End of August Whining...

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I promise to get over this, but I just need to vent and whine for just a moment...

We've gone last week of August three times (2007, 2010, 2011) and LOVED the free dining plan. Our family of four actually likes the break for a TS dinner and have had fun trying new places.

So, based on history, we figured we could do the same thing again this year. Now that my youngest will be 11, we're all "adults" according to Disney. So we figured it worked out better to stay at a mod resort and get TS dining than to upgrade at a value. Priced out at $2359 for 6 nights at PO. GREAT!!!!

Now we get the news that there's no more FD. With an 11-year-old who eats like a bird, there's no way it's worth $55 a day for DP. So we'll be going out of pocket. And even with a RO discount, it looks like it will have to be a Value for us. Kids don't mind at all-I would have preferred something different this time. Doing numbers, looks like we're going to be spending more for the value resort and OOP dining as we would have for mod and free dining. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!

We're still going, we're still going to have fun. But I feel like my balloon has popped and they're offering me one 1/10th of the size to replace it! A RO discount is better than nothing, but at a value resort it's not much at all.

Am I the only one feeling cheated somehow....even though I know I haven't been?

 

[disneemama]

I'm with you, been going late August since they started free dining. Sooo sad to hear that its not happening this year. Yes very sad and hoping for a miracle. I know we should be happy we had it in the past but still so dissapointing. May have to change to September.

 

[MomToPirate&Princess]

Was hoping for free dining end of August as well. DS and DD are now 'dining adults' so free dining would save us a lot. We are still going but will not do the dining plan, will not be doing TS each day, and won't be doing to any buffets.

 

[DESKRoberts]

Right there with you, we moved up our vacation by a week this year to go over Labor day since I had read that Labor day was usually included in FD, we check out the day after it starts. I am rather disappointed. Now, we are either staying at a value resort or giving up the PH to afford to stay at POR which is what I really have my heart set on.

 

[Pirate princess 2]

I am right there with all of you. We are also a family of 4 and my youngest is 10. I too feel bad about complaining, but I do feel let down. We are still going. We are still going to have a great time, but we are switching to a value and spending less days there as a way to make up the cost difference. Maybe Disney will hear us? I guess we can only hope.

 

[trixiemuffin]

Joining this sad club. We got spoiled rotten by late August dining. Still going Aug. 20-28, but things will not be the same. May be our last on-site stay this time....I guess the only hope at this point might be a PIN!

 

[kristenm514]

I'm on the verge of tears as well. DH had a minor freakout about the cost of this trip last night (the project he's been working on for 2 years is coming to a close and it's definitely crunch time, so he gets grumpy) and the only way to console him was to promise I'd cut back the ADRs, shorten our trip by a day, maybe downgrade to a value, and bump our dates back to 8/26 - 9/1 so that we could get better airfare prices.
THIS WOULD ALL BE SOLVED IF WE COULD GET FD!!!! Waaaahhhh.

 

[regular visitor]

we've been getting the PIN FD in July for the last three years, except this year. Still going without the FD pin. Did spend the $$ for TS dining.

 

[RainK]

I am with you 100%. We too have also enjoyed the FD that Disney was so generous to offer the last few trips so paying for it OOP is just painful. We all enjoy the TS meals at night and those quickly add up ( especially the ones we like to go to)

We are heading down Aug 17-15 and 9 days of food for the 4 of us is going to hurt so I caved and added the DDP. after calculating the OOP costs for each restaurant we plan to eat at, we will save $200. Luckily my 2 kids are still considered kids because if we had to pay $55 for them there is NO WAY buying he DP is worth it as my Daughter eats like a bird.

We will still have fun and are excited to go but it still stings. Not to mention, we are at AOA and cannot even enjoy a room only discount.... So we are truly paying RACK RATE for the entire trip which we have never done. It's like Kohls...,, ya just don't do it. LOL

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Okay, glad to hear it's not just me that's super-disappointed and needing to change plans! Staying at a value resort isn't the end of the world. I think we can still squeeze out the 6 nights we were going to do before. But I know we will now be looking at prices when we order dinner and thinking about what we're getting. With FD, it's a complete no-worries!

