Article on Free Dining

[CHRISP1027]

Who is Jim Hill?

I am praying that the free dining is offered or there is NO WAY we can take our 4 grandchildren and their Father with us. But if it is offered and the times are Aug. 26 - Sept 22 it looks like they would have to be taken out of school and I don't know if their Dad will let them do that. So looks like I have to double up on my prayers.

Chris

 

[Bete]

There are shuttle services and some are free (or a nominal charge) depending where you stay offsite to get back and forth from Disney. If you go at the right time you get some condos, etc. at excellent rates. You could do your meals very cheap if you do your own meals. Yes, it's a little harder and yes, it's a little more work. I would rather do the above then not go at all. You need to do the research, but you can do it; I've done it.

You could pick your time more freely if you don't rely on the window of opportunity for free dining only. I've stayed on and offsite; I've stayed cheap and expensive. The main point is I got to go to Disney.

It's always nice to get a perk, but to say it's free dining or not at all is too strong of a stand. Be a little flexible and you can work out a Disney trip without free dining. Good luck.

Obviously, if you are open to staying off-site you could work around your granchildren's school schedule. We've taken our grandchildren out of school and they were given extra homework assignments to do a Disney trip while school is in session. Also, we made sure to mix the educational and fun aspects of Disney for them. The passport for Epcot is absolutely a great educational and fun experience combined to do with them.

 

[bicker]

But if it is offered and the times are Aug. 26 - Sept 22 it looks like they would have to be taken out of school and I don't know if their Dad will let them do that.

Generally, free dining is intended to fill the hotels when Disney typically has trouble filling them: In the heart of hurricane season, once the children go back to school. A lot of folks have speculated that the free dining period this year will start later because there is a trend in many school districts nationwide to start later than in recent past year.

 

[bicker]

If you go at the right time you get some condos, etc. at excellent rates.

That's a good point: If money is tight, you can almost always do better by sacrificing the benefits of staying at a Disney resort. However, do keep in mind that that difference is eroding a little, these days, given that Disney's Magical Express provides free transportation to and from the airport.