Anti-Free Dining Rant....Sort Of

[bgohre]

Sorry, just have to get this off my chest.

Let me first say this. There are 7 of us going to WDW, Me, DW, DM, DS, DD3 and DD 14 mo and DS 14 mos. We going every couples years now because we do not have a lot of money to spend on vacations. We stay at Value Resorts and often bring most of our own snacks to try and save money. Going to Disney is a big chuck of change for us....That said.

I am soooooo tired of the "I want FD or I'm not going" posts my head is about to explode. It reminds me of being a child, "if I don't get my way I'm taking my ball and going home". I have to admit, I invision most of these posters writing that then laying on the floor kicking and screaming

I am booked for this Sept. and I am going whether or not there is free dining. Will it be nice if they offer it, YES. Do I check the boards everyday for the lasted rumor and speculation, YES. Do I want them to offer it, YES. But if they don't I'm still going.

I know everybody is frustrated because the promos haven't come out yet for fall, I just don't understand why? It will come out when it comes out and we just seem to be driving ourselves crazy waiting and waiting and waiting. I booked my ADR's anticipating free dining. If they don't offer it I guess I will cancel most. Remember Disney has been around far longer than FD has, I'm sure if they don't offer it we'll all be fine.

Now I know I'll get about 100 of you saying, yah but this or yah but that, you don't understand this and you don't understand that. Flame me if you want but I think we need to remember this is a vacation it's supposed to be fun, planning is supposed to be part of the fun. Just relax and enjoy the Disney Magic the promos will come.

 

[Magical JenK]

From one Minnesotan to another....you're going to have a VERY magical trip & amen! Does it suck that the promos haven't been announced yet? Yes. Will there be something offered? Hopefully If there isn't, will people still go? Yes!

Have a great trip in September!! It's the best time of year to go!

 

[Saphire]

Just relax and enjoy the Disney Magic the promos will come.

I agree. I have been to Disney many times and every time have gone with a great discount. Every one of them has been different. They always offer something. I am looking forward to what it will be! And I am so happy to be going.

 

[beansmom]

Sorry, just have to get this off my chest.

Let me first say this. There are 7 of us going to WDW, Me, DW, DM, DS, DD3 and DD 14 mo and DS 14 mos. We going every couples years now because we do not have a lot of money to spend on vacations. We stay at Value Resorts and often bring most of our own snacks to try and save money. Going to Disney is a big chuck of change for us....That said.

I am soooooo tired of the "I want FD or I'm not going" posts my head is about to explode. It reminds me of being a child, "if I don't get my way I'm taking my ball and going home". I have to admit, I invision most of these posters writing that then laying on the floor kicking and screaming

I am booked for this Sept. and I am going whether or not there is free dining. Will it be nice if they offer it, YES. Do I check the boards everyday for the lasted rumor and speculation, YES. Do I want them to offer it, YES. But if they don't I'm still going.

I know everybody is frustrated because the promos haven't come out yet for fall, I just don't understand why? It will come out when it comes out and we just seem to be driving ourselves crazy waiting and waiting and waiting. I booked my ADR's anticipating free dining. If they don't offer it I guess I will cancel most. Remember Disney has been around far longer than FD has, I'm sure if they don't offer it we'll all be fine.

Now I know I'll get about 100 of you saying, yah but this or yah but that, you don't understand this and you don't understand that. Flame me if you want but I think we need to remember this is a vacation it's supposed to be fun, planning is supposed to be part of the fun. Just relax and enjoy the Disney Magic the promos will come.

ITA. And let me go further to say, MOST of my trips have been without any sort of Discount. And if Disney offers everyone the same discounts that I get as an AP holder, then why bother buying one at all?? I take more trips when I have an AP...if I didn't have one, then I'd either stay at home or go elsewhere (both saving money) and just buy the 5 days I need for my regular annual trip.

OH, I know! I'll call Disney and pitch a fit til they refund my AP money but let me KEEP it and use it for the next year. I know my head is stuck on this this afternoon but it amazes me. I'm going to Niagara Falls this summer...I think I'll call Niagara and demand my half-price hotel and free food AND I want the Maid of the Mist to pick me up at my front door.

Seriously, sometimes we need to get a grip. Again, lots and lots of people NEVER get to go to Disneyworld EVER.

 

[Bridge203618]

I am not going in the fall so I am not one that either wants or doesn't want FD, but I just don't get why so many people are annoyed or offended by people only going if FD is offered. Why does it matter? IF that is how they plan their vacation and what they need/want isn't that their business?

