Disney Complainers Complain About This!

[fishhunter]

I read these message boards often and use the boards to help with planning and ask questions. Recently, I've read a lot of complaints about Disney's pricing and FP+ system among other things. I'm sure there are some improvements that can be made but you certainly can't complain about the free dining I just got. I modified an existing 10 night stay in December in which I initially added the meal plan and was going to pay for it. With the offer of free dining during my stay, it saved me $1,880.00! Can anyone tell me where you can go on vacation and eat for free the entire time? Some meals might not be great and some will be but they all will be for free! We just got back from a 4 night stay in Vegas and I can CERTAINLY tell you the food there is not free! Thanks Disney!!!! It certainly helps especially during the Christmas season.

 

[LSUfan4444]

It's not free, you just pay for it a different way. Kinda like on a cruise.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Disney isn't giving anything away for free. Enjoy your lower cost vacation. Those discounts are a real treat. But there are many all inclusive vacation options out there.

 

[sonofanarchy]

You don't technically pay for your food on a cruise. And you get as much as you want.

 

[mchllevns]

Congrats!!! I can't take advantage of the free dining this year, but am happy for those that do....I always say that my Disney vacations are well worth the money...they pick me up at the airport, take me to the parks (yeah a break from driving...priceless!), and I can use my park hoppers and dining plan to the way I want...make the most or the least of my money according to my planning...

We live near the Jersey shore and a day at the beach can be $$$ when you add in parking, food, ride tickets, etc...let alone a week in a beach house...

Thanks for the positive report!!

 

[LSUfan4444]

But, this effect is exactly what Disney wants.

They want people to lock in early on and consider it a great value (or free in this case) so you justify it later on when you are subject to the restrictions and the downsides.

 

[MichiganDVC]

Well, if you got Free Dining in place of paid dining on a non-discounted package you already booked, then yeah its free! Feel free to ignore the kill-joys who will be posting soon.


Others argue that if you have a choice between Free Dining and a Room discount, then it's not really "free" because you're paying rack rate for the room.

Unless you did what I did a couple of years ago:
1. Stayed at Wilderness Lodge for 3 nights with Free Dining. Why WL? Cheapest Deluxe rooms (of resorts I actually wanted to stay in.)
2. Moved to Poly for last 2 nights, got room discount. Guess what followed me through my first day and night at Poly? Yep, that's right.... my last day of Free Dining.
So I made the best of both Free Dining AND a Room Discount. I paid less than I would have without Free Dining, that's for sure.
Plus, I tried some restaurants (and desserts, might I add) that I otherwise wouldn't have.

 

[MichiganDVC]

Disney isn't giving anything away for free. Enjoy your lower cost vacation. Those discounts are a real treat. But there are many all inclusive vacation options out there.

Ya know what the only "free" vacation is?

Staying home.

 

[MichiganDVC]

But, this effect is exactly what Disney wants.

They want people to lock in early on and consider it a great value (or free in this case) so you justify it later on when you are subject to the restrictions and the downsides.

If they've already booked, then why give them Free Dining?

I thought it was to entice more people to fill resorts?

 

[bella2117]

I read these message boards often and use the boards to help with planning and ask questions. Recently, I've read a lot of complaints about Disney's pricing and FP+ system among other things. I'm sure there are some improvements that can be made but you certainly can't complain about the free dining I just got. I modified an existing 10 night stay in December in which I initially added the meal plan and was going to pay for it. With the offer of free dining during my stay, it saved me $1,880.00! Can anyone tell me where you can go on vacation and eat for free the entire time? Some meals might not be great and some will be but they all will be for free! We just got back from a 4 night stay in Vegas and I can CERTAINLY tell you the food there is not free! Thanks Disney!!!! It certainly helps especially during the Christmas season.

what resort are you staying in?

