2016 Free Dining Watch

[kimyinpink]

Thank you! And just to be clear in this scenario I would have to call in right? The card is linked to my Disney account but I still won't be able to book online. Online booking was awesome last year. I prefer it over a CM. But I'll do whatever it takes for FD

yes, any Disney Visa card will do.

 

[twoolle]

I think everyone has been saying as early as 4:30 AM EST.

Hi everyone, I have been booking FD since 2012, but new to post to DIS...have been a faithful follower (i.e. lurker... sounds so strange!)...I would just want to mention that many people relied on the past on the DIS boards for confirmation that FD had been released, but I recall last year that the release happened to coincide with DIS boards' down time, i.e. time when the DIS is down for maintenance, etc...perhaps others can confirm this, but I remember checking DIS in the a.m. of the expected announcement, and going back to sleep because no one had posted that FD was live! We ended up reserving an upgraded room at WL in order to receive FD (not standard, which was the room we originally had reserved). P.S. Black and Stitch and Dirty Steve have been so amazing over the years for all of us trying to save money for our family trips...they deserve a lot of appreciation, thank you! And I hope everyone gets what they hope for!

Yes, this is what happened last year! I remember a lot of us staying up until midnight EST thinking it would be online at that time. I finally went to bed about 1, then randomly woke at 4am EST and checked from my iPad. I couldn't get into DIS and thought FD must have been released and everyone crashed the DIS posting about it. So I checked the Disney site and lo and behold the offer was there. I got what we wanted, but there were no standard rooms at POR, I think the offer required a garden view room at least. It added about $100 for us but not too bad. I really think Disney planned it that way! (The release time coinciding with DIS maintenance).

We aren't going this year, but I think it is fun watching it all unfold.

 

[vrajewski10513]

That may be the nicest things anyone has said to me in a long long time. Thank you for that.

You're doing an awesome job in here!

@The Dirty Steve has been holding down the fort phenomenally! But, it's always a very welcomed surprise to see your name pop up in the feed. Welcome back Joe!!

 

[PeterPanFan123]

This...

Yes, this is what happened last year! I remember a lot of us staying up until midnight EST thinking it would be online at that time. I finally went to bed about 1, then randomly woke at 4am EST and checked from my iPad. I couldn't get into DIS and thought FD must have been released and everyone crashed the DIS posting about it. So I checked the Disney site and lo and behold the offer was there. I got what we wanted, but there were no standard rooms at POR, I think the offer required a garden view room at least. It added about $100 for us but not too bad. I really think Disney planned it that way! (The release time coinciding with DIS maintenance).

We aren't going this year, but I think it is fun watching it all unfold.

*You were smart to check Disney's website! Glad it worked out for you, wish I had done the same. I was on the phone at 7am EST, on hold for about 20 minutes, and then got our 1st choice resort (WL) but not our 1st choice room (standard)...but, as pixie dust would have it...we checked in Nov 2015 and switched rooms to a "standard" room due to a construction view, and got $250+ credit...very grateful!

 

[sharonabe]

I'm sorry, I'm sure these are dumb questions but I need help.

I am currently booked for Pop from 8/25-8/31 with a travel agent. I want to switch my dates to 8/24-9/1. I really want free dining. Does she have to take care of it for me? Is there anything I can do? I whole new reservation will have to be booked and the old one canceled right?

Thanks for any insight.

Your travel agent will have to make the changes for you or you could go online and make a completely new reservation and then transfer it to her. However, we still don't know what the free dining dates are, so you may want to wait. Your check-in date has to fall within the promotion.

 

[sharonabe]

A question for all you pros, we are 3 newbie families arriving on November 28. We already have our hotel, dinning and tickets booked (before all the price increases), if free dining is avaible this date (which we didn't expect!) should I try to book 3 new reservations online or call to modify? I am so excited, with the money we save we can do mvmcp!!!

Most people are saying go online and try to modify, but I really don't know which would be better with 3 rooms. One thing I do know, if you change to free dining, you will have to pay the new price for tickets, so make sure you include that in your calculations.

 

[PeterPanFan123]

1437disney...Tricky with 3 reservations, but not, IMO, unreasonable to update online, assuming you have all 3 families' information to log in MDE to modify the reservations; all depends of course, on resort, dates, etc. But sharonabe is right on that you'll have to consider ticket price increase...for us, it was approximately $120 difference between "last year's" ticket prices and "this year's" ticket prices...(for family of 4, two children in the 3-9 age group)

 

[Kshell40]

Has anyone been the first two or three days of Thanksgiving week? Will I regret it if they're my last days of a nine day trip? We're planning on going a bit earlier in November but we are considering changing our dates for Free Dining and that would have us leaving for home the Tuesday or Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
My husband is super sick of talking this out with me, lol, so I come to you!

