>> FREE DINING 2011 WATCH - Read Post # 1 BEFORE Posting

[nala1128]

I got the recent room discount pin that expired on 2/28 via email. Today there was a card in the mail from Disney with a pin for FD valid from 4/23-8/13. If you didn't get one via email... check your snail mail

 

[DisneyGuess]

You get 1 sit-down and 1 QS with the DDP, which should already be included in the price for FD at POFQ. You shouldn't have to pay extra. You could pay to upgrade to DxDDP for $33 per person per day and get 3 regular sit-down meals or 1 regular sit-down and 1 signature sit-down + double the snacks and 1 mug per person.

The PIN I recieved in my email this morning was not like this. The only way to get the regular DDP with this pin is to stay Deluxe or Villa. If you book Moderate (or Value, obviously), you recieve the QSD not the regular DDP. Not sure I like the sound of that, wonder if it will be that way when/if it goes public as well.
I am hoping it is extended like last year because I was going to try upgrading to DxDDP, not having to pay to upgrade to DDP if we stay POR. We aren't able to go until Dec. but I was hoping. I hope this pin changes before then.

 

[cluelyss18]

Even still, if we are in MK and get hungry in the middle of the day we have to:

- Make you way out of the park
- Wait (possibly in-line) for the monorail or boat
- Take the monorail or boat to the TTC
- Wait for a tram
- Load into the tram (which for us means loading in 5 small children, a double stroller and our bags)
- Take the tram to your lot
- Hike to your car (again, for us with 5 kids, a double stroller, bags and tired feet)
- Strap all the kids in (again, 5 for us. This part is easier if you have older kids)
- Make you way out of the MK and WDW in general
- Find somewhere that looks good (even at home, this can be a challenge for me because sometimes nothing sounds good)
- Eat
- Pack everyone back into the car (again, 5 car seats)
- Drive back to WDW (hope its not busy)
- Make your way to MK and into the lot
- Walk to the tram area (w/ 5 kids, double stroller and bags) and wait
- Load into the tram (with 5 kids, double stroller and bags)
- Get off at the TTC and make your way to the monorail or boat
- Wait for the monorail or boat
- Arrive back to the MK

That seems like a lot of "running around" to me, even if I know where we are going. When I say "and bags," I mean the bags we'll need for water, fruit and other snacks since we won't have snack credits. Those sucker are a pain and I can't wait to go without them this time.

Maybe this whole eating off site is easier with no kids or pre-teens/teens

Wow if there was a clapping smiley, I would send that, but there isn't, so here's a cheerleader saying 'kudos to you!" I think babysitting my niece and taking her to the mall for lunch is taxing, and I'm tired from just reading what you go through. You are my hero!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

No one is looking for a "cheap" meal,as is repeatedly implied-would rather just have something more substantial than burgers and fries for $30-$40 for lunch,or dinner for that matter.Some folks don't mind dropping that kind of cash for what it is,but we do.We take our lunches to work every day too!!! Now THATS a "cheap" meal!!

This is exactly why we get the dining plan, free or not. And, we were just at WDW for 8 days in December and I don't think I ate one single hamburger the entire time we were there, and we ate at least one CS meal per day.

And, I can't even image the reaction my husband, 9, 10, 11 and 14 year old would have if I told them we weren't going to eat until after wishes, but I'm sure that the pop tart they had for breakfast and the goldfish and water they had for lunch would hold them over.

Sorry, Mr. Disney, I'm afraid I would have a revolt on my hands

 

[lllGurulll]

Just spoke with Disney about my travel agent problem and they provided me with a way to "fire" her. Sent them a fax just now with my request to take control of my reservation from this point forward.

I also asked them about a PIN and they said I had nothing there. His reasoning was that I have been using travel agents for all my trips. I won't do that anymore.

 

[Don Disney]

This is exactly why we get the dining plan, free or not. And, we were just at WDW for 8 days in December and I don't think I ate one single hamburger the entire time we were there, and we ate at least one CS meal per day.

And, I can't even image the reaction my husband, 9, 10, 11 and 14 year old would have if I told them we weren't going to eat until after wishes, but I'm sure that the pop tart they had for breakfast and the goldfish and water they had for lunch would hold them over.

