Does free dining attract BIG crowds

[littlelaura]

We have just booked our vacation for next yr. For the very first time we will be staying on site (port orleans riverside)
We are staying from the 3rd Sept for two weeks. this is when the schools in the UK go back after the summer break. But as Disney are offering free dining during this time; should i expect BIG crowds.
in the past we have been during mid-late Oct, and this yr we were there last week of April/first week of may. how do crowds (early sept) compare to these times?

 

[korg]

Is it actually FREE or is it the dinner plan? If it's actually FREE EVERYBODY who qualifies will be there! (Something for FREE at Disney???)

 

[littlelaura]

Is it actually FREE or is it the dinner plan? If it's actually FREE EVERYBODY who qualifies will be there! (Something for FREE at Disney???)

part of an offer where if you book b4 4th Nov08 and arrive between Aug and 02? Oct 09, you get disney dining for free...
counter service for moderate resorts, which includes two counter service meals, two snacks per day.
original dining plan (deluxe resorts) counter service and table service meal (i think) per day
when i booked it said it was worth £904 for my entire party!

 

[korg]

Sounds like a good deal!!!

 

[kmvand1]

To answer your original question, YES!!!! Regardless of what most people are saying, go back and look at related topics about the crowds during FREE DINING. We have been the past three years in a row in September, and it HAS increased every year. This past September, between the heat/humidity and crowds, it felt like July.

 

[wilde_oscar]

yes, the classic free dining offer, where by you book in about april for a trip in about sept, and get DDP added at no cost has had the intended effect of putting heads on pillows. Just because WDW has offered the promotion in the past is no assurance they will continue to do so. Offer is limited. Pre booking in advance of the offer with the expectation you can "upgrade" when free dining comes out, is specious logic as the offer cannot be upgraded to, the original reservation has to be canceled and a new one created. Which often means you will be offered a different hotel than your original reservation as slots for this offer have been limited.

 

[sparkyboy]

yes, plan on it being crowded. We were there this past September and it was extremely humid and much larger crowds.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

My friend went during free dining and she said it was more crowded than she thought it would be, and the biggest tip, is make those ADR's early!

 

[AbbyPan]

I'd never seen so many people at the Garden Grill for lunch last September.
Also in the other restaurants I noticed that the level of service decreased a bit from what we were used to during that time of year.
So yes, the crowd levels are rising.
GO FREE DINING!!! lol

 

[JERME81]

I also agree that free dining brings in the crowds. I was there this past Sept 21-27 and thought it was more crowded than it was 3 years ago. Plus the offers to UK residence, 40% off room discounts and other offers packs them in. We stayed at the Animal Kingdom Lodge and the 2nd or 3rd night we were there we overheard one of the cast members at the front desk tell a guest that they were 100% full (they wanted to change rooms but could not). It will be interesting to see how the crowds will be, even with all the special offers, next year since other countires are having financial problems like the U.S.A. I think this year was probably a record breaker for attendance but next year I think will be down.

 

[bytheblood]

Yes, it does draw much larger crowds.

 

[jessily]

I was there 9/18 to 9/22. we didn't do a whole lot of parks, but did get to Epcot on Thursday (arrived before opening, left after close), MNSSHP Friday night (arrived at 4 pm, left at midnight) and Typhoon Lagoon on Sunday (arrived at opening, stayed about 3 hours). We did some planning ahead of time of what rides to hit when. Crowds seemed pretty light! We walked on most rides. The longest line we waited in was 5 minutes (and we knew if we came back in a few hrs the line would have been gone). We only used 1 fastpass (Peter Pan before MNSSHP started... to avoid a 20 minute wait). In 3 hrs at Typhoon Lagoon we did every ride, some over and over again. It was getting more crowded when we left. Downtown Disney was crowded on the weekend. We ate at Biergarten, Ohana, Kona Cafe, and Jiko and never waited more than 5 minutes for our table. My experience may not have been the norm, but I think with some planning it can be a great time to go!

 

[scotas]

I was in Disney from Sept 13-21 this past year and we had little to no wait on most attractions. Table Service restaurants are the only place I noticed crowds.

 

[perriwinkleblue]

FWIW, we have done free dining the last three years. This year, we did the end of August to Sept. 2nd. On Sept 1st the parks were SO empty. Our bus driver said he thought it was a great week to go. As far as the crowds, I think the fact that the kids have just gone back to school (nobody likes to miss the first weeks) will help. It may be somewhat crowded, yes, but nothing as bad as the height of summer vacation (August was VERY crowded). For us, the option of free dining made it worthwhile - but I'd be unhappy if I went without free dining and had to deal with unexpected crowds.

That said, the restaurants are usually fully booked during free dining. You will need adr's for EVERY TS. Most won't even consider a walk up.

Enjoy your stay at POR. The food court has some great CS options - try the "create-your-own" pasta. Also, an ice cream sundae with Mickey sprinkles "counts" as the dessert.

 

[WTDing]

We have taken advantage of Free Dining for the last three years. This year we went Sept 6-14 and thought it was the lowest crowd level of all three years.

It seems that the earlier in Sept that you go the less crowded the promotion is. Towards the end of the free dining promotion crowds seem to pick up. If you stick to the earlier part of the month you probably won't notice high crowds.

Now the heat and humidity is another issue. It will be hot and humid; some days will be very uncomfortable, but you are at WDW with free dining so its not that bad.

 

[quidam373]

I was there last year in the last week of august for free dining, and I really didn't think it was too bad. Expect it to be crowded- but not horribly, ridiculously crowded. As long as you have ADR's and plan on giving yourself a little extra time for everything- just in case of crowds- it won't be bad. Just don't stress if you're off of schedule and you'll be fine!

 

[burberryplaid]

We did free dining last September (starting on labor day) and we thought the crowds were awesome! We walked onto everything! The restaraunts were crowded (make those ADRs people!) but the parks were not crowded.

In comparison, we went at the end of April/Begining of May this year and it was much more crowded. It wasn't unmanagable, but there were a lot of day groups of local school kids.

DH and I decided we'd rather deal with the heat and humidty than the school groups again.

 

[disneyfanUSA]

We have been to Disney for FD 3 times! This year it didn't seem crowded at all! We are going to be back in Dec for FD and have bounce back booked for august too!!

 

[aubriee]

We have taken advantage of Free Dining for the last three years. This year we went Sept 6-14 and thought it was the lowest crowd level of all three years.

It seems that the earlier in Sept that you go the less crowded the promotion is. Towards the end of the free dining promotion crowds seem to pick up. If you stick to the earlier part of the month you probably won't notice high crowds.

Now the heat and humidity is another issue. It will be hot and humid; some days will be very uncomfortable, but you are at WDW with free dining so its not that bad.

We were there the exact same dates and agree the parks were dead. Almost everything was a walk on. On our last day we had lunch at Marrakesh and have a picture with only one other family ahead of us in World Showcase. It was almost spookily empty. However, we have been every September that they have offered free dining and this Sept was definitly the least crowded. I think it was probably the three hurricanes that were coming in that week though (Hannah, Ike, and I forgot the other's name ). I know we talked to a bunch of CMs at the resort and they said alot of people had canceled because of hurricane fear. Weather was great for us though. In fact, it was better than it was last year. Last year, (late Sept/early Oct)was almost unbearably hot and muggy. We've already booked the Bounce Back off for the same time next year and am hoping for the same light crowds.

 

[littlelaura]

thanks