Free Dining 2013

[TheDisney411]

Speaking of...I will be interested to hear how the wait times are on Thursday. If they're as short as they were on Monday, then I'm going to say September isn't going to be all that crowded. In years past, it was common for everyone to wait an hour+ on hold to book free dining. Monday was more like 10-15 minutes and everyone was talking about how fast they got through. This may get interesting...

The phone lines and this entire board will BLOW UP Thursday morning! Pure free dining insanity

And be ready for a lot of repetitive questions ;-)

 

[TheDisney411]

Soon it will be time for an October/November thread.

Don't be leaving out December, dude!!!!

 

[plutospalforever]

Omg. So excited about fd for gp called this a.m. It's not until tomorrow. Cm giggled said call back tomorrow It's gp on the 9 th Ughhhhh!

How cute! Always good to have a practice run. Now you are ready for tomorrow!

 

[TheDisney411]

As we sit here waiting to see what Thursday will bring anyone want to humor me by helping me sort out my never ending indecisiveness over resorts

We are currently booked at AOA LM. We originally wanted to book an AOA suite like last year but it was way out of budget. We really, really love AOA. The zero entry pool and splash pad being the number one seller for us as both my kids are not fond of being held in the water they like some freedom. Since AOA LM is a no go for the discount I am stuck.
Pop seems super fun for my kids but I am just not fond of the theme or look.. I have two pretty light sleepers so I worry about noise level and I am bummed that there is no zero entry pool. I love the one bus stop!

Thanks all!!

I we mainly stay at All Star Movies, it is our favorite value resort. It does not have multiple bus stops. A few times when we have stayed there, we have had to drop off at the other All Stars after park closing and that is it. The All Stars have their own dedicated buses and don't always share busses like the bigger moderate resorts. In a very low crowd season like September, I probably wouldn't even put the possibility of occasional bus "sharing" into the equation at All Stars. Just my opinion

Pop is our second choice for best value - super fun!!

 

[Kat016]

We will just start a part 2....free dining, the sequel.

Soon it will be time for an October/November thread.

This thread is more than FD....it's emotional and informative. No topic not covered....therapy 2013!

 

[TheDisney411]

And then I saw an ad on my Facebook page that made me perk up & start asking questions to myself. Being the experts that so many of you are, I wanted to ask here as well - the sponsored page was from "VIP Disney" - a UK travel agency. They're advertising "2014 holiday trip with free dining & $200 gift card" and they claim they can get this deal for US residents also. Is this true or a scam?? I can't believe it'd be that easy to get international offers, but I can kinda see how they'd be able to possibly, being that they're the reservation holder, so the address they give to Disney would be in UK?? Im just wondering what the possible risks would be if it turns out to be a legit business.

Even if this UK travel agency could finagle you FD, the UK offers and details are very different and often have much longer resort stay and ticket requirements. And I believe the values don't get any FD offer, mods get quick service.

 

[black562]

The phone lines and this entire board will BLOW UP Thursday morning! Pure free dining insanity

And be ready for a lot of repetitive questions ;-)

What....so you and I shouldn't take tomorrow as our day off from the boards?

 

[Jimmysmom0703]

Keep trying for BOG, you might just win the Disney jackpot. Fortunately we did score BOG for last week of Sept. and 4 yr. old DD and I are SUPER excited! Where did you book instead of BOG?

Must do character meal! We have CRT (girls ONLY!) to celebrate DD turning 5. Tusker House to celebrate DS turning 2 and Chef Mickey for good-bye breakfast.

It took me two months but I got it for last week.in august! Keep trying! GL!

 

[Emme]

It took me two months but I got it for last week.in august! Keep trying! GL!

I do keep trying!! I check online several times a day hoping something will open up!! Thanks for the encouragement though !

 

[kcwiak]

Ok, here's our story:
Our family's first WDW trip was Feb. '04.
We stayed at the FW cabins, it was awesome and we knew we'd be back someday.
That May, a live tree limb broke off of a big tree in our yard and hit my then 2.5 yo ds, causing a traumatic brain injury.
I lived with ds in the hospital for 9 weeks as he relearned how to move, talk, walk...everything...while dh and my parents cared for the other kids.
Besides our faith, the thing that got DH and I through is we'd look at each other and say "when this is over...we'll go back to WDW."
Over and over we'd promise each other that.
We tried to book a trip in Feb. '05 but dh's job was shaky and we couldn't.
Months roll by, and something comes out that will make it possible for us to go back...yep, the first time they offered free dining!
We went Aug. '05, and stayed at Pop Century, and when I walked into that lobby, I started crying, because it was SO DISNEY.
And I knew at that moment that everything would be ok, and we'd survived, and we were AT WDW!
DS still had issues, and still does to this day, but on that trip, a year after he was released from the hospital, a year after re-learning to walk, he RAN to hug Woody at a meet and greet.

WDW is our happy place, and I'm not ashamed to say it.
And now I'm crying again.

You are all good people...you know that?

Crying too. Sorry your family and especially your ds went thru that. Glad things are better!

