2016 Free Dining Watch ~ Part 2

[CandiceF]

LOL, I think the golf cart would get my DH and kids on board for the cabins! There is lots of availability at POR right now in November, maybe they will decide to add on more FD dates there!

 

[SJSloan]

I was disappointed that it appears that POR has limited dates for FD again this year. That limits families of 5 to suites or CBR. That is why I thought of the cabins because you would get the regular plan instead of QS and no need to upgrade. I think it might be cheaper than upgrading the dining plan at one of the value suites.

POR isn't available for our dates so it just leaving CBR. It's killing me that we don't have a backup resort if CBR doesn't work out. I'll going to look back into both. But I am also traveling with another family so I have to think about their costs as well.

It kills me how expensive the suites are. Even the All Star Music suite prices are crazy to me! I definitely feel for the families of 5.

It's not available for our dates either, that is why I am obsessively checking to find all of the options for us.

I am again disappointed. WHY are the cabins so expensive? Just the price of the cabins for my week (not including tickets or dining) was more than my current reservation at CBR that includes everything. If I got free dining at the cabins it would be $500 more than my current reservation that includes dining, and All-Star Music suites are $300 more (after I upgrade from the QSDP to DDP). I didn't even look into AoA after I saw the price of music.

Let's hope the Free Dining Gods are on my side Monday morning.

 

[JargonX]

This happened to me last night. Just keep hitting refresh and it should pop back up.

Or try a different browser. Chrome wants me to call. Firefox is happy for me to change online.

 

[mrsgthatsme]

Looking for a little help for a Disney newbie... Our original plan was to stay at POR for 6 nights beginning 11/13. I was hoping that would be a FD period since historically it has. However, looks like FD wont be starting until 11/15. What is my best option? I dont want to bump our trip back to 11/15, as we were trying to avoid being in the parks on the weekends and that would put us there over the weekend before Thanksgiving, which I worry would be busy. Here are my main questions:
1)If we choose to book FD for the 4 nights of our trip beginning 11/15, could I do a RO discount for 11/13 and 11/14 or is there usually a minimum stay for RO discounts?

2) I noticed some references on the thread to POR being excluded for some of the FD dates listed, but didnt see these actual dates mentioned anywhere. Which dates will POR be excluded from FD?

3)Right now, there are only RO discounts through 11/5, is it quite likely that there will be more dates for RO in November at a later date?

4) Any other options for us that I am not thinking of?

Thanks so much!

 

[Leigha]

I have been the weekend before Thanksgiving and it wasn't that busy to me. Please check the history of the crowds on that and maybe you won't feel the need to go through all that trouble.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

I wonder if they released it last year on purpose when the DIS was down for maintenance so we couldn't inform each other the offer was up.

I was wondering this as well

We're a family of 5 too, I am with you on the limited choices! I'm not sure what our back up plan is yet. I'd hate to pay more to get a suite, but not get the TS meals - that's a big part of why FD is so awesome, I wouldn't pay OOP for them otherwise. I showed DH the cabins, he loves them. I mentioned that a golf cart helps a lot but is more expensive - that only made his eyes light up even more, lol. It's just so much more expensive...

It's a bummer POR isn't included, so that we all had more options.

Thats awesome! Now you making me want to price the Cabins!! Nothing like changing plans at the last minute.

 

[Lindsay Parker]

Ok so here's the deal... And hubby is no help at all... I'm debating between Pop and POR... Staying at Pop saves us $300... But we don't want to be highly disappointed by staying at a value resort... We aren't gonna swim most likely so pools aren't that big of a deal... It will be me, dh, dd age 4 and dd age 2... Never stayed at either... Need help

 

[CandiceF]

I am again disappointed. WHY are the cabins so expensive? Just the price of the cabins for my week (not including tickets or dining) was more than my current reservation at CBR that includes everything. If I got free dining at the cabins it would be $500 more than my current reservation that includes dining, and All-Star Music suites are $300 more (after I upgrade from the QSDP to DDP). I didn't even look into AoA after I saw the price of music.

Let's hope the Free Dining Gods are on my side Monday morning.

On part 1 of this thread the poll shows not as many people plan on going in December, so I think you have a good shot at getting CBR !

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Ok so here's the deal... And hubby is no help at all... I'm debating between Pop and POR... Staying at Pop saves us $300... But we don't want to be highly disappointed by staying at a value resort... We aren't gonna swim most likely so pools aren't that big of a deal... It will be me, dh, dd age 4 and dd age 2... Never stayed at either... Need help

For $300 total, I would definitely upgrade.

 

[kellyjeanie]

I was wondering this as well

Thats awesome! Now you making me want to price the Cabins!! Nothing like changing plans at the last minute.

LOL! They do look amazing, and having the reg dining plan is a big plus.

 

[Disneylover99]

Ok so here's the deal... And hubby is no help at all... I'm debating between Pop and POR... Staying at Pop saves us $300... But we don't want to be highly disappointed by staying at a value resort... We aren't gonna swim most likely so pools aren't that big of a deal... It will be me, dh, dd age 4 and dd age 2... Never stayed at either... Need help

If the savings are important, book Pop. We love Pop more then POR.

 

[SJSloan]

Looking for a little help for a Disney newbie... Our original plan was to stay at POR for 6 nights beginning 11/13. I was hoping that would be a FD period since historically it has. However, looks like FD wont be starting until 11/15. What is my best option? I dont want to bump our trip back to 11/15, as we were trying to avoid being in the parks on the weekends and that would put us there over the weekend before Thanksgiving, which I worry would be busy. Here are my main questions:
1)If we choose to book FD for the 4 nights of our trip beginning 11/15, could I do a RO discount for 11/13 and 11/14 or is there usually a minimum stay for RO discounts?

