Call from Disney today.

[SandrA9810]

The thing with free dining, is you have to pay rack rate for the room. So at rack rate for a campsite isn't much cheaper than a value. So there would be an increase in price of the campsite over what the usual discounted price is.

I don't think it's fair either. At least add it to the premium and preffered loops. They're expensive as it is.

 

[clkelley]

I just camped at the Fort last weekend, and it was practically empty. It was the emptiest that I have ever seen it in all my years that I have visited the Fort. I think a lot of people who might have stayed at the Fort instead chose the free dining offer, and so, the Fort is empty.


TCD

We were most definitely one of those at the Value Resorts for Free Dining instead of the campground.

9 nights for $900 for two people and $65.00 each way airfare. I don't think there is any way we could have done that cheap pulling the camper down even cooking at the camper the whole week (which we don't do at Disney except for parties and lite breakfast).

I'm honestly glad they don't offer free dining for the campsites. A lot of the locals already book 4 adults to a Value room just for the free dining and never set foot in the room. Can you imagine what they would do if it was offered at the campground??!!! The campground would be "booked" but still dead empty!!

 

[jriae2000]

They could mandate the free dinning is for guest with equipment set up on site only.If they have an rv they would have to at least move it there, and if they dont have an rv they would have to rent one. There goes the savings. They could apply this to the preferred and premium sits only.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

Didnt mean to get everyone riled up. Im just saying that in Oct were gong to spend over $4,000 for eight nights at the park(with gas down and back) and it would be nice to get SOMETHING free.

1) Do you think you have a special entitlement?
2) Do you think Disney should give you a freebie for the road gas you are buying?
3) $4,000, even less gas, makes about $450 a night for a campground?
4) Should WDW give you freebies for buying park tickets?
5) Wait, I should lots of freebies
. . . my house was more than $4,000
. . . my car was more than $4,000
. . . my kids' colleges were more than $4,000

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Personally, I would like to see "Free Dining" die. As a result of free dining (which, hate to tell everybody, isn't really free), quality and variety of food has gone down, decent restaurants are impossible to get ADR's at anymore, and the service has gone down the toilet due to frustrated cast members, even for those of us who don't get "free dining." The last thing Americans need is large amounts of bad food.

 

[jriae2000]

1) Do you think you have a special entitlement?
2) Do you think Disney should give you a freebie for the road gas you are buying?
3) $4,000, even less gas, makes about $450 a night for a campground?
4) Should WDW give you freebies for buying park tickets?
5) Wait, I should lots of freebies
. . . my house was more than $4,000
. . . my car was more than $4,000
. . . my kids' colleges were more than $4,000

Just trying to give some great memories to our kids. I dont remember asking about anyones car but if your kids got a great deal on a house or car wouldnt you want one? I think yes. Paid my own way through school with GI Bill. Parents could have paid but I wanted the satisfaction of doing it myself. With the local hospitals calling people off frequently its cut into our budget a lot. And if you read this post last night yes there was a MAJOR EDIT today. I was a little angry when I first posted. Thats not normally me and Im SORRY.

 

[Tri-circle-D]

Personally, I would like to see "Free Dining" die. As a result of free dining (which, hate to tell everybody, isn't really free), quality and variety of food has gone down, decent restaurants are impossible to get ADR's at anymore, and the service has gone down the toilet due to frustrated cast members, even for those of us who don't get "free dining." The last thing Americans need is large amounts of bad food.

ITA!

TCD

 

[des1954]

Personally, I would like to see "Free Dining" die. As a result of free dining (which, hate to tell everybody, isn't really free), quality and variety of food has gone down, decent restaurants are impossible to get ADR's at anymore, and the service has gone down the toilet due to frustrated cast members, even for those of us who don't get "free dining." The last thing Americans need is large amounts of bad food.

Well put, Jim! Well put!!

DH & I used to dine quite frequently at the nicer WDW restaurants. We live close enough to be able to go there just for dinner. Enter the Dining Packages....and the (1) increase in price to walk-up customers, and (2) the decline in the quality of the food served....and you get (3) we no longer spend any $$$ at the WDW restaurants. Even when we're camping for a weekend, we go outside the Fort for dinner. Ale House is our preferred establishment of choice.

If you didn't eat regularly at WDW like we did, you probably wouldn't notice as much the degredation of the food served. I know I wouldn't have. But trust me on this....the food is nowhere near as good as it was before all the "free dining" (which like Jim said...is really not free) started.

Just my $.02 cents.

 

[edandcolleen1995]

I guess what still boggles my (admited limited) mind, is that people act like Disney is a charity..

They forget behind the characters and pixie dust is a huge money making business. Nothing is done without profit in mind.

As others pointed out, free dining is not free. It is a tool to drive occupancy and profit.

So for folks posting and asking for handouts and free stuff, why in the world do you think Disney would give it to you?

 

[mickeyluvr004]

I have one question I know you can't get free dining but can you buy the dining plan at the campground?? we are thinking of getting a camper and would love to camp at the fort and we were just courious about the dining plan and if it was available to purchase thanks all

 

[ftwildernessguy]

I have one question I know you can't get free dining but can you buy the dining plan at the campground?? we are thinking of getting a camper and would love to camp at the fort and we were just courious about the dining plan and if it was available to purchase thanks all

Yes.

 

[jriae2000]

Yep. The fact is that even though Im complaining about it not being free I still bought it myself. Dont want to cook on vacation. Oh well, guess Im not all there either.

 

[Calway]

Yes, Mickeyluv...you can camp and buy the dining plan. We did. We'll be at the Fort 10/19-10/25. We have too much to do and don't want to cook.