Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[tmerz]

Hi! We plan on going 8/27 to 9/2, staying at POR (we are family if 5), and getting 7days of tickets. I am guessing if free dining doesn't start until 29th we would have to do 2 reservations? How would that work for our tickets? Never had to book this way so any advice would be great! Our dates are not flexible due to the first day of school.

 

[MaggiesMomNJ]

I have a crowd level question regarding early December. Not sure anyone will have a solid answer, but I thought I'd ask anyway.

We did the first week of Dec. w/ FD in 2012, and although it was not at all unpleasant, the crowds were a little higher than I'd imagined based on predicted numbers. I'm curious if that week was different in any way last year since it was excluded from FD?

We're going that same week this year. As much as we want FD, DH works for a company that administers benefits. Open enrollment means no vacation in Oct or Nov. So, I'm looking for "bright side" kind of thoughts like maybe even lower crowds than our last trip, even though we probably won't get FD. (Or a first ever PIN for us to cover those dates!)

Anyone there last year to give a report?
Regards,
C.

PS - We did consider moving later into December, but don't relish the idea of only days until Christmas when we'd get home, not to mention higher crowds and prices due to the Disney season.

I can't speak for the first week in December but we were there Nov 15-21 and it was very, very crowded. I too was wondering if this is typical. My hubby is legally blind and it was sort of difficult for us navigating through all the people.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

Hi! We plan on going 8/27 to 9/2, staying at POR (we are family if 5), and getting 7days of tickets. I am guessing if free dining doesn't start until 29th we would have to do 2 reservations? How would that work for our tickets? Never had to book this way so any advice would be great! Our dates are not flexible due to the first day of school.

If you do a split stay, you are not guaranteed to be in the same room for both parts although they do their best to keep you in one place. As of last I read, you can still get your tickets up to 3 days prior to your package stay by going to guest relations at one of the parks. You cannot get any dining credits until you have physically checked in for the free dining portion of your trip. So you can't head to the park in the morning of part two and have lunch with your dining credits, unless you checkout and back in first. Pretty sure you even have to do that if they keep you in the same room.

 

[disneyfantotheend]

I can't speak for the first week in December but we were there Nov 15-21 and it was very, very crowded. I too was wondering if this is typical. My hubby is legally blind and it was sort of difficult for us navigating through all the people.

It's funny how different our trip was from yours. We were there from November 14TH-24TH and for us crowds were VERY low. Nearly everything was walk on until the 23RD. Even that day was very manageable. The only crowds we hit were in Epcot World Showcase in the evenings. We must have just picked the right parks for the right days.

 

[Later_Mater2009]

Family suites have been included most of the time, and the ASMu suites are included.

Does Pop have connecting rooms or family suites of some sort, I thought I read that somewhere but I cant find it.

 

[JuffoWup]

Hi! We plan on going 8/27 to 9/2, staying at POR (we are family if 5), and getting 7days of tickets. I am guessing if free dining doesn't start until 29th we would have to do 2 reservations? How would that work for our tickets? Never had to book this way so any advice would be great! Our dates are not flexible due to the first day of school.

I could be totally wrong and I know it's not the same kind of situation but I think as long as your dates fall under it, you should have free dining? I only say this because last year I booked 9/24-10/1 rolling the dice on free dining. Free dining ended 9/25 That being said, I had free dining for my entire trip. Maybe somebody else can elaborate. (This is also why this year I booked 9/4-9/12 because I want to be much more sure )

 

[black562]

I could be totally wrong and I know it's not the same kind of situation but I think as long as your dates fall under it, you should have free dining? I only say this because last year I booked 9/24-10/1 rolling the dice on free dining. Free dining ended 9/25 That being said, I had free dining for my entire trip. Maybe somebody else can elaborate. (This is also why this year I booked 9/4-9/12 because I want to be much more sure )

Sadly it's your check in date that has to fall under free dining. If you check in the day before it starts, you don't get it.

 

[lilclerk]

Does Pop have connecting rooms or family suites of some sort, I thought I read that somewhere but I cant find it.

Pop has connecting rooms, no suites.

 

[Later_Mater2009]

Pop has connecting rooms, no suites.

Thank you

 

[Ginawhite]

So if the FD goes live Monday can we book Sunday night after midnight eastern time and get it?

 

[donp]

So if the FD goes live Monday can we book Sunday night after midnight eastern time and get it?

No, if offered to Visa holders first. Maybe, if general release.

