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

[Haneyman]

@prettypatchesmsu where have you been hiding?

Haven't seen smitch on here.

 

[Greg36]

I think you need 10 posts to message someone or receive a message. Get posting!

Thank you! That is very helpful.

 

[The Dirty Steve]

Haven't seen smitch on here.

@smitch425 may make an appearance at some point

 

[Rusty2rules]

Slightly off topic but it is food related. I booked the Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace. Thoughts? Good? Bad? Great view? Save your money? I might also mention if I can snag reservations for the Star Wars Dessert Party at DHS I'm definitely doing that one and dropping this one. This is more of a backup in case I can't get that and/or some darn BOG reservations. I thought this might be neat but I really don't know much about it.

 

[KimBean]

I learned a long time ago not to worry about things that are not in my control. That's all that I meant. In 5 years, none of this will matter to any of us. It seems so important now, but it really isn't important at all.

Ha. No I'm dealing with some things in my life that are really important and really hard. This is my escape.

 

[pixie_mtl]

http://www.viajeromagico.com/comunidad/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=20571&p=182664&hilit=free+dining#p182664

I couldn't help noticing how the "debate" is pretty much the same wither it being in English, French or Spanish Pre-booking doesn't guaranteed free dining

 

[Greg36]

Slightly off topic but it is food related. I booked the Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace. Thoughts? Good? Bad? Great view? Save your money? I might also mention if I can snag reservations for the Star Wars Dessert Party at DHS I'm definitely doing that one and dropping this one. This is more of a backup in case I can't get that and/or some darn BOG reservations. I thought this might be neat but I really don't know much about it.

We have never done a fireworks dessert party but we did do the jingle bell, jingle bam party last year. I was actually planning on doing the star wars dessert party, but this ended up being replaced by jingle bell, jingle bam during our dates so we just went ahead and did that party. We found it pretty expensive for what you ended up getting. I think you could do a lot better (in terms of getting your money worth) if you were planning on drinking alcohol. I think I had a couple of beer and my wife had one mixed drink. The kids ate some of the desserts, but there was not a lot of really excellent options. It was nice not needing to stake out spots hours before the show, but really the space they have saved for you is not great for kids. They still had a hard time seeing. Overall, we were glad we did it to have the experience (and it was pretty cool) but I don't think we will do it again next time. Hope this helps.

 

[Rusty2rules]

We found it pretty expensive for what you ended up getting. I think you could do a lot better (in terms of getting your money worth) if you were planning on drinking alcohol. I think I had a couple of beer and my wife had one mixed drink. The kids ate some of the desserts, but there was not a lot of really excellent options. It was nice not needing to stake out spots hours before the show, but really the space they have saved for you is not great for kids. They still had a hard time seeing. Overall, we were glad we did it to have the experience (and it was pretty cool) but I don't think we will do it again next time. Hope this helps.

Thank you for that. Well, I'm not a "drinker" so I wasn't planning on drinking alcohol. Hoping they have soft drinks? And it's just me and my adult son so I don't have to really worry about the "kid's view", although it always seems like I get the 6' 6" dude and his wife with the Marge Simpson hair-do standing in front of me. The way you wrapped it up is kind of how I feel though. I thought it might be cool to say we did it, and not have to stake out a spot in the crowd, but it does seem a little expensive. I'm wondering is it worth the "cool experience" and the view? Like I said, if I can snag the SWDP I'm definitely doing that one.

 

[efoote01]

Is there any news on the construction in CS? WHEN does it start & what is affected?

 

[piglet1979]

Is there any news on the construction in CS? WHEN does it start & what is affected?

I haven't heard much but I know that they have already started to tear down a building or two. I heard it is out of the way so it really does not affect much at this point.

 

[Kudmani]

Slightly off topic but it is food related. I booked the Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace. Thoughts? Good? Bad? Great view? Save your money? I might also mention if I can snag reservations for the Star Wars Dessert Party at DHS I'm definitely doing that one and dropping this one. This is more of a backup in case I can't get that and/or some darn BOG reservations. I thought this might be neat but I really don't know much about it.

From our experience, we preferred the Star Wars Dessert Party. It seemed much easier to find a viewing location for MK fireworks and there are lots of snack options to grab on your own. We really liked the variety of themed sweet & savory food options at the Star Wars Dessert Party and thought the viewing area trumped having to wait an hour+ with our kids to secure a spot to see the projections. Tomorrowland Terrace was a fun once and done for us, but we would definitely do the Star Wars party again.

 

[SCBENGAL]

Hoping for FD for Dec.16th-21st!! Already have CBR reserved, so I hope they include it.

 

[SCBENGAL]

My employer wishes Disney would hurry up and release the FD, so they could actually get some work out of me!!