2) I noticed some references on the thread to POR being excluded for some of the FD dates listed, but didnt see these actual dates mentioned anywhere. Which dates will POR be excluded from FD?

3)Right now, there are only RO discounts through 11/5, is it quite likely that there will be more dates for RO in November at a later date?

4) Any other options for us that I am not thinking of?

Thanks so much!

Are you set on POR? What size is your party?

You can do a split stay as you were talking about with the RO discount for the first couple nights and then free dining the remaining days. Just get tickets on your free dining reservation to cover ALL of your days and the you can activate them early. Based on the information we currently have POR will not be available for free dining during your dates. Unless you are set on POR I would look into other resorts.

I was wondering this as well

Thats awesome! Now you making me want to price the Cabins!!

Don't do it! Depending on where you are currently booked you may have a heart attack once you see the Cabins price! Then you won't be available Monday...

 

[crazymomof4]

Or try a different browser. Chrome wants me to call. Firefox is happy for me to change online.

That's too funny! I will definitely keep this in mind. Between my 2 laptops and 1 desktop, I have Chrome, IE, and Firefox. I guess I'll have them all booted up in the weee hours of Monday morning!

 

[kellyjeanie]

1)If we choose to book FD for the 4 nights of our trip beginning 11/15, could I do a RO discount for 11/13 and 11/14 or is there usually a minimum stay for RO discounts?

2) I noticed some references on the thread to POR being excluded for some of the FD dates listed, but didnt see these actual dates mentioned anywhere. Which dates will POR be excluded from FD?

3)Right now, there are only RO discounts through 11/5, is it quite likely that there will be more dates for RO in November at a later date?

4) Any other options for us that I am not thinking of?

Thanks so much!

1. You probably could if a RO discount comes out for those dates - right now like you said, they're theoretically only up to 11/5.

2. POR is excluded after 10/1.

3. Not sure.

4. Not sure of that either but the experienced people on this thread are super helpful!! Hopefully someone will have some more ideas for you

 

[mrsgthatsme]

Are you set on POR? What size is your party?

You can do a split stay as you were talking about with the RO discount for the first couple nights and then free dining the remaining days. Just get tickets on your free dining reservation to cover ALL of your days and the you can activate them early. Based on the information we currently have POR will not be available for free dining during your dates. Unless you are set on POR I would look into other resorts.



Don't do it! Depending on where you are currently booked you may have a heart attacked once you see the Cabins price! Then you won't be available Monday...

Thanks for the advice. That helps! No, we were hoping for POR but would consider a switch for FD. We will have one room with 3 adults and one room with 2 adults and 2 children.

 

[SJSloan]

On part 1 of this thread the poll shows not as many people plan on going in December, so I think you have a good shot at getting CBR !

That is what I am hoping! I have only seen 1 other person going during our dates but I know there are more out there. Just hoping they will be sleeping Sunday night.


As a side note, I need to be working on my step-son's projects but I can't stop hitting refresh on the page. I guess I can look at it as practice for tomorrow night.

 

[SJSloan]

Thanks for the advice. That helps! No, we were hoping for POR but would consider a switch for FD. We will have one room with 3 adults and one room with 2 adults and 2 children.

In that case, I would look into CBR or CSR both would work for your group sizes and will be included in Free Dining and Room Discounts (assuming they are coming for those dates).

 

[crazymomof4]

OK true confessions here. My FD frenzy caused me to be unfaithful. Sheer madness is what I'm blaming it on.... Yes, I strayed........
To another forum.

There 2 people posted that their TA's hinted that Mon would be the Disney Visa release. Quoting them here. (hope this is not against forum rules)-----
"....mentioned the rumor to my TA, who can't officially confirm or deny whether the "Monday for VISA Cardholders" rumor is true, although she did give me a wink and a smile..."
"That is basically what my travel agent friend said, he said he can't confirm or deny but was shaking his head yes the whole time"

I know credible sources here have forecast a straight to GP release, but now this has got me wondering if a DV pre-release is not entirely out of the realm of possibilities.

 

[jannalynn_11]

Looking for a little help for a Disney newbie... Our original plan was to stay at POR for 6 nights beginning 11/13. I was hoping that would be a FD period since historically it has. However, looks like FD wont be starting until 11/15. What is my best option? I dont want to bump our trip back to 11/15, as we were trying to avoid being in the parks on the weekends and that would put us there over the weekend before Thanksgiving, which I worry would be busy. Here are my main questions:
1)If we choose to book FD for the 4 nights of our trip beginning 11/15, could I do a RO discount for 11/13 and 11/14 or is there usually a minimum stay for RO discounts?

2) I noticed some references on the thread to POR being excluded for some of the FD dates listed, but didnt see these actual dates mentioned anywhere. Which dates will POR be excluded from FD?

3)Right now, there are only RO discounts through 11/5, is it quite likely that there will be more dates for RO in November at a later date?

4) Any other options for us that I am not thinking of?

Thanks so much!

To give you something else to think about (as if we needed more stress haha), we were in this same boat with the dates (wanting to check in 11/12). We have decided to go for 11/15 to get FD and avoid all the trouble of the split stay. I researched the crowd calendars and recommended parks for each day, and found a way to combat the crowds as much as possible (basically staying away from MK 19th-21st when the crowds start picking up).

 

[mrsgthatsme]

To give you something else to think about (as if we needed more stress haha), we were in this same boat with the dates (wanting to check in 11/12). We have decided to go for 11/15 to get FD and avoid all the trouble of the split stay. I researched the crowd calendars and recommended parks for each day, and found a way to combat the crowds as much as possible (basically staying away from MK 19th-21st when the crowds start picking up).

That's not a bad idea to consider... So which parks are you planning on for over the weekend?