 

[titansgal]

I can't speak for the first week in December but we were there Nov 15-21 and it was very, very crowded. I too was wondering if this is typical. My hubby is legally blind and it was sort of difficult for us navigating through all the people.

We have gone every October since 2005 and the crowds last year were the worst we have seen since our spring break trip in 2012. It was crazy. I don't know if it was the new Fantasyland expansion or if it's just getting busier during that time, but I was shocked. We had issues at all parks and one night I almost had a panic attack in an extra heavy crowd after Wishes. I'm hoping it's just a fluke and that our next trip will be better. We were there October 2-12, which is the same week we go every year. We are going to Disneyland this year, but I am hoping the crowds are back to "normal" next year!

 

[smitch425]

We have gone every October since 2005 and the crowds last year were the worst we have seen since our spring break trip in 2012. It was crazy. I don't know if it was the new Fantasyland expansion or if it's just getting busier during that time, but I was shocked. We had issues at all parks and one night I almost had a panic attack in an extra heavy crowd after Wishes. I'm hoping it's just a fluke and that our next trip will be better. We were there October 2-12, which is the same week we go every year. We are going to Disneyland this year, but I am hoping the crowds are back to "normal" next year!

The increase in crowds was due to so many schools moving to a balanced school schedule. Several states are now getting a two week break in October when they had no time off in October before.

 

[CJK]

Does a RO discount drop at the same time as FD? Before booking, I'm hoping to comp are both discounts and decide which one is better.

 

[Glennie5]

We did FD in 2011. I don't recall getting the refillable mug with it. Does Disney usually take that out of the deal, or did we miss something back then? Living and learning

We got FD in 2011 and got the free mugs.

 

[Tommyboy2529]

We have gone every October since 2005 and the crowds last year were the worst we have seen since our spring break trip in 2012. It was crazy. I don't know if it was the new Fantasyland expansion or if it's just getting busier during that time, but I was shocked. We had issues at all parks and one night I almost had a panic attack in an extra heavy crowd after Wishes. I'm hoping it's just a fluke and that our next trip will be better. We were there October 2-12, which is the same week we go every year. We are going to Disneyland this year, but I am hoping the crowds are back to "normal" next year!

We went the first week of December last year and had the same problem, so many people, not sure what has happened, was afraid of losing kids when wishes was over. Our second try at the MK we where there when they where taping the parade, you could not get near main street, they had us go behind main street, and it was still that way when we left at 5. I am trying to pick a week for this year and do not want to go again with so many people, lines are to long and the younger kids get tired of waiting. I was thinking maybe the 2nd week of November, even though I love it at Christmas time.

 

[DisneyObsessed89]

We went the first week of December last year and had the same problem, so many people, not sure what has happened, was afraid of losing kids when wishes was over. Our second try at the MK we where there when they where taping the parade, you could not get near main street, they had us go behind main street, and it was still that way when we left at 5. I am trying to pick a week for this year and do not want to go again with so many people, lines are to long and the younger kids get tired of waiting. I was thinking maybe the 2nd week of November, even though I love it at Christmas time.

My family always goes the week before thanksgiving and it's always been decorated for Christmas which I absolutely love because of the Osborne spectacle of lights at Hollywood studios.

Disney Addict and not looking for rehab!!

 

[Tommyboy2529]

My family always goes the week before thanksgiving and it's always been decorated for Christmas which I absolutely love because of the Osborne spectacle of lights at Hollywood studios.

Disney Addict and not looking for rehab!!

I am going to go in Nov this year, do not want to come home to a snow storm and maybe less crowds, I am thinking around the 12th. Now all I need is FD.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Not sure about the early years, but for awhile, only the QSDP and DxDDP were getting them. ETA: Must have been a promotion... http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1479952

Must have been. The good old days though when tip & appetizer were included. So miss those days. *sigh*

 

[CaraMiaBelle]

It's funny how different our trip was from yours. We were there from November 14TH-24TH and for us crowds were VERY low. Nearly everything was walk on until the 23RD. Even that day was very manageable. The only crowds we hit were in Epcot World Showcase in the evenings. We must have just picked the right parks for the right days.

Interesting. I found the crowds to be very low for those EXACT same dates too! As with you, I did not find it to be very crowded until Nov 23rd at MK in the evening. I can't remember, did we end up at a lot of parks on the same days. We were really happy with the crowd levels because we were really worried about my sensory-challenged son. We had no problems (in regards to crowds anyway) until Wishes that last night.