2016 Free Dining Watch

[Halloweenqueen]

Just a reminder to some PPs...having a current reservation does not put you in any better position for the discount. In fact it actually hurts your chances at a discount since Disney views your room as sold.

I have heard of people booking every week in October! Madness that just causes less discount inventory.

Example...let's say there are 10 standard rooms at resort A. Seven rooms are booked before the discount. Disney sees three rooms that still need sold. They may discount two out of the three remaining rooms with the FD offer. FD comes out and the first two people get the discount. These people could either be booking new or modifying one of the seven sold rooms. New calls have the same chance as the seven modifiers.

(Not to beat a dead horse...lots of new posters and people confused about Disney's limited discount inventory)

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Refresh my memory, is the H&V package for dinner only, or can you do it at breakfast/lunch also? Have little ones, so the characters are a must, but if we could get the characters & the Fantasmic package together, that would be even better.

Not breakfast for sure, I think it's only early dinners these days, but if not, lunches are a maybe.

 

[mandis77]

We have Akershus, BOG dinner, Sanaa, HDDMR, Mama Melrose and Chefs de France. All new restaurants except Akershus and BOG.

 

[adobda]

Not breakfast for sure, I think it's only early dinners these days, but if not, lunches are a maybe.

We did the H&V Fantasmic! package last year and it was for lunch.

 

[SunnieRN]

That's a question that's hard to answer. How many adults and children are in your party? Which resort are you booked in to? How long is your vacation?

A first trip is so magical but it comes down to what your family likes, your usual meal schedule etc. Those factors can help you decide what will give you the best trip.

If you want to make a decision, based on economics, go on the WDW site and pretend to book a trip. An easy way to get a ballpark estimate is to enter your dates, resort and tickets with park hoppers. Don't add dining and see what the total is. Since your package is pre the last increase, there may not be a large difference, or, it could knock your socks off!!

Best wishes for a first trip full of magical pixie dust!!!!

 

[SunnieRN]

Sorry EcknMama, it didn't quote your post for me for some reason.

Also I just wanted to add that QS meals are not being segregated between adult and child currently. If you have more than one child, you can get them an adult QS meal to share, there by having a credit or more, to use for breakfast the next day, or a meal as a snack sometime during your day.

Again, have a magical vacation!

 

[SJSloan]

So since it looks like we'll have a few days to wait.....where does everyone plan on eating with their FD?!?! We have ADRs for Tusker House, Ohana (breakfast and dinner), Tutto Italia, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Rainforest Cafe (not super excited about that one but DS (4) and DS (3) really want to go!

I love talking ADRs so I'll join in... We are a group of 9 with kids ranging from 11-3. Here's our list:

Tusker House breakfast (hopefully River of Lights package)
Garden Grill breakfast
1900 Park Fare dinner
Whispering Canyon Café lunch or dinner
BOG lunch or dinner
Minnie's Holiday Dine (hopefully Fantasmic package)
Rainforest Café AK

I'm terrified of making ADRs this year because every time I search for a party of 9 there is very limited availability. We may have to make 2 reservations and then ask to sit together. I hope that works. I still have 2 agonizing months before I can start booking...

 

[agriffith]

No ADR's yet, as our trip isn't until November. BUT, as always, I know those that we WANT reservations for, lol! Most are repeats of our favorites! BOG-lunch, T-Rex, 'Ohana breakfast, Tusker House breakfast, Whispering Canyon, Garden Grill dinner (for my youngest, DD 9), Liberty Tree Tavern (our Thanksgiving tradition), and we haven't decided for certain on our other 5. We will be there 11 nights. I can't wait until our dining window is FINALLY here! Or the FD offer, for that matter! The wait is killing me!

 

[Sharongal74]

Does any one know if we can buy our "adult children DD 11 and DD 16" kids meals at sit downs and pay OOP? Some places I don't think they may like the adult menu and don't want to waste a TC for chicken nuggets even it they are adult portions? Didn't know how strict they are on ages for kids meals.

 

[wilkeliza]

Not sure which discount we are ultimately going to take but right now we have CRT, BOG, and Boma booked. Slowly making a few more but honestly have no clue what we are doing (split stay at Universal and Disney or just stay at Disney with FD and get Universal tickets etc) so it is hard to decide. I know if we stay at Disney M-Sunday even with 2 adults the dinning plan becomes so worth it. However if we only stay at Disney W-Sunday and do Universal M-W then it becomes less and less worth it since we already have tickets.

 

[wilkeliza]

Does any one know if we can buy our "adult children DD 11 and DD 16" kids meals at sit downs and pay OOP? Some places I don't think they may like the adult menu and don't want to waste a TC for chicken nuggets even it they are adult portions? Didn't know how strict they are on ages for kids meals.

