

Alright, I'm about to book it. Coronado Springs preferred room for 8/26-9/2. If my modify button works, should I be up at 3/4AM to change it?

Its best NOT to book it from what ive read here. WAIT till FD drops.

 

[VillainFavs]

Alright, I'm about to book it. Coronado Springs preferred room for 8/26-9/2. If my modify button works, should I be up at 3/4AM to change it?

There's really no advantage to booking now. You'll have to modify it and the modify buttons have been acting so funky I wouldn't count on being able to do that!

 

[jods]

Cmon guys help me decide!

Upgrade!

 

[agassizsmile]

That particular offer states the DDP is not available and cannot be added (screenshot below. Dear Moderators: I was careful not to show the company name.) How then are people able to get dining with this offer?
View attachment 232666

I know this travel agency and they also told me id have to pay oop for dining, cannot add dining package. Wont work fir us family of five , about ten ADRs booked!

 

[chinarider]

Yes everyone in the same room has to have the same package for free dining.

thanks, that's what I thought. If she is a CP and I dont add her to the package, can she still share meals with me? I dont think she could share credits since she wouldnt be on reservation. It seems like with the reg FD at the mod- it might be worth it to keep her on...I would probably spend more than $500 feeding her and I think that's approximately the difference ( because it's only the cost of the parkhopper ticket since room is based on double occupancy). I dont know how many table services we would be able to do ( based on her schedule) but we could use these for some 2TS meals and Candlelight etc. totally stressing me out as I was so anxious to get ADRs and everything soon. it's been a long time coming. Also hoping maybe with the construction at CSR and that our package was made so long ago perhaps they might upgrade us ( that would be awesome)

 

[Sadiemae76]

Upgrade!

Upgrade!