 

[Greg36]

Thank you for that. Well, I'm not a "drinker" so I wasn't planning on drinking alcohol. Hoping they have soft drinks? And it's just me and my adult son so I don't have to really worry about the "kid's view", although it always seems like I get the 6' 6" dude and his wife with the Marge Simpson hair-do standing in front of me. The way you wrapped it up is kind of how I feel though. I thought it might be cool to say we did it, and not have to stake out a spot in the crowd, but it does seem a little expensive. I'm wondering is it worth the "cool experience" and the view? Like I said, if I can snag the SWDP I'm definitely doing that one.

Ha! So true, so true (re the 6 foot dude). I think they have lots of non alcoholic options. I think they actually had cans of pop as well at the jingle bell/bam party. I have still not seen the new star wars show. I love the older one and I am a huge fan in general... So, yea, I could definitely see value for you and your son if you are fans of SW, which it sounds like you are. The space they rope off for viewing is pretty good for adults. I think everyone was able to see pretty well. They basically escort you out just before the show, but if you want to be really close to the front of the rope I would head out a bit early...

 

[Tom P.]

Yeah I think this is where their pain comes from. Free dining is a pain in the **** for them to deal with. I don't blame them on that front. It's not the only discount and if I don't get it then I'll get something else. I even ran the numbers today of just keeping my ressie as is and adding DDP to it and I can live with that as well. Would like to get some money off but no matter what it's been 3 years and I'm going!!

I am going to take what will probably be the unpopular view here and say that I think Disney travel agents, including the Dreams agents on the podcast, create a lot of these headaches for themselves.

Truth is, pretty much every Disney travel agent markets one of their big selling points as "book with us and we will watch for discounts and apply them to your reservation as they come out." So all those people who do not follow the boards and the web sites obsessively, and don't know all the history and the details and the ins and outs of promotions like free dining, see that this great offer for a free dining plan comes out, and they expect their travel agent can just hop on the computer and apply it to their reservation. And then their travel agent has to explain to them "well, no, in this case we can't just apply the discount to your reservation and, in fact, the fact that you booked ahead of time may actually result in less availability of free dining, hurting your chances." Which naturally results in the client being confused and upset.

So, no, I'm not particularly sympathetic to travel agents who get frustrated over their clients and free dining.

 

[KimBean]

I am going to take what will probably be the unpopular view here and say that I think Disney travel agents, including the Dreams agents on the podcast, create a lot of these headaches for themselves.

Truth is, pretty much every Disney travel agent markets one of their big selling points as "book with us and we will watch for discounts and apply them to your reservation as they come out." So all those people who do not follow the boards and the web sites obsessively, and don't know all the history and the details and the ins and outs of promotions like free dining, see that this great offer for a free dining plan comes out, and they expect their travel agent can just hop on the computer and apply it to their reservation. And then their travel agent has to explain to them "well, no, in this case we can't just apply the discount to your reservation and, in fact, the fact that you booked ahead of time may actually result in less availability of free dining, hurting your chances." Which naturally results in the client being confused and upset.

So, no, I'm not particularly sympathetic to travel agents who get frustrated over their clients and free dining.

I actually think what you stated is the majority view so you are pretty safe. Lol!! I think some of us are just trying to find a logical reason TAs get so annoyed and aggravated to the point of sharing information that is inaccurate at best, self serving at worst.

 

[FinnsMom7]

Well 1 of the 4 April Monday's came and went - so now we only have 3 to obsess over!

 

[pooh'smate]

Thank you for that. Well, I'm not a "drinker" so I wasn't planning on drinking alcohol. Hoping they have soft drinks? And it's just me and my adult son so I don't have to really worry about the "kid's view", although it always seems like I get the 6' 6" dude and his wife with the Marge Simpson hair-do standing in front of me. The way you wrapped it up is kind of how I feel though. I thought it might be cool to say we did it, and not have to stake out a spot in the crowd, but it does seem a little expensive. I'm wondering is it worth the "cool experience" and the view? Like I said, if I can snag the SWDP I'm definitely doing that one.

We have done both and we would pick the Star Wars party any day. I am the only one who likes SW in my family but both my dh and dd loved the SW party. I am allergic to alcohol and they cans of soda so you will have plenty to drink. Both dh and dd keep asking if we have plans to go back to this party the next time we go back.

 

[scard192]

@smitch425 may make an appearance at some point

she helped me SO much with my 2013 trip

 

[JackieO]

Ok COMPLETELY off topic here, but all this talk about "bifurcated" (which all I could think was "I'm not even sure I'm reading that right") makes me want to share this silly video. Maybe some of you have seen it. It made me laugh so hard!!