Free Dining 2014 Discussion

[tokap]

Still trying to decide between POR or a longer stay at POP in september. So tough to decide!

 

[Disneylover99]

Still trying to decide between POR or a longer stay at POP in september. So tough to decide!

Longer = better IMO

 

[wdw4rfam]

Still trying to decide between POR or a longer stay at POP in september. So tough to decide!

Go POP. Longer is better and personally we like any value over POR. Unfortunately we have 5 so unless my parents go ( like this year) we have to stay there. But would gladly go back to POP and stay longer.

 

[StarDreamer]

I think we've come to the decision to stay at POP instead of POR. So that will save us a few hundred dollars if we can get standard which is what we really want.

Now my mind is telling me to cancel all my ADR's and stick to the quick service to save us another few hundred dollars. We won't be able to eat all of that food anyway, I hate to waste food, and I just added up the gratuity and that's another couple of hundred dollars that we would save. Not to mention being able to go where we want and eat what we want at any point in time.

If I book the fd quick service with POP, can I upgrade to the regular dining plan later?

Or if I upgrade now, can I downgrade back to quick service later?

I'm having such a hard time deciding right now and time is ticking.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think we've come to the decision to stay at POP instead of POR. So that will save us a few hundred dollars if we can get standard which is what we really want.

Now my mind is telling me to cancel all my ADR's and stick to the quick service to save us another few hundred dollars. We won't be able to eat all of that food anyway, I hate to waste food, and I just added up the gratuity and that's another couple of hundred dollars that we would save. Not to mention being able to go where we want and eat what we want at any point in time.

If I book the fd quick service with POP, can I upgrade to the regular dining plan later?

Or if I upgrade now, can I downgrade back to quick service later?

I'm having such a hard time deciding right now and time is ticking.

I don't know what the timelines are for switching between dining plans but this is what we do and it works out great.

We go for up to two weeks every year and we have had free dining for the past five years. We always alternate between quick service values and table service moderates every year.

Last year we stayed at Pop for 13 days with quick service. Loved it!!! And we didn't miss the restaurants. But this year we are staying at POFQ with table service and we will love this too. It makes for a different trip every year. If there is a bb available when we go this year, we will book Pop for next year.

 

[bksomody]

I don't know if it will follow the bounce back offer for FD, but the last day to book it was starting Sept 29. We weren't planning on leaving until Oct 2 but for FD we added a couple of more days and are now booked 9/29-10/12. Ideally when the fall FD comes out we can move our days back to the 2nd again.

Did the bounceback offer the adt week og Aug?

 

[StarDreamer]

I don't know what the timelines are for switching between dining plans but this is what we do and it works out great.

We go for up to two weeks every year and we have had free dining for the past five years. We always alternate between quick service values and table service moderates every year.

Last year we stayed at Pop for 13 days with quick service. Loved it!!! And we didn't miss the restaurants. But this year we are staying at POFQ with table service and we will love this too. It makes for a different trip every year. If there is a bb available when we go this year, we will book Pop for next year.

Thanks for the reply!

I'm struggling with the fact that this is our first family trip to Disney world and I want my girls' first trip to be magical. I also don't know when we'll be able to make it back to WDW, so I'm trying to squeeze everything into one visit. This is all so overwhelming.

It's good to know that you've experienced both and enjoyed the quick service.

 

[jennilynn510]

waiting...wishing...following

 

[Disneylover99]

Thanks for the reply!

I'm struggling with the fact that this is our first family trip to Disney world and I want my girls' first trip to be magical. I also don't know when we'll be able to make it back to WDW, so I'm trying to squeeze everything into one visit. This is all so overwhelming.

It's good to know that you've experienced both and enjoyed the quick service.

You know what? When you talk about wanting your girls to have a magical trip, I feel like you should do the table service, so you can book some wonderful character buffets.

 

[MLCritchlow83]

Wouldn't it be something if the FD dates were August 15-September 30? (mirroring the MM promo) I'm just overly hoping because we check in August 22 and it would save us around $1300!

We are checking in at Caribbean Beach on September 26! So we are hoping for FD at that time also!

