2016 Free Dining Watch

[Lisa J]

me too, there is one we can not mention here, but they have exclusive deals for WDW. hoping I can figure out which it is on Google

Do you know the name? If so, could you PM me, too?

 

[jannalynn_11]

Sending you a private message!

I can't message you

 

[Lisa J]

I can't message you

Is it a secret?...

 

[jannalynn_11]

I can't message you

Is it a secret?...

Hahaha no, the site won't let me send you private message! Your settings maybe?

 

[markandjen]

due to work commitments, our dates are 11/12 - 11/19. if the rumored start date for FD in November is 11/15, I will have to do RO 11/12-11/14 and pick up the tickets early which I know you can do, just not sure how to do FP+ for the 1st 3 days of the trip.

We are in the same boat as far as our schedule goes. The only difference is our discussion has been maybe those two days will be a good chance to try Universal. I know, the horror.

 

[scard192]

Do you know the name? If so, could you PM me, too?

try googling "WDW magical agency exclusives", I am not 100% sure that is the one, hopefully someone who knows will confirm

 

[scard192]

We are in the same boat as far as our schedule goes. The only difference is our discussion has been maybe those two days will be a good chance to try Universal. I know, the horror.

was thinking the same thing on the drive home from work

 

[Lisa J]

Hahaha no, the site won't let me send you private message! Your settings maybe?

I am pretty new here, so I'm not familiar with the site. It said I had a post on my profile, but now it doesn't and I'm very confused. Thanks anyway.

try googling "WDW magical agency exclusives", I am not 100% sure that is the one, hopefully someone who knows will confirm

Thank you for the info!

 

[chewysmom]

I am so disheartened to read how how hard CBR is to get. That is so where we want to stay!

So, as far as moderates- we don't want CSR again-but isnt POR usually left out of FD? Is it both PO Riverside and FQ that are not included? (I've never stayed at either, so I'm confused on the difference, if any.)

I'm scrambling a bit bc I thought CBR would be a shoe in, and now I keep seeing that it very well may not be. I have to come up with a back up, and then a backup for that backup.

 

[lilly6]

We booked FD last year at CBR for mid-November. We had to take a pirate room but we were booked there. We ended up changing our dates but we did get in initially.

 

[The Dirty Steve]

I am so disheartened to read how how hard CBR is to get. That is so where we want to stay!

So, as far as moderates- we don't want CSR again-but isnt POR usually left out of FD? Is it both PO Riverside and FQ that are not included? (I've never stayed at either, so I'm confused on the difference, if any.)

I'm scrambling a bit bc I thought CBR would be a shoe in, and now I keep seeing that it very well may not be. I have to come up with a back up, and then a backup for that backup.

CBR wasn't that hard to get for us. A lot of it had to do with certain dates though. I remember having several opportunities to get CBR last year, even several weeks after release. We arrived the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. Each time we looked there was a standard room available.

 

[Distisso]

due to work commitments, our dates are 11/12 - 11/19. if the rumored start date for FD in November is 11/15, I will have to do RO 11/12-11/14 and pick up the tickets early which I know you can do, just not sure how to do FP+ for the 1st 3 days of the trip.

How would that work? I thought you'd have to buy two sets of tickets (which would obviously not work in terms of cost). Can you book for the 15th-19th but buy park tickets for the 12th-19th, and get FD for those last five days?

 

[SunnieRN]

I am the opposite. We had stayed at POP and AoA before CBR and found the buses at CBR to be awful in comparison. We spent more time circling the resort and picking up people than on the actual road to a park. It's one of the reasons I am not confident about booking a moderate this time round.

The longest wait for a bus I've had to date was at Saratoga Springs, followed closely by the Poly. On the other hand, our waits at Coronado Springs were pretty short.

