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

[WolfpackFan]

Free dining really doesn't bother me. We don't eat a lot of TS meals anyway and have never had any problems getting ADR's when we do eat them. We're heading down in two weeks and plan to eat CS meals only. Frankly I don't really understand how folks can afford to eat all those expensive meals. Food is food to me.

 

[TagsMissy]

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.

You choose to call one hour later -- nobody is stopping any of us DVC members from calling the regular dining number like everybody else.

 

[jekjones1558]

A while back we became disillusioned with dining at WDW. Food variety and quality have slipped and prices are higher than comparable fare off property. We always rent a car, so we get groceries for breakfast and snacks and some light lunches (cold cuts, salads, crackers, cheese). We go to places like Bahama Breeze or Macaroni Grill for one meal a day. We are on our own schedule, not tied to ADRs, so we have tons of flexibility. We think that the wide range of restaurants just outside Disney property offers food that has more variety, equal or better quality, ability to just show up (especially if we eat an early dinner) and cheaper prices. I still fight for CP package reservations and now that Fantasmic is so infrequent I guess we will need to do a package for that also. Too bad, but ADRs at WDW just are not worth the headaches to us anymore.

 

[rescuetink]

We were figuring that we would order groceries and have breakfast in the room before we head to the parks. Go to the parks in the AM when it's cooler, and return to the room for lunch and a dip in the pool before heading back to the parks in the evening when it's cooler again and seeing the parades and fireworks. Some days we'll eat in the parks, but we don't plan to get park passes for all 7 days we'll be there anyway.

Has anyone else used the grocery service and ate mostly in the rooms??

Good?? Bad?? Indifferent???

 

[disneydisneydoo]

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

I just got a card in the mail from Disney Destination which is extending/offeriing free dining with a pin code for stays thru 12/17. The time around Thanksgiving is the only time that is excluded. So it looks like it isn't going away anytime soon.

 

[Sammie]

I just got a card in the mail from Disney Destination which is extending/offeriing free dining with a pin code for stays thru 12/17. The time around Thanksgiving is the only time that is excluded. So it looks like it isn't going away anytime soon.

That offer will not affect everyone though, as it will be offered to fewer people. The offer to the general public ends in Sept.

 

[CapeCodFam]

I'm confident that Disney will synch up the online ADR's with DVC. For the time being, it is what is. I'm turning this into an opportunity to eat more mickey premium bars.

For me, I think Disney treats DVC members better than anyone. We are getting the biggest discount on Deluxe accomodations for decades and it's an asset that can be monetized if needed. I don't see how that makes us second class guests.

 

[mvc1997]

get rid of the DDP!!
Free or not.
The food is almost the same on every menu in the DDP.
The quality has really suffered.
The prices have gone UP, I think to cover the cost of those on the DDP. & especially the Free DDP.
We wish they would just have better quality, more to chose from on the menu and everyone pay as you go.

We eat to live, not live to eat.
(Sorry! We have a different addiction not mentionable on these boards)
They offer too much food on the DDP,and it's mostly the same stuff over & over!

In all the trips we've made we have never made ADRs except for Chef Mickey.
Hope everyone gets those few really Special ADRs that make your trip a memory!!

 

[kim532]

I am a new owner. What is the one hour lag??

 

[Mike]

A while back we became disillusioned with dining at WDW. Food variety and quality have slipped and prices are higher than comparable fare off property. We always rent a car, so we get groceries for breakfast and snacks and some light lunches (cold cuts, salads, crackers, cheese). We go to places like Bahama Breeze or Macaroni Grill for one meal a day. We are on our own schedule, not tied to ADRs, so we have tons of flexibility. We think that the wide range of restaurants just outside Disney property offers food that has more variety, equal or better quality, ability to just show up (especially if we eat an early dinner) and cheaper prices. I still fight for CP package reservations and now that Fantasmic is so infrequent I guess we will need to do a package for that also. Too bad, but ADRs at WDW just are not worth the headaches to us anymore.

Amen!!! I'll let all of the others fight with each other for the privilege to eat mediocre food at gourmet prices. I have felt this way for the past 3 years at least. We will be there 17 days and have only 3 ADRs for dinner. The rest will be offsite or in the villa.

 

[Bouncin-Tigger]

The 1 hour lag is the time, 5am central time the online ADRs start, but for dvc resv. cant use the online system, so we have to wait til 6am central time to use the wdw dine number.

 

[CarolA]

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

1. It's NOT free, it's free if you pay FULL Rack rate. So using Disney logic... Mark up room to 100% over what you would pay in the real world. Give a discount and folks don't realize they are getting ripped off for the hotel. (As a stockholder I LOVE this logic, as a consumer

2. CRT is a no go an hour later even if you don't have free dining... So the problem isn't free dining it's the world's most useless IT shop (AKA as Disney's IT shop!)


Like others I am not as big a fan of Disney Dining as I used to be. There are some good meals but 9 meals there??? NOPE! I can't take the same food 9 times

 

[Figment56]

Word of advice! I called my 90 days out and could not get a few of the places we wanted, so I booked some alternatives. I then went online every few days to see if what we wanted had opened up. Low and behold, where we wanted had about 4 or 5 spots open all week! I did book what day and time we wanted. I later called because I could not add to my phone reservations but the customer service specialist assured me that my reservations were there and all I needed was the ressie number! I would suggest if you don't get what you want when you call, go online and CHECK OFTEN and book IMMEDIATELY!