In the long run, it's not so bad--at least we're still going! And I'll now learn the lesson not to count on ANYTHING until it's confirmed in hand!

And I love the comment about Kohl's! This is kind of like getting a 1% code instead of the coveted 30%!

 

[IhrkeFamily]

I'll join with all of you! Though I prefer not having a table service every day so that we have more flexibility, I do like to order what I want without thinking of cost. Will definitely miss! We probably will only do one TS at the most and share more often. No wasting food and money!

On the upside we did switch to flying Delta and have free luggage handling up to 5 bags. One suitcase will be just food so I can splurge on the really good Disney treats. See all of you the end of August!

 

[luvs2travl]

I just spoke with a friend of mine who's a Disney Sales Rep for the TAs, she said nothing has been announced yet. Aug is value season and if there is no free dining promotion there should be a stay, play, dine package discount. It's just not possible to offer no discounts in value season.

Something will come out, we just have to wait....

 

[KandyM]

I was sad too. But I never got to use the FD ever, not once. We are planning our second ever trip for late August and I kinda thought we would get it because of the historical pattern, but of course with our luck the year we are going its not avail. Sorry, our luck probably ruined it for all of you!

We changed plans and will be spending half our trip offsite and then a few days at YC at the end only because of a really great travel agent deal. Very different plans from original 13 nights at POR idea. But we are pretty happy and settled now.

Of course, a FD pin would completely make me switch back, LOL.

 

[Pirate princess 2]

I just spoke with a friend of mine who's a Disney Sales Rep for the TAs, she said nothing has been announced yet. Aug is value season and if there is no free dining promotion there should be a stay, play, dine package discount. It's just not possible to offer no discounts in value season.

Something will come out, we just have to wait....

There is talk on another thread of a room only or a possible extension of the current summer discount. It's not as good as FD, but it is better than nothing. Let's all wish upon a star together.

 

[verlee]

I am going to whine too! This year was going to be our first year with free dining. We were going to stay on-site for the full trip for the first time in years. Total immersion...ie Disney getting all our money. We were excited! Now I'm a little sick about the cost. If not for the fact that we invited first visit friends who want to stay on site this year, I would be off site in a flash ( honestly I would be thinking of traveling out east instead).

But, We will still go because of the friends and flights but I am feeling my Disney magic fading. Next year will be different.

 

[ptmmg]

I was very sad myself but then booked with *** and I cant believe the deal they are offering its no free dining but we are staying at the Yacht club with 6 day park hoppers with bonus (water park) 3 disney adults and 1 child for 2400 Ill pay oop for dining for that price

 

[Madformickey]

i was very sad myself but then booked with *** and i cant believe the deal they are offering its no free dining but we are staying at the yacht club with 6 day park hoppers with bonus (water park) 3 disney adults and 1 child for 2400 ill pay oop for dining for that price

***?

 

[RainK]

Magical vacation travel I presume. We got a quote for 8 nights 2 adults 2 kids with 6 day passes at YC for $2800.

 

[TheDisney411]

I was sad too. But I never got to use the FD ever, not once. We are planning our second ever trip for late August and I kinda thought we would get it because of the historical pattern, but of course with our luck the year we are going its not avail. Sorry, our luck probably ruined it for all of you!

We changed plans and will be spending half our trip offsite and then a few days at YC at the end only because of a really great travel agent deal. Very different plans from original 13 nights at POR idea. But we are pretty happy and settled now.

Of course, a FD pin would completely make me switch back, LOL.

.

 

[TheDisney411]

I just spoke with a friend of mine who's a Disney Sales Rep for the TAs, she said nothing has been announced yet. Aug is value season and if there is no free dining promotion there should be a stay, play, dine package discount. It's just not possible to offer no discounts in value season.

Something will come out, we just have to wait....

There should be some room only discounts announced for mid to late August, but if there is not free dining, there won't be a Stay/Play/Dine discount. The Disney Travel Agents received the September free dining info yesterday.