Who has been for every Free Dining in Aug/Sept 2005??

[Blueberry]

I remember so well "suddenly" deciding to go for the new Free Dining offer in September 2005 as a first and one of a kind deal. We booked just before we left for my DS's wedding to be sure to get the hotel and ADRs we wanted.

We went back in 2006 and 2007 and now we decided to go again in 2008....:cool1: :cool1: :cool1:

Who else beside us has been every year for the free dining promotion??

[strmtroopr96]

I first used (but bought) the Dining Plan in May 2005. Then we did Free Dining in September 2005, September 2006, and September 2007. We are now booked for Bounceback Free Dining for September 2008!! Woo Hoo!! :cool1:

[sunny_stace]

we have too! Not this year though....DBFF and I usually go for my birthday. But this year we're going for her's so it'll be December for us this year! I've never been around Christmas time though so I guess I don't mind paying for my own food ;)

[hmillerbarilla]

Me too! Was there in 2005 (girl's trip), 2006 (brought the guys along), 2007 (girls again) and booked bounceback for 2008 (with the guys!).

Maybe there will be 2009???:hyper:

My DD starts REAL school next year so I'm not sure about what I'll do if I want to book in September again. :worried: I might book the latest possible day and try to extend it over a weekend. hmmmmm:rolleyes1

[iluvpluto27]

I missed 2006, but I did 2005,2007 and going back 2008.

[faindrops27]

Op. I have been 2006, on.. I am going again for my longest onsite stay 13 nights. In Sept!

[hulagirl87]

I have, but not this year. too crowded and too hot! going in november instead :yay:

[gshumaker]

I first used (but bought) the Dining Plan in May 2005. Then we did Free Dining in September 2005, September 2006, and September 2007. We are now booked for Bounceback Free Dining for September 2008!! Woo Hoo!! :cool1:

I'm assuming you did the bounceback for Sept 08 from your 2007 free dining trip.

How did that work? Did you have a choice of resorts?

We are going this fall for Free Dining too and have been every other year but it would be nice if we could lock this in for next year and not have to wait unitl April when it is offered for next year - assuming that it is again!!

[ReneeA]

We have. This year, we have to go from 8/14-20th, and just pay for the DDP. :worried:

I'm currently in nursing school and we go back 8/27. Miss more than one clinical and I'm out on my ear. I'm sure everyone on the waiting list would be thrilled, however...I'm not willing to throw it all away when I'm so close to being done. :thumbsup2

[aubriee]

I have! Sept '05 I took my younger son, D-I-L, and my ex, Sept '06 I took my mom and my ex, Sept '07 I took just my ex, now in Sept '08 I'm taking my mom and my ex again. Gee, I think I've taken as many vacations in the last four years with my ex as we did when we were married:rotfl2: . I guess we're strange!

[pooch]

family trip 2006, mother/daughter trip 2007 and (I love my DD!!) bouncing back with her for 2008!!

[disneydaveb]

Yes! Received Free Dining in 2005 and every year up to and including 2008.

[TDC Nala]

I have gone every year at Labor Day weekend but only used free dining once.

[kaytieeldr]

Me!
2005 booked in mid-July that year (apparently Disney didn't get the response they expected during the first booking period that ended in June).
2006 booked via Travel Agent
2007 booked directly after 87 minutes on hold, which followed getting cut off after 45 minutes JUST because I had to pull into the garage and go to work :rolleyes2:
2008 booked Bounceback last September for upcoming trip

[Dizneydaz]

Me too! We did DDP for the first time in Jan. 05 when it was pretty new. (Paid for it) Then we returned for free in Sept. 05, 06, 07, and now booked for 08. I so much prefer it for free! :rotfl2:

How do I convice my DM that 10 nights at WDW isn't too long-how else can we get in all that eating? Seriously, we did 10 nights the last 2 years but now she's balking-I keep telling her that even though I've booked the room, I can modify the dates up to 45 before. Hopefully I be able to convice her. :goodvibes If not, maybe she can go home early and DD8 and I will stay the few extra days and eat really well!

