2016 Free Dining Watch

[vbell91]

Do we think these UK free dining dates could be similar to the US dates?

The UK dates are generally more generous - We get free dining for most of the incoming year, bar a few weeks around easter and December. Theres also less blackout on what Resorts are available, and what plan you received is tiered depending on what type of Resort you choose (Value, Moderate Deluxe...) It is important to remember that Free Dining is an early booking offer for the UK, so our 2016 FD was released April 2015, and April 21st 2016 will see us be able to book free dining for NEXT year.

http://www.maximisethemagic.com/dining/free-dining-returns-for-2017/

Travel Agencies in the UK are also reporting on changes to the Plans to include an extra snack, but lose the dessert element of the QS meal. Our Dining Plans have always been the same so theres a good chance this means the 2017 Dining Plans are changing across the board.

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/special-offers/disney-dining-plan

 

[chewysmom]

Do you recall where you were located? Was it terrible because of the distance to the food, bus, pool? We had a similar experience at POP last year but it was due to a dirty room. There was this random gummy bear from a previous family, hair all over the bathroom floor and walls, and a hairy sheet. Finally on day 3 of our stay they came in and did the deep clean that they promised on day 1. We did LOVE the bus service though and that is why we would consider it again.

CBR is beautiful, especially since the refurb. We have stayed there twice; one pre-refurb and once after. LOVE the after rooms but the bus system is less than desirable at times (not always)...

Both times we were in the cabanas section, just that last time we were all the way down (far left) which made it further from laundry, pool, etc. We drive, so the buses weren't an issue.

The smell in the room was the worst part-very damp/moldy and I am very allergic to mold. Dh tried to take care of it while the kids and I were in the park (he went back when we got the text that room was finally ready so I wouldn't have to unpack, etc ) and he said he knew the second he walked in it would be a problem for me. The front desk people were as unconcerned as you can possibly be, and just said they were booked solid, nothing they could do. They did send housekeeping to spray air freshener . That started it off just wrong. (And I should say that we are an easy to please family. I don't find fault w/ everything, etc. I think most of the frustration came from the fact we had just dealt with this issue at a Universal area hotel two days before arriving at Disney, so it was more of oh no, here we go again!)

We all agreed that there were more CMs that just weren't very magical that trip too-both at the hotel and in the parks.

Having said all of that it sounds like I would never encourage anyone to stay there-that's not true. When we were planning that second trip we really went back and forth on whether we should stay at CSR again or switch. We were so torn, but we had all loved it that we decided to do it one more time. After staying there, it just reinforced that there are a lot of resorts at Disney, and we need to try as many as we can.

 

[ml sumner]

for my family staying at animal kingdom lodge the 30% and free dinning is only about $150 or so differant

Would love to stay at AK, might have to look at those numbers for us. We are two adults and one child.

 

[X96msm]

I am hoping for a Monday release. I fear I might go crazy if I need to wait longer, lol. I have went from thinking Pop then a mod to All Stars and back. I think it will depend on what I click on release day!

 

[5DisneyNuts]

I don't think it's odd when you consider that those are arrival dates for free dining. They won't benefit anyone who is actually there for Thanksgiving, because their arrival is before the promotion. It's more for those going the week after Thanksgiving which is a much slower week. .

But checking in on the 21st gives you free dining during Thanksgiving if you are staying a week. It used to end the Thursday before. I'm surprised with those dates. Thanksgiving week is very crowded as it is.

 

[Minnie368]

But checking in on the 21st gives you free dining during Thanksgiving if you are staying a week. It used to end the Thursday before. I'm surprised with those dates. Thanksgiving week is very crowded as it is.

Yeah a couple posts later I said that I thought she was talking about November 26-28

 

[scard192]

I am hoping for a Monday release. I fear I might go crazy if I need to wait longer, lol. I have went from thinking Pop then a mod to All Stars and back. I think it will depend on what I click on release day!

would love it to be this Monday, it's Patriots Day here in Mass and I don't have to work. my first choice is POP, then Music and Sports, need a Value resort.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Yeah a couple posts later I said that I thought she was talking about November 26-28

Sorry, it's hard to keep up with all the posts!
Thanks.

 

[Disneylover99]

Also, I see people talking about staying at a value and upgrading the dining plan...is that an option, and how much does it cost? Trying to look at all my options ahead of time.

It's $19.57 per adult - 10 and over and $3.81 per child - 3-9.

 

[chewysmom]

It's $19.57 per adult - 10 and over and $3.81 per child - 3-9.

Per night or total? Just crunching some numbers here.

