Free Dining 8/26-9/22-Anyone Else Hear This?

[Irishhockey]

September in general is one of Disney's slowest seasons. Once October roles around you have such issues as Columbus Day weekend and school vacations. The growing success of MNSSHP is also another aspect to take into consideration.

I don't believe that there is ever a "dead" time in Disney World. As a visitor who's travled during January, May, August, September, and December... I can comment that I found September to be the least crowded no matter the special going on (after labor day). We normally travel the week of 9/11.

I'm hoping that it's similar to what I experienced this past January - being able to ride Everest 6 times, the safari, primeval wirl twice, seeing the it's a bugs life show, and riding dinosuar between 10am and 2.

 

[dismom9761]

I have done the free dining the last two years.The first year we went Labor Day week and there were NO crowds.That is when I will be going back this year if we go.This past year we went 9/29-10/8 and it was much more crowded.I think it had more to do with MNSSHP and the Food and Wine Festival than Free Dining.

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

We were at DW for Free Dining from the 20th of September thru about the 10th of October for Free Dining last year.

Some days the parks were busy but most of the time they were not that bad at all. I used the plan to go to the EMH park the day AFTER and except for when we were FORCED (by choice) to go to MK to see the parade or to EPCOT for the concerts we did not run into long lines.

Being frequent visitors it makes a difference though because we just walk on by when the lines are long, knowing that we will get a second or third or even fourth chance.

The only thing that you MUST do is get ADR's. I made our plans for what we wanted to do each day and then checked to see what restaurants were in that area and made my ressies accordingly. It worked very well and we kept most of them. I called and cancelled when it became apparant on a couple that it could not be done or we did not want to do them.

By having ADR's you have SOMEWHERE to eat if you cannot get into whatever your last minute whim might be. It was much easier to find availability at the resort dining places than in the parks.

BTW, anyone have any advice on the BEST days to plan to be there for the possible upcoming Free Dining period?

Slightly Goofy

 

[Wendy1953]

So when you book your package, do they send you the park passes in the mail right away? I was hoping to use three of the days before my September trip. Would I be able to do it that way?

No, when you book a package, you get your tickets when you check into your hotel for that stay. Your tickets will be on your room key card. So no, unfortunately you will not be able to use any of the days on the package park passes until you actually check in in September.
sorry.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

I've been the past two years during Free Dining ... the only REAL crowds I saw were at the food court at POR in the morning. It was PACKED!! And our ADR at Le Cellier was pushed back almost an HOUR last year.

Otherwise, the park crowds were pretty manageable, although they were more crowded in 2006 than in 2005.

 

[princesspat209]

We are dvc members does anyone know how we can take advantage of the free dining plan or any suggestions for dining? Thanks.

 

[CarolA]

We are dvc members does anyone know how we can take advantage of the free dining plan or any suggestions for dining? Thanks.

Let's think about this... You aren't going to PAY Disney for accomodations (you paid DVC a different entity) and you want free dining? Not going to happen

IF Disney offers free dining you can still call CRO and book a regular room just like you did before you bought DVC and get the deal but you will have to pay CRO for the room

 

[TDC Nala]

If I were to exchange into one of the DVC timeshares (through Interval International) during that time frame, would I be eligible for free dining?

No. DVC isn't eligible for "free" dining. You have to book a room/tickets package for that.

But you can purchase the dining plan at the regular price through DVC.

 

[silmarg]

What if you dont need the ticket that you are forced to buy to get the free DDP (because you are a Annula Passholder). Can you transfer it to a paper ticket to use at a later time as a down payment on an Annual Pass?

 

[lovesdumbo]

What if you dont need the ticket that you are forced to buy to get the free DDP (because you are a Annula Passholder). Can you transfer it to a paper ticket to use at a later time as a down payment on an Annual Pass?

It took asking a few times but I was able to get my one day ticket taken off my room key and put on to a seperate plastic room key that instead of a guest name and dates said something like "adult 1 day". I had first thought that I'd have to do it at a park guest relations but they told me I had to do it a the resort. At the resort the first person I asked said it had to be done at the park when I started saying they told me to come here luckily someone else overheard them and said we do that here. So I'm not sure they all know how to do it.

 

[TDC Nala]

Do you have to have the one day ticket taken off the room key if you are not going to use it during your resort stay? Or do you just keep the room key?

 

[lovesdumbo]

Do you have to have the one day ticket taken off the room key if you are not going to use it during your resort stay? Or do you just keep the room key?

You can just keep it on the room key but I was afraid someone would use the wrong pass by accident and that would be an expensive mistake. I felt safer having it seperated.

 

[silmarg]

I've not booked a room yet, but I know what days I will be there. Does anyone think it makes more sense to have a room already booked when they make the formal annoucement... or does it not really make a difference?

 

[n2mm]

Do you have to have the one day ticket taken off the room key if you are not going to use it during your resort stay? Or do you just keep the room key?

We just keep our original cards. When I get home I write with a sharpie what is left on the card, then on our next trip when I need to renew my AP I take it with me. I renewed my AP this past October with my Aug. 2006 one day ticket with no problem--plus DVC discount too. Next month hubby has to renew his DVC AP. These one day tickets are worth $71, so need to be kept safe. You can always stop by guest relations to have them check the card before leaving just to make sure there is still a one day ticket coded on your card. I actually brought hubby's with me in October just to make sure his card was still good (which it was).

 

[TDC Nala]

I will have two cards, one for the August trip and one for September - and I actually have to renew on the September trip. So I would have to remember to bring back the card from August, and make a check before I leave in August to be sure the ticket is still on the card.

 

[MEK]

I've not booked a room yet, but I know what days I will be there. Does anyone think it makes more sense to have a room already booked when they make the formal annoucement... or does it not really make a difference?

I think that's up to you. If you know you are going irregardless of whether free dining is offered, then book now. If you are waiting for free dining, then wait. To add the free dining requires a reservation change. I'm going, no matter what, so I have a reservation. In the past I made my reservations after free dining was announced because that was the incentive I needed to go.

 

[Reese]

I've not booked a room yet, but I know what days I will be there. Does anyone think it makes more sense to have a room already booked when they make the formal annoucement... or does it not really make a difference?

From what I've been reading it doesn't help to have a room ressie since you have to phone and switch it and there are only a certain amount of rooms availible with the free dining.
I'm just waiting until it's officially announced to book as I am only going if we get free dining. If you are planning on going regardless it would make sense to book now.

 

[Chrissie-riel]

I knew that I was going - with or without free dining - so I booked my room already. When I questioned the CM regarding the free dining package, of course she wouldn't confirm anything. But she told me three times to go ahead and book a package deal with room, tix, trip insurance (look out for hurricanes!) and paid DDP. That way it would be easiest to switch around "should any discounts come available" And before you all flame me, yes I completely understand that I may have to cancel the existing reservation or upgrade to the preferred view rooms, etc. depending on what is available at each individual resort with the free dining package. Here I am - waiting not so patiently for 7am April 12th.

 

[allerobed]

I did a little search and didn't find out- what happens on April 12th?

 

[TDC Nala]

I did a little search and didn't find out- what happens on April 12th?

There is an unconfirmed-by-Disney story out that free dining for the general public will be available for booking starting April 12, for dates from August 26 to September 22.