Crowd levels for Free Dining

[MomBoyd]

Can someone tell me what to expect, crowd wise, the first week of free dining? We usually go between the 15th of July and the 10th of August, so we are used to rather big crowds.

 

[TDC Nala]

The crowds will be moderate at best to somewhat heavy since free dining starts in mid-August this year. Some school systems are still out of session, although a good many go back in the beginning of August. The restaurants, though, will be packed full.

 

[dottiegirl]

In a perfect "disney"world- we would all hope that there were no crowds the first week of free dining: however, I have been there twice just before free dining. In both years, when free dining starts- so does the longest lines I've ever waited on... In parks and in restaurants! I am hopeing three times a charm, as I am actually going FOR the free dining this year.

 

[missmouse1975]

The crowds last year during FD were fine. We never waited more than 15 minutes for a ride during 8 days at the parks and we chose to eat at CS before or after peak times (11AM or 2 PM). We had early or late ressies for most dinners and then would ride rides during "normal" dinner times. We're going again this year - again in late September - well worth pulling the kids from school for a week to avoid lines and get FD.

 

[NorweJenNY]

The crowds last year during FD were fine. We never waited more than 15 minutes for a ride during 8 days at the parks and we chose to eat at CS before or after peak times (11AM or 2 PM). We had early or late ressies for most dinners and then would ride rides during "normal" dinner times. We're going again this year - again in late September - well worth pulling the kids from school for a week to avoid lines and get FD.

I'm curious if this experience was perhaps later during FD...

I thought first week would be the busiest, and maybe Labor Day weekend/week too...

Or is this entire FD time of year becoming so popular that we will notice long lines for attractions throughout late August and all of September?

 

[catne]

I'm curious if this experience was perhaps later during FD...

I thought first week would be the busiest, and maybe Labor Day weekend/week too...

Or is this entire FD time of year becoming so popular that we will notice long lines for attractions throughout late August and all of September?

We arrived on Sunday of Labor Day Weekend last year. That Sunday night was crazy-busy at MK (had EMH until 2 a.m.) and Monday (Labor Day itself) at DHS was also very busy in the evening (also had EMH that night)

But the rest of the week was wonderfully slow parks. We're rope drop people - later during Labor Day week we went to AK, walked onto Everest like 3 times in a row. At Epcot we fastpassed Soarin' then rode (walk on) then went to Test Track & walked on there, then back to Soarin to ride, then walked on Soarin again. So in a little over an hour we rode Soarin' three times and Test Track. At DHS, we fastpassed TSM & rode it, then went back to ToT, walked on that, then over to RnR and walked on that. So yes, crowds go down considerably after Labor Day weekend. Restaurants were busy though.

 

[Colleen27]

I'm curious if this experience was perhaps later during FD...

I thought first week would be the busiest, and maybe Labor Day weekend/week too...

Or is this entire FD time of year becoming so popular that we will notice long lines for attractions throughout late August and all of September?

We were there for the first few days of free dining in 2007 and found very managable crowds. Definately enough that you'd want to FastPass some headliners (the worst we saw was a 70min standby wait for Soarin' on our Epcot day, but FPs were still available at 2 in the afternoon), but not busy enough that it would detract from enjoying the parks. During evening EMH and the P&PP, we walked onto Space and Splash Mts.

The first week probably is the busiest because so many schools haven't started for the year yet, but it certainly isn't busy in comparison to July or holidays or such.

 

[KimiCoconuts]

Seriously, we go right after labor day and we have no crowd problems. There are people, but it is never too crowded for us. We can walk onto most rides and if is does get busy, there is fastpass. We have gotten spoiled and think waiting for 15 min it terrible! It is just hot, hot, hot!

 

[ReneeA]

We've gone for the first week of free dining since it started in 2005. We've only had large crowds 2 days out of all 30 (both Saturdays in the MK) which are typically very busy days anyway.

Otherwise, we use Undercover Tourist for their "Best Days" calendar, utilize fastpass, and get to the parks for rope drop. We've never waited longer than 20 minutes for anything.

As long as you do some smart planning, it should be very managable.

 

[julezdisney]

I was wondering this as well. But it seems everyone has gone at the beginning? Our ressies are for 23rd-27th. I'd think crowds would be LOW then, right?

 

[ckpegasus102313]

I went for FD last year and the the lines aren't too bad, if you time everything out right. Like not going to the same park that EMH is being done that night. The waiting time is approximately a little less then going at mid - the end of july.