2016 Free Dining Watch

[smallworld101]

These prices are per day. Correct?

Yes per day.

 

[RedWolf95]

Some of our favorites are Earl of Sandwich, BOG for lunch, Tangerine Café, Columbia Harbour House, Starring rolls (not so much for the sandwiches but the cup cakes are awesome). Have not been but Wolfgang Puck express is supposed to be really good. At Cosmic Café, the counter at the far left had rotisserie chicken and rib platters that were good (not sure if they still have that or not since 2013 was the last time we did QS there.

 

[SunnieRN]

would you mind sharing? this will be our first trip with QS so we will be using it twice as much as when we had the regular DDP TIA

I know you were asking someone else, but I thought I would give you a list of some of my favorite counter service venues:

Magic Kingdom::
Be Our Guest for lunch
Columbia Harbour House

Hollywood studios:
Starring Rolls Cafe

Epcot:
Tangeriene Cafe
Liberty Inn if you want steak
Boulangerie Patisserie Les Halles

Animal Kingdom:
Flame Tree BBQ
Pizzafari

Downtown Disney, far and away for any meal, breakfast, lunch or dinner is Wolfgang Puck Express!

There's tons more of course, as well as the food courts. AOA has a good one as well as POR and Cap'm Cookes at the Poly. I've never eaten at Contempo cafe, but have heard good things about it! You can eat burgers, hot dogs and fries or you can avoid them altogether.

 

[babydoll65]

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 already have free dining thanks to the bounce back offer last September (and hoping to do it again this September) Going September 10th-18th and booked my adrs a few weeks back. As long as I can keep myself from changing them lol I have:
Whispering canyon cafe, Ohanas (D), Via Napoli, Mama Melroses fantasmic dinner package, Crystal palace pre park breakfast, Trattoria Al Forno, The Wave breakfast buffet, Bog dinner and Liberty Tree Tavern.

 

[Lindsay Parker]

I am alone in my obsession. My wife is like, "What, we are going to Disney?"

I am too.. i told my husband dont be surprised if i change the resort and add a day at the last minute... I said you just drive and i'll tell you where to go the day of... haha

 

[sweetcarolinamoma]

If only we could get paid to watch the boards!!!

Id be rich!

 

[madlove4disney]

Id be rich!

I'm pretty sure many of us would be quite wealthy!

 

[Iowamomof4]

So, we're watching for Thursday morning now (the 21st), right? If it drops then, it'll likely be for Disney Visa holders? Otherwise we're looking at Monday, April 25?

 

[scard192]

So, we're watching for Thursday morning now (the 21st), right? If it drops then, it'll likely be for Disney Visa holders? Otherwise we're looking at Monday, April 25?

Maybe, hoping there might be an update tomorrow, I will likely call to check on Thursday as I have the DV card

 

[Amanda S.]

I feel like the CMs who man the call centers probably have a "til free dining is over" counter on their computers. I wonder how many calls right at opening every day they get asking if its dropped yet?

 

[1437disney]

So, we're watching for Thursday morning now (the 21st), right? If it drops then, it'll likely be for Disney Visa holders? Otherwise we're looking at Monday, April 25?

I am hoping that is the plan. I actually have these 2 days off. It would be great to be able to stay up all night and then not work the next day.

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

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

Thanks! This was helpful to keep it all straight in my head!

 

[lilkimmyk]

Some do and some do not. There are some conventions where families are strongly discouraged and actually take place at the convention center. Gartner typically discourages families from coming as well but it is on site at the Swan and Dolphin so you will often find that Epcot is busier after 4 pm when Gartner is in town.

Thanks for that tip!

They also have blocks of rooms at BWI, BC & YC...they pretty much have taken over that entire area.

POR as well. I was unable to reserve a preferred room for my dates 10/18-10/25. I asked why and the rep. at Disney reservations told me about Gartner and that it will be over Thursday 10/20. He told me that the resort will look busy but the parks won't be because Gartner will be at meetings all day, but I never thought about how that will affect crowds at F&W in the afternoon.

I picked this week because I though the Wine & Dine marathon next week would be busier. Does anyone have an opinion on if I should change to marathon week? Are marathon crowds bad?

TIA!

 

[kdisser]

I am a little late on the ADR's booked already but thought I would add to the list

Crystal Palace (breakfast)
BOG (breakfast and lunch)
Trail's End
Sci-Fi Drive-In
Via Napoli
Tony's Town Square
Rainforest Cafe (AK)
Rose & Crown
Chef Mickey's (dinner)
Whispering Canyon (breakfast)

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks for that tip!

POR as well. I was unable to reserve a preferred room for my dates 10/18-10/25. I asked why and the rep. at Disney reservations told me about Gartner and that it will be over Thursday 10/20. He told me that the resort will look busy but the parks won't be because Gartner will be at meetings all day, but I never thought about how that will affect crowds at F&W in the afternoon.

I picked this week because I though the Wine & Dine marathon next week would be busier. Does anyone have an opinion on if I should change to marathon week? Are marathon crowds bad?

TIA!

It is a half marathon and will be pretty busy. I have been there for the past three half marathons and while crowded it wasn't super bad. All trips I have been able to do everything I wanted. This year will be hard to gauge though as they added an extra race and switched the races from night races to morning races and moved the after party to SUnday night.

 

[ehoops120912]

Anyone know where I can find information if any event or convention is happening during our dates?

 

[EllyBelly]

What's everyone's favorite QS spots? Last year, we basically just kept going to the same places and i feel as though i gotta branch out this year!

 

[goldie09]

What's everyone's favorite QS spots? Last year, we basically just kept going to the same places and i feel as though i gotta branch out this year!

Sunshine Seasons in Epcot's The Land pavilion!

 

[Mickeycrocs]

I miss pizza planet

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I have my ADRs booked. Even if we have to change dates I'd rather have them booked and just cancel what we don't need.