2016 Free Dining Watch

[RedWolf95]

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.

And it especially is not a good idea to book several resorts in the hopes of getting FD at one of them.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

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

Thank you.

 

[Distisso]

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.

Something must be up with the website - I'm getting the same issue with my dates (beginning of December). It shows availability for a resort but when I click to select a room, they're all sold out. I can't see that being possible.

 

[Jordyn1123]

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.

The earliest I could get is a 5:05... Do you think I can still get a window seat if I get there before they open at 5? Or do they take people strictly in order of reservation time? I realize you may not know this, lol

 

[Jordyn1123]

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.

I'm having the same issue with my September dates

 

[RedWolf95]

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.

Again, I think the below from black sums it up....

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.

 

[Kshell40]

Same here!

Me too. I was crushed

 

[coley444]

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.

And another point as I was just recently researching this - you cannot prebook Fastpasses 60 days out for 12/8 or 12/9.

-----------

Expanding the above scenario. Say your dates are 12/8 - 12/15 and free dining was avail with a 12/10 check in. Also imagine you want to go to the parks everyday.

Res #1
12/8 - 12/10
> Room Only

Or

> Ticketless Dining Package (In this option call Disney to book a room with dining plan but no tickets. This isn't available on the site to book but can be done over the phone. Note a dining package can't be added to a room only booking via Orbitz or a third party - Disney must be the vendor. Also you need to be wary of dining credits expiring at midnight on 12/10 from this Res #1 booking. They don't carry over to Res #2.)

Res #2
12/10 - 12/15
> Free dining package
Book room, free dining, and 8 day park hoppers or water park more. You usually have to add PH or water park to qualify for free dining. This may change, however.

Next Steps
> Since you want to use your park tickets from Res #2 early when you arrive on 12/8, a CM told me on the phone you must activate them outside the park or at Disney Springs. Same CM said you can't activate early at your resort.

Considerations
> If you book DDP plan on both Reservations carefully monitor your dining credits. With the overlapping 12/10 date you may see the credits get misused - i.e. your Res #2 credits could mistakenly be used before your Res #1 credits are fully redeemed. Others said to get a print out of your credits from front desk to keep track.

> The CM suggested that you don't use online check in. That way at the check in desk you can request the same room for both Res #1 and Res #2 provided you book same resort & room type. CM said it was more likely when requested in person. She said you still have to check in and out even with the same room however - so the resort CM can activate and deactivate the bookings tied to your magic band properly.

> Also in the case both bookings have DDP, I think if you forego online check maybe there is a greater likelihood your Res #2 DDP credits wouldn't go live early since you are doing a "manual" check in.

> Because your tickets are in Res #2 which starts on 12/10, MDE will not let you book advance Fastpasses 60 days out for 12/8 and 12/9. Accordingly, you can only secure same day FP+ For 12/8. However once your tickets are active, you can schedule 12/8 (same day) and also book 12/9 (one day early).

I just taught myself all this the other day with help of other DIS'ers.

I think that's all the considerations! Sure I forgot something lol it's so complex

 

[sweetcarolinamoma]

We have reservations for chef mickeys, tusker house, Hollywood & vine, Ohana breakfast, garden grill and crystal palace! Never been to any of them before, except Ohana. Can't wait!

We LOOOOVE Crystal Palace for breakfast! We love to get an early ADR before the park opens and eat and then wander Main Street and take photos of the castle without too many guests in the way. Then head on over to Fantasyland and ride numerous rides back to back to back when the park first opens!

 

[mommyrosa2]

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.

Our dates are right around the same time as yours and I can tell you that every single one of the Epcot resorts have shown no availability for months now as I have been checking daily since the new year! From what I understand the Gartner Symposium, a huge convention, has taken over most of the rooms at the Epcot resorts this year and they'll be there from 10/16-10/20 which would explain the lack of availability. We have a discounted room currently at CSR but I so want to move over to one of the Epcot resorts for F&W and am really hoping something will open up as it gets closer.

 

[sweetcarolinamoma]

Since I don't have exact dates yet Im making a list. 50's, hoop Dee do, sci fi, crystal palace, tusker house, le celliar. Trying to do one we haven't done so if anyone has any suggestions. And I'm trying to stay away from breakfast since I booked a ton last time and hated being rushed around in the morning.

We really like Whispering Canyon at Wilderness Lodge. We eat there every visit!

 

[Wood Nymph]

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.

Those dates have been booked up since I looked in February. We were hoping to join some friends and stay at an Epcot resort, but they have been booked solid for months. It has become a popular time to go to WDW.

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

You would save more money by getting a room discount for your deluxe resort. The dining plan is only worth $60 per day but a discount at a deluxe can be well over $100 per day or more.

 

[RedWolf95]

Since I don't have exact dates yet Im making a list. 50's, hoop Dee do, sci fi, crystal palace, tusker house, le celliar. Trying to do one we haven't done so if anyone has any suggestions. And I'm trying to stay away from breakfast since I booked a ton last time and hated being rushed around in the morning.

Still waiting to figure out our exact dates as well, but we will definitely be doing Yak and Yeti (one of our favorites), Tokyo Dining (tried it last year and really liked it, I have weird kids that LOVE Sushi), Chef Mickey, Crystal Palace (do this every year too), Boma, and maybe Biergarten (have not been there in a few years). Will also be trying to get BOG for lunch (did that last year and it was really good).

 

[TraceyL]

You would save more money by getting a room discount for your deluxe resort. The dining plan is only worth $60 per day but a discount at a deluxe can be well over $100 per day or more.

Looking at ASSp or Pop for now. BWV is a 2 night treat for F&W - couldn't afford the whole stay there

 

[Attracted to Beasts]

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?

I have Liberty tree at 4:25pm on 10/2 for 4 people....I booked that at exactly 180 days.

 

[Confederate Scott]

I have Liberty tree at 4:25pm on 10/2 for 4 people....I booked that at exactly 180 days.

Great choice on Liberty Tree. We ate there shortly after they reopened last year and it was fantastic.

 

[Just Love Disney]

Our dates are right around the same time as yours and I can tell you that every single one of the Epcot resorts have shown no availability for months now as I have been checking daily since the new year! From what I understand the Gartner Symposium, a huge convention, has taken over most of the rooms at the Epcot resorts this year and they'll be there from 10/16-10/20 which would explain the lack of availability. We have a discounted room currently at CSR but I so want to move over to one of the Epcot resorts for F&W and am really hoping something will open up as it gets closer.

Does anyone know if the crowd calendar predictors take into account these huge conventions? A few years ago we went when it was some type of doctors group at the OCCC. When I called to find out how many attendees were expected, I was told 80,000 doctors + their families! That's a whole ton of people and you know that they are not just in town for the convention; they are doing the entire WDW family vacation while they are there. When I looked up Gartner, it said 24,000 typically attend FWIW. Still seems like a huge influx.

 

[Minnie368]

The earliest I could get is a 5:05... Do you think I can still get a window seat if I get there before they open at 5? Or do they take people strictly in order of reservation time? I realize you may not know this, lol

I'm sorry I don't know the answer to that question. Best bet is to just get there early and ask.

 

[kimyinpink]

Mine was doing that a little while ago but now it is working again now

I'm having the same issue with my September dates

 

[bryana]

I'm having the same issue with my September dates

I'm also having the issue with my September dates. They must be doing some sort of maintenance or something. It worked this morning but then stopped working around 11 or so.