 

[EMode]

I read these message boards often and use the boards to help with planning and ask questions. Recently, I've read a lot of complaints about Disney's pricing and FP+ system among other things. I'm sure there are some improvements that can be made but you certainly can't complain about the free dining I just got. I modified an existing 10 night stay in December in which I initially added the meal plan and was going to pay for it. With the offer of free dining during my stay, it saved me $1,880.00! Can anyone tell me where you can go on vacation and eat for free the entire time? Some meals might not be great and some will be but they all will be for free! We just got back from a 4 night stay in Vegas and I can CERTAINLY tell you the food there is not free! Thanks Disney!!!! It certainly helps especially during the Christmas season.

Have I missed all the free dining promo complaint posts in the past?

Glad you were able to get a discount on your vacation, I'm sure you'll enjoy it!

 

[fishhunter]

Bottom line is, if my dates were not included I would be paying 1,880.00 more. They could not be changed due to our schedules. I've done a few cruises and while I enjoy the time off the ship I can't stand being crammed on the ship and trying to swim in a pool with my kids with 100 others crammed in the same space.

 

[fishhunter]

what resort are you staying in?

csr

 

[fishhunter]

But, this effect is exactly what Disney wants.

They want people to lock in early on and consider it a great value (or free in this case) so you justify it later on when you are subject to the restrictions and the downsides.

Roll Tide guys!

 

[JanaDee]

I read these message boards often and use the boards to help with planning and ask questions. Recently, I've read a lot of complaints about Disney's pricing and FP+ system among other things. I'm sure there are some improvements that can be made but you certainly can't complain about the free dining I just got. I modified an existing 10 night stay in December in which I initially added the meal plan and was going to pay for it. With the offer of free dining during my stay, it saved me $1,880.00! Can anyone tell me where you can go on vacation and eat for free the entire time? Some meals might not be great and some will be but they all will be for free! We just got back from a 4 night stay in Vegas and I can CERTAINLY tell you the food there is not free! Thanks Disney!!!! It certainly helps especially during the Christmas season.

It isn't free.

 

[JanaDee]

Disney isn't giving anything away for free. Enjoy your lower cost vacation. Those discounts are a real treat. But there are many all inclusive vacation options out there.

We just got back from an AI in Mexico. It was heavenly and I can't wait to go back. For the price we paid, yeah, I would consider our food and alcohol free for the 5 full days we were there.

 

[Visualauren]

I'm surprised to see all the "disney fans" on here posting about how Disney "needs to improve this and that", "sneaks discounts " into their customers in disguise as "free", and All the Fast Pass whiners. I've never seen so many people take a place Of leisure and joy and turn it into a negative thing. It's sad. People will look for the negative in anything instead of focusing on the possative attributes. Looks like a dis-hater board needs the be started for them. Enjoy your free dining and every penny saved on a vacation you were going to take in the first place!!!

 

[fishhunter]

We just got back from an AI in Mexico. It was heavenly and I can't wait to go back. For the price we paid, yeah, I would consider our food and alcohol free for the 5 full days we were there.

Next summer (2015) we're planning an AI in Costa Rica so I'll compare the two.

 

[ShannonMB]

However you slice it, that 1800 you were already planning to pay is no longer coming out of your pocket. Enjoy the feeling!!!

My 4 night trip is during blacked out dates, and I'm really trying to decide if I should change my dates or hold out for some kind of package discount coming later. I have no idea of the likelyhood of that happening, but I really like my dates and already have the ADRs/plan I want!!

Happy for ya, OP!!!

 

[LSUfan4444]

You don't have to be a dis hater to see that free dining isn't free and the dining plan is not nearly the value alot of people think it is.

I love dining at WDW restaurants, which is why I purchased a Tables in Wonderland card. I now dine with no restrictions, spend less money and save on my alcoholic purchases with dinner as well.

If it makes you happy, great. I don't think you shouldn't be happy you got free dining. In the end, if you're not happy in WDW, it's that less special for everyone else.