Sorry, Mr. Disney, I'm afraid I would have a revolt on my hands

Twisting words and meanings have been elevated to a form of art-I will bow out now,as much of what I am saying is being quite misconstrued.Yeah,we will not eat until after Wishes after eating pop tarts,and goldfish all day.Gimme a break already.Just saying"there is more than one way to skin a cat".

 

[Vinnya1726]

We have called four times, same result each time. Here is hoping for some public offer for FD to come up for July.

 

[Maine-iac]

We stay on-site because of the Disney Dining Plan. We do now plan our vacations around free dining promos, but with or without free dining we are going to purchase the dining plan. With or without the DDP we are going to eat at least 1 TS/sit down/character meal per day, so even without free dining we are saving about $300.00 vs. out-of-pocket. Could we save money by running around off-site looking for cheap meal or packing PB&Js and sack lunches everyday? Of course, but that's just not going to happen. I am a stay-at-home mom who lives in the kitchen and laundry room on a regular basis, when we go on vacation I DO NOT cook. The dining experiences are part of the whole magical vacation experience. So it's DDP all the way for us - free dining is just the cherry on top

And you should not have to!!! You should not have to do the laundry either. LOL
I guess dining is just not a big thing for us at Disney. But I do not cook at Disney either. I can usually find something good at counter service.

 

[derrickmom]

We got the FD pin today. Only good untill Aug. 13th. I want to use it soooo bad! I am holding off .....we are going in November again.

Come on free dining in November!!!!

 

[cluelyss18]

Maine-iac.....your ID has me singing she's a maniac!!!

 

[Maine-iac]

That being said, I'm not going to waste valuable park time leaving WDW property looking for a cheap meal. I think that's the huge appeal of the DDP for most people.

Oh I know. The convenience of the QSDP was the best part. But it seemed to be too much food and we almost never ate our dessert. DH and I sometimes share meals and sometimes I may want just a salad or something simple. We had to use up 12 snack credits on our last day. If FD was the only discount I could get then I would surely do it.

 

[Maine-iac]

Maine-iac.....your ID has me singing she's a maniac!!!

OK is this good or bad????

 

[cluelyss18]

OK is this good or bad????

good! but my co-workers don't think so since I'm humming...

 

[Wendy&Grumpy]

Just saying"there is more than one way to skin a cat".

Why on earth would you want to skin a cat?! That's not very Disney-like!

 

[Don Disney]

Why on earth would you want to skin a cat?! That's not very Disney-like!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Twisting words and meanings have been elevated to a form of art-I will bow out now,as much of what I am saying is being quite misconstrued.Yeah,we will not eat until after Wishes after eating pop tarts,and goldfish all day.Gimme a break already.Just saying"there is more than one way to skin a cat".

Sorry, you were offended! I thought we had a little joking banter going on there Peace, Love and Disney, Man

 

[PrincessTiffany]

And you should not have to!!! You should not have to do the laundry either. LOL.

You are awesome and I totally agree! lol!!!

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Oh I know. The convenience of the QSDP was the best part. But it seemed to be too much food and we almost never ate our dessert. DH and I sometimes share meals and sometimes I may want just a salad or something simple. We had to use up 12 snack credits on our last day. If FD was the only discount I could get then I would surely do it.

No, the DDP probably isn't for everybody, but I think we are addicted! Especially to free dining. My kids think it's the best thing ever that they get to have a snack of their choice every day! And there are certain places like Ohana, Chef Mickey's, Crystal Place and some others that we just have to eat at while we are there - or it just wouldn't be the same. Here's to free dining for all!!!

 

[utkscvol1]

Ok, so does anyone know what the price difference of the dining plans? We snagged free dining for our october trip but it's only quick service. It was $11 per person per day to upgrade to the basic dining, but how much would it be to upgrade to the next dining plan?

 

[PrincessTiffany]

Ok, so does anyone know what the price difference of the dining plans? We snagged free dining for our october trip but it's only quick service. It was $11 per person per day to upgrade to the basic dining, but how much would it be to upgrade to the next dining plan?

The Deluxe Dining Plan is about $79.00 per day, so it would be roughly $39.00 per day, per adult for you to grade.