Yes you can always pay OOP just make sure the server knows and check the receipt for the number of credits being removed.

 

[fllwntr]

I don't think booking a room now hurts anyone's chances. Book a room where you want to stay. If you wait until a promotion is put out you may only be able to use the promotion at a resort that isn't your top choice.

I've booked a week at Beach Club in October (though my dates are flexible) because I know Food and Wine will cause the rooms to be booked up quickly. I'd rather pay out of pocket than have free dining or 35% off at a resort I'm not happy with.

Besides I heard it is up to hotel management to put some rooms aside for discounts or FD or the hotel can refuse to participate at all, the way Bay Lake has done for years.

 

[SJSloan]

I have a question about making a reservation with a Disney Visa. I do not personally have one but the family I am travelling with does. They have offered to book our room for us if cardholders get first dibs. Once the deposit is paid with the Disney Visa the remaining balance can be paid any way correct?

Also, the Visa cardholder has to be the name on both reservations right? How does that work, is her name on both reservations but my family's name listed as the ones staying in the room? Once she makes the reservation and get a reservation number can I link it to my MDE account or does it have to stay linked to hers? Should we go ahead and link our MDE accounts?

Any help with this would be much appreciated! I want her to be prepared with all information if/when she books. Thanks!

 

[wdw4rfam]

Does any one know if we can buy our "adult children DD 11 and DD 16" kids meals at sit downs and pay OOP? Some places I don't think they may like the adult menu and don't want to waste a TC for chicken nuggets even it they are adult portions? Didn't know how strict they are on ages for kids meals.

We have an autistic teen, and have been on the dining plan every year. We have NEVER been told no, they just make an adult portion for him of the kids meal. OOP I have no idea, but I'm guessing that they would not say no.

 

[Just Love Disney]

easywdw.com

Josh has my favorite crowd calendars!

Favorite as in most accurate?

 

[SGMCO]

Just a reminder to some PPs...having a current reservation does not put you in any better position for the discount. In fact it actually hurts your chances at a discount since Disney views your room as sold.

I have heard of people booking every week in October! Madness that just causes less discount inventory.

Example...let's say there are 10 standard rooms at resort A. Seven rooms are booked before the discount. Disney sees three rooms that still need sold. They may discount two out of the three remaining rooms with the FD offer. FD comes out and the first two people get the discount. These people could either be booking new or modifying one of the seven sold rooms. New calls have the same chance as the seven modifiers.

(Not to beat a dead horse...lots of new posters and people confused about Disney's limited discount inventory)

I agree!!

 

[Just Love Disney]

So since it looks like we'll have a few days to wait.....where does everyone plan on eating with their FD?!?! We have ADRs for Tusker House, Ohana (breakfast and dinner), Tutto Italia, Liberty Tree Tavern, and Rainforest Cafe (not super excited about that one but DS (4) and DS (3) really want to go!

Were you able to get Liberty Tree for dinner? I have been looking for over a week and they only have lunch available. Called the Dining number and they are not showing any availability either but didn't know why there was nothing for dinner. I am looking at Oct 15 thru Oct 26. When are you traveling?

 

[wdw4rfam]

I have a question about making a reservation with a Disney Visa. I do not personally have one but the family I am travelling with does. They have offered to book our room for us if cardholders get first dibs. Once the deposit is paid with the Disney Visa the remaining balance can be paid any way correct?

Also, the Visa cardholder has to be the name on both reservations right? How does that work, is her name on both reservations but my family's name listed as the ones staying in the room? Once she makes the reservation and get a reservation number can I link it to my MDE account or does it have to stay linked to hers? Should we go ahead and link our MDE accounts?

Any help with this would be much appreciated! I want her to be prepared with all information if/when she books. Thanks!

No, your name does no need to be on the reservation. We do this every time there's a promotion with visa. I book mine and my parents room, as well as my sisters. Their reservations are in their names, addresses. I just make the down payment with my card. Then they pay the rest however they want. Everyone's reservation is in their own MDE.

 

[Sharongal74]

I would love to book Sanaa. Anyone have experience on ease of getting window seats? My DD 11 loves giraffes and think she would love that!

 

[RedWolf95]

We are currently booked @ All Stars Sports but considering changing to POR-should we keep our current booking and hope that FD is offered at POR? Or book @ POR too? Can we even do that? Is it legal? Am I losing it?

As Black said a couple days ago, booking rooms in advance just increase the odds that FD will not be offered where and and when you want it.

I don't remember which time, but yes that did happen. I have no doubt that they can and do tweak the promotion right up until it's offered (and I don't blame them), especially if folks book a resort to the point that they don't need to discount it. Sometimes it is a self-fulfilling prophecy.