Free Dining 2013

[Sylkie31]

Umm Do I need to start an October-December Free dining thread already?

Considering that we've more than doubled the number of pages in this thread in just 4 days, you'll probably be needing to start a new thread soon anyway ... won't be any room left in this one.
I was all caught up on my reading here last night, was almost 15 pages behind when I woke up. It's taken me all day to get within 3 pages of being caught up again. I am so enjoying reading all the posts - you all are great! I am so glad that my daughter found this site. Love it, love it, love it!!

 

[okienick]

Ok. So I also got the PIN Email this evening. I've gotten them before but it's been awhile. I'm already booked for FD in Sep so I don't need it, but the PIN came to my email with my brothers name on it. I think it's because we went together in 2009 and I was handling the whole family's ressies. I tried to check the link in the email just to see what came up for other dates, put in my zip code and it said it didn't match something in the record and I need to call Disney. If I did try to use this pin, could I if my brothers name is on the invite, even though it came to my email address?

 

[Sylkie31]

When we finally get ourselves together to move in a couple of years we plan on moving to the town Disney built next door.
I seriously need a 12-step program.

I would love to be able to move there, too.

Only a 12-step program? If you're an hour away from Disney now, it's gonna take more than just 12 steps to get there - unless you have some REALLY LONG legs!!

 

[DuffGT06]

Omg I got the free dining pin! I've never received a pin before in my life!

 

[Sylkie31]

You can go in alone if you're over 13 as I understand it.

If you are bringing a child under 10, you must be 16+.

True - and if you read 16 backwards, that would be me ... Personally, I prefer saying that I'll be celebrating the 31st anniversary of my 30th birthday this year. Besides, I try to think of it as not getting older, but just that God is granting me another annual promotion.

 

[want2bminnie]

I am loving this thread....but I think I need some help frm my Disney support group (you guys), lol!!
I am so caught up in all of your excitement about FD, that I feel it must be something I should get for myself.
However, as a solo traveler, who is a FL resident with a AP, I cannot make the math work no matter how how hard I try.
I have booked the RO discount, which was minimal since I stay in value.
I just can't rationalize paying full price for those park tickets, when I already have the AP.
But I still keep trying to make the math work because I want to get in on the excitement!!
So please tell me that I am crazy and that I should keep things as they are.
thank you

 

[Sylkie31]

I am loving this thread....but I think I need some help frm my Disney support group (you guys), lol!!
I am so caught up in all of your excitement about FD, that I feel it must be something I should get for myself.
However, as a solo traveler, who is a FL resident with a AP, I cannot make the math work no matter how how hard I try.
I have booked the RO discount, which was minimal since I stay in value.
I just can't rationalize paying full price for those park tickets, when I already have the AP.
But I still keep trying to make the math work because I want to get in on the excitement!!
So please tell me that I am crazy and that I should keep things as they are.
thank you

So, how long are you staying? How much would the room cost if you paid regular price for it? How much would the dining plan cost? How much $$ will you be spending OOP for food? I believe you only need to have a 2-day park ticket (not sure what the cost of that is). If discounted room + OOP expense for food costs less than the regular room rate + 2 day park ticket, RO discount would be better. If it's more, than FD fever could be coming your way

 

[want2bminnie]

So, how long are you staying? How much would the room cost if you paid regular price for it? How much would the dining plan cost? How much $$ will you be spending OOP for food? I believe you only need to have a 2-day park ticket (not sure what the cost of that is). If the park tickets & difference between regular room rate vs discount room rate are less than the FD discount ... (Sorry, I'm an accountant so "doing the math" is in my job description! LOL)

Staying 4 nights. The room would be about $100 more. The tickets would be about $190. I figure about $100 for food/drinks per day but I drink alcohok and that is not covered by dining plan anyway

 

[want2bminnie]

alcohol not alcohok ;-)

 

[ilostnemo]

So here is a conversation between me and the booking cm. I'll begin after making sure a note was on my resie

Cm: so what was your other question today?

Me: I was wondering if I had any pins attached to my resie as well (should have said account)

Cm:you was wondering if you had any linked let me take a look..... long silence came back and said I'm not showing any but would you like me to get you over to our dining department.

Me: no thanks that was all and said goodbye and everything.