But it's my understanding that dessert credits can be used for a second side, if you request it while ordering the rest of your meal. Like, you're getting a QS burger combo with fries, but you could use the dessert part of your credit to get a side salad, a fruit cup, an order of onion rings, or even more fries.
My Type I diabetic DH is hoping that he can get a second side salad, or else he's just getting a dessert to hand over to the kids. ;-)

I really think the change of being able to substitute any dessert or beverage during a QS meal, for any snack item on the menu is a great change. Often times a QS meal is too large or heavy for one person, but not quite enough for two. That means we can order a meal, a side and one dessert. I like that!

I like this idea-especially if it works in our favor! I will have to wait to see what moderate resorts the FD is offered and have my prices completed ahead of time!

Just have to play the wait and see game!!

Lots of pixie dust!!! I hope all our dates and resorts work out!!

 

[markandjen]

I am so disheartened to read how how hard CBR is to get. That is so where we want to stay!

So, as far as moderates- we don't want CSR again-but isnt POR usually left out of FD? Is it both PO Riverside and FQ that are not included? (I've never stayed at either, so I'm confused on the difference, if any.)

I'm scrambling a bit bc I thought CBR would be a shoe in, and now I keep seeing that it very well may not be. I have to come up with a back up, and then a backup for that backup.

So an interesting thing. Two years ago when we got Free Dining it was the first year they blocked out POR and everyone tried to jump to CSR. We ended up getting CBR. I remember having so much stress because the resort had such a bad reputation at that time. There was even a support thread called stranded at a Caribbean Beach. It turns out it was a great resort and I wouldn't think twice about going there again. The pool is amazing. The property is centrally located and our room was perfect. If we end up going this year we're thinking CSR just to try something different.

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

WWYD? I haven't booked anything yet but I was hoping to book CBR 8/27-9/1. We stayed here last year with FD and it was great! I had initially had to book a waterview room but after the craziness died down I was able to get a standard. My goal is to get a standard room again this year but if it's not available I'm thinking the only other option there is preferred or pirate (waterview is currently unavailable those dates). Here's the kicker those rooms add $300 to my reservation. Im not the kind of person who cares what my room looks like at Disney so I feel like that's a waste of $$. However, for an extra $250 on top of the $300 ($550 total) we could stay at WL in a standard (if available). I don't feel like I would mind spending the extra $$ to stay at a deluxe hotel though. That all being said WL is under construction! Ugh I just don't know what to do as a back up plan. Is it worth getting the preferred at CBR or upgrading to WL? I should also add that I'm traveling with a 3 & 4 yo which is why I like the CBR and WL. The kiddie splash pools are perfect for them!

 

[scard192]

How would that work? I thought you'd have to buy two sets of tickets (which would obviously not work in terms of cost). Can you book for the 15th-19th but buy park tickets for the 12th-19th, and get FD for those last five days?

you would buy tickets for the full number of days with the FD offer and pick up the tickets early to use the first few days before the FD package starts but I saw on another section here that you can't make FP+ for the 1st 3 days because there are no tickets attached to those days. I am sure there are answers on the Theme Parks section

** I posted on the Everything FP+ Board and got:
When you arrive, activate your tickets at Guest Relations and you'll be able to book for those first three park days. better than no FP at all, I guess

 

[syrscuba]

Do the travel agents (AAA etc.) receive advance notice regarding free dining offer? Or do they know when we know

 

[Kshell40]

Last year CBR was one of the harder resorts to get. Our original reservation was for there but it became clear that those rooms were very limited or just selling fast, that's how we ended up at AKL. I already know POR is going to go fast, why put two potential heartbreaks on my list?

Us to. That exact situation

 

[dizneygirl55]

Just did some price comparisons and it would so benefit us $$$$$ wise if we could get the FD and stay at a moderate resort------just need to WAIT!!!! AGAIN!!! But at least this is safer than Black Friday!! LOL!!

 

[O-so-good Disney Mama]

We are also worried about this. Loved the buses at AoA, but want to go moderate this time around. What time of year did this happen? What was the actual time you spent waiting at the stop and then circling the resort?

We stayed at the values in September and CBR in November. Sometimes it took up to 10-15 minutes waiting and then 20 minutes circling and the travel time on top of that. I really don't know what we are going to book this year. Was looking at POR but not sure if it will be blacked out and also because of buses.