disgusted w/DDining Plan

[emmabemmainc]

Entitlement at its finest. I didn't plan well, so it's Disney's fault!

 

[TDC Nala]

I forgot about free dining and was looking for some place for dinner in or around MK during a MNSSHP night. Yeah, nothing.

You're not incredibly likely to find a walkin dinner before 7 PM anywhere in the MK or around it on a MNSSHP night anyway, free dining or no free dining. WDW isn't the real world and if it ever did function like the real world does, it doesn't anymore. That said, I'm sure the OP could find restaurants if they looked for them - the problem is they would most likely have to leave parks and travel to resorts or DTD to patronize them. There isn't any point in being disgusted with Disney because the focus has shifted to long-term planners and away from last minute trips, especially where the dining plan is involved. It's now necessary to learn to roll with it if you're going to book at the last minute.

I'm going to suggest that the OP either search for restaurants with availability, no matter where they end up being, or downgrade the dining plan and stick with the quick service and continue trying to get an opening or just attempt walking up at maybe 1 or 2 character meals (I have the feeling the OP has been looking for character meals, and character meals are going to be much more difficult to come by during free dining periods).

 

[Cafeen]

We have just decided to go to WDW and take our 2 grandchildren. Disney is offering free dining when we will be there. The problem is I paid an additional $750.00 to upgrade the free plan(because we are staying in a Value Resort) only to not be able to eat at a decent time frame during any day. I have checked from 1pm to 6pm and everywhere is booked. I managed to find 2 meals out of 8 days.Should I just ask to have the difference refunded and just pay for those reservations I have. I am so dissappointed and kinda disgusted with Disney. Thanks for any advice.

While I won't be as caustic as some others here... I do have to ask what's the problem?

Are you there now? Did you do any research about the dining plan before the trip? Are you super picky about locations and times?

There is ALWAYS something available, somewhere. As times get closer, your options do get more limited, but there IS something. Stop by Guest Relations and see what's available in the general area, there WILL be something. It won't be 'Ohana, Le Cellier, or a character meal most likely, but there are plenty of other very good restaurants around the world.

Also, it almost seems that (judging by your $750 quote) you upgraded to Deluxe? That's the only one where the math is close (and then, for 3 adults 1 child). If this is the case, then it's really on you to plan everything out ahead of time. It stinks when it's so close, but that's one of the pitfalls with DxDDP is the large time investment to get everything planned before you go.

Either way, I'd suggest talking to guest relations and seeing what they can do if you are there now. If you are more than 3 days away from your trip, you can go ahead and call and downgrade the plan to whatever you want and you'll be refunded the extra cost.

 

[TDC Nala]

wow, I hadn't even thought that they might have upgraded to deluxe.

If they downgrade now won't they be paying the change fee though? Although that still might be preferable to trying to do deluxe at the last minute.

 

[nkereina]

if you booked a last minute trip, that really isn't their fault. Disney suggest making ADRs at the 180 day mark. You can keep checking multiple times a day to see if something opens up, but odds are that you will have to be flexible or just pay OOP for the meals that you found and take the free QSDP. The QSDP actually has some very good meals if you do your research. It may make for a less stressful vacation if you are not tied down to multilpe ADRs. Good luck and happy planning!

I have to agree here. I know it's hard for some people to plan vacations six months ahead of time, but for Disney, you have to in order to get the best shot at what you want.

$750 to upgrade from QS for two adults and two children sounds really high to me. Without looking it up, I can't remember the exact amount we paid to upgrade from free QS to basic DDP, but I know it was around $200 and that was for six nights for me and my husband, our teenage daughter (Disney adult) and our 4 year old.

