Counter service during Free Dining?

[JulieEck]

We currently have a Free Dining package booked. We've never done the dining plan before and we always just do counter service meals whenever we go. I figured it would be nice to be able to try some of the table service restaurants using free dining. The package I booked is at the WL. None of the values were available. There were a couple of moderates available, but I've always wanted to stay at WL. Anyway, with the new room discount out, we are considering changing our ressie to a value resort ($69/night!) and then doing just counter service like normal. My question is, how difficult is it to get counter service during free dining? I've heard/read that the restaurants are packed during free dining although the parks aren't. Will we be standing in hour-long lines at counter service??? I'm probably blowing this all our of proportion! This is also our first time going during the fall. Our trip is 8/30 - 9/3. Thanks!

 

[planitdad]

We did not enjoy our CS experience during Free Dining. Too hard to find a table. If the kids weren't little, would have been more doable.

I've read that others have better luck by eating at off-times. But yes they do get busy. We chose to upgrade our Free Dining to Deluxe this yr. Wouldn't suggest that w/out ensuring first you can get all the ADR's to make sense in a plan. Does make for less flexibility. We have done many trips just counter service, but Free Dining changes everything IMO.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

We had zero issues with counter service meals anywhere last year during free dining, but we tend to eat our lunches early and then have a normal dinner.

 

[MickeyMomTo2]

We didn't have a problem at all, but we made sure to eat on the early end of meal times. Between 11-12 was fine and 5-6 wasn't bad either. After that, things get much more crowded.

 

[JulieEck]

Thanks for the responses! We don't eat a big breakfast when we are at WDW, maybe a breakfast bar, etc. and tend to eat an earlier lunch as well so it sounds like we won't have much of a problem, if any at all.

 

[justplaingoofy]

We usually try to eat at off times and have never really experienced anything crazy.

For the money you are saving if there are any table service places you want to eat at you could still do that out of pocket.

Heres another idea:

Also, if you think you are only going to do a couple of table meals you could always do a split stay. You could keep your free dining plan for 3 nights with your park tickets for the amount of days you need, then move over to the value. That you can enjoy the deluxe property since you said you always wanted to stay there, and eat at some table service restaurants and still get the lower rate for your remaining days.

 

[SmallWorld71]

We didn't have any problems with lines at CS last year. We ate at Pizza Planet, Fish & Chips in England, CS in China, Pizzafari, El Pirata y El Perico, and POR food court. Most were for lunch. We were there 8/25 - 9/1.

 

[catne]

We currently have a Free Dining package booked. We've never done the dining plan before and we always just do counter service meals whenever we go. I figured it would be nice to be able to try some of the table service restaurants using free dining. The package I booked is at the WL. None of the values were available. There were a couple of moderates available, but I've always wanted to stay at WL. Anyway, with the new room discount out, we are considering changing our ressie to a value resort ($69/night!) and then doing just counter service like normal. My question is, how difficult is it to get counter service during free dining? I've heard/read that the restaurants are packed during free dining although the parks aren't. Will we be standing in hour-long lines at counter service??? I'm probably blowing this all our of proportion! This is also our first time going during the fall. Our trip is 8/30 - 9/3. Thanks!

One thing...I can't tell from your post, but do you have ADR's for all your Table service meals already? Because if you don't, get on the phone now. You may find very few options left for table service. If you can't get table service reservations for your days, that would answer your question whether to cancel the DDP and go with the deal on the value resort! No sense paying for table service meals that you can't get...or can only get at really odd times.