 

[MissMet]

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.

I totally agree!

I have to call for my ADRs on Thursday & I've never worried about getting the ADRs I want in the 20 years my family has been going to WDW until this trip! I don't want to be treated better than anyone else, but my God do I hate feeling like I'm missing out, especially when Disney is guaranteed to get my money!

We all show send an e-mail! Can you imagine?

 

[kikiq]

We were figuring that we would order groceries and have breakfast in the room before we head to the parks. Go to the parks in the AM when it's cooler, and return to the room for lunch and a dip in the pool before heading back to the parks in the evening when it's cooler again and seeing the parades and fireworks. Some days we'll eat in the parks, but we don't plan to get park passes for all 7 days we'll be there anyway.

Has anyone else used the grocery service and ate mostly in the rooms??

Good?? Bad?? Indifferent???

One of the reasons we bought DVC was to have a kitchen to cook meals. Never had the money to go to that many TS meals in one trip. Depending on who is with us, we may eat at Boma's, Ohana's, or Cape May Cafe. Last summer we spent a little over $220 for groceries for 10 people. We ate at Cape May Clambake and Ohana's. Each of those bills was well over $200. The groceries covered the rest of the meals that week and that included 2 roasted chickens and skirt steaks. One breakfast everyone wanted Mickey waffles, so we went to Artist's Palette. I think having meals in the room gives you so much flexibility. We head out early, come back for lunch and to swim, take naps. Then eat an early dinner and if we do have dinner ADRs they are for early times. In fact, this last summer we had 5 pm ressies at Cape May clambake and we were seated within 10 minutes...a first for us. My dad was ready to wait 30 - 40 minutes

 

[Chuck S]

1. It's NOT free, it's free if you pay FULL Rack rate. So using Disney logic... Mark up room to 100% over what you would pay in the real world. Give a discount and folks don't realize they are getting ripped off for the hotel. (As a stockholder I LOVE this logic, as a consumer

I agree, from the stockholder point of view, it is marketing genius.

So many consumers want a prepaid vacation plan that they often don't do the math, and many say "Look what the DDP saved me!" Even when it isn't a "free" few people take the time to add up what they really would have eaten on cash vs. what is included on the DDP. Truly, I doubt most folks eat dessert with every meal. Like all the "all-inclusive" plans out there, for 95% of people there is no savings at all, the travel companies make big bucks on all-inclusive. People just like it prepaid for convenience.

 

[lugnut33]

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.

Even with free dining though the crowds are much smaller in mid-august when compared to June and July. It just blew my mind when I looked at the Unoff. Guide crowd calendar and they are predicting 5's & 6's all week. If that holds true, I'll be super happy with that.

 

[VTNuke]

I agree, from the stockholder point of view, it is marketing genius.

So many consumers want a prepaid vacation plan that they often don't do the math, and many say "Look what the DDP saved me!" Even when it isn't a "free" few people take the time to add up what they really would have eaten on cash vs. what is included on the DDP. Truly, I doubt most folks eat dessert with every meal. Like all the "all-inclusive" plans out there, for 95% of people there is no savings at all, the travel companies make big bucks on all-inclusive. People just like it prepaid for convenience.

That's like the off site sellers of the tickets. They tell you order 7 days and they'll give you an 8th for free! In reality, it's like a $4 discount. As for the "all-inclusive" deals, I don't mind paying for convenience if the quality is up to par.

I don't think the free DP is the issue for the ADR's. I think it's the change from 180 days to 90 days. It has hurt the planners and most DVCer's are booking their trips around the 7 month window. I'd love to see DVCer's be given just a 91 day window. That would be enough to make me happy.

 

[TDC Nala]

The Disney Dining phone line opens at 7 AM Eastern time.

If you are booking reservations online, you may begin doing that at 6 AM Eastern time - that is when the system rolls over.

So, those booking online get a full hour to book restaurants prior to the time the phone lines open.

Because the online system does not recognize DVC reservation numbers, DVC members cannot go online to book 90 + 10 reservations (onsite guests may start booking exactly 90 days from the first day of their reservation - and they may also book restaurants for up to 10 days after that.) DVC members who want to use 90 + 10 booking cannot do it online - they have to call the dining line. There is currently no way for the online system to verify that DVC members are staying onsite.

If you are within your 90 day window, you don't need to input a reservation number to make online reservations. It's really only a problem when booking 90 + 10 and the one hour difference between the online system and the phone line probably means less chance of booking peak times at the most popular restaurants.

 

[reedycreek]

Great thread.

I personally love the DxDDP. My fiancee and I are big foodies and we like to try new things and enjoy sit down meals when we visit Disney. The DxDDP and the DDP have saved me a lot of money over the years, as we would have paid for 3 sit down meals a day otherwise.

However, I do agree that the DDP and especially Free Dining have remarkably changed dining at Disney. The menus are standardized, quality has declined tremendously, portions have gotten smaller, it is much harder to get ADR's, and service has suffered. Free Dining is definitely a gimmick, and one that works to Disney's advantage. Unfortunately, the customers pay the ultimate price.

As far as the correlation between free dining and DVC, I must agree with the OP as well. It is just another example of how those of us who invested (spent) an enormous amount of money into DVC once again, get shafted.