2016 Free Dining Watch

[SJSloan]

Favorite as in most accurate?

Well I haven't really had a chance to "test" all of them, but the times that I have used them everything went smoothly. He recommends non-EMH parks so that could go against some others plans. I also like them because they are easy to read. Some crowd calendars I look at and say "what exactly are you telling me?!"

 

[SunnieRN]

I just saw about all the flooding in Texas on the news! I hope all is well with you and your family!

Thank you SO much for asking!!! Luckily no flooding problems!!! I was having power outages at the time and I was praying that if free dining opened I would have internet lol. Thank you again for asking!

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.

Our last trip we brought my very picky, 10 year old great nephew. Every time we asked for an adult portion of a child menu option it was no problem!

Can't make dining reservations yet, but want BOG (L), Kona, 50's PTD, Coral Reef, for my grandmunchkins, Sanaa, for my daughter, Raglan Road for grandma number 2, Chef Mickeys as my grandmunchkins have never been there, and Boatrights possibly, but not sure.

 

[goldnvalli]

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!

Garden View Tea Room - oop
California Grill - oop
Ohana- Dinner
Be Our Guest - lunch
Liberty Tree - dinner
Biergarten - dinner
Cape May Cafe - breakfast

We are going in late August!! We hope to stay at beach/yacht club. I am so excited.

 

[SGMCO]

I booked one per day last month even though I don't have a Package yet:

Rose and Crown- Dinner
'Ohana Best Friends Breakfast--DH requested--his favorite
Tutto Italian--Lunch
San Angel Inn--Dinner--Whole Family loves
Tokyo Dining--Dinner
Spice Road Table--Dinner
Tusker House--Dinner
I need one more 1 Credit Table or replace Tusker House with Tiffins (if they ever take Ressies for River of Light package).

 

[EllyBelly]

When you wish for a dining plannnn, Get some sleep.... while you cannnnn

UGHH I can't take the wait!!!! LOL

 

[SunnieRN]

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!

There are not very many window tables, but there is a wonderful viewing area where your daughter will be able to see giraffes and more!!!! It's a lovely restaurant!!!

 

[kellyjeanie]

My husband got an e-mail yesterday from Chase Disney Visa with the subject line "Disney Rewards: Be Ready to Redeem for a Special Offer." When I saw it I got really excited - I thought, Free Dining is coming!! That was until I read the body of the e-mail - "Keep an eye out–a special Disney Store offer will arrive in your inbox in just a few weeks." Disney Store!?!? Nooooo!!! Not cool to get my hopes up like that!!!

 

[lancgirl]

There are limited numbers, but no one knows what they are. No matter when you call, you may have to change resorts, dates, type of room or all of the above or you may not get it at all. Calling earlier SHOULD be better, but many have said they actually got what they wanted when they called a few days to a week after it was released and things settled down. You need to decide what you are comfortable with doing. Personally, if FD was important to me, I'd call sooner rather than later. You can always call again during the promo time frame and change things up again if there is availability.

Thanks for the info- it's been two years since I've dealt with this and last time we were blacked out. Can't remember what I did 4 years ago. We stay at the Poly and aren't planning to switch resorts. I will call as soon as I can, we are Disney Visa holders so hopefully they'll early release it. Heard last year was a total debacle as far as that went! Haha!

 

[lancgirl]

My husband got an e-mail yesterday from Chase Disney Visa with the subject line "Disney Rewards: Be Ready to Redeem for a Special Offer." When I saw it I got really excited - I thought, Free Dining is coming!! That was until I read the body of the e-mail - "Keep an eye out–a special Disney Store offer will arrive in your inbox in just a few weeks." Disney Store!?!? Nooooo!!! Not cool to get my hopes up like that!!!

Same here!

 

[Minnie368]

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!

We had window seats our last trip and it was fantastic. We booked the first reservation time for dinner and got there about 15 minutes early and requested it. Since we were the first ones there when they opened for dinner we got to pick our table.

 

[SJSloan]

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.

Awesome! You just made my day!

I was hoping that was the case but honestly didn't think it would be. Now, here's hoping for early DV release.

 

[lilly6]

If one needs to do a split stay to get free dining for part of your trip, how does that work?

 

[cassie58]

Is the Minne's Holiday Dine Fantasmic Package one credit on the dining plan?

Yes

*Sorry - hadn't read far enough and realized this was already answered!

 

[cassie58]

If one needs to do a split stay to get free dining for part of your trip, how does that work?

You would need to get a room only reservation for the day/days before the FD promo starts. For example, if FD dates were starting Dec. 10th, and you were planning to arrive on the 8th, then you would do a room only reservation for the 8th and 9th, and book your package starting on the 10th. If you are planning to go to parks on the 8th or 9th, you would have to get tickets activated early at Guest Relations, since your tickets must be tied to your package. And of course you would pay OOP for your meals those first days.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

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.

This is only true IF you are planning to go with or without the promotion. There are a lot of people who book rooms in advance but plan to cancel if they don't get FD. This makes no sense because it doesn't increase your chances of getting FD, but does decrease the chances of Disney offering the promotion. This is the situation most people are referring to when they use the "don't book in advance" argument. Of course if your dates are fixed and you are going regardless, it makes sense to book early to guarantee the resort/room you want.

 

[atykay]

So, I know things have booked up pretty well in anticipation of free dining based on rumored dates. However, I am trying to change my reservation to 10/15-20 and find no availability at all anywhere. I've resigned myself to a room discount since our dates are not very flexible yet everything on Disney's website is gone. I mean every thing, not a single type of room at any resort. I even checked Orbitz to confirm and it says sold out on everything as well. Any idea what's going on? These dates are pretty solidly out of the free dining range.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Hello, I'm new here and I was just wondering if there was somewhere where there is a key of what all the abbreviation stand for. I've been to Disney World a few times, but with all the hotels and restaurants and everything else its hard to really know what everybody is saying. I like to follow these posts even though I'm already booked for the free dining on a bounce back from last year, and yes we had to do an upgrade in the room this year, but still totally worth it.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

So, I know things have booked up pretty well in anticipation of free dining based on rumored dates. However, I am trying to change my reservation to 10/15-20 and find no availability at all anywhere. I've resigned myself to a room discount since our dates are not very flexible yet everything on Disney's website is gone. I mean every thing, not a single type of room at any resort. I even checked Orbitz to confirm and it says sold out on everything as well. Any idea what's going on? These dates are pretty solidly out of the free dining range.

Could have something to do with the wine festival and the Spooktacular.

 

[TraceyL]

I don't have a room yet for my.first 5 nights (doing BWV and Sapphire Falls afterwards). Not even sure that I want free dining - a RO discount would probably suit me better as it's just me. Have booked a few ADRs and will keep getting carried along in all the excitement for late September

 

[mfly]

Hello, I'm new here and I was just wondering if there was somewhere where there is a key of what all the abbreviation stand for. I've been to Disney World a few times, but with all the hotels and restaurants and everything else its hard to really know what everybody is saying. I like to follow these posts even though I'm already booked for the free dining on a bounce back from last year, and yes we had to do an upgrade in the room this year, but still totally worth it.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/a-list-of-common-abbreviations.1660743/