 

[NCtoFL]

Disney is running complex forecasting models with algorithms based on various discount promos and their affect of revenue and capacity. They will choose the model that appears to have the most positive prediction on each quarter's net income. If that means FD, then we will see it. If it predicts a net income would be greater without FD, then we will not. If that sounds cold, calculating and business-like, it is because that is exactly what it is.

 

[focusondisney]

Sorry, just have to get this off my chest.

Let me first say this. There are 7 of us going to WDW, Me, DW, DM, DS, DD3 and DD 14 mo and DS 14 mos. We going every couples years now because we do not have a lot of money to spend on vacations. We stay at Value Resorts and often bring most of our own snacks to try and save money. Going to Disney is a big chuck of change for us....That said.

I am soooooo tired of the "I want FD or I'm not going" posts my head is about to explode. It reminds me of being a child, "if I don't get my way I'm taking my ball and going home". I have to admit, I invision most of these posters writing that then laying on the floor kicking and screaming

I am booked for this Sept. and I am going whether or not there is free dining. Will it be nice if they offer it, YES. Do I check the boards everyday for the lasted rumor and speculation, YES. Do I want them to offer it, YES. But if they don't I'm still going.

I know everybody is frustrated because the promos haven't come out yet for fall, I just don't understand why? It will come out when it comes out and we just seem to be driving ourselves crazy waiting and waiting and waiting. I booked my ADR's anticipating free dining. If they don't offer it I guess I will cancel most. Remember Disney has been around far longer than FD has, I'm sure if they don't offer it we'll all be fine.

Now I know I'll get about 100 of you saying, yah but this or yah but that, you don't understand this and you don't understand that. Flame me if you want but I think we need to remember this is a vacation it's supposed to be fun, planning is supposed to be part of the fun. Just relax and enjoy the Disney Magic the promos will come.

Well said!! I think people should take advantage of what ever promo comes out if it works for them. And just remember that no promo is guaranteed. I don't think Disney wants people thinking that free dining is a given. I really think they will eventually stop it & offer something else. Will that be this year? Guess we'll know soon enough.

 

[bgohre]

Disney is running complex forecasting models with algorithms based on various discount promos and their affect of revenue and capacity. They will choose the model that appears to have the most positive prediction on each quarter's net income. If that means FD, then we will see it. If it predicts a net income would be greater without FD, then we will not. If that sounds cold, calculating and business-like, it is because that is exactly what it is.

You win the post of the day for mixing in the word algorithms.

 

[Magical JenK]

no[/B] promo is guaranteed. I don't think Disney wants people thinking that free dining is a given.

Oops....too late!

 

[NCtoFL]

You win the post of the day for mixing in the word algorithms.

Is first place free dining?

 

[Kennywife]

I couldn't have said it better. As someone who NEVER went until I was an adult, I'm just happy to be able to go now.

Personally, I don't care for FD. It makes the ressies too hard to get and more crowds. I'm going in June and got every single ADR I wanted and then some! I always check when FD is and try to avoid it if I can.

Anna

 

[focusondisney]

You win the post of the day for mixing in the word algorithms.

Is first place free dining?

As long as it's not a visit from the tag fairy!! There are lots of people already waiting for that prize! (like me!)

 

[beansmom]

I am not going in the fall so I am not one that either wants or doesn't want FD, but I just don't get why so many people are annoyed or offended by people only going if FD is offered. Why does it matter? IF that is how they plan their vacation and what they need/want isn't that their business?

I think the issue is not that people plan their vacations or not around FD...we can all plan any way we want to. I think the issue is that it's kinda like looking a gift horse in the mouth. Disney has offered (for their OWN benefit, let's face it...they want full hotel rooms, parks, eateries...they don't CARE if we can afford it or not) wonderful discounts in the past but that doesn't 'entitle' us to the same 'gift' over and over.

And being all p*ssy and stomping your foot and screaming when they don't offer it again (on YOUR timeframe, I might add) is presumptuous. We have friends who host (at their own expense) a huge campout on their farm every summer. By invitation only. But cerain people assume that if you are invited once, you are invited for life.

And, as I stated on another thread, this is a public forum. As long as you aren't rude or mean, you have the right to your opinion but we also have the right to respond to what you say. If we dont' want people to say anything to us, we should keep it to ourselves. Only sure way to get everyone to agree with you.

 

[JollyHoliday]

Sorry, just have to get this off my chest.