 

[kcwiak]

I'll add to the Disney support group. My father in law past away last April from cancer. we had already planned and paid for a trip in sept including them. We still went on the trip along with my mother in law. Well when we got to our room it was all decorated in Disney stuff everywhere from Disney florist. The card on the table said Love Grandpa. I'm still tearing up as I type.

Seriously, if you guys don't stop I am going to have to put my phone in rice!

 

[Pirate princess 2]

Hmm... Personally I am worried that if I am on hold too long I will fall asleep... totally getting up at 6am to call (and I have not been up at that hour for a VERY long time) Maybe we will get lucky and have quick wait times like you lucky ducks did... otherwise I suppose I can just sing along to the hold music!

Edited to add: One of you guys were worried about getting caught by a CM - I was totally singing my heart out to One Little Spark when a CM came on, told me I had just made her day, lol!

That's Awesome! I was the one getting worried. So glad it's not just me.

 

[kcwiak]

Even more great stories. We're all just going to be a blubbering mess before long. I can see some of you trying to call in Thursday morning and talking to the CMs while sobbing endlessly at some of these heartfelt stories.

I have to wait for my TA to do it Thursday. This is the first time I have done a WDW trip with TA. Not liking lack of control. Has anyone used Its a Small World agency? Are they quick about hoping on promos? Already sent email with heads up (acted like she did not know-maybe she didn't) saying we want it and to upgrade to dining. Hope I find out fast that all is set!

 

[Pirate princess 2]

I do keep trying!! I check online several times a day hoping something will open up!! Thanks for the encouragement though !

You absolutely should not give up. I checked every hour on the hour and eventually got one. People change their ressies all the time. Don't give up.

Oh and I have family in Putnam county. It's very pretty there.

 

[plutospalforever]

I have to wait for my TA to do it Thursday. This is the first time I have done a WDW trip with TA. Not liking lack of control. Has anyone used Its a Small World agency? Are they quick about hoping on promos? Already sent email with heads up (acted like she did not know-maybe she didn't) saying we want it and to upgrade to dining. Hope I find out fast that all is set!

Do you mean Small World Vacations???

 

[black562]

Seriously, if you guys don't stop I am going to have to put my phone in rice!

Crying is good for the soul, but not good for the phone.

 

[luvmy3]

I have to wait for my TA to do it Thursday. This is the first time I have done a WDW trip with TA. Not liking lack of control. Has anyone used Its a Small World agency? Are they quick about hoping on promos? Already sent email with heads up (acted like she did not know-maybe she didn't) saying we want it and to upgrade to dining. Hope I find out fast that all is set!

I used them our first trip and they got the free dining applied the day it became available. I guess it depends on your individual TA though but I would think most if not all are very experienced adding discounts/promos to their clients res.

ETA I used Small World Vacations (if that is who you mean).

 

[DisneyMom5]

As we sit here waiting to see what Thursday will bring anyone want to humor me by helping me sort out my never ending indecisiveness over resorts

We are currently booked at AOA LM. We originally wanted to book an AOA suite like last year but it was way out of budget. We really, really love AOA. The zero entry pool and splash pad being the number one seller for us as both my kids are not fond of being held in the water they like some freedom. Since AOA LM is a no go for the discount I am stuck.
Pop seems super fun for my kids but I am just not fond of the theme or look.. I have two pretty light sleepers so I worry about noise level and I am bummed that there is no zero entry pool. I love the one bus stop!
I am also considering POR because of the AB rooms. We would book preferred to be guaranteed AB. I love the bigger beds, trundle (my 2 year old could use that rather than a pack n play) and the two sinks. My oldest son liked the theme of the AB rooms but he resort as a whole, though very very nice and lush just does not feel fun!

What would you do?
Say the heck with it and keep LM AOA paying for the dining plan(we are fine with the price point but are more comfortable with a lower price)
Move to Pop with FD upgrade
Move to POR preferred with FD

Thanks all!!

I think you can not go wrong with either pop or por. My kids LOVED Pop. It's not any noisier than any other value, including AOA, I'm guessing.

 

[DisneyMom5]

What a great thread!!! I literally got tears in my eyes over and over!!

OK now that we have either gotten our FD or are waiting until tomorrow to call...we have some time to spare.

Sooooo, with that, what is the one Table Service you are hoping to score. I so wanted "Be Our Guest" but can not get it for the first week of Sept. no matter how many times a day I look.

What is your one "must do" TS for your free dining pleasure??

Thanks again Black...you done a good thing here

I couldn't get it either, same week, so we're doing lunch.
Must haves were Ohana, Biergarten, and Crystal Palace.

 

[draybook]

I have to wait for my TA to do it Thursday. This is the first time I have done a WDW trip with TA. Not liking lack of control. Has anyone used Its a Small World agency? Are they quick about hoping on promos? Already sent email with heads up (acted like she did not know-maybe she didn't) saying we want it and to upgrade to dining. Hope I find out fast that all is set!

I'm a total control freak when it comes to planning. I think I'd have a stroke if I had to rely on someone else to make my reservations. More power to you people though!