Last year we left Tuesday before thanksgiving. We went from Wednesday the week before with a 6 night stay. Very full. Not what I'd call awful. Monday Thanksgiving week was pure madness. It took us an over hour to
Get past to bag check into MK. That was our 4th trip and never has it been that bad.

 

[PeterPanFan123]

Last year we left Tuesday before thanksgiving. We went from Wednesday the week before with a 6 night stay. Very full. Not what I'd call awful. Monday Thanksgiving week was pure madness. It took us an over hour to
Get past to bag check into MK. That was our 4th trip and never has it been that bad.

I agree...in Nov 2015, we arrived the week before Thanksgiving, and it was the busiest week we've ever experienced, maybe due to FD?...definitely manageable with good planning, but worth noting that if you can plan some down days toward the end, for example, shopping at DTD aka Disney Springs, might not impact you all too much

 

[O-so-good Disney Mama]

You know when black562 shows up that good things are on the way...

My thoughts exactly! Welcome back Black562 - you and Dirty Steve have saved my family a lot of money in the past and I agree with others that thank-you just doesn't seem to be enough! Let the FD watch really begin!

 

[SunnieRN]

I am in NJ. We have Teachers Convention every year usually the first or second week of November on a Thursday and Friday. Some districts have the entire week off. It seems a lot of people from NJ go to Disney World that week, especially Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Airfare is doubled during that time even if we fly out of NY or PA. I am a TA and I have my friend who is a teacher booked that week. She checks out on that Sunday so I am not sure if I can get her any sort of room discount or FD, but it would be neat as it is her daughters first visit and it would make them so happy.

I can't really speak on how crowded the parks are that week but I do know that the kids get a 4 day weekend and alot of my daughters friends tend to go that week.

Thank you very much!! Woe double airfare sucks, but how awesome that so many people from New Jersey are there at the same time. Thanks again!!

 

[Em's GiGi]

Just catching up on this thread - it occurs to me that if Disney cardholders get advance notice ahead of the general public, perhaps it won't be quite as chaotic as last year.
Fingers crossed that we all get what we need!

 

[Mrspeaks]

I wonder how many people are out there like us, checking and planning to book in the early morning? If it wasn't for the boards, I would have no clue what to do.

Also, do the majority of us have the disney visa? We do and I hope their is an early release.

 

[elle325]

That may be the nicest things anyone has said to me in a long long time. Thank you for that.

You're doing an awesome job in here!

We love Black, smitch, and dirty Steve! We wouldn't have gotten our last three free dining trips without your wisdom! EVERYONE: Pay attention to comments black likes. They will give you great insight!

 

[Tom P.]

Chase is now offering a Disney Visa *debit* card. Would Disney Visa debit card holders be able to get in on the early free dining booking window, assuming they do one this year?

 

[SGMCO]

If DV holders get early booking, would you book online or have to call? Is there an option for booking online using you DV?

 

[Confederate Scott]

If DV holders get early booking, would you book online or have to call? Is there an option for booking online using you DV?

If there is an early release for DV you must call Disney. You cannot book online early for an early DV release.

 

[PeterPanFan123]

Yes! So true! And apologies for spell check...Smitch not Stitch!

 

[Jacie]

Last year we left Tuesday before thanksgiving. We went from Wednesday the week before with a 6 night stay. Very full. Not what I'd call awful. Monday Thanksgiving week was pure madness. It took us an over hour to
Get past to bag check into MK. That was our 4th trip and never has it been that bad.

I agree...in Nov 2015, we arrived the week before Thanksgiving, and it was the busiest week we've ever experienced, maybe due to FD?...definitely manageable with good planning, but worth noting that if you can plan some down days toward the end, for example, shopping at DTD aka Disney Springs, might not impact you all too much

I was afraid you'd say that but thank you for the feedback! I'm REALLY struggling with dates right now. We can go the week after Thanksgiving but it pushes it close to my finals week for my last semester of school, and I'm nervous about that.
Disney planning- fun and stressful at the same time!

 

[Confederate Scott]

I was afraid you'd say that but thank you for the feedback! I'm REALLY struggling with dates right now. We can go the week after Thanksgiving but it pushes it close to my finals week for my last semester of school, and I'm nervous about that.
Disney planning- fun and stressful at the same time!

The week after Thanksgiving is a great week. All of the Christmas decorations and programs are up and running and the crowds are not too bad at all.