Anyone Else fed up with Free Dining!!!!!!

[Bouncin-Tigger]

I understand the economy problems and disney trying to keep the parks busy but I feel like my dedication and DVC contract make me a second class guest. Instead of being treated better and given better booking perks by making a commitment . I like many dvc owners do my homework know when to call how to call and where to go at what times and I am very organized. But everytime they do the free dining my ADRs get ruined, which turns all my planning upside down and now this new computer ADRs dont recognize my resv numbers so now I am an hour behind if I call wdw dine and we all know that when it comes to some adr's every minute counts. Just ranting but only got 5 of my 9 adr's and usually get all 9 but cant even smell chef mickeys or crt this time....Thanks

 

[5forDiz]

I understand the economy problems and disney trying to keep the parks busy but I feel like my dedication and DVC contract make me a second class guest. Instead of being treated better and given better booking perks by making a commitment . I like many dvc owners do my homework know when to call how to call and where to go at what times and I am very organized. But everytime they do the free dining my ADRs get ruined, which turns all my planning upside down and now this new computer ADRs dont recognize my resv numbers so now I am an hour behind if I call wdw dine and we all know that when it comes to some adr's every minute counts. Just ranting but only got 5 of my 9 adr's and usually get all 9 but cant even smell chef mickeys or crt this time....Thanks

Bottom line is every guest is important to Disney and owning DVC doesn't mean a member would be any more important than a cash-paying guest and just because a cash paying guest has booked during a free dining period doesn't mean their ADR's are less important than what a member is trying to book.
Frustrating, yes, I hear where you're coming from, but the reality of DVC is just pre-paid vacation accommodations and maybe some occasional perks like $100 off AP.

Sending lots of that perhaps some ADR's you haven't been able to get will come through & who knows, maybe you'll discover some new favorites too

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

Your ADRs might still come through - Sometimes people cancel. Good luck! Have a great vacation!

 

[quirty30]

I understand the economy problems and disney trying to keep the parks busy but I feel like my dedication and DVC contract make me a second class guest. Instead of being treated better and given better booking perks by making a commitment . I like many dvc owners do my homework know when to call how to call and where to go at what times and I am very organized. But everytime they do the free dining my ADRs get ruined, which turns all my planning upside down and now this new computer ADRs dont recognize my resv numbers so now I am an hour behind if I call wdw dine and we all know that when it comes to some adr's every minute counts. Just ranting but only got 5 of my 9 adr's and usually get all 9 but cant even smell chef mickeys or crt this time....Thanks

Couldn't agree with you more, especially about the "every minute counts" comment. Wish my first DVC stay didn't coincide with free dining. And I truly hope they straighten out the computer glitch soon so that DVC members can at least compete equally with cash guests. I don't expect us to be treated better, but equal would be nice.

 

[LISAVWL]

Free dining is stressing me out! My 90 days is coming up this weekend and I'm sure we'll miss some of our favorite restaurants b/c of the one hour lag & free dining promo. I don't expect us to be treated better but as a PP stated -- equal would be nice.

 

[AnimalPrincess]

OMG I was just going to post something similar to this. LOL

Our vacation starts on the 27th of September and I tried to book dinner at Rose and Crown for either the 28th or the 29th and BOTH days were booked!!! This is totally ridiculous. The reason that I don't like all of this is because I don't like having to plan that far ahead, and I am frusterated that because of the dining plan and especially free dining I have to decide when and where I want to eat 90+ days in advance! That is just not how we vacation but if we want to make sure we get to eat at some of our favorite resturants we have to go along with all of this. I just wish that they would set aside some reservations for day of you know?

 

[STLDisney_Freak]

What day does Free Dining end? I'm really hope they aren't doing it when I'm going.

 

[n2mm]

Losing that extra one hour to book our ADRs really bites. I agree, one hour is a long time when ADRs go very quickly. I don't mind competing with the free diners for the ADRs, but Disney needs to make the playing field level. I want my equal shot at getting my ADRs at the same time as everyone else. We are definitely at a disadvantage in terms of ADRs.

 

[kid-at-heart]

I understand the economy problems and disney trying to keep the parks busy but I feel like my dedication and DVC contract make me a second class guest. Instead of being treated better and given better booking perks by making a commitment . I like many dvc owners do my homework know when to call how to call and where to go at what times and I am very organized. But everytime they do the free dining my ADRs get ruined, which turns all my planning upside down and now this new computer ADRs dont recognize my resv numbers so now I am an hour behind if I call wdw dine and we all know that when it comes to some adr's every minute counts. Just ranting but only got 5 of my 9 adr's and usually get all 9 but cant even smell chef mickeys or crt this time....Thanks

I agree, this particular promotion seems to work against DVC owners. I hope things work out for your ADRs.

 

[kenny]

Haven't had to deal with Free dining or new ADR system yet. Luckly have travelled different dates then FD and am not at my window to make ADR's for upcoming trip yet.

