Anyone NOT doing free dining in Aug./Sept.?

[gypsydoodlebug]

I've done it the last two years and last year was definitely more crowded (although not unbearable). Seems like everyone's been waiting with baited breath for this year...

I've got reservations at POR for 10/14-10/20 and am paying for DDP. Since free dining has been announced, I'm considering moving us up to 9/22-9/28 (provided we can check in on the 22nd and extend it through the 28th). The kicker is IF we can book a moderate (DH won't stay in a budget).

I'm weighing crowds and heat versus cost -- we'd save about $500. I'm working a couple of those days (I manage a national trade mag and will be profiling a couple of restaurants while I'm down there, so work pays for two nights + food for three days).

On the plus side, DH said so whatever I want... (imagine his shock when we checked into the WL concierge. Hey -- he said do whatever I want! )

Any thoughts?

 

[n2mm]

I'm not doing it, but mostly because of poor planning on my part. We will be there August 15-24, so missed the dates. Then our next trip is Oct. 14-26. So no way could be throw in a September trip too. I promised hubby I would try to keep the trips down to only 4 per year now. Last year, 2006, we only did 4 trips, but in 2005 we did 6 trips. We did the free dining in 2005, but only because we had a trip already planned. We did the free dining in 2006, but it was a last minute long weekend, because we had planned not to do anything for the summer, but when the free ddp came out, it was too good to pass up.

 

[party of 3]

we are not getting the free dining because we will be there from the 8 to the 18th of august so we missed it by a week or 2. we talked at great length last night about changing our reservations, and just can't do it. my son will start school the day before we come home and i don't want him to miss his 1st day of kindergarten. so oh well no free dining for us. but we are thinking about paying out of pocket for it. i think it would be worth it!!

 

[Crazy4Disney06]

We will not be doing free dining either, I booked our dates back in July of 06 hoping for free dining, but now that we have airfare and our trip just about paid for, it would cost us just as much to move everything around as it would save us with free dining. I'm going to just be happy with the $400 I saved with the 40% code.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Crud. I'm just so torn. This is DD's last trip before kindergarten (and hopefully, Baby #2). I want to be comfortable... but I don't think three weeks is going to make that much difference in the weather. It's mostly the crowds I'm worried about.

 

[twinspluscade]

I've done it the last two years and last year was definitely more crowded (although not unbearable). Seems like everyone's been waiting with baited breath for this year...

I've got reservations at POR for 10/14-10/20 and am paying for DDP. Since free dining has been announced, I'm considering moving us up to 9/22-9/28 (provided we can check in on the 22nd and extend it through the 28th). The kicker is IF we can book a moderate (DH won't stay in a budget).

I'm weighing crowds and heat versus cost -- we'd save about $500. I'm working a couple of those days (I manage a national trade mag and will be profiling a couple of restaurants while I'm down there, so work pays for two nights + food for three days).

On the plus side, DH said so whatever I want... (imagine his shock when we checked into the WL concierge. Hey -- he said do whatever I want! )

Any thoughts?

What dates did you do free dining last year? I'm guessing either mid August or the last week of September..am I right?

We were there September 10-14 last year, and it was DEAD...seriously. Longest wait we ever had was 20 minutes... and that was to meet Ariel at her grotto. Ride lines were at the most 5-10 minutes, and many were walk on. I did read here on Dis though that mid-August free dining and the last week in September were much busier (hence why Disney is not offering free dining during that time this year--I think it fills up even without free dining promo).

I would totally do free dining in Sept. if I were you, for the simple reason that October crowds are always busier than September, because of Food and Wine, and some school kids being on Fall Break. I would bet money that the time in October you were thinking about going in will be just as busy and probably more busy than free dining. So you might as well save some money while you're fighting the heat, right?

Kelly

 

[twinspluscade]

Whoops, I missed the part where you said if you'd do free dining it'd be the last week of September. In that case...it may be more crowded. Any way you can move it up a week or so? It does seem as if many people doing free dining are planning on going that week--I suppose to do Food and Wine, plus it's easier to take kids out of school later in the month.

Hmmmm that is a tough one then! I'd still probably choose the free dining time-frame though. Then if you have to fight heat AND crowds better to be doing it eating for free!

 

[pooksma]

No here as well. Not because I wouldn't want it, but because I can only go in the summer. We have paid for our plan since we were going no matter what came out for codes/rates.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Whoops, I missed the part where you said if you'd do free dining it'd be the last week of September. In that case...it may be more crowded. Any way you can move it up a week or so? It does seem as if many people doing free dining are planning on going that week--I suppose to do Food and Wine, plus it's easier to take kids out of school later in the month.