 

[markandjen]

So a little perspective on why they may have adjusted some of the dates in November. DW and I take the week before Thanksgiving due to her BD filling on the 17th. Last year we decided not to do WDW because we took a cruise in January. Then they made the Osborne Lights announcement. So three weeks out we decided what the heck we have the time off so let's go down and see the lights. We ended up getting a room for three nights at POP. We then did 3 days in the parks. Monday the 16th according to Touring Plans was a straight up 10 at MK. Never before could I say I waited 90 minutes for a ride, but when it is the bus back to your resort you're options are limited. Now I know that it was the perfect storm that lead to these crowds. I can't help but wonder if Disney may be looking at the history.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

After reading Joes FB post' I found this on a Disney site for tourists....apparently some dates were on the Disney site but taken down quickly...this is what the article said

Free Disney Dining Plan is rumored to be offered at Walt Disney World for booking in late Spring 2016 with specific dates (see below) having leaked for August through December. With this special offer, guests booking vacation packages with non-discounted resort hotels and park tickets receive the Disney Dining Plan for each member of their party for no additional charge. For obvious reasons (who doesn’t love free food?!), the promotion is incredibly popular and some resorts that offer free dining tend to sell out quickly.

Exact dates currently are not known, but Disney briefly posted dates for the promotion on its site, before quickly removing the listed promotion dates:

• August 23 through October 1, 2016
• November 11 through 21, 2016
• November 26 through 28, 2016
• December 10 through 21, 2016

Will these leaked dates are entirely unconfirmed (we haven’t heard a peep from usual sources on this), they are very plausible given past years and normal blockouts that occur around busier times. These dates are really similar to last year’s, which gives them some credence (although dates so close to Thanksgiving is interesting).

The only question I have with this post of theirs is that it sounds like they are referencing the same link that appeared and disappeared that everyone else was. So why would they have seen different dates? Was it a typo? Or was it possible the earlier one a typo and the info just got passed on?

 

[vrajewski10513]

Per night or total? Just crunching some numbers here.

Per day per person.

The only question I have with this post of theirs is that it sounds like they are referencing the same link that appeared and disappeared that everyone else was. So why would they have seen different dates? Was it a typo? Or was it possible the earlier one a typo and the info just got passed on?

I think it's a typo. The only difference is the start date of the November dates. Logically I think the 15th is more reasonable seeing as that's when F&W ends.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

Per day per person.


I think it's a typo. The only difference is the start date of the November dates. Logically I think the 15th is more reasonable seeing as that's when F&W ends.

That's what I was thinking, although I would love it to be the 11th.

 

[flav]

Travel Agencies in the UK are also reporting on changes to the Plans to include an extra snack, but lose the dessert element of the QS meal. Our Dining Plans have always been the same so theres a good chance this means the 2017 Dining Plans are changing across the board.

http://www.virginholidays.co.uk/special-offers/disney-dining-plan

Wouln't that go in the same direction as being able to change the QS dessert to any snack at that location... Except that now it would just become a snack at any location!?

 

[damskipi13]

Wouln't that go in the same direction as being able to change the QS dessert to any snack at that location... Except that now it would just become a snack at any location!?

Yes, which is GREAT!!! But if it's only one extra snack credit, then overall you are losing one snack because it is taking away dessert from two meals. I agree with others who have said that if it's a matter of taking away two desserts and adding two snacks, that would be ideal for me.

 

[Mickeycrocs]

would love it to be this Monday, it's Patriots Day here in Mass and I don't have to work. my first choice is POP, then Music and Sports, need a Value resort.

We live in mass too, cape cod

 

[Disneylover99]

We are deciding between any moderate and Pop, but would likely do a regular room at Pop to save even more money. Looking at the map and having stayed at AoA in the rooms so far away from the food court, we feel like even standard rooms at Pop would be ok.
Edit to add: regular room at Pop would save us $300 over a moderate (after upgrading dining plan), and that's assuming we can even get a standard room at moderate

We like the standard room locations at Pop even better then preferred.

 

[vrajewski10513]

We like the standard room locations at Pop even better then preferred.

I agree with you again lol I feel if you're looking any type of possible quiet, you definitely SHOULDN'T get a preferred room at Pop lol

 

[vbell91]

Yes, which is GREAT!!! But if it's only one extra snack credit, then overall you are losing one snack because it is taking away dessert from two meals. I agree with others who have said that if it's a matter of taking away two desserts and adding two snacks, that would be ideal for me.

According to the UK outlets, it's only one extra snack for both plans, which is great for the regular plan as its basically a swap from dessert entitlement to snack credit. However, the QS definitely seems to be losing out! They haven't mentioned ANY changes to the deluxe plan either, so will be interested to see if there are any changes to it!