 

[scrappinginontario]

You know what? When you talk about wanting your girls to have a magical trip, I feel like you should do the table service, so you can book some wonderful character buffets.

The same thing came to mind for me when i read this family's post. Also, i found when my DD was younger meals were more 'stressful' at the quick service locations as there was the added challenge of one person getting the food while the other found a table, and high chair, and a place to park the stroller, etc.

My DD is 5 and absolutely LOVES the character meals but also the non-character meals such as Coral Reef and Teppan Edo. We find it a nice break to sit down in a more relaxed setting and enjoy our meals being brought to us or, the options of buffets.

My thoughts for you are Table Service but I know you'll be happy with either.

 

[Azjenn]

I am hoping for Sept 26th to be in there... Will be up at 4am AZ time to see if tomorrow is the day!!!

I'm with you here in Arizona! I will be up at 4am also crossing my fingers! Hope everyone gets what they are wishing for!!! Pixie dust for all!

 

[txaggie94gigem]

so does anyone know how all this works if one person in room is an annual passholder???

 

[Azjenn]

so does anyone know how all this works if one person in room is an annual passholder???

Ii believe from what I have read on here is that everyone in the room has to be on the same plan to be eligible for the free dining offer. minimum of a 3 night stay and minimum 2 day ticket. the ticket can be saved for use at a later time or you can apply the ticket to the cost of the renewal on your annual pass. HTH! and if I am wrong someone please correct me

 

[Corrie76]

Our family plans to go to DW between Nov 22-Dec 6 and are hoping to arrive on a date where free dining can be applied. In the past Thanksgiving week is blocked for FD discount. We haven't booked our flights yet so there is some flexibility. Does anyone know whether Sat. Nov. 22 will fall as the last day that FD would be available or 1st day of FD being blocked? Have past blocked weeks started on the Saturday or the Sunday? Also can dining reservations be made before purchasing your tix?

 

[TennesseeGirl]

Our family plans to go to DW between Nov 22-Dec 6 and are hoping to arrive on a date where free dining can be applied. In the past Thanksgiving week is blocked for FD discount. We haven't booked our flights yet so there is some flexibility. Does anyone know whether Sat. Nov. 22 will fall as the last day that FD would be available or 1st day of FD being blocked? Have past blocked weeks started on the Saturday or the Sunday? Also can dining reservations be made before purchasing your tix?

This from the web-
Free Dining Dates 2013:
September 2 to September 25, 2013
September 29 to October 2, 2013
October 18 to November 2, 2013
November 11 to November 23, 2013
December 12 to December 22, 2013

 

[Nancyg56]

This from the web-
Free Dining Dates 2013:
September 2 to September 25, 2013
September 29 to October 2, 2013
October 18 to November 2, 2013
November 11 to November 23, 2013
December 12 to December 22, 2013

I have been following this thread and saw this as well. I hope that if there is FD it will be announced shortly because I just found out DH and DD cooked up a trip for me!!!!! I am not sure if I can go because of work, but I sure would love to add FD to an unexpected vacation!

 

[TennesseeGirl]

Just having a thought after looking at FD dates for past three years. I've gotten FD for the last two disney trips. I probably wouldn't have gone last year without it. I wasn't planning on going this year but I've thought about it so much that now I feel like I have to go... And I'm just expecting FD. But it's not guaranteed and it kind of looks like FD is gradually being scaled back. SO - if push comes to shove will I go without it? Probably not this year. And would I go in September if that's the only time I could get it? Probably not. But once the urge sets in ....

 

[KNovacovschi]

I have been following this thread and saw this as well. I hope that if there is FD it will be announced shortly because I just found out DH and DD cooked up a trip for me!!!!! I am not sure if I can go because of work, but I sure would love to add FD to an unexpected vacation!

If FD is released soon it will be for Sept only. If they add Oct, Nov & Dec like last year it won't be available until August. Last year those dates listed from Sept 29 and on were not released until August 1. I do hope however that it will be released again for these dates.

 

[pippi1972]

Waiting for sept 6 to be released! I hope this week so I can finalize everything!! Already have a reservation with RO discount but will switch to free dining if offered. If not we will just pay out of pocket