I thought the same. OP, you may want to double check this. Did you upgrade to Deluxe? We upgraded from free regular dining to deluxe dining for a week, which is a bigger price jump than QS to regular, and it was less than $750. If you did upgrade to deluxe, definitely downgrade to at least regular. Not only because you will have trouble finding TS restaurants and using up your credits, but with two kids in tow it's a lot of time waiting and sitting and eating and running to the next place. You'll never get your money's worth, especially if you are having a hard time finding ADRs you like. If I were you, I'd just take the QS and save the money, and pay OOP for any TS I can get.

 

[wdwgrannyb]

On the Disney dining website, put in your party size, the date, then either put in a time or just "dinner" and don't give any other restrictions. It will tell you ALL the restaurants that have openings for about a 4 hour time frame. This should give you some options; not necessarily the ones you want, but at least better than nothing.

Thanks for this tip. I will try this today. And I didn't mean to sound so down on Disney, I was just having a bad day. I usually do 180 days out and yes, I did try Resort dining. No, I'm not the type who will go up and say"I just spent $$$ and can't eat". The reason for the short notice trip(end of November) is my husband was just told he has cancer of the mouth(no he never rubbed) and I wanted to take our 13 & 10 year old grandchildren on a special trip to WDW. We do alot with our grandchildren and I want to surprise them for hopefully a special memory. We will have a good time, eating character meals is not a big deal and we will adjust. Disney is sooo much more than eating.
Thanks to those who saw through my bad day, I love Disney.

 

[POOHsie]

On the Disney dining website, put in your party size, the date, then either put in a time or just "dinner" and don't give any other restrictions. It will tell you ALL the restaurants that have openings for about a 4 hour time frame. This should give you some options; not necessarily the ones you want, but at least better than nothing.

Thanks for this tip. I will try this today. And I didn't mean to sound so down on Disney, I was just having a bad day. I usually do 180 days out and yes, I did try Resort dining. No, I'm not the type who will go up and say"I just spent $$$ and can't eat". The reason for the short notice trip(end of November) is my husband was just told he has cancer of the mouth(no he never rubbed) and I wanted to take our 13 & 10 year old grandchildren on a special trip to WDW. We do alot with our grandchildren and I want to surprise them for hopefully a special memory. We will have a good time, eating character meals is not a big deal and we will adjust. Disney is sooo much more than eating.
Thanks to those who saw through my bad day, I love Disney.

Good luck to you for a great trip with the grandkids. My best wishes and prayers for successful medical treatment for your DH. My DH (now deceased) was from Moundsville, and went to old Moundsville HS (class of '62).

From your Disney friend just up the road in McMechen.

 

[nerdboyrockstar]

I just found several for next week's MNSSHP.

Specifically on the 20th: 1900 Park Fare, CRT, Kona, Plaza, The Wave, Whispering Canyon, Grand Floridian Cafe

23rd: Grand Floridian Cafe, LTT, Trail's End, The Wave, WCC

27th: GFC, LTT, Tony's, The Wave


The trick is, you can't even put in a location; only your date, party size and a time. All of the above were anywhere from 4:00-8:00.

I was looking for the 30th. But thank you Sharon! I'll try the trick someone posted here.

 

[Cafeen]

On the Disney dining website, put in your party size, the date, then either put in a time or just "dinner" and don't give any other restrictions. It will tell you ALL the restaurants that have openings for about a 4 hour time frame. This should give you some options; not necessarily the ones you want, but at least better than nothing.

Thanks for this tip. I will try this today. And I didn't mean to sound so down on Disney, I was just having a bad day. I usually do 180 days out and yes, I did try Resort dining. No, I'm not the type who will go up and say"I just spent $$$ and can't eat". The reason for the short notice trip(end of November) is my husband was just told he has cancer of the mouth(no he never rubbed) and I wanted to take our 13 & 10 year old grandchildren on a special trip to WDW. We do alot with our grandchildren and I want to surprise them for hopefully a special memory. We will have a good time, eating character meals is not a big deal and we will adjust. Disney is sooo much more than eating.
Thanks to those who saw through my bad day, I love Disney.

Ahh, end of Nov, you have plenty of time then to fill out what you need. Just keep checking.