Anyone else think maybe there is one on my account but since its not been linked to my resie she couldn't say? I hope so! Lol

 

[Sylkie31]

Staying 4 nights. The room would be about $100 more. The tickets would be about $190. I figure about $100 for food/drinks per day but I drink alcohok and that is not covered by dining plan anyway

So OOP food cost would be about $400. Room rate difference + tickets would be about $290. Looks like it would depend somewhat on how much of that $400 food budget is spent on food & how much on alcohol. If it's 75% or more for food, you'd be slightly ahead with FD - $300 OOP vs $290 extra cost for tickets & room rate difference.
Either way, getting Disney discount is definitely grounds for being excited about it regardless of whether it's RO or FD discount. So excite away!

Edit: DDP would be about $220 so unless you plan to drink half of your estimated food budget, dining plan whether it's free or not could save you some $

 

[TheDisney411]

We used to use Lime Green Mickey Head paint samples from Home Depot...till they discontinued them. It was fun looking for all the lime green mickeys!

RIP Lime Green Mickey Heads! They were fun while they lasted ;-)

 

[want2bminnie]

My head hurts.

I eat a lot

so it's not just alcohol, but an extra snack here and there...maybe an appetizer once or twice.

I can't look at my calculator anymore.

Thank u Sylkie31 for your help though!!

 

[luvmy3]

Okay DISers I have a WWYD question.

I am currently booked at GF for 8/26-9/2. I got an amazing deal but it doesn't include any dining. It will be 5 of us and staying at the GF would never be a reality without this deal. Of course I got the PIN for FD and my TA is going to check the price of POR and AoA for me. I know POR will come out a little less than what I'm paying for GF, and AoA will come out a little more. We can afford to stay with the GF and pay OOP for our food, but I love to save money! This is only our 2nd trip and may be our last for awhile.
What would you guys do?

 

[mjmpoohfamily]

Ok folks, it's question time...this one is for those doing Free Dining in September.

If you had the choice, are you hoping to get a Free dining PIN for later this year, or a Bounceback for next August/September?

I would be happy with either. But more than likely a bounce back offer I don't think we could do two trips so close together.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Ok maybe I'll start one this weekend. I'll link everyone to it and we will get the discussion rolling.

I will be there. I can never keep up with all the posts, but do my best! As for pin or bounceback, we can't go yearly, so I REALLY want that pin, but a bounceback will do us no good. That is what I will probably get. LOL

 

[mssong85]

Woohoo! Got FD for 9/20-9/26!! Staying at AsMo. So I want to have a pencil case full of lime green Mickey head vinyls for all my DIS peeps and a log book for people to sign. Will this get stolen? I also wanted to decorate for Halloween. Too early?

 

[mssong85]

Okay DISers I have a WWYD question.

I am currently booked at GF for 8/26-9/2. I got an amazing deal but it doesn't include any dining. It will be 5 of us and staying at the GF would never be a reality without this deal. Of course I got the PIN for FD and my TA is going to check the price of POR and AoA for me. I know POR will come out a little less than what I'm paying for GF, and AoA will come out a little more. We can afford to stay with the GF and pay OOP for our food, but I love to save money! This is only our 2nd trip and may be our last for awhile.
What would you guys do?

Hmmm. Personally I would go FD and POR.

 

[black562]

I will be there. I can never keep up with all the posts, but do my best! As for pin or bounceback, we can't go yearly, so I REALLY want that pin, but a bounceback will do us no good. That is what I will probably get. LOL

I think we have one of the most popular threads so far. I hope we can keep it up, they are so much fun.

 

[TheDisney411]

Okay DISers I have a WWYD question.

I am currently booked at GF for 8/26-9/2. I got an amazing deal but it doesn't include any dining. It will be 5 of us and staying at the GF would never be a reality without this deal. Of course I got the PIN for FD and my TA is going to check the price of POR and AoA for me. I know POR will come out a little less than what I'm paying for GF, and AoA will come out a little more. We can afford to stay with the GF and pay OOP for our food, but I love to save money! This is only our 2nd trip and may be our last for awhile.
What would you guys do?

Personally, we kind of "quit" the deluxe and moderate resorts a few years ago. Our kids are a little older now and we simply sleep and shower at the resort and the kids really prefer the value resorts too - I love the Poly, but I'm not going to drop that kind of money there anymore. We love to travel and Disney isn't our only vacation destination, so I like to conserve my vacation dollars where I can. Free dining at a value is actually one of the cheaper vacations we can take. Of course we have to have 2 rooms, POR would be your best bet and it is my favorite mod. That just how we do it now