Let me first say this. There are 7 of us going to WDW, Me, DW, DM, DS, DD3 and DD 14 mo and DS 14 mos. We going every couples years now because we do not have a lot of money to spend on vacations. We stay at Value Resorts and often bring most of our own snacks to try and save money. Going to Disney is a big chuck of change for us....That said.

I am soooooo tired of the "I want FD or I'm not going" posts my head is about to explode. It reminds me of being a child, "if I don't get my way I'm taking my ball and going home". I have to admit, I invision most of these posters writing that then laying on the floor kicking and screaming

I am booked for this Sept. and I am going whether or not there is free dining. Will it be nice if they offer it, YES. Do I check the boards everyday for the lasted rumor and speculation, YES. Do I want them to offer it, YES. But if they don't I'm still going.

I know everybody is frustrated because the promos haven't come out yet for fall, I just don't understand why? It will come out when it comes out and we just seem to be driving ourselves crazy waiting and waiting and waiting. I booked my ADR's anticipating free dining. If they don't offer it I guess I will cancel most. Remember Disney has been around far longer than FD has, I'm sure if they don't offer it we'll all be fine.

Now I know I'll get about 100 of you saying, yah but this or yah but that, you don't understand this and you don't understand that. Flame me if you want but I think we need to remember this is a vacation it's supposed to be fun, planning is supposed to be part of the fun. Just relax and enjoy the Disney Magic the promos will come.

Some people like myself like to have their vacation budget and plans in order by at least 4 months out. There are many tempting offers for some really nice vacation spots right now. If I did not have my bounceback booked all ready I might consider a different vacation.

 

[NCtoFL]

As long as it's not a visit from the tag fairy!! There are lots of people already waiting for that prize! (like me!)

Nice. I don't really care about getting tagged. But if it did happen, then it would be cool, and I would recant my previous statement.

 

[Port Orleans fan]

I am not going in the fall so I am not one that either wants or doesn't want FD, but I just don't get why so many people are annoyed or offended by people only going if FD is offered. Why does it matter? IF that is how they plan their vacation and what they need/want isn't that their business?

What I can't figure out is how these people can criticize others for wanting FD so badly, but in the next breath say that they'll take it in a heartbeat if it's offered to them.

 

[NCtoFL]

What I can't figure out is how these people can criticize others for wanting FD so badly, but in the next breath say that they'll take it in a heartbeat if it's offered to them.

There is a difference between wanting something vs. feeling that it is owed.

 

[2BOYMOM]

We are booked for August using a PIN code. If FD does come out, we will change our ressie to FD because it saves us more $$$. If it doesn't then, I will just cancel some of the ADRs I've made and we will eat more CS than TS. But we are going either way. We'll just eat better with FD!

I didn't really take all the post regarding FD being released as people stomping their feet and having a hissy fit. I just have taken it as people are waiting to see what Disney is going to do, just like me. It's part of the planning and I love the planning!

 

[beansmom]

There is a difference between wanting something vs. feeling that it is owed.

I think that's my point exactly.

2boymom, i guess you haven't read the other posts I have read. Discounts are wonderful, of course, and, yes, I love the excitement and anticipation as much as the next person.

But,yeah, I'm tired of the 'if i don't get to eat free, I'll show THEM...I'll just stay home!' If you cannot afford the food on a vacation, maybe a vacation should wait. Staycations can be just as wonderful as any away from home vacation--I'm sure there are places close to home that most of us haven't explored.

And definitely, if I had no income coming in, a vacation would be the last worry on my mind. My husband is a physician and makes a decent check...but we have to save money for the extras just like everybody else. I love Disney much as anyone else but will Disney lend me the money for a new transmission if mine goes out because I spent all my discretionary money there before the trannie blew? I'm a person who lived without savings most of my adult life but too many of us have kind of screwed up financial priorities. Disney is not more important than an emergency cushion in the bank.

 

[2BOYMOM]

2boymom, i guess you haven't read the other posts I have read. Discounts are wonderful, of course, and, yes, I love the excitement and anticipation as much as the next person.

But,yeah, I'm tired of the 'if i don't get to eat free, I'll show THEM...I'll just stay home!' If you cannot afford the food on a vacation, maybe a vacation should wait. Staycations can be just as wonderful as any away from home vacation--I'm sure there are places close to home that most of us haven't explored.

Well, if they are really serious and don't go to Disney, then it won't be as crowded in August when I go!