Good luck and hope your day gets better.

 

[Mom of 2 Wife of 1]

So, yeah.. I think some of you should be a little more sympathetic with the OP. In the "real world," you don't need 180 days (or even more than 14 days, honestly) to make dining reservations ANYWHERE.

That's because the "real world" has over 25 million restaurants!!!! Your chances of getting into one of them is, oh, I don't know, let's say, pretty darn good? WDW has only 75 restaurants. Please do your math next time.

 

[mrsheppo]

What dates are you looking at for November? I was checking for the 28th & 29, Akershus and Garden Grill are both available. Those are both character meals. Also available are 50's Prime Time and Sci-Fi which are always fun for kids.

Hope you have a great trip no matter what and make wonderful memories for your grandkids.

 

[wdwgrannyb]

Thank You all for the suggestions. I was able to find lots of options and chose some. Always before I called the dining number and did all my reservations by phone. This is the first year I have used the pc to find reservations and always before I did them 180 days out. THANKS again!!!
I apologize for the way I originally posted , it was just a bad day for me.

 

[DisneyLoverUSA]

I would call an downgrade your dining back to the free QSDP you were given for staying in a value resort and just pay for your TS meals OOP.

 

[miprender]

Thank You all for the suggestions. I was able to find lots of options and chose some. Always before I called the dining number and did all my reservations by phone. This is the first year I have used the pc to find reservations and always before I did them 180 days out. THANKS again!!!
I apologize for the way I originally posted , it was just a bad day for me.

I hope you do get what you wanted and have a wonderful trip with your DH and grandkids.

 

[FourBees]

Did you upgrade to regular dining plan or deluxe. If it is the regular you should only be paying $11.00 per day per person so you might want to check that out. If it is the deluxe maybe you want to downgrade to just the regular dining so you don't have so many ADR's to come up with. Good luck with everything!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thank You all for the suggestions. I was able to find lots of options and chose some. Always before I called the dining number and did all my reservations by phone. This is the first year I have used the pc to find reservations and always before I did them 180 days out. THANKS again!!!
I apologize for the way I originally posted , it was just a bad day for me.

I'm glad you were able to get some ADRs. Good luck finding others you may want. No apology necessary. We all get disappointed at times, & should be able to come here & receive support & kindness.

 

[wen8jr]

I don't know why most of your posts seem to be so mean, but I believe you were the one who introduced the "real world" in the first place. Maybe, it would be a good idea to think/relax before you type in the future. We all come here for fun not to be chastised.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[tiredsigh]

I'm so sorry about your DH's diagnosis. Honestly, you get to have a bad day more often than not in a time like this.

Just to give you hope, I have had good luck during super busy seasons by checking the website constantly. Check the reservation site a few (or 20 times like me ) a day and you would be amazed at what comes up. Jot down your wish list with the times and plug them in. You'll find that your dining schedule fills up before the trip with restaurants you are excited about.

Again, I am so sorry. I'm sure your grandkids will love the trip no matter where you eat!

 

[Mom of 2 Wife of 1]

I don't know why most of your posts seem to be so mean, but I believe you were the one who introduced the "real world" in the first place. Maybe, it would be a good idea to think/relax before you type in the future. We all come here for fun not to be chastised.

Most people come here to find solutions to their problems and to be educated. I'm assisting in that regard. Your personal comments are availing no one. Please read all posts before posting your individual thoughts. Thank you.

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Most people come here to find solutions to their problems and to be educated. I'm assisting in that regard. Your personal comments are availing no one. Please read all posts before posting your individual thoughts. Thank you.

I totally agree that people come here for information on planning their trip, & discussing WDW in general. That would stop, if everyone was rude in their replies though. It wouldn't be worth the hassle. They would be looking for that info elsewhere. There's a way to be helpful & kind at the same time. Most everyone here pulls it off on a daily basis. Snippy, rude replies aren't necessary.