Any bets on free dining in 2007?

[n2mm]

n2mm- I am considering buying an AP this year. How does that work if you buy tix in addition to the pass? You mentioned using it towards renewal? Any advice would be helpful. Also, do you find the room discounts worth the pass?

We just purchase the lowest ticket required by the package, then take that ticket to guest relations and they will apply the value of the ticket to the purchase price of the AP. (or renewal). In my case, I had a one day ticket, valued at $67. I was renewing my AP and after the CM subtracted the $67, I owed the remaining amount. There have been a couple of threads around where a couple of folks got hassled, but believe they were isolated incidents. We had no problem and neither did our friends. We like to take care of our tickets at DTD guest relations. This last time I did go to guest relations at MGM, inside the park (I don't like talking through the glass). We are long time AP holders and do not purchase them for the room discounts...we buy them for admission into the parks for several trips a year. Everyone needs to crunch the numbers to decide if this is the best admission option for them. It is for us. We are DVC members now, so seldom even stay at the regular resorts, usually only a night prior to our Villa checkin. We visit WDW 4-6 trips a year, so having an AP is a must for us. We do buy the DDE card too, which is a perk of the AP pass. But we also purchase the DDP, which is a perk of DVC membership.

 

[Dusted]

Thank you both. Sometime very soon I have to crunch our numbers. We are considering a DVC, but have become so spoiled with my VIEWS that I'm afraid after buying into it, I will be dissapointed with my balcony view. Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled. If we do that, a AP will be an obvious choice, especially with the discount.

If we don't do dvc, we will still consider the AP because of the room discounts. So many decisions.

I sometimes wish it was easier, but the planning and the research do become part of the fun...

Happy Halloween!

 

[Palendat]

I just booked POP for Aug 14-28, and the CM on the phone told me to check for any free dining discounts that might come up closer to my date. I didn't even mention free dining, and she told me to be on the lookout, so things do indeed look good for next hurricane season.

 

[n2mm]

I just booked POP for Aug 14-28, and the CM on the phone told me to check for any free dining discounts that might come up closer to my date. I didn't even mention free dining, and she told me to be on the lookout, so things do indeed look good for next hurricane season.

I agree, I think we'll see it again too, but am curious what type of changes might occur.....no more desert with CS like the UK restrictions, or a length of stay ticket requirement. I would love to see them take the desert off of the CS meal and give us 2 snacks a day instead....that would be better, but probably not probable. If we have a ticket length of stay restrictions, I'll be crunching the numbers as we plan to do the free dining for 4 nights followed by a DVC 2 bedroom stay, so will be interested in getting longer stay tickets and APs for some (can't beat the DVC AP discount). Time will tell!!

 

[disneymotherof3]

I would love to get free dining. But I don't think it will happen while we're there (April 7-14, 2007).

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Am I the only one hoping that they *don't* do it next year?

The free dining makes it so much harder to get ADRs now, and walk-ups are pretty much out of the question. I miss the ability to be spontaneous!

It also seems like they're cutting back the portions- I can only imagine what it must be like to work in the table service restaurants and suddenly not only be much busier, but have a LOT of people ordering the most expensive/complicated things on the menu!

 

[Disneyhappy]

Am I the only one hoping that they *don't* do it next year?

The free dining makes it so much harder to get ADRs now, and walk-ups are pretty much out of the question. I miss the ability to be spontaneous!

It also seems like they're cutting back the portions- I can only imagine what it must be like to work in the table service restaurants and suddenly not only be much busier, but have a LOT of people ordering the most expensive/complicated things on the menu!

After this past August (12-20 which is our usual week to attend in the summer), we are switching our dates to the week before this coming 2007. I am very happy for all of the guests who are able to take advantage of the free dining as it is tremendous savings. However, we are DVC members and paid full price for the dining. I am not complaining at all about having to pay for it. My complaints are related to the crowded parks and restaurants. I have attended WDW at various times during the year, including major holidays but I do not recall crowds like the week we attended this past summer. I imagine the crowds were lower through September but due to school and sports, our window of time to attend is limited. So for us, if we are going to pay for the dining plan, it will be during a time frame when they don't offer free dining so the parks and retaurants are less crowded (hopefully).

With all that said, I am keeping my fingers crossed that free dining is offered agaiin for all of you DISers who can take advantage of it!

 

[Ms. Heimlich]

i, too, would LOVE to get free dining. Dh and I are going to try to go in October next year... Free dining then?

Thanks for starting this thread!

 

[DisneyMom5]

i, too, would LOVE to get free dining. Dh and I are going to try to go in October next year... Free dining then?

Thanks for starting this thread!

If its the same as this year, it will be through Sept. 30, but that means your at least your first day has to be in Sept. We're hoping for free dining 9/30 - 10/10 or so.

 

[n2mm]

Not sure if you guys saw the allears newsletter tonight, but it says disney is offering a new package for return guest and the dates are during the timeframe that the free dining package would be released. You might want to read it, because to me, it looks like it might be a package to replace the free dining package, unless Disney is planning on releasing two different types of package during the same timeframe, which is highly unlikely. Ugh...you better read it, I would like to know if you guys are seeing the same thing I am. It's the one for guest to rebook trips while theyy are there over the next couple of months, and surprisingly the savings equals about what the ddp would be (hence free dining). The guest staying on property get the first choices, while us who just returned or don't have trips until 2007, have to wait to book what is leftover....this isn't good.

here's the info:

Discount Future Stay Pilot Program: On November 8th, Walt Disney World will begin a Pilot Program at certain Walt Disney World resorts to see if guests would be interested in booking their next vacation at a special discounted rate. The Pilot program will run through December 31st. The special offered is a 5 night/5 day vacation package that includes a standard room at a Value Resort, a base Magic Your Way Ticket and the Disney Disney Plan. Rates start at $453 per adult ($194 savings). Any guest staying at a WDW resort during this time will be able to book the special package. You must travel from August 5, 2007 and September 29, 2007 with a minimum stay of three nights.

There are two test areas. The first is Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and Port Orleans. You will see a special "Your Next Disney Vacation" desk located in the lobby of the Beach Club and Port Orleans Riverside. A Disney Reservation Center Sales Agent will be at these locations to book the future trip special package right then.

The second test area is Disney's Pop Century and Contemporary Resort. These resorts will not have the special podium in the lobby. Interested guests will be given a phone number to call to book the special package with the Disney Reservation Center

Various methods will be used to inform guests at the test resorts including: in-room messaging, lobby signage, messages on receipts at that resort's food and merchandise locations when you use your Key to the World Card.

You must be staying at a Walt Disney World owned and operated resort to qualify for this special. You must book and place your deposit prior to check-out. You can request your travel agency gets credit for the booking when you make your deposit.