Anyone not really excited about the Free DDP?

[Savsmommy]

Sorry I dont mean to be a party pooper here but.....We were planning on going to WDW again at the end of September like we always do for mine and DH Anniversary. We were just at WDW last month and only live 2 hours away. Now with the FREE DDP is that gonna make the parks and resorts really crowded? With a 6 and 2 year old I dont want to have to wait in an hour long line to ride the rides, especially since we were just there. I know we would save money with the DDP but I'm not sure if it would be worth it if it's really crowded. I'm thinking of cancelling and going the first week in December instead. DH and our kids have never been when the parks and resorts were decorated for Christmas. Is this crazy giving up the DDP for free? I dont know what to do.

 

[Magical JenK]

We were there last September during free dining & it was not crowded at all. We went right after Labor Day so I can only speak to that, but I thought it was great & the dining plan was awesome. We only had to use one Fast Pass --Lights/Motor/Action show at MGM. Although, last year many people who went the same time as us did not know that the dining plan was free?? this year, I think more people are aware of it & on the look out?! :0)

Good luck & happy planning regardless of the time you go!
Jen

 

[MarksMom2006]

We were there too last September with free dining. It was great! We got right on everything. I am not too concerned for this year either. Plus this year we are going a week earlier...right when kids go back to school!

 

[jenga1030]

We went last year during the last week of free dining and it had really picked up then. I had been reading in here about how empty the park was and it was a lot more crowded when we got there. (But it still wasn't too bad.) So the last week of September may pick up a little, but the middle of September I think will still be pretty slow.
Jennifer

 

[LakeAriel]

I was there for the free dining from September 30 to October 4, 2005. It WAS very crowed and I had to get fast passes for the popular rides. It was not as crowded as Spring break, however, and with all those meals for free it was a real treat!

 

[teachingmykids]

We always go in Sept. (hurricanes allowing) so the dining is an added bonus. I would have never bought dining because with just DD and me going we don't eat $80 worth of food a day. I know it works for bigger families, but it's not an incentive for us ~~ we just lucked out on the timing.

 

[Panna]

I had a concern over the crowding as well. Last week of September heads into Columbus day (4 day weekend comando!). But we will be there for 10 days, so eventhen I am not going to stress over the crowds.

 

[ElizabethB]

We were there last year during the last week of August. We didn't participate in free dining. We found the restaurants to be jam-packed and miserable -- at least the 1 TS credits ones. The ride lines didn't seem too bad as everyone was in the restaurants stuffing themselves.

 

[emh1129]

Well, I AM excited about the free dining plan. But I'm NOT excited about the crowds it may draw in ..
It will be our first family trip and I really wanted to pick a slower time of the year.. but it seems like there is always some holiday or event to try to avoid, so I suppose it is inevitable.
We're planning Sept.29-Oct.9 but I'm thinking it might be smarter to move everything up a week

Seems like the consensus is that early. Oct is crowded

 

[Cinders Mum]

I have said on another thread, I am really, really pleased for the people who do get the free dining, I am not eligible to use DDP free or otherwise, and inwardly I am crying now they have announced this offer.

Last year we went out 9/23 - 10/15 and it was very busy, every afternoon outside MK they would place a board advising that all TS restaurants were fully booked for the day and that counter services were available.

I also tried to arrange breakfast at Chef mickey's and gave Disney Dining a window of 10 days and they could not help me.

This year we are travelling the same dates again and I had hoped we could have the tiniest bit of flexibility in our dining plans, looks like this isn't to be.

For those who do get it, well done.

 

[EEyorelover22]

I have said on another thread, I am really, really pleased for the people who do get the free dining, I am not eligible to use DDP free or otherwise, and inwardly I am crying now they have announced this offer.

Last year we went out 9/23 - 10/15 and it was very busy, every afternoon outside MK they would place a board advising that all TS restaurants were fully booked for the day and that counter services were available.

I also tried to arrange breakfast at Chef mickey's and gave Disney Dining a window of 10 days and they could not help me.

This year we are travelling the same dates again and I had hoped we could have the tiniest bit of flexibility in our dining plans, looks like this isn't to be.

For those who do get it, well done.

Why can't you use the dining?

 

[jenga1030]

This year we are travelling the same dates again and I had hoped we could have the tiniest bit of flexibility in our dining plans, looks like this isn't to be.


Cinders Mum,

I feel the same way. I have already booked our ADRs, but I too was hoping for a little more flexibility than last year when we went during free dining. Oh well.

And we can't do the free dining either this time, we are renting DVC points so I know that we are getting a much better room rate and staying at a deluxe for cheaper than a moderate, but I can't get that darn free dining out of my head. We have to pay for it this year.

Jennifer

 

[Marthasor]

Sorry I dont mean to be a party pooper here but.....We were planning on going to WDW again at the end of September like we always do for mine and DH Anniversary. We were just at WDW last month and only live 2 hours away. Now with the FREE DDP is that gonna make the parks and resorts really crowded? With a 6 and 2 year old I dont want to have to wait in an hour long line to ride the rides, especially since we were just there. I know we would save money with the DDP but I'm not sure if it would be worth it if it's really crowded. I'm thinking of cancelling and going the first week in December instead. DH and our kids have never been when the parks and resorts were decorated for Christmas. Is this crazy giving up the DDP for free? I dont know what to do.