[pinkerbell]

we missed 2005, went in may rather than the fall due to being preggers :)
but have been in 06, 07 and are booked for 08 !!!! :) :goodvibes

[MapleGirl]

Just booked our first FD trip!! We've never been in September. What's it like? Is it wicked hot and crowded? We usually go in Jan, so we're a bit nervous.....

[Blueberry]

I'm assuming you did the bounceback for Sept 08 from your 2007 free dining trip.

How did that work? Did you have a choice of resorts?

We are going this fall for Free Dining too and have been every other year but it would be nice if we could lock this in for next year and not have to wait unitl April when it is offered for next year - assuming that it is again!!

No, we did not bounceback from last year, wish we had...:sad2:

DH last September did not want to return in Sept again as it is very hot and humid. However he changed his mind and we are going again. Cannot beat the free dining for price...party:

[kaytieeldr]

Suggestion for DISers with husbands like Blueberry's:

BOOK THE BOUNCEBACK PACKAGE if it's offered and you have the deposit available.

You can cancel up to 45 days before arrival (i.e. the same day by which you'd need to pay in full, if you choose to take the trip), and get your entire deposit back.

Better to have it (the reservation) and not need it, than to want it and not be able to get it. Did that make sense?

[gshumaker]

Suggestion for DISers with husbands....

or wives!!!

[kaytieeldr]

Sorry 'bout that, gshumaker! Amending my suggestion to apply to those DISers with spouses/partners like Blueberry's:

[Dizneydaz]

Sorry 'bout that, gshumaker! Amending my suggestion to apply to those DISers with spouses/partners like Blueberry's:


Can we add moms too?

[kaytieeldr]

Sigh... fine! :teeth: Reposting amended advice:

Suggestion for DISers with TRAVEL COMPANIONS like Blueberry's DH, gshumaker's DW, DisneyDaz's DM, etc:

BOOK THE BOUNCEBACK PACKAGE if it's offered and you have the deposit available.

You can cancel up to 45 days before arrival (i.e. the same day by which you'd need to pay in full, if you choose to take the trip), and get your entire deposit back.

Better to have it (the reservation) and not need it, than to want it and not be able to get it. Did that make sense?

[angwill]

We've been to free dining every year it has been offered and booked bounceback in 07 for 08. My DH said no way he wasn't going in 08 so I booked for myself and DS. DH said he wanted to go so add him in about March so we did no problem. We even added a day when they opened it up to the general public in April. Can't beat the free dining price and the heat doesn't bother me or DS just DH.

Ang

[Beckysc]

We've been every year, and we were able to book the bounce back last year. We even managed to sneak in a quick surprise trip in May 2007. I was just not the same eating at Chef Mickey's when you have to pay for it. ;)

[odaddy!]

We have been every year, beaches and cream as a CS first year was great! Last 2 years for us was the best, with all the snack additions!! I am guessing we will spend at least $600 in mandatory 18% tips for our party of 6 under current plan, YIKES!!!!

[hmillerbarilla]

:teacher: We've been every year, and we were able to book the bounce back last year. We even managed to sneak in a quick surprise trip in May 2007. I was just not the same eating at Chef Mickey's when you have to pay for it. ;)
I know! Last year we paid OOP for Chef Mickey's since we packed in a lot of TS during the trip. Not the same, I agree!

We have been every year, beaches and cream as a CS first year was great! Last 2 years for us was the best, with all the snack additions!! I am guessing we will spend at least $600 in mandatory 18% tips for our party of 6 under current plan, YIKES!!!!

We decided to add the Deluxe plan this year, so our tips are really going to add up. But, we figured we wouldn't do this again popcorn:: ... we'll see about that!:rolleyes1

[smidgy]

BOOK THE BOUNCEBACK PACKAGE if it's offered and you have the deposit available.

You can cancel up to 45 days before arrival (i.e. the same day by which you'd need to pay in full, if you choose to take the trip), and get your entire deposit back.

Better to have it (the reservation) and not need it, than to want it and not be able to get it. Did that make sense?

