Free Dining and Restaurant Crowds

[HLAuburn]

How are the restaurant crowds and available ADRs affected by free dining? If you have no ADRs, will it be nearly impossible to get in? Is everyone eating at the park restaurants during that time? I mean, its FREE FOOD, but I just want to know what to expect. We've done the DDP in the past, but it wasn't free.

Thanks!

 

[Friendly Frog]

They set aside the time, so it should not be a big deal. You might encounter a slight wait if they dont turn over tables as expected. Also, expect to be waiting with more people than you normally would.

Just don't be late for you adr and you will be fine.

 

[Pumbaa_]

The free DDP just change availability. During the off season, (Sept), availability was pretty good. Last year during the free dining, it was much harder to get the popular restaurants. (Le Cellier was completely sold out for large bloacks of time, months in advance)

It got worse towards the end of September, as people were coming in end of Sept. and extending their stays into October and Food & Wine festival. (Which tends to be a busier time)

Rumor mill has it that if/when the free DDP is offered, the dates willbe condensed from last year.

If they announce it and you plan on going, I would make your ADR's for the most popular places early. Some of the less popular places will be eaier to get, but I would not plan to play it by ear and book once you got their.

 

[bicker]

TS availability was so low last year that they went to the extreme, actually, to redress at least one CS at a TS option for folks who couldn't find anywhere else to eat a sit-down meal, as well as offering folks the opportunity (which is not normally available) to convert TS credits into a CSs and snacks (just exchanging the one way, though).

I suspect they will try to simply limit free dining more this year, to prevent the need for those actions.