I don't think you are crazy at all!! I had a trip booked for my husband and me from 9/26 - 10/4, but both of our job situations changed and I ended up cancelling about 3 weeks ago (had the whole thing planned out, Discovery Cove and Segway Tour booked and everything). I had originally picked this time because it was the end of value season, we could get to the first MNSSHP AND do the beginning of F&W. But quite honestly, I kept second guessing the timing mostly because of the heat AND hurricane season. I now think, with the promotion, you may be adding crowds and GREAT difficulty getting into restaurants and thereby difficulty even USING the free dining on top of it. Think of all of the people booking the promo like crazy right now - when their 180 day ADR window hits, those phone lines are going to be jammed!

Don't get me wrong, I would jump at the chance to go to Disney ANY time, but, if you are having doubts, I HIGHLY recommend going at the beginning of December!!! The weather is mild, the crowds are minimal and the decorations are beautiful!!

I would take minimal crowds over free food ANYTIME!!! Good luck with your decision.

 

[nowellsl]

We've been in September for the last few years and last Sept. was more crowded than it has been in the past. However, it was also more crowded in Dec. and Jan. than in the past. I think the secret of going in the off season is out and it's just plain more crowded all the time! The free dining was worth it to me to put up with more crowds, it wasn't too bad and we got to eat at some resturants we probably wouldn't have normally.

 

[kmkja1]

 

[Disney845]

I think that just like with everything else in this world, that one person's version of crowded and another's are two totally different things. I think one's perception can also be VERY skewed by personal touring and eating habits, as well as the time of the year they have previously traveled to WDW. I have lived in FL off and on for almost my entire life, and have been to the parks during all different seasons. I honestly don't plan it that way, but Sept/Oct seems to work out best for us to go.

I was there for the free dining from September 30 to October 4, 2005. It WAS very crowed and I had to get fast passes for the popular rides. It was not as crowded as Spring break, however, and with all those meals for free it was a real treat!

I was also there during the last days of Sept./1st days of Oct. on the dining plan last year. We didn't think the parks were very crowded at all.

For example:
We stayed at Pop and never had to wait for more than one bus except for one evening back from Epcot after the fireworks (and this had to do with several wheelchair and ECVs boarding) and everytime we had seats.

All other transport we used, boats/monorails were also timely and full of room.

We went to MK, Epcot, and MGM (the later two we made it for the rope drop in the am). Many rides we walked on, or had what I consider a minimal wait (5-15 min). As any good disser we utilized FP whenever possible. (Your touring plan has a lot to do with this, if you go to FantasyLand in the height of the afternoon and expect to walk on Dumbo, you had better think twice.)

I will, however, point out that the TS dining was packed. You really really really need ARs. We had not planned on a TS during our MK day, but changed our minds that day. We were unable to get into any of the TS at the MK, they were taking no walk ups. On our MGM day, we had ARs for 50's but left the park early and rested in the room before calling down to make a new ressie at one of the resort TS. We got into Spoodle's (around 9) but it was only 1 of about 3 different places that had any openings.

Speaking of ARs, make them as early as you can. Last year I had to call about 6-7 times checking back to see for some of the ressies we wanted (CM, which I never got, etc) or to adjust to get the time I wanted.

 

[Cinders Mum]

Eeyore, for 2 reasons 1) I am an AP holder and 2) I got a TA rate which disqualifies me from being allowed to purchase DDP .... Had I stayed at a value or even a moderate this year then I'd have been cheaper to ditch my discount and take free dining, however at Deluxe the math just doesn't add up ....

Val
xx

 

[EEyorelover22]

Eeyore, for 2 reasons 1) I am an AP holder and 2) I got a TA rate which disqualifies me from being allowed to purchase DDP .... Had I stayed at a value or even a moderate this year then I'd have been cheaper to ditch my discount and take free dining, however at Deluxe the math just doesn't add up ....

Val
xx

Thanks.
I did some math too and the deluxe isn't a good deal for free dining when I ran the numbers. I can't even go in that time frame!

Make some ADRs and all will be wonderful. We always go in June and always have to make ADRs or we wouldn't get in anywhere to eat

 

[SteinsLaFemme]

I was going at that time anyway and am glad that I am getting the dining plan for free but I am not looking forward to the crowds. I chose that time of the year because the crowds are usually low.

 

[formernyer]

I'm expecting to be pleased with the level of crowding when we are there from 9/30 - 10/4. Our first trip was last week, right in the middle of spring break season. Between smart planning (like racing to popular rides as soon as the parks opened) and fast passes, we never waited more than 30 minutes for any ride. Even the 30 minutes waits were few and far between. Don't get me wrong, some of the ride had 2 hours waits...we just worked around them via good planning. The crowds never bothered me...even CS lines were short.

I can't imagine early October will be more crowded than Spring break, so I'm really excited about it.