IT makes total sense,... EXCEPT... It is MUCH easier to NOT book a trip, than to cancel one you made ressies for (just in case)!:rotfl: everytime we have found a great a deal and booked it... "just in case"...well, gee, we went!:cool1:

as far as the op asked, we have been to every free dining, except .. boo hoo.. not this year. can't afford another trip. hubby needs a job. (place he worked at for 27 years went under.)

even if we could go, I HATE the changes to the DDP. the tips alone are expensive (I tip 20%). and I would rather have an appetizer than a dessert.
the money we would spend on tips is still more than we would spend OOP (cause we normally wouldn't eat in fancy places. we would be eating a lot of salami sandwiches in the room)

but since the first free dining, they DID have us hooked! on other future trips, we were spoiled! we PAID for the DDP , cause we enjoyed the world showcase restaurants. would we pay for it NOW? without the tips and appetizer? I doubt it. the free dining did what it was supposed to do... "hook" us on the dining plan(and it did). then... they changed it...now we wouldn't PAY for it.
I'm sure a lot of people book free dining, and just don't tip as much. that's all fair; I just couldn't live with myself if I did that. so even if I could afford a trip right now, i wouldn't book FREE dining unless I knew I could afford to pay decent tips on, say, 7 TS meals.

but, thank you disney, for 3 straight years of WONDERFUL free meals!!! and, admittedly, we probably would never have been there in sept. otherwise!:cool1:

[FigmentFinder]

I've been all the years so far. In 2005 I was planning a late August trip before my son went to kindergarten. I was so suprised to see the dining plan offered for free. That was the best year. Kids were given adult apps, none of the good entrees/appetizers were gone. My DH had the 20 oz steak at LeCellier which has since disappeared off the menu.

[Kaler131]

We have only been there for free dining in 2007 and we will be there for it this coming September....but, now that we've found it....I intend to be there EVERY year that they continue to offer it! :thumbsup2 :lovestruc FREE FOOD ROCKS!!!!

[gigi1313]

dh says free food tastes better... and i think he's right ;)

we've been each year and even paid for ddp during non-free dining trips... love it!

we booked bounceback w/an upgrade to deluxe, and will be there for F&W Fest again this year... whatta great way to spend snack credits! :cool1:

if bounceback is offered, we'll book it again! (reminder to self: check calendar for rosh hashana and yom kippur so i know what dates to book!)

[xominnieox2]

Yep, every year and hopefully more to come!

[asmit4]

dh says free food tastes better... and i think he's right ;)

we've been each year and even paid for ddp during non-free dining trips... love it!

we booked bounceback w/an upgrade to deluxe, and will be there for F&W Fest again this year... whatta great way to spend snack credits! :cool1:

if bounceback is offered, we'll book it again! (reminder to self: check calendar for rosh hashana and yom kippur so i know what dates to book!)


I'm Catholic so pardon my stupidity, but can you tell me how yom kippur and rosh hashana come into play when booking for free dining for your family?

[urgoinagain?]

We've been every year for free dining, and will be at everyone yet to come!!

[penjen]

We went June 2005 so missed Free dining that year.
We have done free dining in 2006, 2007 and booked for 2008 too!

[AydensMom]

I have been every year as well:

2005: Me, DS, Friend and her DD (6 nights)
2006: Me, DH, DS, My Mom, Dad and Sister (7 nights)
2007: Me, DH and DS (13 nights)
2008: booked bounceback for Me, DH, DS and Sis (14 nights)

It seems to be getting a few days longer every year, I wonder when DH will say enough is enough:rotfl2:

Can't wait for September:cool1:

[gigi1313]

I'm Catholic so pardon my stupidity, but can you tell me how yom kippur and rosh hashana come into play when booking for free dining for your family?

i was raised catholic too and am now lutheran, but our public schools are closed for both yom kippur and rosh hashana, so i like to schedule our "off season" vacation around those days off so i don't have to take the kids out too many days...

like this year ('08) the schools are closed tues/wed 9/30 & 10/1, so they'll be out the entire week, but only miss 3 days of school :)