Hmmmm that is a tough one then! I'd still probably choose the free dining time-frame though. Then if you have to fight heat AND crowds better to be doing it eating for free!

We went Sept 19-24 last year. Year before, it was around the 12-16 or so... I don't think I can move it up much because I'll be in Atlantic City for work from Sept. 11-13 or 14.

Guess it'll all come down to what I"m able to book Monday -- IF I can get POR and IF I can book beginning the 22nd, I probably WILL do it.

 

[nurse.darcy]

No free dining here. . .dates don't work. But that's okay cause I got such a great rate at the Swan. Can't wait to be there. . .

 

[Nala2007]

I've considered it, but DH does NOT want to go back during the summer months...plus we've never been during the Holidays. I know it will be worth the wait, but it's just SO far away!!

 

[jamounger]

We are missing free dining by 3 days, checking in Sept 25. When I started planning my trip I definitely had free dining in mind. We went the same weekend last year and got free dining, MNSSHP, and F&W all rolled into one. I was planning on the same thing this year with more days there. My AAA agent was able to get the 40% applied to our package so we switched up to the Poly and our cost is the same as it would be with fee dining. My only regret is I've been having a little buyers remorse and had considered switching back to a mod with free dining. I already have plane tickets so the cost of changing the dates on all those thing to get a comparable package at a mod is the same as my original package.

 

[ksc37]

Our dates are 8/25 - 8/30... we miss it by one day. We have AAA discount already + concierge level. When I work out the cost of switching to a one day reservation + a four day free dining, it saves us about ~$50. Not really worth the trouble. Also, with the concierge, we have found that the DDP is too much food.

It's fun watching everyone else get really excited about it, though

 

[bsmcneil]

i'm with nala2007. last year was nice but it was hot and a little crowded and interrupted school schedules. so this year, we're going for christmas.

 

[ktink]

We'll be there during free dining. Sept 2- 8 but we got a better deal w/ the 40% code. We purchased DDP for this trip and still ended up saving $$$.

We were there in 2005 and got the free dining promo and the crowds were very low. We were there the week of Labor Day and there were no wait times on alot of rides, everything was pretty much walk on. Soarin had a 20 min wait and that was the longest wait time we experienced.

In the short time since I posted this... DH's truck has messed up and we may cancell the Polynesian and try to get free dining at CBR for $1000 savings. It makes me sick but the good news is that we will get to stay an additional night.

 

[caracap]

We had Sept 22nd- 27th booked before I even knew about free dining. I picked those dates hoping for really low crowds seeing my 3 kids are 3 and under. Now, that is the only week DH can take off. I am really worried about crowds, but the savings will be great if it comes out! Please tell me it won't be super crowded!!!!!!!!!

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I am crunching the numbers, and I am torn! My dates work (Sept 2-8) but I have an AP but my family doesn't. I rather have an AP rate at the hotel and use my DDE card, but who knows if AP rates will be released for where we want to stay (Poly or WL)! I hate to buy myself a 6 day ticket if I already have an AP just to get free dining. Someone wrote that maybe we could buy four 1-day base tickets and then upgrade 3 of them to 6 days hoppers. How confusing!!

The other reason is that I simply can't tie up so much money early by paying off the room ahead of time, since I think with packages that's what you're required to do. With room only, you only pay a deposit and the rest when you get there. And the cancellation policies are different - room only is very easy to cancel or change close to the travel dates (in case of hurricanes or something).

Decisions, decisions!!

 

[NancyIL]

I like going in October for the Food & Wine Festival, and I prefer staying at the Swan - so no free dining for me. I also have an AP and the DDE card.

 

[ssjerauld]

Not doing free dining if the rumored dates are correct. DSD 2 starts college 8/20 and DSD 1 goes back to college either the same weekend or the next. Since this is a "you've graduated from high school with high honors and we're so proud of you" trip, it would probably be REALLY tacky to leave her home! (I think)

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Not doing free dining if the rumored dates are correct. DSD 2 starts college 8/20 and DSD 1 goes back to college either the same weekend or the next. Since this is a "you've graduated from high school with high honors and we're so proud of you" trip, it would probably be REALLY tacky to leave her home! (I think)

Yeah, I think it would! Good for her, though!