Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[StarDreamer]

Is it just me or does May 1st seem like a million days away Trying to be patient here how about everyone else???

It would if I had my mind made up on which resort to stay at. I can't decide! I'm hoping the availability will decide for me.

 

[StarDreamer]

Trying to be patient...but failing! I usually wait until I actually book the FD package before looking at dining reservations...but I broke down yesterday and booked some sit down meals for us. Not sure that will be the final plan, but at least I got some ADR's in place. Also struggling with the decision of what resort to stay at. Usually we go with POP Century. Last year we got a room towards the back of the POP so we could have a shorter walk over to the AoA food court. We just pay the extra to upgrade to the regular Dining Plan. But I ran the numbers and for an extra $250 (aprox.) we could stay at a moderate resort. I have stayed at POR (AB) once and at CS once. Enjoyed both resorts very much. We have two adults and our 6 year old son. We get along just fine in a value standard room. So, just not sure if it's worth upgrading to a moderate. But then I was thinking I could just pay that difference with my Disney Visa Reward Points and it would be "free" to me. Thoughts? Eric

I'm having the same dilemma. This is our first family trip to WDW, so I don't know anything about the resorts. We'd like to stay at POP, but it being about $300 more to stay at a moderate, I'm not sure what to do.

 

[FrugalFashionista]

I'm having the same dilemma. This is our first family trip to WDW, so I don't know anything about the resorts. We'd like to stay at POP, but it being about $300 more to stay at a moderate, I'm not sure what to do.

I went through this in December. My littles are 6&7 so sharing a double bed was no big deal for them so I saved the $300...well spent it in the parks instead. We really liked Pop. We are planning on going back in 2015 but the kids will be 8&9 so I'm thinking a mod will be necessary.

 

[tinklvsu]

After doing some Disney math, I've realized I could stay moderate for $xx for 7 nights with the dining plan.

OR

Could stay at a value for $xx with upgrade for 9 nights. (Would be same cost as moderate for only 7 nights)

So, do I go moderate, or stay longer? Oh the dilemma! Lol!

 

[Tifley]

After doing some Disney math, I've realized I could stay moderate for $xx for 7 nights with the dining plan.

OR

Could stay at a value for $xx with upgrade for 9 nights. (Would be same cost as moderate for only 7 nights)

So, do I go moderate, or stay longer? Oh the dilemma! Lol!

My dilemma right now as well!! Always stayed at POR, but I could get an extra 2 days if I go to a value resort...I'm leaning towards the value resort. I think if I only do 7 days in the park, and leave our arrival day and departure day open to do downtown disney and hang around the resort, it would make it a little more relaxing as well! We are usually in the parks from open to close, and when we did POR we were at the parks as soon as we arrived until the MME picked us up to leave!! I would like to think that a relaxing day at the beginning and end may be nice??

 

[KELLY]

I always go for more time... Personally we have stayed at all levels and we tried pop 6 years ago and have stayed there ever since. I mean it isn't AKL but the double beds are fine for us and we like it there.

 

[5bound4wdw]

I feel like I'm in one of those kid shows - where they look at the classroom clock and it starts ticking backwards.......

 

[wdw4rfam]

I always go for more time... Personally we have stayed at all levels and we tried pop 6 years ago and have stayed there ever since. I mean it isn't AKL but the double beds are fine for us and we like it there.

Agree. We always chose value until we were family of 5, then to POR. We once booked POLY for 6 days, it was our dream resort. That is until we figured out that we could stay 12 days for the same price!!! It was amazing to me, and I figured out that I don't think I'd ever do a deluxe. Once DD(17) decides to not go anymore...back to value we go. To do it in 6 days, we wouldn't have TIME to enjoy POLY enough to justify.

 

[Kat016]

Last year, it went straight to the general public. I believe this caused quite a brouhaha on this site.

Yes it did. It got quite ugly...

 

[Kat016]

Are the AOA suites usually excluded from the "fall" free dining offer.. Which covers oct-dec?? I read in a previous post that someone said AOA suites were only included in late summer FD offer.....

They were not included last year but if they are included They are limited. The little mermaid rooms are always excluded.