I do agree with OP's frustrations and while I understand peoples comments about DVC is just a pre-paid vacation and we shouldn't be treated differently, I do disagree. As DVC owners, yes we had the benefit of prepaying at today's rate for upcoming trips. However, we are now guarenteed revenue for Disney for years to come. With each trip we will be buying park passes, dining, souvinears, etc. There is something to be said for repeat business.

Unfortunately DVC is treated like most businesses and the best offeres are always for new customers. Drives me crazy when I see ads from my phone or cable company for better rates than I currently have and the disclaimer "For new customers only".

 

[DVCJones]

I understand the economy problems and disney trying to keep the parks busy but I feel like my dedication and DVC contract make me a second class guest. Instead of being treated better and given better booking perks by making a commitment . I like many dvc owners do my homework know when to call how to call and where to go at what times and I am very organized. But everytime they do the free dining my ADRs get ruined, which turns all my planning upside down and now this new computer ADRs dont recognize my resv numbers so now I am an hour behind if I call wdw dine and we all know that when it comes to some adr's every minute counts. Just ranting but only got 5 of my 9 adr's and usually get all 9 but cant even smell chef mickeys or crt this time....Thanks

The only way to change this is to write DVC an explain how you feel. I think we should all start writing. This new ADR system is flawed and DVC members are taking the hit...again!

 

[tmli]

I think one solution would be to offer the Quick service plan for free and people would pay the difference to upgrade to the standard or deluxe. It wouldn't eliminate the problem but would certainly take some of the strain off the system.

 

[jboysen]

personally, i don't think it is free dining, but the way disney lets people have multiple resies with in hours or even less time of eachother. we all know, someone who is eating at rose and crowne at this time, will not be eating at leceilier(sp?) two even three hours later. they need to put a stop to that, imo that would free up quite a few adrs.

 

[lugnut33]

The only thing free dining really does is mess you up with your dining plans. It will also help to fill the parks a bit.

You could take a page out of my book and plan on eating all meals off-site or back in our villa. I didn't have the stress of making reserevations and I won't have the stress of fighting all the people at the restaurants.

 

[Sammie]

I understand completely, between the heat, hurricane peak season and free dining,crowds, I mark late August and Sept off my DVC calendar.

Good luck.

When they implement the new ala carte system completely it will get better.

 

[lugnut33]

I understand completely, between the heat, hurricane peak season and free dining,crowds, I mark late August and Sept off my DVC calendar.

Good luck.

When they implement the new ala carte system completely it will get better.

A lot of people with kids and wives/husbands who are teachers (we have both) have no other option but to travel during summer. You're lucky.

 

[Sammie]

A lot of people with kids and wives/husbands who are teachers (we have both) have no other option but to travel during summer. You're lucky.

Understandable I come from a family of teachers, but there are many weeks you can avoid free dining during summer such as June and July and early August.

 

[Chuck S]

It isn't just free dining, but the DDP in geeral. The overall quality of Disney TS meals has suffered greatly. For our last 8 day stay, I booked only 3 in-park ADRs prior to the trip, and really, the only restaurant we really enjoyed of those was Brown Derby. We did a few TS meals at Olivia's, other than that, we ate sandiches in the room, or drove over to Pop Century for their counter service meals (they have pretty good meals at Pop, IMO) We did enjoy the Picnic in the Park option at AK.

But it's really a shame, we used to eat an enjoyable in-park TS every day. No more, not until the quality improves. We'll do Brown Derby and maybe Liberty Tree (for lunch). Even one of our counter service favorites, Harbor House at MK, was just awful last month.

 

[kid-at-heart]

I think one solution would be to offer the Quick service plan for free and people would pay the difference to upgrade to the standard or deluxe. It wouldn't eliminate the problem but would certainly take some of the strain off the system.

I am surprised Disney did not change the program to exactly as you suggested. I think such a program would fill the parks and make money for Disney while removing some of the stress for non-free-dining folks.

This year, do people have to stay a minimum of three days to receive free dining? If so, has it been the same in past years?

 

[Sammie]

It isn't just free dining, but the DDP in geeral. The overall quality of Disney TS meals has suffered greatly. For our last 8 day stay, I booked only 3 in-park ADRs prior to the trip, and really, the only restaurant we really enjoyed of those was Brown Derby. We did a few TS meals at Olivia's, other than that, we ate sandiches in the room, or drove over to Pop Century for their counter service meals (they have pretty good meals at Pop, IMO) We did enjoy the Picnic in the Park option at AK.

But it's really a shame, we used to eat an enjoyable in-park TS every day. No more, not until the quality improves. We'll do Brown Derby and maybe Liberty Tree (for lunch). Even one of our counter service favorites, Harbor House at MK, was just awful last month.

I totally agree that dining has suffered but I think free dining and the DDP has caused that.

I think when they quit allowing so many discounted diners, hopefully quality will come back.