 

[Kat016]

DV= Disney visa? I have a Disney visa from chase... Do all Disney cards get an offer? Via email? I thought I saw somewhere that Bank One Disney visa had a discount... Which is why I was wondering. Lol

Don't rely on an email. A lot of us last year, including myself, never received one. Keep your eyes on here and you will be well informed

 

[tinklvsu]

My dilemma right now as well!! Always stayed at POR, but I could get an extra 2 days if I go to a value resort...I'm leaning towards the value resort. I think if I only do 7 days in the park, and leave our arrival day and departure day open to do downtown disney and hang around the resort, it would make it a little more relaxing as well! We are usually in the parks from open to close, and when we did POR we were at the parks as soon as we arrived until the MME picked us up to leave!! I would like to think that a relaxing day at the beginning and end may be nice??

I'm leaning towards value myself, but my husband really wants moderate! :/ I've never been picky about where we sleep, he on the other hand wants to try different ones out! Ugh! Lol

 

[LoveSplashMountain]

I always go for more time... Personally we have stayed at all levels and we tried pop 6 years ago and have stayed there ever since. I mean it isn't AKL but the double beds are fine for us and we like it there.

Good to hear someone say that. We've only been twice - ASMu once and CS (with free dining). Thought about going Deluxe if we do get FD worship But we spend the entire day in the parks and are exhausted when we get back. I think we could sleep on rocks if we had to! (in fact - I think I actually fell asleep on a rock while my kids were riding Expedition Everest 4 or 5 times in a row once - lol). As long as I have a place to sleep in the kids have a pool to swim in we are easy to please! However, queen size beds at a moderate are kind of nice... (but we only go moderate with free dining).

 

[DisMama5]

They were not included last year but if they are included They are limited. The little mermaid rooms are always excluded.

Thanks kat016!

 

[DisMama5]

After doing some Disney math, I've realized I could stay moderate for $xx for 7 nights with the dining plan. OR Could stay at a value for $xx with upgrade for 9 nights. (Would be same cost as moderate for only 7 nights) So, do I go moderate, or stay longer? Oh the dilemma! Lol!

Stay longer we always did 7 nights and we Always felt like if we just had another two or so days we would be more content with when our Disney trips came to an end and let me tell ya when we finally did that long 13 night trip back in October, it was awesome!! We had so much "down" time in a sense, we were so not rushed at all, we spent a good amount of time enjoying our hotel, the kids spent a good chunk of change in the arcade.. Aside from hitting each park atleast twice also, MK I think we ended up there a total or 5 times lol it was so wonderful, we felt like if we didn't get to do some stuff that we could just go back another day and hit it that day and we always did, it was a totally different trip from the past and now we will always do atleast 9 nights. I think 13 nights was more then we needed, so I promised we will now stick with atleast 9 nights trips, gives time for all the parks and some hotel pool time and down time if desired

 

[wdwmaw]

I always go for more time... Personally we have stayed at all levels and we tried pop 6 years ago and have stayed there ever since. I mean it isn't AKL but the double beds are fine for us and we like it there.

Agree. We always chose value until we were family of 5, then to POR. We once booked POLY for 6 days, it was our dream resort. That is until we figured out that we could stay 12 days for the same price!!! It was amazing to me, and I figured out that I don't think I'd ever do a deluxe. Once DD(17) decides to not go anymore...back to value we go. To do it in 6 days, we wouldn't have TIME to enjoy POLY enough to justify.

I will agree 100% with both of you. We just like to stay for longer trips and we do spend time at our resort and POP has never been a problem. Last trip we stayed at POR since to upgrade dining was about the same price as going to moderate. To be honest we all missed POP.

 

[Kat016]

Thanks kat016!

Your welcome! We were going to stay at AOA Nemo Suite next year when we go but my newly divorced brother will be going. So we decided to do POP because it's cheaper for him. POP always is included in the FD.

 

[MMeli13]

Hey guys, I'm a bit freaked out. I am not a Disney Visa member, but my SO is. He will be at work on release day, so I will have to do the booking. I'm scared I wont be able to because I am not the card holder making the reservation. Will I be able to make the reservation even though it is not my card? I need to figure this out now before I am told i cant make the reservation 2+ hours into waiting on hold. We looked into me being a co-user of the card but it comes with too much baggage that I don't want to deal with. Has anyone had this experience booking with a Visa Members card?

 

[txaggie94gigem]

so do we call the regular reservation number if we are disney visa holders to get the free dining deal or do we have to call a different number....

what time can we start making ressies on line or on the phone?

 

[sbecker517]

Also, if I already have a reservation thru dreams unlimited... Do I wait for my agent to wake and make reservation or should I do it on my own since I'm a DV holder...if this happens. Lol